112 THE FLORIST AND 



predate the blessings of nature. Let us then proceed in our inquiry con- 

 cerning the means by which we may multiply the birds around our habita- 

 tions. 



In every locality in which all the native species of birds are abundant, we 

 find the following conditions : — First, there is a large proportion of cultiva- 

 ted land, numerous and thrifty orchards, extensive fields of grass and grain, 

 all well provided with water-courses. When these conditions are present, 

 the familiar birds already named will be numerous. If these cultivated lands 

 are well intermingled with pastures abounding in the thickets and wild shrub- 

 berry, and all the indigenous undergrowth belonging to the same, we may 

 then hear the voices of the less familiar birds, which are in many respects 

 superior in song to the tenants of our orchards and gardens. Wild shrubbery 

 and its carpet of grasses, vines, and mosses, and other cryptogamous plants, 

 form the condition that is necessary to the preservation of the half familiar 

 tribes. If, with all these circumstances, the land has a good proportion of 

 wood in its primitive state, or in one resembling it, not divested of its un- 

 dergrowth, containing a very large variety of oaks, maples, pines, junipers, 

 sumachs and cornels, we may find the wood-thrush, the hermit-thrush, the 

 red-start, the oven-bird, the creeper, 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, Celastrus scandens 

 and the common sumachs are always abundant where there are goodly num- 

 bers 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 Michella 

 repens, the dew-berry, or ever-green blackberry, and all the indigenous 

 grasses. If we clear our woods of their undergrowth, and convert 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 soli- 

 tary 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 cat-bird, the wood and hermit thrush, and many species of 

 sylvias, as we should extirpate the squirrels by destroying all the oaks, bee- 

 ches, hazles, 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. 



