8o 



ROUND THE YEAR 



more to say about the dispersal of Alder-seeds by 

 and by. 1 



Birch catkins and cones are not unlike those of the 

 Alder. Each scale of the male catkin has four bracts 

 and three flowers, as in the Alder ; but each scale of 



FIG. 22. Flowering branch of Birch {Bctula alba), with catkins and one cone. 



the female cone has two bracts and three flowers. 

 There is no calyx in either male or female flower. 

 In the catkins of the Hazel the pair of bracts 

 become soldered to the scale. Each scale bears four 

 1 See page 279. 



