5 8o 



The Museum Gazette 



tection to the flowers against injury from wind, cold or rain. 

 A propos of this protection of the spadix by the spathe, the 

 interesting fact may be mentioned that the use of the ther- 

 mometer during the flowering stage shows that the chamber 

 enclosed by the spathe is hotter than the surrounding air. 

 Thus we have proof that heat may be generated during life 

 processes in vegetables just as it is in most animals. The 

 Arum may be described as a warm-sapped plant. It is, how- 

 ever, appreciable only during flowering, and its amount is too 

 small to admit of the plant being put to a practical use as a 

 means of warming the drawing-room. 



The small white midges which may almost always be found 

 at the base of the spathe are known as Pyschoda phallanoides. 



Excepting in gardens, the cowslip is rarely to be seen near 

 Haslemere. It is a lover of clay, and does not thrive well 

 upon sand. Wherever cowslips and primroses occur to- 

 gether we may expect to find the so-called " oxlip," a hybrid 

 between the two. The true oxlip {Primula elatiov) is a distinct 

 species occurring only in one or two of the eastern counties. 

 Cowslips quickly assume a large size if grown in gardens 

 under favourable conditions. They then much resemble the 

 hybrid oxlip, but may be recognised by the deeper yellow 

 of the corolla and the more sharply defined orange lines at 

 the base of each segment. 



On sunny days in April and May the curious little Humble- 

 bee Fly (Bombylius) may be seen in open glades in woods 

 hovering over the primroses, and extracting the nectar from 

 them by its long proboscis. It much resembles a Humble 

 Bee in the hairiness of its body and the manner of flight, and 

 through this resemblance is said to escape experimental 

 tasting by birds. 



In April slugs emerge from their winter retreats, and 

 gardeners anxious for the welfare of their crops should 

 pursue them ruthlessly. 



