The Work Of Nature In The Months.

Turning from the brink of the cliff , and pursuing our way along its summit , we soon find specimens of the Sea Star-wort , or Michaelmas Daisy , whose yard-high stem hears its pale lilac flowers clear above the orey-green strongly-scented Southernwood

and the small fleshy-leaved Sand-worts . Like most of the plants which deck our shores , the Sea Sta ' r-wort borrows some of the characteristics of the more definitely marine flora ; and we cannot but reflectas we examine the smooth , downless

surface of its succulent foliage and stem and detect in pressing it with our teeth the saline flavour of the more veritable denizen of old ocean ' s bed—upon the wonderful work of Nature which jiroceeds in a seemingly unbroken chainwith no

appre-, ciable gap in lier whole vast system of life save one—the unbridged chasm betwixt man and "the beasts that perish . " Thus Nature , in her manifold provision of life leaves no spot barren : —

" The marsh is bleak and lonely . Scarce a flower Gleams in the waving grass . The rosy Thrift Has paler grown since summer bless'd the scene , And the Sea Lavender , whose lilac blooms ' Drew from the saline soil a richer hue Than when they grew on yonder towering cliff , Quivers in flowerless greenness to the wind . No sound is heard save when the . sea-bird

screams Its lonely presage of the coming storm ; And the sole blossom which can glad . the eye , Is you pale Star-wort nodding to the wind . " This plant is the only native species of Aster that wo possess , all other kinds having been imported . America is

thennative land . Lyell says , speaking of Piscataquan fir-woods— "I have seen thisjiart of North America laid down in some botanical maps as the region of Asters and Golden Rods . " Than this latter jilant , none is perhaps

more varied in its growth ; find it upon the chalk y bank or beneath the overlacing boughs of the dry wood , and it is a thin , shuggling-looking plant with small scattered flowers ; but jiiek it on the mountain Pasture or the side cliff

, , as now , on sea- , and we have a plant -with a shorter but stouter stem , and clusters of yellow flowers positivel y crowded together . Poor old werarde was sadly exercised at the disrepute into which Wound-wort , Aaron ' s

Of the Sea Lavender before mentioned , we have but little more to say than that few wild flowers are better adapted for making bouquets which will last through the winter . Nor can we add '" much concerning the Sand-wort family , of which ten species grow wild in Britain ; some of

them , such as the Norwegian Sand-wort , discovered in 1837 hi Shetland , are very rarely met with . Another humble but pretty little plant , is the fragrant Basil Thyme , its blossoms are small but numerous , bemg of various shades , from pale lilac to

deepest jnuple , but always with a white , centre . We shall , however , be lucky if wc find this delicate little blossom as , unless the season be a late one , this plant is seldom found in bloom later than August . The same remark will apply to the Sea Cabbage , which hangs out in tufts

Rod , or Golden Rod , was beginning to fall as a specific , even in his day ; for in his " Herbal" we read : "It may truly be said of fantastical jihysitions , who when they have found an apjrroved medicine and perfect remedy , neere home , against any disease ,

yet not contented with that , they will sceke for a new farther off , and by that means many times hurte more than they helpe . " He adds , that he has said this in order that these " new-fangled fellows '' may be brought back again to esteem this admirable herb ; but poor Gerarde ' s wrath seems to have been poured forth without avail .

from the crevices of the cliffs ; but although its petals may have fallen beneath the rude autumnal blast , it does not cease to yield a beauty to the otherwise blank wall of stone . Its leaves , waved and flesh y round the root , but oblong on the stem , are richly tinted with dark green , yellowdelicate

, lilac , or deep purple ; the whole being dusted over with that whitish-grey powder common on the surface of seashore plants ; though very bitter whilst uncooked , repeated washings and boilings render them fit for food . A jiretty neighbour of the

Sea Cabbage is the Herb Robert , or Poor Robin , known everywhere not only by its little pink flowers , but by the beautiful ruddy hue that the entire plant assumes in autumn . A species of the Pearl Wort is also to be met with , as well as the Yellow Horned Poppy , which grows even upon