240 STUDIES IN THE FIELD AND FOREST. 



neottia which continues in flower until November, and 

 the purple gerardia, which bears no resemblance to the 

 other flowers of autumn. Almost simultaneously with 

 the tinting of the forest trees comes forth the last beau- 

 tiful visitant of our fields, the blue-fringed gentian. 

 This little flower marks the decline of autumnal vege- 

 tation. It begins to unfold itself during the latter part 

 of September, and may often be found in the meadows 

 after the November frosts have seared the verdure of 

 the fields, and changed the variegated hues of the forest 

 into one monotonous tinge of brown and purple. 



When the woods are completely divested of their fo- 

 liage, and the landscape wants nothing but snow to 

 yield it the aspect of winter, the hamamelis, or witch- 

 hazel, still retains its yellow blossoms, in defiance of 

 the later frosts. Nothing is lively around it but the 

 evergreens, and no plant puts forth its blossoms after 

 this, unless some flower of spring should peep out un- 

 seasonably from under the protection of some sunny 

 knoll. The evergreens are now in all their beauty, and 

 we search the fields in vain for aught but the presages 

 of winter. 



