Acorns in Trees. 173 



turn, with flowers of the same form, with reflexed segments of a pale 

 pink or rose color, sometimes (?) 'tipped with purple.' It is com- 

 paratively rare in collections and consequently not so well known as 

 the two preceding species, though equally attractive in appearance. 

 It seems equally deserving of specific rank. 



No collection of tropical plants however choice, but that would 

 be enhanced in value by a representation of these elegant plants, 

 which, when covered with charming pendant blossoms of brilliant 

 tints or of delicate subdued shades, are scarcely surpassed by any 

 greenhouse plants. For a window garden, conservatory or lawn, as 

 an edging in beds, in small pots or hanging baskets or in more elabo- 

 rate combinations the Epiphyllum is equally pleasing and graceful. 



In England this plant is made useful in many curious combina- 

 tions. Pereskias, in one instance recorded by Lewis Castle, were 

 trained to a height of twelve or more feet against the wall and up 

 the roof of a house, and an Epiphyllum grafted thereon at intervals 

 of a foot. And these in time formed good heads, producing a mag- 

 nificent effect, clothing the roof and walls of the house w T ith the pen- 

 dulous stems and a mass of richly tinted bloom. Pyramids several 

 stories in height are produced by a similar method of grafting, and 

 while some may prefer less artificial effects, yet they are well worthy 

 of the florists' art, and are in fact but one way of imitating the work 

 of nature. They have rapidly and deservedly advanced in the last 

 fe,w years from comparative obscurity into an increasing popularity 

 among all classes. C. R. Orcutt. 



ACORNS IN TREES. 



(From the Ornithologist and Oologist xvi. 64.) 



I have read that the California woodpecker sticks acorns in the 

 trunks of trees in order that they may rot and so attract insects. I 

 have had an opportunity to investigate this matter a little in the last 

 few months, and as yet have not been able to find a single insect in 

 these acorns. The acorns are very often cracked or split in two, and 

 only half an acorn put in each hole. The object of the bird seems to 

 be to let the nut become soft or start to decay, and then feed upon it. 

 I have examined the gizzard of several of these woodpeckers and 

 have found the acorn meat in them. All the holes made by this bird 

 that I have seen were made in the trunks and larger branches of the 

 live oak trees. They all seemed to have been used for years. 



These woodpeckers have the same habit as the Lewis wood- 

 pecker, with which they associate, of perching on the top of the 

 large sycamore and live oak trees, from which they dart into the air 

 after insects and return to the same spot in the same manner as the 

 fly-catchers do. E. D. Kimball. 



