198 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



partial to the mealy pulp of Whitebeam berries, 

 and will make long journeys in search of them. 

 The Medlar is more a " fruit de fantaisie " 

 than of utility or beauty, though this cannot 

 be said of the Gruelder-rose or the Wayfaring- 

 tree. The former has clusters of brilliant 

 red berries, the hidden parts tinted with rich 

 yellow, and having an exquisite semi-trans- 

 parent waxen texture. The Snowball tree of 

 our gardens is also a variety of guelder-rose. 



In spite of the Yew being a " cheerless un- 

 social plaut that loves to dwell among skulls 

 and coffins, epitaphs and tombs," it puts forth 

 a brave show in autumn, and its scarlet 

 berries stand out sharply against its dark-green 

 foliage. The poisonous properties of the Yew 

 are well known, though this does not apply to 

 the berries. These are sweet and viscid, and 

 are readily eaten by birds and children. The 

 ripened scarlet fruit of the Barberry may often 

 be seen covered with masses of orange-coloured 

 dust like pollen, resembling " rust " in wheat. 

 This is a tiny fungus which shows up beauti- 

 fully under a low power of the microscope. 

 The berries of the Woodbine are just now 

 showing their various tints of green, orange, 



