Fig. 91. THE HUMMING BIRD MOTH, MACROGLOSSA STELLATARUM. 



SPRINGTIDE. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



" Hie ver assiduum." 



IT is not easy to say exactly when the Spring com- 

 mences on the Riviera. The Hazel (Coryhis) flowers 

 with us at home in February and March, but out 

 here it loosens its catkins to the breeze, and pro- 

 trudes its pink styles as early as the middle of 

 December. Before the old year has passed away 

 the next year's buds are opening. There is no period 

 of the year when wild plants are not in flower on the 

 Kiviera. I have gathered a long list of flowers on 

 Christmas Day. But the greater number of these 

 were such as one sees the whole year round. * 



The time of flowering differs so much from year 

 to year that it is difficult to fix a date which may be 

 counted on. Elevation again, or what is almost the 



I am disappointed if I have fewer than 450 species in flower in the 

 open border at La Mortola in the month of January. T. H. 



