A WALK THROUGH THE VIA GELLIA. 503 



the wayside. But what are yon small red berries here 

 and there rising above the leaves of some dwarf plant, 

 and glittering in the sun? Strawberries? Yes, straw- 

 berries ! and very nice they are, too. They have not the 

 flavour of " British Queens," but their slight agreeable 

 acidity is very refreshing. We only wish they were a 

 little bigger. Once off the road, once on the hillside, and 

 we find objects of fresh interest in quick succession birds, 

 insects, geological specimens which we admire, examine, 

 and covet, but are obliged to dismiss. Descending again 

 into the road we tread over immense breadths of Lily of 

 the Valley of a vigour that a grower for exhibition might 

 envy. Ah! what is this? A toll-gate? Truly so. But 

 here, as in most rural districts, bipeds pass free. On we 

 go without let or hindrance. Oh! the pleasures of pedes- 

 trianism, of which this is only one example. No railway 

 extortions to combat, no trains to meet, or rather to wait 

 for, no coachmen or ostlers to fee, no 'busses to cram into ; 

 on we go, turn to the left, and commence the ascent of the 

 mountain road to the mining village of Middleton. " Only 

 a mile, sir," says the toll-keeper, "but a tough mile, 

 rayt/ier" We push on. To the right is a bank still 

 strewed with flowers, differing somewhat from those we 

 had found in the valley below, though generally we could 

 only note those seen from the roadsides, not having time 

 to explore the recesses, heights, and depths of the hillsides. 

 On the road to Middleton we met with wild Rasp- 

 berries, which we tasted and found very acceptable under 

 the circumstances. On the left of the road we are ascend- 

 ing is a deep ravine, bottomed by the Via Gellia, along 

 which we have just passed. The white road lies basking 

 in the sunshine. The sides of the ravine are clothed with 

 various forest trees ash, mountain ash, and maple seem- 

 ing the most abundant, the Ayrshire rose and hawthorn 

 being also plentiful in places. As we ascend, the species 

 and number of plants seem fewer, and we altogether miss 

 those kinds which delight in moist situations. The views 



