FEENS. 39 



the old walls of Winchester, or from among the heaps of 

 ruins that surround the banquet halls of Ludlow, where 

 Milton first recited his immortal "Comus." 



Others of our tribe embellish the wildest solitudes of 

 nature. The rock-brake, or parsley, forms a cheerful and 

 pleasing contrast to the dark masses of weather-beaten 

 rocks, among which he loves to nestle ; growing, it may 

 be, occasionally in the crevices of old stone walls, yet pre- 

 ferring to take root on shapeless masses of stone, which 

 project from among the heather. His favourite abode in 

 England is the lake district of Cumberland and Westmore- 

 land ; in Wales, the Snowdon range ; in Ireland, the Mourne 

 mountains. Bare in Scotland, and, when found, only as a 

 few scattered plants on old walls, or among such stones as 

 time or whirlwinds have scattered at the base of mountains. 

 Among such, yet nearly at the bleak and rugged summit 

 of Ben Arthur, one who loves our tribe identified his 

 locality. 



Thanks to me, responded the wall-rue, for many a plea- 



