SEASONAL NOTES. JUNE.
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.