AUGUST. 223 



nucleus of a fairy-ring. The next year the 

 tuft is found to have left a green spot, of per- 

 haps a foot and half diameter, which has already 

 parted in the centre. This expansion goes on 

 from year to year ; the area of the circle is 

 occupied by common grass, and successive crops 

 of fungi give a vivid greenness to the ring which 

 bounds it. That only a few tufts are converted 

 into fairy-rings may be owing to their not being 

 sufficiently enriched to become mushroom-beds ; 

 but that all fairy-rings which exist have this 

 origin will be found to admit of little doubt. 

 This, though true, is nevertheless a humiliating 

 expose of the charmed fairy-rings ; but 



Do not all charms fly 

 At the mere touch of cold philosophy 1 

 There was an awful rainbow once in Heaven : 

 We know her woof, her texture ; she is given 

 In the dull catalogue of common things : 

 Philosophy will clip an angel's wings ; 

 Conquer all mysteries by rule and line ; 

 Empty the haunted air, and gnomed mine ; 

 Unweave a rainbow, as it erewhile made 

 The tender-personed Lamia melt into a shade. 



Keats. 



Birds are now seen wandering about in large 

 flocks, having completed all their summer cares, 

 and now enjoy the range of earth and air in 

 one long holyday, till their companies shall be 

 thinned by gunpowder and winter weather. 



