TREES ABOUT TOWN 203 



resorted to by most of the larger birds. Ash planta- 

 tions attract wood-pigeons and turtledoves. Thrushes 

 are fond of the ash, and sing much on its boughs. 

 The beech is the woodpecker's tree so soon as it grows* 

 old — birch one of the missel-thrush's. 



In blackthorn the long-tailed tit builds the domed 

 nest every one admires. Under the cover of brambles- 

 white-throats build. Nightingales love hawthorn, 

 and so does every bird. Plant hawthorn, and almost 

 every bird will come to it, from the wood-pigeon down 

 to the wren. Do not clear away the fallen branches 

 and brown leaves, sweeping the plantation as if it 

 were the floor of a ball-room, for it is just the tangle 

 and the wilderness that brings the birds, and they 

 like the disarray. 



If evergreens are wanted, there are the yew, the 

 box, and holly — all three well sanctioned by old 

 custom. Thrushes will come for the yew berries, 

 and birds are fond of building in the thick cover of 

 high box hedges. Notwithstanding the prickly leave's, 

 they slip in and out of the holly easily. A few bunches 

 of rushes and sedges, with some weeds and aquatic 

 grasses, allowed to grow about a pond, will presently 

 bring moorhens. Bare stones— perhaps concrete — 

 _will bring nothing. 



If a bough falls into the water, let it stay ; sparrows 

 will perch on it to drink. If a sandy drinking-place 

 can be made for them the number of birds that will 

 come in the course of the day will be surprising. 



Kind-hearted people, when winter is approaching,, 

 should have two posts sunk in their grounds, with 

 planks across at the top ; a raised platform with the 



