6i4 



THE NATURE BOOK 



a warren on a warm summer s evenmg 

 ])resents a pretty picture. The bucks, 

 all bounce and swagger, leaping across 

 each other's backs, kicking, scratching, 

 stamping ; the does stretched out con- 

 tentedly, or nibbling for the sake of doing 

 something ; the babies, of all sizes, and in 

 all conceivable positions, sitting up like 

 mother, scratching themselves like mother, 

 " fondling their foolish faces," scuttling 

 before imaginary danger, crouching before 

 imaginary shadows. Sometimes the 



danger is real — the cry of a hawk, the 

 rustle of an adder or a stoat, the step ot 

 man. "Thud, thud, thud!" from one 

 end of the warren to the other. The 

 old Rabbits are stamping with annoyance. 

 Up go the tails, the white scuts bob and 

 flutter, and in a moment the warren is 

 empty. W'alk slowly forward. Rabbit 

 after Rabbit will start up from beneath 

 your feet. Stoop down and listen. You 

 will still hear them stamping. 



Douglas Exglish. 



HOW TO KNOW THE TREES 

 GROWING IN BRITAIN 



With Notes, descriptive and photographic, for their Identification 

 in all Seasons of the Year 



By HENRY IRVING 



THE APPLE AND PEAR GROUP* -I 



THIS group. 

 as already 

 stated, is 

 closelv allied to 

 that of the Plum 

 and Cherry, being 

 of the order of the 

 Rose. In the trees 

 of this group the 

 fruit is formed be- 

 neath the calyx-, 

 which as a dried 

 rosette or crown 

 remains attached 

 till the fruit is ripe. 



THE CRAB OK 

 WILD APPLE 



The usual habit 

 of this tree is to di- 

 vide into branches 

 rather low down. 

 These spread oul- 



♦ Includes the Api^l.', 

 the Pear, tlif \Vliit«- 

 Bpam. the Wild S<r- 

 vire, the Rowan, and 

 the Hawthorn. 



B(\KK AND TRUNK 



APPLE TKLE. 



wards and upwards 

 somewhat irregu- 

 larly, so that the 

 crown is low and 

 rounded. There is 

 often considerable 

 density in the 

 lesser branching, 

 suggestive of a 

 thicket of shoots 

 and twigs. The 

 sight of the Apple 

 tree in full bloom, 

 whether wild or 

 imder culture, fills 

 one with a kind of 

 amazement. The 

 mass, the fulness, 

 the warmth of co- 

 louring, its sugges- 

 i'we sweetness, set 

 this tree apart 

 from all others. It 

 seems to crown the 

 floral beauty of 

 the season. 

 The greyish 



