206 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE chap. 



completely with, a carpet of blossom. On the 

 lower mountain slopes and in alpine valleys 

 trees seem to flourish with peculiar luxuriance. 

 Pines and Firs and Larches above ; then, as we 

 descend, Beeches and magnificent Chestnuts, 

 which seem to rejoice in the sweet, fresh air 

 and the pure mountain streams. 



To any one accustomed to the rich bird life 

 of English woods and hedgerows, it must be 

 admitted that Swiss woods and Alps seem 

 rather lonely and deserted. Still the Hawk, 

 or even Eagle, soaring high up in the air, the 

 weird cry of the Marmot, and the knowledge 

 that, even if one cannot see Chamois, they 

 may all the time be looking down on us, give 

 the Alps, from this point of view also, a 

 special interest of their own. 



Another great charm of mountain districts 

 is the richness of colour. "Consider,^ first, 

 the difference produced in the whole tone of 

 landscape colour by the introductions of purple, 

 violet, and deep ultra-marine blue wliich we 

 owe to mountains. In an ordinary lowland 

 landscape we have the blue of the sky ; the 



' Ruskin. 



