224: BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



branches in all directions, not only upwards and 

 downwards, and across the perpendicular trunks, 

 but with its back undermost, on the lower side of 

 branches, with incredible rapidity. Its object is 

 to pick out of the little crevices of the bark those 

 minute insects and their eggs which are passed 

 over by the larger birds ; and as the active little 

 being visits all places, woods, copses, hedgerows, 

 shrubberies, gardens and orchards, it saves us many 

 a fruit and flower and shoot, which would other- 

 wise have fallen a victim, to the canker. 



These minute creatures are abroad in the hardest 

 frosts and deepest snows. They appear to be but 

 little affected by cold ; and as they find their food 

 on the trunks of trees, which are uncovered when 

 the tree itself is mantled in snow, they have 

 their table ready spread at all seasons, when many 

 other birds perish or save themselves by flight. 

 They show great sagacity in their mode of pro- 

 ceeding when busied in an orchard, seldom ascend- 

 ing higher than the boughs ; and by some singular 

 instinct they distinguish those they have once 

 examined, and rarely, if ever, visit them a second 

 time. . 



The CUCKOO is a well known and 'most curious 

 bird, and has always been a subject of much 

 interest and inquiry to the ornithologist. Every 

 one has heard his unique and peculiar note, sound- 



