The Woods in Wintei' 



435 



arrangement of the cracks, which in many cases have uplifted 

 edges, and are therefore somewhat saucer-shaped. In adult 

 trees the bark of a larch much resembles that of a Scots pine, 

 but it is perhaps of a lighter shade of colour and not quite 

 so rugged. Any doubts may be at once set at rest by peeling 

 off a scale with a pocket knife. The under surface of larch 

 bark is always a beautiful reddish-pink; that of the Scots pine 

 fawn-brown and reddish-cinnamon, the two colours being 

 sharply defined owing to the very definite lamination, the 

 interior of each plate being reddish-cinnamon. The under sur- 

 face of the bark of a spruce fir may be termed a biscuit colour. 



Observation of the habits of the Spiral Climbers, more 

 especially of the honeysuckle, is much assisted by the bare 

 condition of the winter woods. Many fine illustrations may 

 now seen with but little trouble. In Pratt's "Flowering 

 Plants," we read the statement that "the honeysuckle in its 

 windings follows the sun from east to west." We are obliged 

 to doubt whether this expression conveys appropriately what 

 is intended. A curious modification of climbing may easily 

 be found in copses where woodbines are plentiful. The stems 

 often climb on themselves and form ropes for mutual support. 

 As many as six strands may be counted in a rope. Such 

 ropes rarely ascend much, but they move across horizontal 

 distances of several feet. Woodbines certainly climb from 

 right to left, apparently in the opposite direction to that of 

 the sun in the heavens. Here and there a plant of Bryony 

 may have escaped destruction by weather, and may reveal 

 the windings of its course up some hazel stem. Of other 

 spiral climbers we have nothing to note in winter. It is 

 needless to say that the ivy does not climb in this fashion 

 but goes straight up the selected tree, fixing itself by its aerial 

 roots or suckers. 



At this time of year it is not difficult for the observer, quite 

 independently of information, to tell whether or not there has 

 been any heavy fall of snow. The breaking down of the dead 

 bracken {Pteris aquilina) is the most conspicuous sign, but in 



