46 THE WOODLANDS. 



The WILLOWS are chiefly found in swampy situa- 

 tions; in marshes, beside rivers, and such places, 

 where a plentiful moisture can be secured. One 

 species, however, is common as an undergrowth in 

 woods, and that is the goat willow or sallow, 1 with 

 its broad elliptical greyish-green leaves, downy and 

 hoary on the under surface. It is chiefly the catkins 

 of this species which are collected by children on 

 Easter Sunday, and called " palm, " a relic of the 

 Catholic ceremony formerly performed in memory of 

 our Saviour's entry into Jerusalem. The early flowering 

 of this willow in spring is considered of importance 

 to bees as furnishing them with food as their winter 

 stores become exhausted. This is also the principal 

 willow which propagates itself by seeds, the others, 

 for the greater part, being propagated by cuttings 

 The willows of Babylon were probably the " weeping 

 willow." 2 



The HOLLY 3 is a great favourite, with its spiny, 

 glossy, evergreen leaves and red berries ; and in most 

 woods a few bushes will be found scattered amongst 

 the undergrowth. This tree was formerly called 

 Hulver in some parts of England, and is still known 

 by it in Norfolk. It had the name of Holme in the 

 southern counties, and gave its name to many places 

 where it grew in plenty, as Holmwood, near Dorking ; 

 and Evelyn says that the vale near his house in 

 Surrey was Holmesdale. The name of holly is an 

 undoubted corruption tfholy. Dr. Turner, one of 



' Salix caprcra. 2 Salix Babyloni<-a, 



Ilex aquifoliuin. 



