452 



The Museum Gazette 



SEASONAL NOTES.— FEBRUARY. 



The only one of our copse trees which flowers whilst leaf- 

 less is the hazel. It produces the buds of its male flowers 

 (catkins) even in autumn, and if the weather be mild these 

 may open and shed their pollen as early as January. There 

 will, however, be a succession of them until May. This year 

 the male catkins have been exceedingly abundant and some 

 were ripe in the second week of January. One or two female 

 flowers were brought to the museum as early as the 14th. 

 Those who wish to find the inconspicuous female flower at 

 this season must not lose time by searching promiscuously, 

 but must choose a bough upon which the male florets have 

 opened. On that bough the appearance of the female flower 

 will not be long delayed. It affords an interesting example of 

 individual peculiarity even in branches. The whole of one 

 branch may exhibit this proclivity to early flowering whilst 

 the rest of the tree is waiting patiently. A great many of 

 the male catkins show the injurious effects of insect attack. 

 They become brown at their tips and the scales are dry and 

 prematurely open. A little grub will be found lodged in the 

 middle of the part which is thus spoiled. 



This month, like the preceding one, is not productive of 

 many wild flowers. The red and yellow Deadnettle, Groundsel 

 and Daisy may be found in sheltered spots, together with all 

 the species alluded to last month. In the last week, if the 

 season is mild, the Dog's Mercury and Coltsfoot will appear. 

 The former is dioecious, having the male and female flowers 

 on separate plants. The Coltsfoot flower appears before the 

 leaves. In 1823 the following note appeared in Times Tele- 

 scope: "A remarkable fact never yet noticed by any author, 

 may here be mentioned concerning the Coltsfoot ; wherever 

 the earth from canals, roads, &c, is thrown up from the 

 depth of five or six feet, or more, below the surface, in every 



