HOME PLANTS AND THEIR WAYS, 27 



slender, trembling bridge, the young cochineal wanders 

 boldly out to a new world, seeks a promising spot, delib- 

 erately sinks its fragile trunk into the juicy leaf, and never 

 draws it back again — drinking, drinking, like a toper as 

 he is, through his whole existence. 



5. Even larger inhabitants are often found on quite 

 small plants. Thus, England produces a slight but well- 

 supported thistle, which is frecpiently found to have little 

 elaborate nests hanging down at an elevation of a few 

 inches from the ground. These contain not insects, but 

 mice, though of the smallest variety known, and are occa- 

 sionally large enough to hold as many as nine young ones, 

 carefully stowed away and well secured against all enemies 

 and dangers. 



6. Birds seem, of course, the most natural lodgers of 

 plants ; they find there abundance of nourishment, all the 

 material for building their nests, and a well-protected home. 

 The eagle gathers the knotted branches of oaks or pines, to 

 bring up his fierce brood upon the hard, uncushioned couch ; 

 the thorn tears a handful of wool from the passing sheep 

 for its tiny inhabitants ; and the despised mullein covers 

 its broad leaves with the softest of downs to line the bed of 

 the delicate children of the humming-bird. There is prob- 

 ably no bush and no tree that has not its own particular 

 bird ; everywhere do the fowls of the air find a foliage, 

 thicker or thinner, to shelter them against rain, heat, and 

 cold ; a hollow trunk affords safe and warm lodgings ; soft 

 moss carpets their dwellings, and insects and worms swarm 

 around, to offer, at the same time, food in abundance. 

 They give, in return, life and sound to the immovable 

 plant. Song-birds of many kinds perch and sing their 

 beautiful anthems on every spray ; locusts trill their mo- 

 notonous and yet pleasing note among a world of leaves 

 through long summer noons, and the katydid utters its 

 shrill cry during sultry nights. They all love their home, 



