180 THE OPEN BOOK OF NATURE 
due to another gall-fly. There are numerous kinds 
of galls, each one having its own particular cause, 
and being a peculiarity of the plant on which it 
grows. There is no end to Nature: galls alone 
provide study for a litetime. 
In coming along the lane this morning I noticed 
the strong growth of the Brambles. They should 
be in bloom fairly soon. ~The Bramble gets on 
well in a hedge, because it can hook itself on to the 
Hawthorn by its prickles, and pull itself up to the 
light. It seems to have equipped itself for such a 
situation ; it does not thrive so well where it is left 
to itself, and has no other plant to climb by. By 
the time the Bramble is in full bloom the summer 
is well advanced, and, as you know, its luscious fruit 
is not usually ripe until September, when we all go 
blackberrying, and enjoy the good jam and jelly. 
One might say the Bramble is exceedingly cunning. 
It wraps its hard seeds in delicious pulp, which the 
birds eat ; but the seeds themselves are indigestible ; 
they pass through the body, or are scattered by the 
birds as they eat the fruit. In this way the parent 
plant attempts to avoid overcrowding. It does not 
want its youngsters to take away its supplies, so by 
a strange device it sends them abroad. The same 
trick is adopted by the Rose and Hawthorn: the red 
‘hips and haws’”’ attract the birds, who feed on 
the fleshy parts, and scatter the seeds so neatly 
packed inside. 
Are there any snakes about here? I have occa- 
sionally seen Adders (Vipera berus) among the 
Heather on the hill yonder ; that specimen I have 
in the museum at home was caught there ; it was a 
