I 10 
NATURE NOTES 
for securing self-pollination. At the same time we do not 
remember a single case in which the cleistogamic flowers, upon 
which “A Field Naturalist” much insists, are the sole flowers 
produced. Nature’s endeavour would seem to be to secure the 
formation of seed, cross-fertilised seed, perhaps ; but, whatever 
happens, seed. 
Darwin’s followers may have often generalised crudely 
enough, while certainly the statement, quoted from Mr. Wallace’s 
“ Darwinism,” that Darwin discovered that primroses are abso- 
lutely barren if insects are prevented from visiting them, is a 
complete mis-statement of his conclusions. “ A Field Natural- 
ist’s” criticism may be of service to botanists, if only by 
reminding them of how much yet remains to be done in this 
particular direction of research. He might have considerably 
strengthened his case had he, in the matter of Arum maculatiim 
referred to F'ather Gerard’s “ Science and Scientists ” ; but, 
with regard to his more especial subject, we would call his 
attention to the fact that “ the pale primrose ” is more strongly 
scented and remains conspicuous at dusk. 
SPRING IN WESSEX. 
OHN BURROUGHS, no mean judge of English 
scenery, says that its dominant note is “ mellowness.” 
The American naturalist was enchanted alike by the 
mouldering castle wall and the mediaeval cathedral of 
the city, and by the lichened roof of the homestead and the 
park avenues of immemorial elms in the country. In few places, 
perhaps, can a combination of these features be better seen than 
along the banks of the Itchen, within half a mile of the centre of 
Winchester, the old capital of Wessex, and indeed of England. 
On a spring morning, as the pilgrim strolled by the some- 
what swift stream he would fain stop to think how little the 
surroundings have changed since Izaak Walton frequented the 
spot. Izaak lies buried in that great cathedral behind, that 
cathedral which, externally, says Mr. Francis Bond, is “ like some 
stranded prehistoric monster,” but which, internally, is so grandly 
calm and severe as to be a fit resting place for the old angler. 
“ God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation 
than angling,” wrote Walton, and the words form the epitaph of 
another of the craft, Francis Francis. As we thus reflect, two or 
three fine trout, of chalcedonic transparency, are seen with their 
neads against the current. Shortly, one trout leaps at least half 
a foot out of the water, snatches at some unseen object, and 
instantaneously flops back, making ripples which do not die 
away for some moments : 
“Through the clear stream the fishe.s rise. 
And nimbly catch the incautious flies." 
