6 
NATURE NOTES. 
accidental split in the glossy green rind, by exposing the pinkish 
grey beneath it, produces an exquisite effect. The surface of the 
acorn, especially towards the apex, is often covered with a soft 
grey bloom, like that of a ripe plum. 
As the season draws on, the colouring becomes gradually 
warmer and richer. The zone of pale yellow surrounding the 
base is now suffused with a pinkish blush, producing a delicate 
salmon or rosy fawn tint, which soon begins to extend itself 
farther, passing almost insensibly into the green. When acorn 
and cup first part company, this paler coloured space, resulting 
from the shelter afforded by the latter, has a fairly distinct and 
well-defined edge ; but this soon becomes lost by the blending 
and intermingling of the two colours. A similar light tint some- 
times makes its appearance at the opposite end, or elsewhere, in 
irregular patches. As the acorn ripens, an indistinct sort of 
grain, like that of some kinds of wood, becomes gradually more 
and more perceptible, underlying the surface, as it were : besides 
which, there are sometimes more decided longitudinal streaks of 
a darker shade than the rest of the surface, disposed at pretty 
regular distances from each other, reminding one of the markings 
of certain varieties of pumpkins grown by cottagers.. They are 
dark green at first, but afterwards change to purplish grey or 
brown. 
The prevailing green, as ripening proceeds, gradually takes 
a yellow or orange tone, the darker streaks differing much as to 
strength and intensity, and great variety is now shown both as to 
colour and markings. Rich yellowish browns are blended and 
contrasted with olive tints, so as to produce most harmonious 
effects. Sometimes the sumptuous golden hues of the maple 
leaves at this season are approached, or the warm colouring of 
a well ripened apple. As autumn wears on, and the weather 
begins to show signs of approaching winter, the acorn grows 
gradually darker, still, however, preserving its warm glowing 
colour and glossy surface ; and, alter passing through a series 
of fine olive or orange browns, becomes at last a deep chocolate 
or liver colour, retaining in some cases indistinct stains of the 
darkest sap green. It is now fully ripe, and soon begins to 
lose its beautiful polish, fading at last into a dead opaque brown 
inclining to red or grey, like the fallen leaves under which it lies 
hidden. 
It seems sad that such an infinitesimal proportion of the 
annual crop has any chance of germinating and entering upon 
that glorious future possible to each individual acorn, pro\ided 
it be placed under conditions fax'ourable to development. Only 
a favoured few are planted, either by the hand of man, or 
through some accident ; as when an acorn gets trodden into 
suitable soil by the hoofs of cattle, or is buried by rooks, field- 
mice, lice. Then indeed it will strike its long tap root down into 
the earth, and rearing its stem alolt, gradually overtop and leave 
behind the tantrled growth of brambles and thorns which have 
