yew. 297 



touch no poisonous berry, and arc generally 

 attracted by the most delicious and nourishing 

 fruits. 



The fruit of this tree is of a singular nature, 

 having only that of the Gualtheria similar to 

 it, and we are of opinion that it should rather 

 have been called an open drupe than a berry. 

 In its early state it resembles an acorn in 

 miniature, but in the ripe state the cup be- 

 comes of a coral colour, and of a glutinous 

 nature, enclosed in an exceeding fine trans- 

 parent skin, in which the seed is set, covered 

 by a shell that becomes black as it reaches 

 maturity. We have frequently observed this 

 fruit on the trees as late as the middle of 

 November, and we noticed them in full flower 

 on the 20th February 1822, in Kensington 

 gardens. 



The flowers come out from the side of the 

 branches in clusters ; the male flowers having 

 many stamina, are more conspicuous than the 

 female ; these are generally upon different 

 trees, as the class Dioecia, in which it is placed, 

 denotes ; but we meet with some of these 

 trees that have both male and female flowers 

 on the same tree. The pollen of these flowers 

 is said to be injurious to bees. 



The yew-tree is still found growing in the 

 wild state in many parts of the Surrey hills. 



