chap, v.] DESTROYING INSECTS. 123 
the ground. Even in the severe winter of 
1837-8, the ground was not frozen at the 
depth of ten inches. Tree paeonies, and other 
tender shrubs, that are in a growing state, 
very early in the spring, may be protected 
by coverings of basket work, which are suffi¬ 
ciently large and light to be lifted off in fine 
days. Hand and bell glasses, sea-kale pots, 
and wooden frames covered with oiled paper 
are all useful for protecting small plants. 
Insects , and Snails and Slugs are the terror 
of all gardeners; and the destruction they 
effect in some seasons in small gardens is 
almost beyond the bounds of credibility. 
Birds do comparatively little injury, and in¬ 
deed all the soft-billed kinds (which fortu¬ 
nately include most of the sweetest songsters) 
do good. The willow and common wrens, 
the blackcap, the nightingale, the redstart, 
all the warblers and fly-catchers, the swal¬ 
lows and martins, the wagtails, the wryneck, 
the tomtit, the fern owl or night jar, and 
many others, live almost entirely on insects, 
and destroy great numbers every year: while 
the blackbird and the thrush, the robin and 
the sparrows, though they devour a portion 
