worked slippers, adorned with some highly-colored flowers, and 
42 
with large stipules, cannot be mistaken, while by the side of it isa 
third, with smooth yellow twigs, whose leaves alone determine lt. 
Still another form has narrowleaves, much like those of S. tristis, 
though thinner and less hoary, while the catkins are very small and 
globular, and might make a pretty good species. ye 
3. S. tristis, Ait.,is less common than the preceding, whichis 
always found in close proximity. It grows in large, low clumps, 
with slender shoots often two or three feet in length, and has a less 
upright habitthan any other. The ordinary form is readily detected, 
but the connection between these last two species is so close that 
the distinctions given seem to be more of degree than of kind. | 
4. §. sericea, Marshall, is plainly marked. Does its allied species 
S. petiolaris, Smith, oceur in New England, and are they more 
varieties of one typical form ? 
5. S. cordata, Muhl., is another polymorphous group. The broad, 
cordate leaves are more common on the thrifty shoots, and a begu~ 
ner may as well forget that the name has any significance, as he 
gathers the narrow lanceolate leaves, often the only ones to be found. : 
The fruit is the only constant quantity. : 
6. S. livida, Wahl., var. occidentalis, is usually true to its name, 
though the leaves vary greatly in hoariness, the prominent ves — 
however remaining. Like §. discolor, when old or stunted, its: a 
very small leaves render it easy to confound the two. oa 
7. S. lucida, Muhl., is widely distributed through the town, bub — 
occurs mostly in single bushes, and those nearly all staminate. 12° — 
form with broad leaves, somewhat glutinous and drying dark, 18 
the most common. The other, with lanceolate and thicker leaves, ss 
somewhat pubescent beneath, is less abundant. It is our mostele 
gant willow. - 
8. S. nigra, Marsh., is common and without much variation. . 
: 9. S. fragilis, L. There are two and perhaps three varieties found — 
in the hedge-rows. ; 
10. S. alba, L., var. vitellina and var. ceerulea both occur, but a8 
the staminate trees are not cultivated it is not easy to get complete 
herbarium specimens, or study any introduced willows to advantage 
Perhaps some benevolent botanist will offer to supply this defect ™ 
our collections. Ae 
The Manual tells us S. livida has its anthers frequently trans” 
formed into imperfect ovaries. This is true also of S. humilis, dis 
color, and cordata. The “cordata” ovaries are quite perfect an® — 
make the bush look as if in full fruit. H. G. Jesur. 
75. Humming-bird—I was reminded the other day of the story told 
by Pliny, of the painter Zeuxis, who represented a bunch of grapes 
_ so naturally that the birds flew at the picture to eat the fruit. My, 
friend, Mrs. P. W., told us that a gentleman, the Rev. Mr. Pe 
sitting on the piazza of her house with his feet encased in a pair 
that she saw a humming-bird repeatedly pick at the flowers, in t 
