260 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



more than once said, ^Everything here is inte- 

 resting to persons of observation, and particularly 

 so to those wjio know something of botany. But 

 they are not merely for momentary examination 

 the variety and the design, to be found in 

 each, supply ample subject of reflection." 



Just at that moment I heard a shrill cry, and 

 1 interrupted my uncle to ask what it was. 



He told me that it was the alarm-cry of the 

 fieldfare, and pointed to a large tree at the end 

 of the walk, where a number of fieldfares and 

 redwings, lately arrived from a colder climate, 

 had collected. 



" You see," said my uncle, "that even without 

 any fine picturesque view, you may have abund- 

 ance of amusement here, not only in observing 

 the growth of mosses and plants, but in watching 

 the habits of birds. You may see the little wood- 

 pecker, and the still smaller creeper running 

 nimbly up the stems of the trees, and pecking in- 

 sects and their eggs out of the crevices of the bark ; 

 or the fauvette and the friendly robin waiting 

 on every spray for a little notice ; while in the 

 thickets to the left you may see the missel thrush, 

 and may sometimes distinguish its note, though it 

 does not actually sing at this season." 



As my uncle said this, we approached the tree 

 on which the fieldfares were perched : they 

 seemed at first unmindful of us ; but, as we came 

 nearer, one bird which I had observed sitting 



