BIRCH TREK, 49 



and the seeds arc the favourite food of the Siskin, or 

 Averdevine. 



The Birch delights in a moist soil, but is not confined 

 to the water-side. Cowley is severe upon this gentle 

 and amiable-looking tree, for its proneness to revenge, 

 and to punish petty crimes, to the great terror of boys 

 at school. The same allusion is made by Shenstone, in his 

 Schoolmistress : 



" And all in sight cloth rise a Birchen tree, 



Which Learning, near her little dome, did stovve ; 

 Whilom a twig of small regard to see, 

 Though now so wide its waving branches flow, 

 And work the simple vassals mickle woe ; 



For not a wind might curl the leaves that blew 

 But their limbs shuddered, and their pulse beat low ; 



And as they looked they found their horror grow, 

 And shaped it into rods, and tingled at the view." 



He represents the dame, too, as wielding in her hand, 

 for a sceptre, 



" tway Birchen sprays." 



It is said that some Birch-trees are so curiously veined 

 as to represent birds, beasts, trees, &c. "to say no- 

 thing," says Evelyn, " of the magisterial fasces, for 

 which, anciently, the cudgels were used by the lictors for 

 lighter faults, as now the gentler rod by our tyrannical 

 pedagogues.'" 



The pensive drooping of the branches of this tree har- 

 monizes well with the plaintive tones usually considered 

 as the residence of the nightingale : 



" And to yon bower of Birch 

 I '11 meanwhile pass, in search 

 Of the sweet nightingale's secreted nest ; 



