The next younger leaf in each case lies beneath its own stipules, and in that position corresponds to the opening left uncovered by the previous and older pair. None of the pairs of stipules completely surround the bud.

The outer scales are often of a rich crimson (Pl. I. figs. 1, 2), and the next few sometimes of a brilliant ruby with greenish tips. When the buds first open the leaves, as is the case in other trees-for instance, the Beech, Hornbeam, Elm, &c.-turn downwards, assuming, as Mr. Henslow has pointed out, the attitude of some leaves when asleep, and probably for the same reason, namely, to expose a less surface to the sky during the cold nights of spring.

THE BIRCH (Betula alba)

In the Birch also the terminal shoot perishes, and the apparently terminal bud is really axillary.

If an apparently terminal bud is carefully examined in winter it shows four scars at the base. Two of these are large, and are those left by the death of the terminal shoot and the leaf respectively. The two smaller ones, which are not always easy to see, are those of the stipules of the fallen leaf.

The bud itself is ovoid-oblong, obtuse, glabrous, or with a few cilia at the margins of the scales, and deep

brown. The outer scales represent stipules the leafblades of which are not developed.

The first pair are slightly unequal in length, and do not overlap at any point nor surround the whole of the bud. The second pair, when spread out, are almost semiorbicular, rounded at the apex, and slightly unequal in length, the inner one being the longer and overlapped at the base by its fellow at both edges. They cover a considerable portion of the bud, owing to their width. The third pair are as long as the bud, covering the whole of the younger members and overlapping at their edges. They are more membranous than either of the one or two preceding pairs, and are more or less covered with a viscid gum. They are also slightly narrowed at the base. The fourth pair are more decidedly boat-shaped than the previous one, but are still imbricate. The first leaf generally occurs in connection with the third or fourth pair of stipules, but inside of, and covered by, them. It is rhomboid, acute, shortly petiolate, serrate, thinly pubescent, glandular, viscid, and concave. The fifth pair

are somewhat smaller than the fourth, but otherwise similar, as is their leaf. The latter is much more involute in bud, though neither strictly convolute nor conduplicate. Its form is doubtless due to the

abrupt arrest of the younger members of the bud; for the fourth and fifth pairs of stipules, together with the first and second leaf belonging to them re

K

spectively, are greatly in advance of those that follow. The sixth pair of stipules and the younger members of the bud they enclose will show a reason for the second leaf being partly involute, so as to occupy the space.

According to Henry (18, 309), the outer scales are the stipules of the last leaves of the previous year. The description given above, however, is, I believe, the

correct one.

THE BEECH (Fagus sylvatica)

The bud of the Beech (figs. 199-210) is more complicated. It is elongated, spindle-shaped, half to three-quarters of an inch in length; on the outside are four closely imbricating rows of stipules, arranged apparently in opposite decussate pairs. I say apparently, because, as the leaves are alternate, it is possible that each pair of these stipules are really alternate, though so compressed as to appear to be opposite.

The first pair (fig. 200) are small, triangular, and pointed. The five following are also triangular, each rather larger than the preceding and more convolute, till they almost enclose the upper part of the bud. The lower ones are brown and coriaceous; the upper membranous, and furnished with numerous straight, longitudinal, parallel, slender veins running from the base to the apex. The covered parts are white, the exposed brown. The upper ones are fringed with long,

FIG. 199.-Winter-bud.
FIG. 200.-First or lowest pair of stipules.
FIG. 201.-Sixth pair of stipules overlapping at the corners. FIG. 202.-Eleventh
pair of stipules, showing how one is rolled within the other; 7, position where
the leaf should be, though it is yet absent. FIG. 203.-Diagrammatic trans-
verse section of the stipules, showing the extent to which they overlap.
FIG. 204.-The bud after eleven pairs of stipules have been removed; 7, the first leaf;
st, st, the twelfth pair of stipules; e, e, the edges of the outer one of the twelfth
pair. FIG. 205.-st, st, the twelfth pair of stipules flattened out; 7, the first
leaf belonging to the same. FIG. 206.-st, st, the thirteenth pair of stipules; 1,
the second leaf. FIG. 207.-st, st, the fourteenth pair of stipules; 7, the third
leaf. FIG. 208.-st, the only stipule of the fifteenth pair discernible in this
bud; 7, the fourth leaf. FIG. 209.-No stipule discernible in the bud examined;
7, the fifth and last leaf discernible, occupying the centre of the bud.
FIG. 210.-Junction of the wood of two seasons' growth sc.st, scars of the outer
eleven pairs of stipules that covered the winter-bud and which were unac-
companied by leaves.

SC.st.

recurved, silvery or satiny hairs. They are sometimes a brilliant pink or rose colour after expansion, but less often than those of the Hornbeam. The fifth and sixth pairs (fig. 201) are ciliate with short hairs, and rolled round a considerable part of the bud.

The seventh pair are half as long as the bud, but otherwise like the sixth; the eighth pair, two-thirds as long as the bud; the ninth, nearly as long as the bud, with silky hairs directed downwards, and the outer one of the two distinctly overlaps the inner. The tenth pair are as long as the bud, and each is convolute, so as to cover nine-tenths of the bud, or even more. The eleventh pair (fig. 202) are similar, and almost meet at their edges. These eleven pairs of stipules show no traces of a leaf.

Fig. 204 represents a bud after the removal of the first eleven pairs of stipules.

About the twelfth pair there is a material change; they (fig. 205) are smaller, and between them is a leafblade; this is about one-third as long as its stipules, concave on the inner face, and plicate along the course of the ascending lateral nerves. The thirteenth pair of stipules (fig. 206) are rather narrower, especially at the base. The leaf is about half as long as the stipules. The fourteenth pair (fig. 207) are much smaller, thinner, narrower, and unequal, the inner one being the smaller. The leaf is three-fourths as long as its stipules. The leaf (fig. 208) belonging to the fifteenth