DESCRIPTIOX OF SCILLY. 189 



houses — the females predominating in the ratio of 1 439 to 

 1162. The average of death is 16 in 1000 ; in other parts 

 of Enghmd it is 23 in 1000, showing a decided hygienic 

 superiority in favour of Scilly. Much aral)le hind there is 

 not, but an occasional upland smiles prosperity at you ; and 

 in the sheltered nooks of Holy Vale you are startled with 

 the appearance of what almost looks like a tree. In the 

 other parts of the island no tree is discoverable — without a 

 lens. The lanes are formed of stone hedges, as in Devon- 

 shire and Cornwall ; but these hedges are not, at this early 

 season, prodigal of ferns and wildflowers as they will be 

 soon. Yet they have already abundant ornament. On the 

 summit grows the furze, with its profuse bunches of gold ; 

 from the crevices peep the stone- crop, the leaves of the fox- 

 glove, pennywort, and a multitude of other wall-loving 

 plants, dear to my eye, though unknown by name ; already 

 the dog-violet and celandine are gay with colour, and the 

 lichens tint the stone with delicate pale greys or greens, 

 deep orange, or bright gold. 



The grouping of the islands is very picturesque, forming- 

 several good Sounds, where vessels of great tonnage tind 

 secure anchorage, and give a pleasant aspect to the scene. 

 Standing on any of the eminences, we gaze down upon the 

 deep blue of the bays, the white sweep of sands, and rugged 

 reefs, and purple masses of the opposite shores ; tlie plaint 

 of the sea-gull, floating overhead, being almost the only 

 sound audible, excejit the never-ending symphony of the 

 waters. As we ramble round the coast, the successive 

 scenes of the unfolding panorama make us long to have the 



