54 Select Suburban Residences. 



blackbird, thrush, and other songsters, are attracted to the spot; 

 not, perhaps, because they admire the picturesque, but because 

 there they find every thing suited to their nature. What makes 

 the circumstance worthy of remark is, that, previously to the 

 laying out of the rockery, scarcely one of the species now 

 enumerated was to be seen; indeed, the locality is quite unin- 

 viting to the feathered race, being near the centre of the town;, 

 and in the midst of a busy population of 3500. Colonies of 

 the wild bee have been located there for years, and numbers of 

 that industrious insect are seen entering the crevices of the rock, 

 heavily laden with their winter store ; while the ear is ever and 

 anon saluted with their deep hum. Intricate footpaths intersect 

 the rocks, two of which lead to eminences commanding a full 

 view of the scene ; for, limited as is the spot, it is only when so 

 placed that the eye can embrace the whole. One of the heights 

 so overhangs a part of the pond, that the termination of the 

 water is not perceived ; and, consequently, the idea of a subterra- 

 nean passage is conveyed to the mind. The bridge, too, shown in 

 fig. 14., by intercepting the view across, sets the fancy to work 

 as to the probable extent of water in that direction. Like the 

 rocky part of the scenery, the pond also contains several of the 

 plants most commonly met with in the lochs around; such as 

 the water lilies, white and yellow, the iris, and rushes. A weep- 

 ing elm, an ash, and a few dangling willows, encircle the edge, 

 and dip their pendent twigs in the water. 



The materiel for the rockwork was taken from the beach at 

 JSeafield, where the masses lie in abundance, presenting the most 

 varied and fantastic shapes, and closely covered with lichen of 

 every hue. The quantity conveyed thence, a distance of three 

 miles, amounts to 130 tons; and the whole has cost about 100/. 

 Considerable difficulty was experienced in making the pond 

 retentive, the subsoil being open ; but layers of strong clay were 

 superadded, to the thickness of 2 ft., and now no drainage is 

 perceptible. The pond was at first filled from a pump well ; 

 and is supplied, as required, from the same source. In dry 

 weather, occasional pumping is necessary ; but in rain, or when 

 the atmosphere is moist, none is required. A lead cistern, the 

 size of a puncheon, is placed at the well ; and an inch pipe, 

 attached to the bottom, is carried under ground to the pond : 

 fifteen minutes' work fills the cistern ; and, if the plug is with- 

 drawn, the water will continue to flow for an hour, rising up and 

 forcing its way through the rocks to the pond. Perch, trout, 

 and goldfish, all pretty large, and nearly of a size, are in the 

 pond at present : the two latter kinds do not succeed so well ; but 

 the perch thrive remarkably : they are'so familiar as to feed from 

 the hand, and will even catch at the finger if thrust in the water. 



Such a piece of scenery as now described, and of which two 



