4 o THE OLIVE LEAF. CHAP. 



gratory birds ; and in the quiet retreat, in the fragrant 

 shade, protected from the wild storms that raged over 

 the snowy plateaus outside, they built their nests and 

 reared their young in safety. There could not be a 

 greater contrast than between the wind-swept desola- 

 tion around and the oasis of life created in the midst of 

 it by these magnificent trees. Outside is the stillness of 

 death ; within, nature is never silent. All day the shrill 

 sound of the grasshopper is heard, and the grove re- 

 sounds with the short, clear notes of little birds. Eze- 

 kiel gathers all animal life around these cedars, for 

 there, he says, " All the fowls of heaven made their 

 nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the 

 beasts of the field bring forth their young." The 

 Psalmist also shows the fitness of the fir-trees of the 

 lower heights of Lebanon for the nests of the stork, 

 these being better adapted for their habitation than the 

 roofs of the houses, which they frequent in Europe ; 

 for in the East such situations are too frequently 

 made use of in domestic economy to suit the quiet and 

 retiring habits of the bird. And he goes on to notice 

 the beautiful adaptation that exists between the timid 

 marmot or coney and the clefts of the inaccessible 

 rocks to which it flees in danger; and between the 

 chamois or wild goat of Syria and the snow-clad haunts 

 over which it freely ranges, secure from the pursuit of 

 man or beast of prey. 



The relation between birds and particular trees is 

 especially interesting. It would seem, indeed, as if 

 some trees grew dense, and matted together their 



