JUNE. 149 



upon such scenes. We hear afar off the bleat- 

 ing of flocks; as we approach some clear stream, 

 we behold the sheep penned on its banks ; in 

 mid-stream stand sturdy hinds ready to receive 

 them as they are plunged in, one by one, and 

 after squeezing their saturated fleeces well be- 

 tween their hands, and giving them one good 

 submersion, they guide them to the opposite 

 bank. The clear running waters, the quiet 

 fields, the whispering fresh boughs that thicken 

 around, and the poor dripping creatures them- 

 selves, that, after giving themselves a staggering 

 shake, go off gladly to their pasture, form to the 

 eye an animated and pleasant tout ensemble. 



Wild Flowers and their ancient names. 

 Amongst the most interesting wild flowers now 

 in full bloom, are the dog-rose, the pimpernel, 

 thyme, and white bryony. The last is one of 

 our most elegant plants. Running up in the 

 space of a month, over a great extent of hedge 

 or thicket, and covering it with its long twining 

 stems, spiral tendrils, green vine-like leaves, and 

 graceful flowers, in a beautiful style of luxu- 

 riance, it is deserving more notice than it has 

 yet received, and seems well calculated for 

 clothing bowers and trellis-work Many of our 

 wild-flowers derive much interest from the sim- 

 ple and poetical names given them by our rural 

 ancestors, as the wind-flower ; the snap-dragon ; 



