THROUGH GLADE AND COVERT. 1381 
month of June! But the Alder is beautiful. We 
hold a spray in our left hand as we write with the 
other. The individuality of the Alder leaf is its 
roundness, and the curious depression at its 
upper end giving it its heart-shaped figure. And 
then how beautiful is its framework of branching 
ribs, diverging in alternation at sharp angles, and 
in almost straight lines from its mid-rib, to its 
serrated, leafy margin. Then between the 
branching ribs there stretches its delicate sys- 
tem of venation, a network of veinlets reticu- 
lated between their supporting veins, and over 
all the leafy epidermis covering its myriads of 
chlorophyll cells, displaying glossy green below, 
and darker glossy green above. This Alder 
stream is margined by a pretty clump of Blechnwm 
spicant. We soon pass beyond, crossing the 
stream, which, for a little space, keeps com- 
pany with us, flowing on our left, under 
the shade formed by tangled masses of Oak and 
Beech, of Holly and Alder, and of Honeysuckle 
in full flower, the roadway on our left opening 
out into a grassy strip, covered over with brake 
and gorse. Beyond the ferny greensward, but 
