40 EXCURSIONS ROUND LONDON. 



stalks which support them, being more or 

 ]ess long, or by the notches and indenta- 

 tions with which they are ornamented ; by 

 the variety of their appearance, the height 

 of their stems, or by the greater or less flexi- 

 bility of * their branches; we shall find, in 

 all these particular circumstances, so many 

 sources of variety in the different sounds 

 which they produce, -These various sounds, 

 which are infinitely diversified, collectively 

 produce an effect extremely delightful. 



It must not^ however, be understood, that 

 the only agreeable sounds in nature are pro- 

 duced by the agitation of the foliage of 

 trees. . The springs and rivulets, with which 

 the earth is so liberally furnished, produce 

 also a diversity of soothing and delightful 

 sounds, ..-which have been frequently cele- 

 brated in the works of poets. Sometimes 

 the ear is agreeably struck by the gushing 

 of a spring from the side of a rock covered 

 with moss, and plants of various kinds ; at 

 others,. by the flowing of a rivulet over a 



stony 



