EVERGREENS AND BIRD LIFE. 349 



of fringilline birds that frequent the cone-bearing fir tree 

 from the tiny Titmouse to the larger Finches. Many 

 other birds, when driven by hunger ' necessity's supreme 

 command ' prey upon the fruit of these evergreen trees 

 and shrubs. 



A word as to the nesting facilities afforded by the 

 evergreen. Early breeding birds, such as the Thrush, 

 Blackbird, and Hedge Accentor, naturally seek some 

 warm and sheltered place for the cradle of their young, 

 at a season when cold weather is of far from unfrequent 

 occurrence : concealment, too, is wanted. Evergreens 

 amply fulfil all these conditions ; hence we invariably 

 find the first nests of the season snugly located amongst 

 the holly, yew, laurel, or ivy. The delicate little Gold 

 Crest and sprightly Chaffinch make frequent use of these 

 trees and shrubs for domestic purposes ; and as the year 

 rolls on, the Greenfinch and active little Wren, doubtless 

 drawn hither by security and concealment, hatch and 

 rear their young in peace and safety. These are but a 

 few of the many birds using evergreens for their purpose 

 Close attention will reveal a goodly list, amongst them 

 being many of our shyest and rarest birds. Again, the 

 circumstance of birds repairing to these situations no 

 doubt greatly shields their eggs and young from pre- 

 daceous animals, as the cat, weasel, and brown rat ; for 

 even these freebooters are kept at bay by foliage so 

 dense and impenetrable. 



The careful observer will not fail to notice that on 

 the advent of keen weather birds are uncommonly 

 numerous in shrubberies and other places where ever- 

 greens abound, only emerging from their retreats when 

 nature requires a further supply of food. Amongst 

 evergreens birds in the winter months sing more fre- 

 quently, and their song, in my opinion, is louder and 



