SONGS TO THE SUN 83 



and any one who sees the great spotted-wood- 

 pecker at work on his instrument for the first time 

 must be astonished at the small size of the bird 

 that makes so much sound. He does not seem 

 nearly as large as a blackbird, though he is actually 

 of about the same size. He has, like other wood- 

 peckers, a red tassel on his head, and he is picked 

 out with diamonds of black and white that shine 

 like satin or silk in the bright sun that bathes 

 him and the clear white branch at which he 

 hammers. 



The world is getting green now, but it is largely 

 a deceptive green. You do not see that the snails 

 have made free with the dark glossiness of the 

 arum or the spiked leaves of the blue-bells. The 

 stinging nettles are well armed against all but 

 the caterpillars of the Vanessidae, the ground ivy 

 is protected by the essence that gives it the strong 

 aroma we like for auld acquaintance sake, and the 

 blue-bells and daffodils are full of sharp crystals 

 that quickly bring sores on the hands of those who 

 pick them. 



Now is the time when we make a great on- 

 slaught on the snails and slugs in the garden by 

 putting down traps that catch them by dozens 

 a day. Cut a turnip, carrot, or other vegetable 

 into inch-thick slices and place these near your 

 favourite rockery plants and other things that 

 slugs like, and in the morning you will find on the 

 under side many a fat beast of whose presence the 

 garden will be well rid. You will not catch them 



