A RAMBLE THROUGH THE WOOD 
23 
flowers are therefore massed together, enhancing the colour effect. The blue 
star gentians, the moss-campions, and the androsace are often blots of colour, but 
pansies and bell gentians, asters, geums, the vanille-orchis, the sweet-scented 
daphne, and a hundred others dapple the grass with blues and purples, pinks, 
yellows, and white. Such flowers may be found from one end of the Alps to the 
other, together, of course, with the edelweiss, which is another of those specially 
named for protection. There seems no particular reason why this little whitish, 
downy star-flower should be so greedily sought, but it is surrounded with legend, 
and the inexperienced think it is generally gathered at the risk of life. In reality, 
it is much more common on the rough grassy slopes than on precipices, and is 
still found in most parts of the Alps, but more profusely, we think, in the 
Eastern districts.” 
Proposed Devonshire Br.a.nch. — Mr. Ernest R. Collinson 
writes from Plymouth urging the formation of a Branch of the 
Society in Devonshire. It need hardly be said that if Mr. 
Collinson, or anyone else, will get together a sufficient number 
of persons in active sympathy with Selbornian principles, the 
Council will be only too happy to enrol such a branch. 
Hampstead Astronomical and Scientific Society. — We 
are glad to learn that this young and active Society has changed 
its name to that of “ The Hampstead Scientific Society,” as it 
was a mistake to brand astronomy as either unscientific or extra- 
scientific. 
King’s Lynn Museum. — We have received a circular 
appealing to naturalists to assist in raising a sum of £2,000 
required to furnish an adequate home for the various valuable 
collections already in the possession of the Committee of the 
King’s Lynn Museum. Particulars may be obtained from, or 
subscriptions sent to, Mr. A. W. Williams, care of Messrs. 
Gurney’s Bank, King’s Lynn. 
A RAMBLE THROUGH THE WOOD IN JANUARY. 
HE unusual period of dry weather at this season of the 
year has made the roads beautifully clean, and in the 
heart of the country they are as sound and free from 
dirt and dust as in the early summer. Between the 
woods the white road stretches in front like a silver stream 
glistening in the sunlight, bordered by deep wooded slopes. 
The thorn fence dividing the wood from the road is old and 
broken at intervals by gaps which make entrance easy. Around 
a detached bush the honeysuckle is intertwined and freshens the 
dull colour with its green leaves already opened. Along the 
bank the tendrils of the ivy have crept and formed verdant 
patches which contrast pleasantly with the black and humid 
dead leaves scattered about. The bank itself is tunnelled with 
holes, and the output of fresh earth and the many imprints show 
that there is an active colony of white-tailed rodents there. 
