Seasonal Notes: June 59 



growth has been notably vigorous. The fungus is the Paccinia 

 suaveoleus [see Plowright, p. 183.) In some plants it is visible 

 even in early spring, and if abundant will dwarf the plant so 

 affected instead of stimulating its growth. 



SEASONAL NOTES. JUNE. 



It is scarcely too much to say that " leafy June " is the 

 month in the year least favourable to natural history obser- 

 vation. Its glorious beauty is distracting and the profusion 

 of objects of interest hinders attention to any. We hope, 

 however, that our last month's Notes may have directed the 

 attention of some of our readers to certain special topics and 

 particularly to the wonders of Gall-formation now in progress. 

 The pine-apple galls on the spruce firs are now in full growth. 

 Two varieties will be abundantly found. Some are small, 

 not bigger than large peas, and remain green. These are 

 covered with spines rather than scales. Others much larger 

 have scales, which at their margins are beautifully tinged 

 with various shades of red and crimson. These are the 

 " pine-apples " and these alone simulate true cones. Their 

 changes will advance rapidly and already their valves may 

 have opened and allowed the aphis larva, which has escaped 

 from its egg at their base, to crawl up and enter. This 

 most remarkable process may be verified by any one who 

 will watch carefully. 



Those objects of universal disgust, the Cuckoo-spits, may 

 be shown to have features of interest which will to some 

 extent counteract the repugnance of all juvenile naturalists. 

 Hidden in a mass of iridescent spume there will be found 

 a little greenish insect revelling in the double luxury of 

 warmth and moisture, to which perhaps is added a paradise 



