84 COMMON LING; OR, HEATH. 



with small leaves close to the stems and 

 branches. Many of the feathered tribe, par- 

 ticularly of tlie Grouse kind, find shelter 

 among its boughs , and food in its seeds; 

 and intended as it is to afford a large supply 

 to our wild birds, the seed-vessel is so formed 

 and protected that t^^^seed^a^l ^^uring a 

 whole year. Many injects -^re nourished by 

 it, and its foliage supports the caterpillar of 

 the Egger moth {PhcdcBna qiiermis), and of 

 several other beautiful winged creatures. This 

 plant abounds on barren wastes in every part 

 of Europe, especially in the northern countries. 

 The French call it La Bruyere ; and in the 

 bleak and barren Highlands of Scotland, it is 

 applied to a variety of economical purposes. 

 It serves the cottager for a thatch to his roof, 

 or it is burned for the winter fuel. The wall 

 which encloses the humble farm buildings, is 

 often made of alternate layers oLhe^atJ^ and of 

 a kind of cement formed of bmcii oartj^ and 

 straw. Sheep and goats will sometimes eat 

 the young and tender shoots, but cattle in 

 general are not fond of this shrub. 



