80 



THE BIRCH. 



pears to have been collected in Pliny's time ; as 

 he speaks of a bitumen which the tree produces. 

 The odour arising from it is very perceptible to a 

 person passing near a tree, and affords another 

 reason why the Birch should be planted near 

 houses. 



THE WEEPING BIRCH. 



A variety of the Birch is often met with in the 

 Highlands, which differs from the common spe- 

 cies by having the shoots pendulous. This is a 

 yet more elegant tree than the first described, and 

 is frequently planted in parks and gardens. It 



