THE MISSELTOE. 



155 



on Christmas eve, and hung up in the great hall with shouts and rejoicings; 

 this, as it is well known, is still performed — 



"On Christmas eve the bolls were rung, 

 On Christmas eve the mass was sung; 

 That only night in all the year 

 Saw the stolod priest the chalice rear; 

 The damsel donned her kirtle sheen, 

 Tlie hall was dressed with holly green. 

 Forth to the woods did the men-y men go 

 To gather in the Misseltoe, 



Then opened wide the baron's hall, * 



To vassal, tenant, serf, and all." 



This curious parasitical shrub is found throughout Europe, and the colder 

 regions of Asia. There are, however, various other species, to the number of 

 seventy-six, which have been described by botanists, (see Don's Mill,) but 

 the White-fruited, or Common Misseltoe is the only one found in England; 

 in some counties it is rather plentiful, as Staffordshire, Herefordshire, 

 and Monmouthshire, in which county we are informed that it is to be found 

 on more than one Oak, while it is rather of a rare occurrence in others. 

 It is probable that it grew in the Oak woods of Snowdon, before the damp 

 western parts of Britain were disforested. It has been discovered in Scotland, 

 though it cannot be considered as a truly indigenous plant to that country, 

 or to Ireland, where it is now found growing by cultivation, which is a very 

 simple process; and there is no person in England possessed of a garden with 

 mn Apple tree or White4liorn, but what may possess plants of this parasite. 



We shall now enumerate the trees on which it has been found in this 

 country and on the Continent; at the same time we shall feel extremely 

 obliged if any correspondent of "The Naturalist" will record in its pages any 

 trees, ltd parLicularly tlie Oak, on which they have seen it grow, also the 

 county: in the meantime I give the following: — 



On the Oak, (Qaercus L.) 



1 Ponporthlenny, ) ,_ ^, , . 



2 Usk f Monmouthshire. 



3 Anglesea. It occurs hanging almost over a grand Druidical Cromlech 



in the park of the (then) Lord Uxbridge. 



4 Frampton-on-Severn. This Oak tree is said to be upwards of a century 



old. 



5 Lodbury Park, Chepstow. This tree is stated by its noble owner to be 



upwards of seventy years old. 



6 Mr. Beaton records an Oak near Ledbury, which he says was cut down 



in 1831. 



7 Castnor Castle, near Malvern. This is said to be a fine example. 



8 In 1765, it was found growing on an Oak on the estate of — White, 



Esq., Watling Wells. 

 The above are the only recorded Oaks on which it has been found growing 



