142 STUDIES IN THE FIELD AND FOREST. 



the jay, and woodpeckers of various species whose 

 habitats are the wild woods. 



Among the shrubs that are most useful to the birds 

 may be named in general all that produce a wholesome 

 seed or fruit. The viburnums, the cornels, all the 

 species of the whortleberry tribe, the elder, the Celas- 

 trus scandens, and the common sumachs, are always 

 abundant where there are goodly numbers of the less 

 familiar birds. Among the herbs and smaller plants 

 that are useful to them are the Solomon's seal, the 

 partridge berry, the Mitchella repens, the dewberry, or 

 evergreen blackberry, and. all the indigenous grasses. 

 If we clear our woods of their undergrowth, and con- 

 vert them into parks, we do in the same proportion 

 diminish the numbers of certain species of birds. A 

 partial clearing is undoubtedly beneficial even to the 

 most solitary tribes, by promoting a greater variety of 

 vegetation. But the removal of all this miscellaneous 

 undergrowth would serve as effectually to banish the 

 red-thrush, the catbird, the wood and hermit-thrush, and 

 many species of sylvias, as we should extirpate the 

 squirrels by destroying all the oaks, beeches, hazels, 

 hickories, and chestnuts. 



One of the principal ornaments of a country-seat is 

 lawn. A smooth shaven green is delightful to the eye, 

 at all times, especially when just emerging from the 

 city, or after one has been for some hours rambling 

 among the rude scenes of nature. But lawn is a 

 luxury that is obtained at the expense of all birds that 

 nestle in the ground and the low shrubbery. The 

 scythe may be as great an exterminator of such birds, 

 as the gun of the fowler. The song sparrows build 

 their nest upon the ground, in the most familiar places, 

 where they can feel secure from disturbance. Not a 



