It is scarcely too much to say that “leafy June” is the month in the
year least favourable to natural history observation. Its glorious
beauty is distracting and the profusion of objects of interest hinders
attention to any. We hope, however, that our last month’s Notes
may have directed the attention of some of our readers to certain
special topics and particularly to the wonders of Gall-formation now
in progress. The pine-apple galls on the spruce firs are now in full
growth. Two varieties will be abundantly found. Some are small, not
bigger than large peas, and remain green. These are covered with spines
rather than scales. Others much larger have scales, which at their
margins are beautifully tinged with various shades of red and crimson.
These are the “pine-apples” and these alone simulate true cones. Their
changes will advance rapidly and already their valves may have opened
and allowed the aphis larva, which has escaped from its egg at their
base, to crawl up and enter. This most remarkable process may be
verified by any one who will watch carefully.
Those objects of universal disgust, the Cuckoo-spits, may be shown to
have features of interest which will to some extent counteract the
repugnance of all juvenile naturalists. Hidden in a mass of iridescent
spume there will be found a little greenish insect revelling in the
double luxury of warmth and moisture, to which perhaps is added a
paradise of many-coloured light. The observer’s attention may be
attracted to the fact that the insect has chosen chiefly thistles and
nettles as its hosts, these not being likely to be eaten by cattle.
Later in the season it will be less careful. The insect here concerned,
although a relative of the “plant lice,” is not a true aphis.
June is the month for the Orchis tribe. The Bee must be looked for in
its earliest weeks or never. So also of the Spider and the Frog. Others
continue in flower much longer, but almost all are in their perfection
in June.
Rhododendrons are now plentiful, and the very interesting arrangement
by which their anthers open at their points to discharge their pollen
may easily be observed. It is characteristic of the whole family of
heaths, but as the anthers of rhododendrons are far larger than those
of our English heaths, it is best seen in them.
Those who have never observed it before will be amused to be shown the
jack-in-the-box manner in which the curled up stamens of the Broom
spring out when the bee touches the shoulders of the petals. June is
the month for Broom and both will soon be past.
Amongst our summer visitants the pretty little Turtle-dove is one of
the last to arrive. It waits until the season is well settled and
rarely comes to us before the middle of May. As perhaps a result of
this caution its numbers remain each year much the same. We have now
plenty of turtle-doves at Haslemere, whilst all representatives of the
Swallow tribe are scarce. Some observers think that Nightingales also
have been less frequently heard this spring than usual. Their song,
which ceases when the young are hatched and the business of feeding
begins, will soon be over for 1906.
Speaking of Birds of Passage, we may say that we shall be glad to
receive from any readers in different parts of the kingdom, estimates
of the year’s abundance of the various species. The spring was
remarkably variable, and much of it cold, and this may have had the
result of much diminishing the supply of food which would await our
guests. So far as our enquiries have gone we believe that there is
a general impression that the early spring migrants are this year
somewhat defective in number.
Peach and Almond trees, with their leaves curled, distorted and
thickened, some yellowish-green, others rosy or purplish, are infested
with a fungus, scientifically known as _Exoascus deformans_. It is
one of the ascomycetes; in the same genus is included the fungus
responsible for the “witches’ besoms” of our birch-trees. At maturity
the fungus bursts through the cuticle of the leaf, coming to the
surface to disperse its spores or seeds. The part of the leaf with the
ripe spores upon it, is minutely velvety; the whitish bloom may be
easily seen with the unaided eye, but of course individual spores could
not be seen without the aid of a powerful microscope.
It is said that this disease is very rarely seen in seasons following
an uniformly mild spring.
At the moment of writing we have not observed many oaks defoliated
by caterpillars. The following note is taken from the Museum Record
Book, June 1, 1899: “Oak-trees badly attacked by the larvæ of the
green leaf-roller (_Tortrix viridana_), which cause much damage to
the foliage. The continuous falling of the excreta of these small
caterpillars sounds like paper being pricked by a fine pin, and is very
noticeable in a quiet wood.” In 1902 these larvæ were again equally
troublesome in this district.
The ingenious work of the leaf-rolling Beetles (_Genera apoderus_,
_Attelabus and Rhynchites_) may be observed at this time of the year.
The female, in some species, rolls a leaf into a tube, in others she
makes a compact little thimble of the upper half of the leaf, in the
centre of which she puts an egg. Hazel, oak and chestnut leaves so
folded are not uncommonly seen in this district. Specimens may be
usually seen in the vivarium towards the end of the month.
June is a good month for the observation of what are termed Social
Flowers. The veronica, in many meadows, especially those in which the
grass is kept short by grazing, now exhibits round patches of several
yards in diameter, which are beautifully blue. The little mouse ear
(Myosotis) makes similar patches, but in much less conspicuous tints.
These plants appear to have the power not only of spreading themselves,
but of excluding intruders, and their territories sometimes show no
other form of vegetation. The common daisy is also a social flower,
but much less able to keep others at a distance. So also the wild
strawberry.
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