182 NATURE AND WOODCRAFT. 



pearance to feed upon the cones. The admir- 

 able bill of the bird enables it to do this, and 

 split open the hardest seed-cases. Hanging in 

 every conceivable attitude, the birds use their 

 crossed mandibles, keeping up a perfect shower 

 of cones. 



As well as to birds, the balm and gum of 

 resinous woods seem to have a charm for a great 

 variety of insects. Most of these visitors are 

 injurious to trees, and feed upon products which 

 would be speedy death to others. The Giant 

 Sirex is a hornet-like borer, which does much 

 harm to growing timber. The grub bores to 

 its retreat, feeds upon the hard wood until its 

 pupa state, then emerges a perfect insect. 



The pretty Pine-moth has its wings orange- 

 brown, variegated with rich dark-brown and 

 grey. Its larvae feed upon the fir, and may 

 be taken in great quantities. On some bright 

 spring day the cocoon opens, and the pine 

 beauty emerges. Then it basks on the bark, 

 opens its wings to the sun, and it is only 

 whilst moving that the insect can be de- 

 tected. The rare Pine-hawk Moth is a pro- 

 duct of the forest, and a beautiful insect. 

 But these, like the brightly coloured fungi of 



