There are one hundred and twentynine native species of trees.
C. japonica, C. cordata, and C. laxiflora, the last belonging to the true Hornbeams typfied in our native species C. betulus; the other two to the group which some botanists have made a separate genus.
Three-quarters of the native species are endemic; they seem, however, to be quite unable to resist the invasion of new-comers, and already 600 plants of foreign origin have succeeded in establishing themselves.
Many of our native species spend the day lurking beneath stones, and sally forth at night in pursuit of their prey, which consistsof small insects, earthworms and snails.
The place of the vanishing native species is being taken by such European arrivals as sky-larks, finches, blackbirds, sparrows and rooks.
