48 Proceedings. 



Mr. Albert J. Crosfield read a paper on ' Mid-wintek in 

 Corsica ' : — 



In this paper I propose briefly to report the results of 

 observations made on the natural history of Corsica during a 

 stay of three weeks at Ajaccio in December, 1889, and 

 January, 1890. 



The time was the most unfavourable of all the year for 

 finding plants in bloom. The autumn flowers were over, and 

 the spring flowers were not yet out. The number of species 

 that actually blossom in mid-winter is very small. The most 

 noticeable of these was the Arbutus (^-1. Unedu), which is an 

 abundant shrub on the hillsides and more sheltered valleys. 

 Its red and orange berries and ivory blossoms hang at the same 

 time upon the bush. Its darli, glossy, green foliage gives 

 colour to the slopes, where it is commonly surrounded by 

 other bashes in yet greater profusion, amongst which are the 

 white and rose-coloured Cistuses {Cistus salvifolius and C. albi- 

 dus); the Mastic or Lentisk [Pistacia leutiscus), from which 

 gum-mastic is obtained ; Kosemary {Rosmaj-inus officinalis) ; 

 the Myrtle (Myrtus comiminis) ; and the purple-bracted 

 Lavender (Lavandula Stachas, L.). Trailing over these 

 shrubs, one often notices the shiny leaves of the Smilax (S. 

 axpera, L.) ; its wiry stems, well armed with sharp spines, are 

 by no means to be despised when you wish to force your way 

 through a thicket ; it is closely akin to the South American 

 Sarsaparilla. Another trailing plant is the graceful Aspara- 

 gus acutifolius. Butcher's Broom [Ruscus aculeatus) is also 

 abundant. 



Near the sea-shore we met with a stiflf, fleshy shrub 

 belonging to the Daphne tribe, Thymelma hirsuta, Eudl., with 

 small, terminal flowers, yellow within, and silky without. 

 Amongst the rocks were great tufts of a Sea- Lavender 

 (Statice), one of the imbricate species, but I could not identify 

 it from the dried-up flower corymbs. 



Another bush (Stachys spi7iosa), bristly by reason of its 

 stiffly pointed branches, bears a fragrant, yellow, labiate 

 flower. At Ajaccio I found no blossoms on it, but I met with 

 a few of its flowers at Boconaguo, some twenty miles inland, 

 and about 2500 feet above sea-Ievel. 



