NATURE NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19633, 20 July 1935, Page 16 (Supplement)

NATURE NOTES.

Nature Notes may be copied, but must be marked “ copied " when sent in.

SEARCHING FOR BEETLES.

A MEADOW FLOWER.

A tree outside our window was covered with little white-eyes. They are hanging upside down, pecking in ' the bark lor beetles, which they love. —Jean Edgar (12).

—Margaret Quinlan (U).

THE DAINTY RIFLEIYIAN. The dainty little rifleman is the smallest of our native birds. lie is a dull green bird, with brownish wings and white and yellow underparts. He is fairly common in roost of our forests.— (Copied.) —Lewis McMillan (13).

THE TUTU. Tutu (Corlaria rusclfolla) Is a very common and untidy shrub which will grow In bructicully any kind ol soil. Ihe leaves ar<} from hair an Inch to two Inches long, and are a beautiful glossy green. luey grow opposite to each other on the stein. TUB powers are pale green and grow in clusters on a stem iroiu six to ten inches Jong The seeds are a purplish blue shade in colour The shoots and seeds contain a deadly poison' winch kills most animals. From tue berries the Maoris used to make a drink by straining out all the little seeds. —Margarot Craig (11).

TOTARA. The totara is a lofty timber tree and one of the most valuable tn tnu country. Tim wood of a reddish colout, veiy light, 'mini and durable, is used for telegraph post- wharf Idles and sleepers; In fact, •or amailing where durability is required. " is that it is very brittle, i n nevertheless It Is durable m ua.er. !; l ,‘c iuiv narrow leaves culminate m a , ,'rn liccdle-liKe point. The bark ol the nee n igs hr thin, leathery or papery The foliage is of a browmsn nue, sUl| ,,'-,itv in the young slate. Tills tree to -New Zealanu. and attains its ..'• ‘cst i eight oil low levels. Kic.iuai t —Koroiliy lliggiuson (15).

Girl Guidos’ Notos will be found on page 18.

The cowslip is a familiar meadow flower which flourishes on heavy clay soils. It Is a relative to the primrose, although Its flowers grow in’ clusters and not. singly on long stalks like tbe primrose.

FREAK DAFFODILS. We have a freak bunch of golden double daffodils growing at school, Peter. The buds appear abovo the ground nrst, then, when the buds bave grown about three incues tall, the small leaves appear, then size' fiTOW iJiß ' B ' er unUl they are the right —Ruby N'ewcombe (13).

THE CAWING ROOK. The rook Is recognised by its great size and harsh cawing. The nest, made of sticks and often two feet across, is built in tall tree-tops. A number of birds build their nests near each other forming a rookery. They return to the same trees year after year. It has plumage of black, with blue and purples tinges.—Copied.), —Joan Quinlan (13),

THE ALDER TREE AND ITS USE. The aider is a riversklo tree, usually about -to feet In height, attaining: under favourable conditions 00 to to feet. Its short-stalked leaves remain green artor other trees have assumed the reds and yellows of autumn, and are shed later than those ol drier situation's. The reddish catkins are succeeded by the cones, which ripen in October and November. Alder wood Is soft, will to when ncwiy cut chan?* mg’ to pale red. being' durable under nr Ut t°h’ fn ls j. uset ! Pdes. The supports ol the ltlalto ot Venice are made of this U '°?.‘V " as f s ' clogs, turnery, herring aStter wood ' ciieers are also made of —Alice Harris (13),