Feb. i860.] elliott society. 15 



viously to the dates ai wliich these notes were recorded. After this, the 

 weather continued cold and dry for some time. General!}-, in this section, the 

 forests may be said to be in the plenitude of their autumnal glory from the 

 middle unto the close of November. 



These observations were made at about tie distance of from 15 to 20 miles, 

 in a Northwesterly direction from Charleston. Such trees and shrubs as grow 

 or have been naturalized in the City and vicinity are subject to a somewhat 

 milder temperature. The first date given is November 20th. 



The Sweet Gum [Liquidamhar styraciflua) exhibits a varied drapery of green, 

 yellow and russet intermingled, passing finally into a deep crimson. Down- 

 ing, in his "Landscape Gardening." describes it <^s "assuming in Autumnits 

 gayest livery, being decked in colors almost too bright and vivid for foliage ; 

 forming one of the most brilliant objects of American scenery at that period 

 of the year. When planted in the neighbourhood of our fine Maples, Ashes, 

 and other trees remarkable for their autumnal coloring, the effect in a warm, 

 dry Autumn, is almost magical." Others have compared its color to that of 

 freshly-shed blood. 



The leaves at this date are partly falling. The burrs are, at first, greenish- 

 brown, soon becoming brown. From the 3d to the ICth December, the trees 

 had become generally divested and bare of their leaves, and the burrs were 

 now of a darker brown, appearing, except upon close inspection, black. By 

 Christmas, the Gum trees present tlie most unsightly and gloomy aspects im- 

 aginable, shrouded in their long robes of moss, fit emblems, like the melan- 

 choly Cypresses, of stern and hoary Winter. Even then, however, in a few 

 sheltered spots, the lower branches of some trees, and the young growth, re- 

 tain a few unwithered leaves. Before this period, the burrs, with their long 

 peduncles attached, have commenced to fall ; but very slowly. They remain, 

 for the most part, upon the tree, during the whole Winter, and even in the 

 Spring it is not uncommon to see them intermingled with the flowers. The 

 seeds, however, have been discharged in the Autumn or early Winter. The 

 Cat birds {Turdus felivox) which arrive in numbers in Carolina about that time, 

 are seen feeding on them : also the Robins ( Turdus migratorius) attack them in 

 the first instance, about the same time as they do the Holly and Gall-berries, 

 before they make their appearance about the Pride of India and Wild Orange. 

 And the Pine finches [Fringilla Pinus) make them their especial repast : they 

 may now be seen hanging on awhile to the burrs, or passing nimbly from one 

 to another. 



The Dogwood, ( Cornusflorida), is now very conspicuous, and, with its spread- 

 ing canopy of sombre red, flames amid the evergreens. Its bright red drupes, 

 which have just lent their brilliancy to the Autumn landscape, have mostly 

 disappeared ; though in milder seasons they are seen sometimes as late as the 

 middle of December. By that time the leaves have, for the most part, fallen : 

 in very sheltered situations they are retained somewhat longer. A character- 

 istic feature, which in Winter more epecially would attract the attention, is 

 the appearance of dark brown, ovate or oblong excressences formed at or near 

 the extremities of the twigs below the buds. They are woody, hollow, and at 

 this time generally empty ; but are the work of an insect, and occasionally a 



