CHAP- IXXIIL] 



ASTSCTS OF NJTfmK 



491 



rate climates. I have never seen in the tropics such bi il- 

 liaot masses of colour as even England cau show in her 

 furze-clad commons, her heathery mountain- sides, hex glades 

 of wild hyacinths, her fields of poppies, her meadows of 

 bnttercups and orchises — carpets of yellow, puiple, azure- 

 blue, and fiery crimson, which the tropics can rarely ex- 

 hibit We have smaller masses of colour in our hawthorn 

 and crab treea, onr holly and monntain-ash, o\ir broom, 

 foxgloves, primroses, ami purple vetches, which clothe 

 with gay colours the whole length and bi'eadth of our land. 

 These beauties are all couiraon. They are characteristic of 

 the country and the climute ; they have not to be sought 

 for, but they gladden the eye at every step. In the regions 

 of the equator, on the other hand, whether it be forest or 

 savannah, a sombre green clothes universal jiature. You 

 may journey for hours, and even for days, aiid meet with 

 nothing to break the monotony. Flowers are ever}- where 

 rare, and anji;hing at all striking is only to be met with at 

 very distant intervals. 



The idea that nature exhibits gay colours in the tropics, 

 and that the general aspect of nature is there more briglit 

 and varied in hue than with ns, has even been made the 

 foundation of theories of art, anil we have been forbidden 

 to use bright colours in our garments, and in the decoi-ations 

 of our dwellings^ because it was supposed that we should 

 be thereby acting in opiHJsition to the teachings of nature. 

 The argument itself is a very poor one, since it might 

 WTltb equal justice be maintained, that as we possess facul- 

 ties for the appreciation of colours, we should make up for 

 the deficiencies of nature and use the gayest tints in tiiose 

 regions where the landscape is most monotonous. But the 

 assumption on which the argument is founded is totally 

 false, so that even if the reasoning were valid, we need not 

 be afraid of outraging nature, by decorating our houses 

 and our persons with all those gay hues which are so 

 lavishly spread over our Eelds and mountains, our hedges, 

 woods, and meadows. 



It is very easy to see what has led to this erroneous 

 view of the natur© of tropical vegetation In our hot- 

 houses and at our fiower-shows we gather togetlier the 

 finest flowering plants from the most distant regions of 



