BIRDS OF KOREA. 457 



and an Aster; a few Cacti mingled with Sedums, aromatic 

 Labiatae and Scrophularinetf, and here and there a Cru- 

 ciferous plant, caused the vegetation to assume somewhat 

 the appearance of what we are accustomed to see in 

 Europe, but strangely mingled with such tropical forms 

 as Euphorbiacete, Leguminosae, Ehizophora Mangle, and 

 Hibiscus tiliacus. 



The scenery of these islands reminds one very much of 

 our own woodland haunts ; for, when the sky is bright, 

 and the sun is powerful on the ground, the retired dells, 

 and plains, and shady nooks are instinct with life. 

 Gaudily-tinted butterflies sport around, feathered warblers 

 twitter in the trees, and crowds of insects spin about the 

 flowers. Among the birds, " Great Nature's happy com- 

 moners," were seen the modest Pigeon, cowering in some 

 deep recess ; the Flycatcher and the Butcher-bird, busily 

 intent on prey ; the showy Woodpecker, fluttering in its 

 pride, and clinging to the boughs in every kind of fan- 

 tastic attitude. Troops of white, long-necked Herons 

 ranged themselves along the padi-fields, greedy after frogs; 

 nor were " lingering notes of sylvan music" wanting, as 

 the evening drew on apace ; a bird with a note like the 

 nightingale, and a species of Thrush, warbled very pret- 

 tily/ and at early dawn, the Lark, that glorious ininstrel- 

 bird, sang loud and joyous. Many other birds, well known 

 in England, were busy in affairs of love. The Raven sat 

 quietly perched upon the stunted trees, or croaking as he 

 sailed familiarly around us; the Wren, the Sparrow, and the 

 Blackbird were common in the thickets ; the King- 

 fisher glided by the narrow brooks ; the Swift and the 

 Swallow clung to the rocky cliffs, or wheeled in circles 



