44 WILD FLOWEBS OF 



from the earth, and has, therefore, no necessity to 

 fall to the ground, its dissemination is wisely en- 

 trusted to birds, who are tempted to feed on its white 

 berries when other supplies fail, and in cleansing 

 their bills upon the rind of various trees frequented 

 by them, are sure to leave behind a few of the 

 clammy seeds to perpetuate the continuance of the 

 parasite. It is not improbable also that the seeds 

 pass through the bodies of birds uninjured, as stated 

 by old writers, and even benefited by the forward 

 tendency thus given them to earlier germination. 



Birds of the thrush family chiefly delight in the 

 mistletoe berries, especially the fieldfares and red- 

 ivings ; and as these generally fly in flocks, keeping 

 in one line of direction, it is not unusual to see a 

 corresponding line of mistletoe bushes ranging across 

 the country for a long distance. I have followed 

 such a line till its continuity was broken by a river, 

 when I have almost invariably found that its course 

 was again continued from the nearest tree that pre- 

 sented itself on the opposite side of the water. I 

 remember once observing a long line of hedge over- 

 topped by straggling hawthorns and scrubby maples, 

 every one of both of which were hung with mistletoe ; 

 but curiously enough an oak in the centre of the 

 hedge was passed over, though the parasite was 

 luxuriant on a hawthorn close under the umbrage of 

 the oak.* The large rotund bushy mass that the 

 mistletoe forms is often very striking, especially if it 



* Perhaps where the mistletoe is scarce, or not at all met with in apple 

 orchards, as stated by Dr. DAVIES, of Presteign, of those of Radnorshire, 

 the localities may not be frequented by the winter migratory birds 

 belonging to the thrush family. See Analyst, vol. i. where there are 

 remarks on the mistletoe, by Drs. DAVIES and STREETEN. 



