ON TREES. 
223 
These birds, which never perforate the live wood, 
find in this diseased part of the tree, or of the branch, 
a place suitable to their wants. They make a 
circular hole, large enough to admit their bodies ; 
and then they form a cavity within, sufficiently 
spacious to contain their young. Thus does Nature 
kindly smooth the way, in order that all her crea- 
tures may prosper and be happy. Whenever I see 
these sylvan carpenters thus employed, I say to 
them, " Work on, ye pretty birds ; you do no harm 
in excavating there : I am your friend, and I will 
tell the owner of the tree that you are not to blame." 
But his woodman deserves a severe reprimand. 
He ought to have cut down the tree, in the autumn, 
after the appearance of the fungus. 
On the island where this house stands, two stately 
sycamores have afforded ample proof of what I have 
advanced. 
One of these, some forty years ago, began to put 
on a sickly appearance ; and I heard my father say 
that he expected to see it blown down in a heavy 
gale of wind. In the summer of 1800, I climbed 
up to the place where the brown owl formerly used 
to breed. The hole was full of water, in a branch 
leading from the bole, at about 20 feet from the 
ground. Presuming from appearances that the 
damage was extensive, I took a wimble, and bored 
into the tree, at the height of 5 feet ; then at 3 feet ; 
and lastly, I got a chisel, and cut into it at 3 inches 
from the walk. Twenty-four gallons of water, having 
the appearance of strong coffee, were procured from 
these apertures in the course of the day. After 
