54 BIOGRAPHY. 



it, and is hanging in heavy clusters, so as to give the 

 fast-dying tree a verdure not its own. And, as the reader 

 may observe, two more masses of fungus are projecting 

 from the tree and extracting the life from its fibres. 



DECAYED ASH AMD BRICK. 



Just above the upper fungus and on its right is a small 

 door, with a hole near the top, and this little door has 

 rather a curious history. 



In the spot where the door is shown there is a fungus, 

 proving that the wood from which it has sprung was 

 decayed. Now, Waterton had for some time wanted the 

 Cole-titmouse to breed in his park, and, in accordance with 

 this notion, provided it with a home. First, he separated an 

 oblong piece of wood about an inch in thickness so as to 

 form a door. Next, he cut away the soft decayed wood 

 until he had formed a considerable cavity. He then 



