230 THE NATURALIST IN NORWAY. 



mountain-ash grows in all woods of deciduous trees ; 

 and the berries are extremely welcome to small birds 

 during the long and severe Norwegian winters. 



The beech is by no means common here, and is 

 found only in the south. The purple beech is occa- 

 sionally seen in gardens. 



The birch is common everywhere. Its limit in the 

 Dovre-fjeld is 3750 feet above the level of the sea; 

 at that height it is little larger than a bush. This 

 tree is held in great esteem in Norway ; and at Christ- 

 mas the peasants, in some places, offer libations to it ; 

 the roots are made into bracelets and other fancy 

 articles. The peasants also exhibit considerable skill 

 in carving pieces of birch-wood, which occupies their 

 long winter evenings. Most of the household furni- 

 ture in this country is made from the wood of the 

 birch, and it is largely consumed as fuel in the huge 

 Norwegian stoves. The Lapps in Finmark make their 

 beds of birch-twigs, which are almost as springy as a 

 mattress. 



The elm grows among other trees in the woods, con- 

 siderably further north than Throndjem. 



The wild holly is common on the west coast; the 

 same may be said of the honeysuckle. The horse- 

 chestnut is seen in gardens as far north as Throndjem. 



The ivy grows wild near Bergen, and in some other 

 places not far north. 



The juniper is to be found all over the country ; its 

 limit above the level of the sea being much the same 

 as that of the birch. 



The lime grows in sheltered spots in the south of 

 Norway. A fine row of limes may be seen near Agers- 

 hus Castle, Christiania. 



