698 



THE NATURE BOOK 



flies, capable of \-irgin reproduction, such to say, a phenomenon so remarkable has 

 as the one \vith which we commenced our attracted the attention of men of science, 

 story. And so this wonderful alternation and gi\-en 



rise to much discussion and 



GAI.LS ON ROOTLET OF OAK. 



"Wherein are reared the agamic generation of the oak apple gall-flies. 

 (About natural size.) 



of generation — this interchange of per- 

 sonalit}' — continues }'ear after year, in 

 apparent defiance of our trite dictum that 

 hke invariably produces like. Needless 



theorising. So far, however, no adequate 

 explanation of the facts seems to be forth- 

 coming. 



Harold Bastin. 



HOW TO KNOW THE WILD FLOWERS 



By the REV. H. PUREFOY FITZGERALD, F.L.S. 

 With Photographs by HENRY IRVING 



THE FLOWERS OF THE HEDGEROWS 



THE WaLD ARUM 



THE Cuckoo-pint, or Lords and 

 Ladies (Anim maculatum), appears 

 in the hedgerows in April, and, 

 from its curious shape and its dissimilar- 

 ity to other plants, it is an object that 

 attracts notice readily ; it is the onh^ 

 representative of the Aracea that grows 

 in this country. 



The leaves are generally to be found 

 in March— shiny, bright green leaves — 

 often marked with black or purple blotches, 

 spear-sliaped at the base, and each one 

 with a long stalk coming straight up from 



the root ; the latter will be fcmnd to be 

 a white tuber, with a ver\' bitter taste. 



The flower stalk is contained inside the 

 curious-looking leafy shelter, called the 

 spathe ; if this is carefully ptillcd away 

 the actual reproductive portions will be ex- 

 posed — the club-shaped portion at the top 

 is either purple or yellow, making the dis- 

 tinction between the "lord" and '-lady." 

 Just below the point where the leafy 

 cowl is folded will be seen a ring of hairs 

 pointing downward, beneath which are 

 the stamens or male flowers, while at the 

 base are the pistils (female flowers), and 



