338 Injury done hy a Snow Storm. By M. T. CuUey. 



it is firmly fixed by membranous bands whicli do not admit of 

 tbe slightest extension or retraction of this peculiar fold. 



With regard to its function, this seems uncertain ; it either 

 gives to the bird the power of emitting the peculiar note, some- 

 what similar to that of the Hooper fC. musicusj, which also has 

 a prolongation of the trachea into the sternum ; or what seems 

 more likely it gives lightness and buoyancy to the whole frame. 



Ettrick Bank, March, 1883. 



On the Injury done to Scotch Firs at Cowpland Castle hy a 

 Snow Storm in December, 1882. By Matthew T. 



CULLEY, Esq. 



The snow storm of December 1882 was pretty heavy, but not 

 nearly so heavy as many that I have seen : nevertheless it did 

 more harm to my firs than any other I have known. On Decem- 

 ber 7th very wet snow fell to the depth of about a foot, and as 

 the wind, (which had been rather high), went off, and there was a 

 remarkable absence of frost, it lay on the boughs of the trees so 

 as to bend them by its weight in a very unusual manner. It thus 

 remained without melting, while at the same time there was no 

 frost to render it crisp and light. Scotch fir naturally suffered 

 most severely, though all kinds of trees suffered more or less. 

 Immense boughs were broken off the Scotch firs, so much so that 

 the Highway Authorities sent for my woodmen to clear away the 

 branches that fell from my trees overlooking the turnpike road 

 near Akeld Lodge. The Scotch firs that line the approach to my 

 house were especially disfigured, most of projecting boughs being 

 bent or broken off, and in two cases the tops of the trees were 

 smashed off. One large silver fir was dreadfully bent and 

 broken in its lower branches, and birches suffered also. I never 

 saw anything like the same amount of damage done by snow 

 before, and I have since noticed that the adjoining woods of 

 Ewart have suffered similarly. 



