242 



THE HAZEL. 



the vegetable world, that rest is not the sleep of death. 

 Almost before the Snowdrop has ventured to peep out 

 from its icy home, the nut-trees are plentifully decorated 

 with their yellow catkins ; and if we search very closely, 

 we shall find, towards the end of January, the crimson 

 pistils of the fertile flowers timidly pushing forth from 



FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE OF HAZEL. 



some of the scaly buds, not less beautiful than the more 

 conspicuous catkins, though scarcely known to any but 

 the all-observing botanist. The former, as soon as they 

 have shed their pollen, turn brown and fall off ; the latter, 

 too, disappear, but in the course of a few months may be 

 detected, as bunches of nuts, hiding themselves under the 

 now fully expanded foliage. At this 

 season a beautiful little beetle, Balaninus 

 nucum, guided by a mysterious instinct, 

 pierces the yet tender shell of the nut 



