From John Colby   9 April 1877

Dear Sir

I am much obliged to you for your letter anent the blue bell.¹ In this part of the country the tendency of the dioecious principle to win the race of life is very marked. This place has, from time unknown, been called Pantyderi (Vale of Oaks) and there are still some good old oak trees standing. But very rarely now do I find a seedling oak tree, though ash seeds itself in abundance & grows up like a weed— It seems to push all other trees out of the premises.² The only one which holds its own against it being sycamore. This beats ash on the higher grounds, exposed to the S.W & W winds off the Sea.³ But is beaten by ash in sheltered places. Of other trees, Alder does well along rivers; wild cherry formerly seeded itself freely, but seems now to get less common; Holly grows freely; Mountain ash fairly; Beech seedlings are occasionally found; Elm never seeds itself but young trees occasionally grow up from root suckers.⁴ Laurel, & Silver fir occasionally grow from seed without assist^ce.. But Spruce fir, scotch fir, larch, poplar, aspen would I believe soon die out but for artificial care. Rhododendron occasionally grows from seed.⁵ I knew of one which grew high up in the hollow of an oak branch, near this—

But as I said before nothing comes near the ash for taking care of itself in the lower grounds— In some places they grow up like corn & could be mowed with a scythe—

By the way, turning from plants to animals, do you know if the Brown Owl has been known to build in chimneys? For this morning a nest with four young owls was taken from our kitchen chimney, although a “culm” fire burns in the kitchen without intermission day & night.⁶

I had seen the old owls about the house but had no idea they were chimney builders.

The other chimneys are frequented by jack daws, perhaps the owls thought the young daws would come in handy for feeding the owlets.⁷

This is a famous winter resort for birds for there are plenty of evergreens, & running water which I have never known to freeze over, the birds however are mostly small the largest wild bird being the heron.⁸

Hoping these brief notes may be of interest to you & that you can tell whether the owls are singular in their chimney predilections I am yours faithfully | John Colby—