ON TREES. 223 



These birds, which never perforate the live wood, 

 find in this diseased part of the tree, or of the branch, 

 a place suitable to their wants. They make a 

 circular hole, large enough to admit their bodies ; 

 and then they form a cavity within, sufficiently 

 spacious to contain their young. Thus does Nature 

 kindly smooth the way, in order that all her crea- 

 tures may prosper and be happy. Whenever I see 

 these sylvan carpenters thus employed, I say to 

 them, " Work on, ye pretty birds ; you do no harm 

 in excavating there : I am your friend, and I will 

 tell the owner of the tree that you are not to blame." 

 But his woodman deserves a severe reprimand. 

 He ought to have cut down the tree, in the autumn, 

 after the appearance of the fungus. 



On the island where this house stands, two stately 

 sycamores have afforded ample proof of what I have 

 advanced. 



One of these, some forty years ago, began to put 

 on a sickly appearance ; and I heard my father say 

 that he expected to see it blown down in a heavy 

 gale of wind. In the summer of 1800, I climbed 

 up to the place where the brown owl formerly used 

 to breed. The hole was full of water, in a branch 

 leading from the bole, at about 20 feet from the 

 ground. Presuming from appearances that the 

 damage was extensive, I took a wimble, and bored 

 into the tree, at the height of 5 feet ; then at 3 feet ; 

 and lastly, I got a chisel, and cut into it at 3 inches 

 from the walk. Twenty-four gallons of water, having 

 the appearance of strong coffee, were procured from 

 these apertures in the course of the day. After 



