THE GLORY OF THE AUTUMN 107 



tain Maples, Smoke-tree (Cotinus), Poison Dogwood, 

 Sassafras, and the Shadbush or Snowy Mespilus, 

 has variegated tints comprising all shades of purple, 

 crimson, scarlet, orange, and yellow on the same or 

 different individuals of the same species. Often the 

 leaves are tinted and sometimes figured like the wings 

 of a butterfly. 



Careful observers will note that the gradations of 

 autumn tints in all cases are in order of those of sun- 

 rise, from darker to lighter hues, and never the re- 

 verse. The brown leaves which long persist on some 

 trees (Beech, Chestnut, and certain Oaks for example), 

 though darker than the yellow or orange from which 

 they often turn, are no exception since these leaves 

 are dead and the brown is only assumed after vitality 

 has vanished. 



Some species are perfectly uniform in their colors; 

 others, on the contrary, display a very wide range. 

 For example, the Maidenhair-tree, the Tulip-tree, 

 and Birch are invariably yellow; the Virginia Creeper, 

 Sumach, and White Oak chiefly red; while Maples are 

 of as many colors as if they were of different species. 

 But each individual tree shows nearly the same tints 

 every year, even as an Apple Tree bears fruit of the 

 same color from year to year. 



The Red Maple (Acer rubrum), so abundant in 



