60 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



notice, but he does play up, and he plays 

 well. 



Old trees in the woods and parks fallen 

 timber that has been drawn from the woods 

 ready for the timber carters old Scotch fir 

 clumps, and best of all, out-of-the-world old 

 orchards, where the branches of the trees are 

 never trimmed, and the moss-covered trunks 

 are not lime-whited, are in favour with this 

 active, shy bird. And yet at times, under the 

 most favourable conditions, I have only caught 

 a glint of the bird and his mate, and that after 

 hours of patient watching in one of those old 

 orchards ; for in their noiseless fashion they 

 will slip on one side, and around you, or they 

 will, all the time that you are about, confine 

 their attention to the tops of the trees. 



This proceeding on their part conceals them 

 from observation in the most effectual manner ; 

 creep and twist about as you will, there is 

 nothing to be seen above the trunks of the 

 fruit trees, which are so closely ranged, that the 

 network of limbs and branches hides all. 



Our short views of him whilst he is at work 

 have been very close to houses and their in- 

 habitants. Why a bird of such shy and retiring 

 habits should come where men are at work in 



