460 



THE GOAT WILLOW. 



The Goat Willow is distinguished from most of its species by 

 its round unpolished many-veined leaves. Its catkins, like buds of 

 silver-down — later on to be fringed with yellow pollen — are among 

 the earliest tokens of spring. When its seed-vessels burst, towards 

 the end of summer, they scatter a soft down in masses over the 

 twigs. 



TWIG OF GOAT WILLOW 

 IN FEBRUARY. 



