BOG FIR AND OAK. 311 



the most spacious calcareous caverns known. It only leaves 

 it at the fall of day, and makes its nests sixty feet from the 

 ground. De Humboldt gives a most entertaining description 

 of these birds, and of the periodical attacks of Indians upon 

 them, which take place in the 1 month of June.* 



ESTHER. 



In Iceland, the peasants split the wood of the pine, which 

 they find buried in their bogs, and use it for candles, it being 

 generally the only light which they have. 



The oak is also found in great quantities in the bogs, is it 

 not 1 ? 



MRS. F. 



Yes, the oak is generally dyed black from the iron which 

 exists in the peat. Attempts have been made to convert the 

 bog oak into furniture, it being so hard and black as to equal 

 ebony in the fine polish which it takes, and in color; but 

 after a short time, it warps and cracks so much as to spoil its 

 appearance, and, unfortunately, to prevent its adoption as a 

 substitute for ebony. These trees are found immersed in the 

 bogs at different depths, sometimes twenty feet below the 



surface. 



/ 



ESTHER. 



I read the other day, that experiments have been lately 

 made upon preparing paper from turf or peat, which if the 

 attempts should prove successful, will be the source of great 

 advantage to Ireland. 



MRS. F. 



Let us hear what you have read. Various are the materials 

 which have been tried as a substitute for linen. Paper has 

 been made from straw; Chinese paper from the outer coats of 



* Humboldt, Voyage, torn. iii. 



