50 
THE STONE PINE. 
PINUS PINEA. 
“ And still the pine, long-hair’d, and dark and talk 
In lordly right, predominant o’er all.” 
Most of the trees of this genus, as has been already 
observed, are hardy mountaineers : indeed so associated 
are they with alpine scenery, that it would scarcely be 
perfect without them. The species under immediate 
consideration, however, leaves those inhospitable regions 
to the bolder representatives of the clan, and settles itself 
in the warm sunny climes of southern Europe. Such 
being its usual abode, it does not require those provisions 
against the inclemencies of weather which are needful 
for the mountain pines; and accordingly we find its 
timber is weaker and less resinous, though in other 
respects it possesses every distinctive mark common to 
the genus to which it belongs, — another proof how 
wisely the God of nature varies and proportions his gifts 
according to the exigencies of the receiver. 
Virgil, with much discrimination, marks this difference 
