280 STUDIES IN THE EIELD AND FOREST. 



same species, even when growing, side by side, in the 

 same situation, not unfrequently some will have foliage 

 of a bright yellow, others of vermilion, some of scarlet 

 and crimson, while others still retain their summer ver- 

 dure. In this respect the maples differ from other trees, 

 of which individuals of the same species seldom greatly 

 differ in their tints. Notwithstanding, therefore, the 

 rapidity with which they lose their foliage, these trees 

 are the principal charm of our woods, during the first 

 autumnal period. The ash succeeds the maple in the 

 ripeness of its hues and the fall of its leaves. The 

 American poplars lose their leaves about the same 

 time ; but their tints, though more brilliant than those 

 of the ash, are confined to the lighter shades of yellow. 

 The birch, the beech, the chestnut, and the hickory, all 

 of which are clad, with more or less brilliancy, in yel- 

 lows, succeed the poplar. Similar hues predominate in 

 the lime, the larch, the cherry, and the wych-hazel. 



But there are several species in which the different 

 shades of red and purple prevail. Among these may 

 be named the swamp hornbeam, or tupelo, which is one 

 of the most brilliantly illuminated trees in our woods. 

 In the shade its leaves are of a bright orange ; but 

 when exposed to the direct rays of the sun, they vary 

 from vermilion to scarlet, seldom, I believe, approach- 

 ing to purple. Like other brightly tinted foliage, -that 

 of the hornb.eam falls early in the season, seldom 

 remaining above a week in its full splendor. While 

 the yellow tints predominate in the trees, the reds and 

 crimsons predominate in the shrubbery. Conspicuous 

 among these are all the species of the blueberry and 

 whortleberry tribe, that yield a fairy-like splendor to our 

 wild upland pastures. Equally beautiful and more bril- 

 liant are the leaves of the common creeper, that often 



