Feb. 1, 1809.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



39 



White Beam (Pyrus aria), fig. 27. — These buds, 

 in addition to the difference of arrangement, are 

 very dissimilar to any of the foregoing. They are 

 of an obscure green colour, with few scales, with 

 reddish margins. They are very broad at the base, 

 or point of insertion with the stem, thence tapering 

 to a point, having thus a triangular appearance. 

 They are slightly compressed laterally, and some- 

 what cariuated at the edges. 



Oak (Quercus robur), fig. 29. — Buds small, ovoid, 

 reddish ; scales numerous, very closely imbricated. 



Grey Poplar {Popuhis canescens), fig. 31. — Buds 

 reddish, shining, very glutinous. Outer pair of 

 scales enclosing, or nearly enclosing, the whole bud. 

 Terminal bud large, and outer scales proportionately 

 less. 



Figs. 30, 34, 35, 36 are specimens of the simplest 

 case of whorl-structure. They are sufficiently cha- 

 racteristic, and need no remark. 



The scars left by the falling leaf are also worthy 

 of some study. In form they vary greatly, and are 

 frequently good marks by which to recognize the 

 branch or twig upon which they are found. A 

 reference to the scars of the ash, the horse-chest- 

 nut, the grey poplar, and the elm, as indicated in 

 the foregoing figures is sufficient to demonstrate 

 the truth of this statement. In conclusion, we may 

 add that there is no part of a tree, be it leaf or leaf- 

 scar, stem, branch, or root, bud or bark, that will 

 not amply repay in pleasure and profitable in- 

 struction any amount of labour that may be ex- 

 pended in its examination. 



St. Mary's Vale, Chatham. J. IlErwonTH. 



Mistletoe Culture. — I am constantly seeing 

 accounts in Science-Gossip of unsuccessful at- 

 tempts to grow the Mistletoe. Four years ago I 

 planted some berries, and have now about a dozen 

 nice plants. If your readers will adopt my plan, I 

 think they will have no difficulty in growing it. I 

 squeeze the berry on to the under side of a smooth- 

 skinned bough of apple, thorn, or any of the trees 

 on which it generally grows, and bind it there with 

 the mucus that surrounds the seed. In a few days 

 the seed will adhere to the bough as firmly as if it 

 were glued. The following summer it will send out 

 a small shoot, which will curve over to the bark, 

 and press into it, causing the bough to swell 

 slightly. I think it is a mistake to cut the bark, as 

 it causes it to open, leaving nothing for the seed to 

 root into. I generally tie a piece of white tape a few 

 inches from it, to keep birds away, and mark where 

 the seed is planted. My seeds planted at Christ- 

 mas, 1S67, are all growing, and those planted this 

 Christmas are now quite firm on the bough. If 

 any of your readers wish further information on the 

 subject, I shall be pleased to give it them.— S. C. 

 Hi neks. 



THE SISKIN. 

 (Fri)igilla spinus.) 



"\TTHEN November comes, like the pioneer of 



' ^ winter, to cut down the leaves, and scatter 

 the seeds of the forest trees, then is the time to 

 look for the Siskin. Follow- the winding stream 

 till the last homestead has been left far behind, and 

 creep stealthily to the nearest alder or birch. The 

 seeds of these two trees form the favourite food 

 of the Siskin, and it is here you may expect to find 

 him, if he happens to be in your neighbourhood. 

 If the season be a favourable one, and there be 

 abundance of seeds, the greater your chance of 

 success. 



The Siskin comes to us as a winter visitor from 

 the north, but the date of his arrival is very uncer- 

 tain, apparently depending as much upon a sudden 

 change of temperature, as upon an abundance or 

 scarcity of his favourite food. The elm and maple 

 supply him in turn with a change of diet, and in the 

 pine and larch plantations he is almost sure to be 

 found at the proper season, although from the ever- 

 green nature of the two last-named trees, and the 

 denser growth of their foliage, he is not so readily 

 seen there. 



Our own acquaintance with the Siskin was made 

 where the alder and elm best nourish and the larch 

 and pine are scarce. It is therefore upon an alder- 

 tree that we shall introduce the bird to our readers. 



In size no larger than a Linnet, but with shorter 

 wings and tail, the male bird may be at once dis- 

 tinguished by his black cap and chin, his greenish- 

 yellow breast and rump, spotted flanks, and black 

 and yellow wings. The tail is forked, and with 

 a brownish-black tip. The female, more sombre 

 in appearance, yet sufficiently like her mate to 

 be recognized, is of a general greenish-grey above, 

 suffused with longitudinal streaks of brownish- 

 black, and the dark streaks, which are con- 

 spicuous on the flanks of the male, extend further 

 in the female, to the sides and the whole of the 

 breast. She has no black on the head or chin, but 

 shows the greenish-yellow rump which charac- 

 terizes the other sex. We have remarked that in 

 young males the black colour is confined to the 

 head, and does not appear on the chin until they 

 are fully mature. 



The variety of attitudes which the Siskin assumes 

 in his busy search for seeds, is very striking, and 

 reminds us a good deal of the Tit family. We have 

 often seen the Siskin and the Marsh Tit on the same 

 branch vieing with each other in their acrobatic 

 feats, and have been struck with the similarity of 

 their movements ; now clinging to a catkin which 

 sways with the weight ; now hanging head down- 

 wards, the more easily to extract a seed or lurking 

 insect ; anon, swinging by one foot upon a bending 



