^ WOODS AND FIELDS 175 



Tropical fruits are even more striking. No 

 one who has seen it can ever forget a grove of 

 orange trees in full fruit ; while the more we 

 examine the more we find to admire ; all per- 

 fectly and exquisitely finished "usque ad 

 ungues," perfect inside and outside, for 

 Nature 



Does in the Pomegranate close 

 Jewels more rare than Ormus shows.i 



In winter the woods are comparatively 

 bare and lifeless, even the Brambles and 

 Woodbine, which straggle over the tangle of 

 underwood being almost leafless. 



Still even then they have a beauty and 

 interest of their own 5 the mossy boles of the 

 trees ; the delicate tracery of the branches 

 which can hardly be appreciated when they 

 are covered with leaves ; and under foot the 

 beds of fallen leaves ; while the evergreens 

 seem brighter than in summer ; the ruddy 

 stems and rich green foliage of the Scotch 

 Pines, and the dark spires of the Firs, seeming 

 to acquire fresh beauty. 



1 Marvell. 



