HIDE AND SEEK. 103 



among our British plants in evolving pleasant and 

 edible fruits. 



Externally, nothing can be more unlike than the 

 dry cones of a Fir or Pine-tree, and the scarlet, 

 succulent fruits of the Yew, or the bloom- covered 

 blackish fruits of the Juniper. And yet, if we care- 

 fully observe the early stages of their development, 

 we shall find that all commence alike as true cones. 

 In the Yew and Juniper some bracts become aborted, 

 and others unusually developed, until their well- 

 known fruits are the result. 



In the Mulberry, again, we have a bird-dispersed 

 fruit produced by the bracts of the hanging cluster 

 of flowers becoming fleshy and sweet, and growing 

 so large that eventually they get fused together into 

 one mass, when they look like unusually big black- 

 berries. It is to this series of modifications that the 

 fruit we call the " mulberry " owes its origin. 



In our British flora, the following are among the 

 commonest of bird-disseminated fruits : — Strawberry, 

 Blackberry, Dewberry, Cloudberry, Barberry, Arbu- 

 tus, Privet, Spindle -tree. Guelder- Rose, Buckthorn, 

 Holly, Ivy, Honeysuckle, Bryony, Yew, Mistletoe, 

 Sloe, Arum, Bird-Cherry, Haw, Wild Rose, Mountain 

 Ash, White Beam -tree. Wild -Service tree. Crab- 

 tree, Bearberry, Baneberry, Blaeberry, Juniper, Crow- 

 berry, Cowberry, Cranberry, Asparagus, Butcher's 

 Broom, etc., — a long, varied, and interesting list, 

 speaking volumes for the changes which have col- 



