The quick vegetation that occurs on the solution of the snows in high latitudes appears very astonishing; it seems to arise from two causes, 1. the long continuance of the approaching sun above the horizon; 2. the increased irritability of plants which have been long exposed to the cold.  See note on Anemone.

All the water-fowl on the lakes of Siberia are said by Professor Gmelin to retreat Southwards on the commencement of the frosts, except the Rail, which sleeps buried in the snow.  Account of Siberia.]

        Night’s tinsel beams on smooth Lock-lomond dance,
        Impatient AEGA views the bright expanse;—­
365 In vain her eyes the parting floods explore,
        Wave after wave rolls freightless to the shore. 
        —­Now dim amid the distant foam she spies
        A rising speck,—­“’tis he! ’tis he!” She cries;
        As with firm arms he beats the streams aside,
370 And cleaves with rising chest the tossing tide,
        With bended knee she prints the humid sands,
        Up-turns her glistening eyes, and spreads her hands;
        —­“’Tis he, ’tis he!—­My Lord, my life, my love!—­
        Slumber, ye winds; ye billows, cease to move!
375 beneath his arms your buoyant plumage spread,
        Ye Swans! ye Halcyons! hover round his head!”—­

[AEga l. 364.  Conserva aegagropila.  It is found loose in many lakes in a globular form, from the size of a walnut to that of a melon, much resembling the balls of hair found in the stomachs of cows; it adheres to nothing, but rolls from one part of the lake to another.  The Conserva vagabunda dwells on the European seas, travelling along in the midst of the waves; (Spec.  Plant.) These may not improperly be called itinerant vegetables.  In a similar manner the Fucus natans (swimming) strikes no roots into the earth, but floats on the sea in very extensive masses, and may be said to be a plant of passage, as it is wafted by the winds from one shore to another.]

        —­With eager step the boiling surf she braves,
        And meets her refluent lover in the waves;
        Loose o’er the flood her azure mantle swims,
380 And the clear stream betrays her snowy limbs.

        So on her sea-girt tower fair HERO stood
        At parting day, and mark’d the dashing flood;
        While high in air, the glimmering rocks above,
        Shone the bright lamp, the pilot-star of Love.
385 —­With robe outspread the wavering flame behind
        She kneels, and guards it from the shifting wind;
        Breathes to her Goddess all her vows, and guides
        Her bold LEANDER o’er the dusky tides;
        Wrings his wet hair, his briny bosom warms,
390 And clasps her panting lover in her arms.

        Deep, in wide caverns and their shadowy ailes,
        Daughter of Earth, the chaste TRUFFELIA smiles;

[Truffelia. l. 392. (Lycoperdon Tuber) Truffle.  Clandestine marriage.  This fungus never appears above ground, requiring little air, and perhaps no light.  It is found by dogs or swine, who hunt it by the smell.  Other plants, which have no buds or branches on their stems, as the grasses, shoot out numerous stoles or scions underground; and this the more, as their tops or herbs are eaten by cattle, and thus preserve themselves,]