54 MORE POT-POURRI 



days of Darwin, would describe as the unscientific 

 language belonging to that date. To my mind, that in 

 no way detracts from the interest of its shrewd observa- 

 tions on the facts of nature. 



To name another book in this place, 'Country Pleas- 

 ures : Chronicle of a Year chiefly in a Garden,' by 

 George Milner, has been lately republished and thor- 

 oughly deserves it, as it is one of the best of its kind, 

 and must be an especial favourite with all nature lovers. 

 Its charm is of rather a different kind from either of the 

 other two. The writing is beautiful, and the quotations 

 are pointed, and chosen with literary taste and knowl- 

 edge. Here are two sentences which I give in order 

 that the charm may be felt. One is dated 'May 22d,' 

 for the book is arranged in months, which seems to me 

 the only natural system when speaking of the year's 

 produce and colour -effects in field, wood, or garden : 



'In the present general outburst of vernal foliage, we 

 naturally forget that the evergreens, as well as the 

 deciduous trees, are putting forth their new leaves. 

 This is one of those lesser beauties of the spring, easily 

 overlooked, but full of interest when once observed. 

 The yew-tree now shows itself as a mass of leafage, so 

 dark as to be almost black, but wearing a fringe of yel- 

 lowish green ; the box has six or seven bright new 

 leaves at the end of each spray, in sharp contrast with 

 the sombre but polished growth of last year ; the ivy 

 buds are silver- gray, like the willow; those of the 

 holly are edged with red, and the rhododendron is a 

 light green. In that delightfully child -like carol of Kit 

 Marlowe, which gave such pleasure to the gentle soul 

 of dear old Izaak Walton, the Passionate Shepherd 

 promises to his Love 



'A belt of straw and ivy buds, 

 ■With ooral clasps and amber studs.' 



