664 
PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 
below the surface is worth two growing above, since the 
submerged part is the hardest and so most lasting, and it is 
that end of the reed stem which is exposed to the weather 
when laid on as thatch. Neither plant nor animal life 
luxuriates in stale water, although I believe some rare 
crustaceae are chiefly to be found in stagnant ditches. 
Neither Duck nor Snipe delight therein, and aquatic vegetation 
certainly flourishes most when frequent rainfall freshens up 
the water. 
The most striking floral display on the common is that 
made by the Gorse : glorious acres of gold backed by the dark 
but glaucous green spiny foliage, which tones down the 
somewhat glaring yellow of the thickly clustering blossoms. 
The best time and way to get the full benefit of the prospect 
and perfume of the April furze is to climb up into a neigh- 
bouring tree or look down upon it from an upstair window, 
when the sun breaks out afresh after a passing shower, and 
the humid atmosphere is full of the hum of Bees, the mellifluous 
song of the Blackbird, the clear, soft call of the careless Cuckoo, 
and the deceptive lambing of the courting Snipe as he 
throws himself violently down against the wind over his 
“clicketing” mate below. 
Last autumn we had several consecutive nights with very 
heavy dews, followed by slight, white frosts ; the furze bushes 
were then thickly covered with Spiders’ webs, which, dew 
bespangled and frosted, were a lovely and curious sight, 
looking for all the world like miniature fairy cradles suspended 
from all the outside sprays of the bushes. Gossamer Spiders’ 
webs are also very numerous hereabouts in autumn, and 
I have seen the prismatic colours of the early morning sun- 
beams reflected so clearly from them, covering the surface 
of a newly ploughed field, as if it were a rainbow accompanying 
one on the other side of the fence whilst driving along the 
road. 
The earlier deeper-hued Kingcups, or Marsh Marigolds, 
