30 gtlpin's forest scenery. 



' As when heaven's fire 

 Hath scathed the forest Oak or mountain Pine, 

 With singed top its stately growth, though bare, 

 Stands on the Masted heath.' 



Ivy is another miscHef incident to trees, whicli 

 has a good effect. It gives great richness to an 

 old trunk, both by its stem, which often winds 

 round it in thick, hairy, irregular volumes, and 

 by its leaf, which either decks the furrowed bark, 

 or creeps among the branches, or hangs care- 

 lessly from them. In all these circumstances it 

 unites with the mosses, and other furniture of 

 the tree, in adorning and enriching it. But 

 when it gathers into a heavy body, which is often 

 the case, it becomes rather a deformity. In 

 summer, indeed, itsbushiness is lost in the foliage 

 of the tree ; but in winter, naked branches make 

 a disagreeable appearance staring from a thick 

 hush. And yet, in autumn, I have seen a beautiful 

 contrast between a bush of Ivy, which had com- 

 pletely invested the head of a pollard Oak, and 

 the dark-brown tint of the withered leaves, which 

 still held possession of the branches. But this 

 was a mere accidental effect ; for you may see 

 many pollard Oaks with withered leaves, and 



