NOTES AND 
Our coloured plate this month is a repro- 
duction from one of Professor 
Hulme’s fine paintings of our 
British Wild Fruits. Appro- 
priately to the season, the one chosen is the 
mistletoe. We wish we had the space to 
quote at length what the artist-author so 
interestingly tells us about this plant; for 
example how, until quite recently, it enjoyed 
a big reputation for medicinal properties, 
especially as a specific for epilepsy. As 
a parasite, too, if possesses many curious 
peculiarities, amongst others the fact that 
it is the only plant whose roots refuse to 
shoot in the ground; this, and its traditional 
superstitions handed down from the days of 
the Druids, add a great deal to its charm. 
Herrick, full of quaint fancy, finding ever 
valuable lessons in the commonest and most 
The 
Mistletoe. 
COMMENTS. 
while the wealth of illustrations, mostly by 
the author, make the work certainly the most 
attractive on the subject that has come under 
our notice. When completed, the book will 
contain at least 250 illustrations, including 
36 coloured plates reproduced from the 
author’s original paintings, besides a number 
of photographs specially selected. The 
coloured plates are a most striking feature ; 
indeed, we have no hesitation m pronouncing 
them the most effective examples of colour 
printing that have yet appeared. Our illus- 
tration is from the third part of “ Our 
Poultry.” The public should be duly 
grateful for the opportunity afforded them 
by the publishers of obtaiing such a hand- 
some work on the popular instalment system. 
Hyen so, it is wonderful value for the money, 
Ts 
unlikely things, sees in the mistletoe a A NoBLE breed of ancient lineage is the 
beautiful emblem of his dependence upon Dogue de Bordeaux; but alas! 
the care of Providence : Doeweie the anti-cropping edict has 
“ Tord, I am like the mistletoe, 
Which has no root and cannot grow, 
Or prosper, save by that same tree 
It clings about; so I by Thee.” 
We cannot for want of space make further extracts, — es) 
so must content ourselves with the opportunity : 
afforded of commending to all lovers of nature 
this first volume, under the Duke of Bedford’s 
editorship, of the Woburn Library—‘ Wild Fruits 
of the Country Side.” It is a rare pleasure to come 
across such a handsome book (and withal so cheap), 
and we gratefully acknowledge our obligations to 
the publishers, who have kindly allowed us to 
reproduce this handsome plate. 
Dy 
WE are glad also to have the opportunity of saying 
a word in praise of Mr. Harrison 
Weir’s great work, “Our Poultry, and 
All About Them: Their Varieties, 
Habits, Mating, Breeding, Selection, and Menage- 
ment for Pleasure and Profit.’ This is now 
coming out in fortnightly parts, price 7d. net, the 
two first of which have just been published. We 
can thoroughly recommend this work to all who 
are Im any way interested or concerned in the 
management of poultry. The letterpress bears 
evidence of the author's full practical knowledge, 
218 
killed it in this country, for it 
cannot be denied that with his natural ears — 
Our 
Poultry. 
| 
a 
BLACK HAMBURGH HEN. 
From “Our Poultry.” 
