APPLE-BLOSSOMS. \ 3 7 



says Dr. Gunther, " in a memoir . . . mentions 

 that in 1791 he had himself taken an Anabas in 

 the act of ascending a palm-tree which grew 

 near a pond. The fish had reached the height 

 of five feet above the water, and was going still 

 higher." 



When I peer into the hollow trees in the lane, 

 here, at home, I only expect to find birds, and sel- 

 dom have been disappointed, except so far as the 

 English sparrow has ousted the old-time blue- 

 bird. It is exasperating to think that the latter 

 have been crowded out and now gather in the 

 more retired woodland areas to breed. What 

 song better fitted with apple-blossoms of a bright 

 May morning, than that of the bluebird ? And 

 now, we have instead, the ill-tempered chirping 

 of an alien sparrow ! 



But apple-blossoms are none the less beauti- 

 ful because of the unfortunate changes meddle- 

 some men have brought about. They hold their 

 ancient glory still and yield, as of old, that rich, 

 rare fragrance which never cloys. Surely no one 

 ever walked among rows of blooming apple-trees, 

 and said, " It is too sweet." Not even of our 

 native wild crab-apple is this lightly to be said, 

 and it is unquestionably of deeper tints and richer 

 fragrance than the average cultivated tree. I 

 know of one exception. At the end of the row 

 upon one side of the lane, there stands a vigor- 



