118 
SEDUMS. 
very numerous along the sea-board of Shan-tung 
and Liau-tung, and more especially on their exposed 
and rounded summits, where the soil is scant and 
stony — hardly anything flourishes but thistles and 
snails ! But none of these snails are half so 
attractive as tlie humming-bird hawk-moths, with 
which these localities are always associated in my 
mind. The Sedums are in full flower, and cover 
the surface of the earth with little golden pyramids, 
magazines of nectar, aroimd which hover the macro- 
glossae, the only sentient things, save the snails, one 
claims acquaintance Avith on these barren heights, 
unless, indeed, you cross the highest ridge at the 
highest point, and look down upon the jagged 
fractured rocks of black basalt, when you may see 
the gulls and oystercatchers, and hear their melan- 
choly wail and the hai’sh cry of the fishing cor- 
morant, mingling with the roar of the great 
toppling Avaves as they come thundering in upon 
the boulders at the base. But in the quiet sunny 
spots Avhere the Sedums bloom, round and round 
hover the pretty moths, vibrating their Avings and 
