Chap. 95.] THE MISTLETOE. 435 



then voided by birds, the wood-pigeon more particularly, and 

 the thrush : such being the nature of the plant, that it will 

 not come to anything unless the seed is first ripened in the 

 crop of the bird. It never exceeds a single cubit in height, 

 and is always green and branchy. The male 88 plant is fruit- 

 ful, the female barren ; sometimes, indeed, the male even 

 bears no berry. 



CHAP. 94. THE METHOD OF MAKING BIRDLIME. 



Birdlime is made of the berries of the mistletoe, which are 

 gathered at harvest, and while in an unripe state ; for if the 

 rainy season comes on, though they increase in size, the viscous 

 juice is apt to lose its virtues. They are then dried, 89 and 

 when brought to a state of perfect aridity, are first pounded, 

 and then put in water, in which they are left to rot for twelve 

 days ; this being, in fact, the only thing that finds improve- 

 ment in decay. After this, they are again beaten in running 

 water with a mallet, and after losing the outer coat there is 

 only the viscous inner pulp remaining. This substance is 

 birdlime ; and after it has been thinned by the addition of 

 walnut oil, it is found particularly useful for catching birds, 

 it being quite sufficient if they only touch it with the wings. 



CHAP. 95. — HISTORICAL PACTS CONNECTED WITH THE MISTLETOE. 



Upon this occasion we must not omit to mention the ad- 

 miration that is lavished upon this plant by the Gauls. The 

 Druids — for that is the name they give to their magicians 90 — 

 held nothing more sacred than the mistletoe and the tree 

 that bears it, supposing always that tree to be the robur. 91 

 Of itself the robur is selected by them to form whole groves, 

 and they perform none of their religious rites without em- 

 ploying branches of it ; so much so, that it is very probable 

 that the priests themselves may have received their name 



are more likely to adhere to the bark of trees, and so find a nidus for ger- 

 mination. 



b8 The exact opposite is the case, the female being the fruitful plant. 



89 The method used in 'Italy for making bird-lime is very similar at the 

 present day. so Magos. 



91 Decandolle was of opinion, that the mistletoe of the Druids was not 

 a viscum, but the Loranthus Europseus, which is much more commonly 

 found on oaks. 



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