THE EUROPEAN VARIETIES OF HARDWOOD 77 
the remains of eggs being sometimes found. This 
‘latter curiosity has been seen by the writer embedded 
in a hole with an encasement of about two inches of 
wood grown after the nest was deposited. 
The wood obtained from these trees is of light-brown 
colour, much twisted in the grain, fairly hard, tough 
and porous. There is usually a good margin of clearly 
defined sap-wood which, however, is as durable as the 
heart-wood. It is difficult to split, and is exceedingly 
durable when placed in a constantly damp position, 
and equally so if kept in a perfectly dry one, but will 
not stand an alternate treatment. As an instance of 
its durability, an example is afforded by the conduits 
formerly employed by the now defunct New River Co. 
These are often found buried in the London Streets, 
simply trunks of timber bored from end to end, and 
spigotted one end into another. These are brought 
to light practically in as sound condition as when 
they were placed there, perhaps a hundred years ago. 
The wood, however, notwithstanding this virtue of 
durability, has not a great many users, it being inclined 
to twist and warp and, as remarked, is difficult to 
work. It is largely used for packing-case ends, for 
the bottoms and sides of wheelbarrows, for ships’ 
blocks owing to its smooth wear, and especially for 
the making of coffins. 
Wych Elm.—This is a variety that is supposed to 
be indigenous to Great Britain. It is rarely seen in the 
Southern Counties, but further North and in Scotland 
it is common, being in fact sometimes known as Scotch 
Elm. It rarely, but occasionally, grows to the height 
of common Elm, and has a rather pendulous and more 
graceful habit in the disposition of its branches. The 
wood is of lighter and more uniform brown colour 
than the common variety, and is also much straighter 
