208 STUDIES IN THE FIELD AND FOREST. 



northern climes, which is aptly named for the great 

 Swedish botanist. 



But the exercise alone, with the continual excitement 

 of the curiosity is sufficient to give interest to these 

 excursions. Now we are led into green paths, through 

 the fragrant bushes, some laden with flowers and others 

 with fruit ; now half-bewildered by their intricacies, 

 and then suddenly stumbling into a romantic view of 

 the water and the surrounding scenery. Soon we pass 

 into a deep dell, forming the bed of a stream, which has 

 given rise to a multitude of rare and curious plants, 

 and rouse the variegated summer duck from a solitary 

 pool, imbosomed in the thicket; finally, having arrived 

 at an open pasture, a flock of sheep, startled at our 

 approach, scamper off with resounding feet to a distant 

 elevation. Then do we think with peculiar delight 

 upon the pleasures of rural life, and regret that neces- 

 sity which is ever leading us away from the abodes of 

 peace and happiness. After performing a tour around 

 the pond, we return perhaps to our original fishing 

 ground, pleased with the simple adventures we have 

 encountered, and prepared to commence anew our pa- 

 tient toil. 



As the decline of day begins to be apparent, the 

 fishes are more active in their nibbling, and there is a 

 more general stir among all the creatures of the field 

 and wood. The thrushes are more musical in the 

 neighboring thicket, and the yellow-throat comes within 

 a few yards of us, and sings upon the branch of an 

 alder bush, as if he was pleased with our company. 

 The frogs begin to be more loquacious, and our atten- 

 tion is attracted by different objects from those we 

 observed at noonday or in the morning. A tortoise. 



