HISTORY OF BOTANY. 47 



with the branches of old and rotten trees, cast vp there 

 likewise : whereon is found a certaine spume or froth, that 

 in time breedeth vnto certaine shels, in shape like those of 

 the muskle, but sharper pointed, and of a whitish colour ; 

 wherein is conteined a thing in forme like a lace of silke 

 finel}" wouen as- it were togither, of a whitish colour ; one 

 ende whereof is fastend vnto the inside of the shell, euen 

 as the fish of Oisters and Huskies are; the other ende is 

 made fast vnto the belly of a rude masse or lumpe, which in 

 time commeth to the shape and forme of a Bird : when it is 

 perfectl}^ formed, the shel gapeth open, and the first thing 

 that appeereth is the foresaid lace or string; next come the 

 legs of the Birde hanging out ; and as it groweth greater, it 

 openeth the shell by degrees till at length it is all come 

 foorth, and hangeth ouely by the bill ; in short space after it 

 commeth to full maturitie, and falleth into the sea, where it 

 gathereth feathers, and groweth to a foule bigger than a 

 Mallard, and lesser than a Goose ; hauing black legs and 

 bill or beake, and feathers black and white, spotted in such 

 maner as is our Magge-Pie, called in some places a Pie-Annet, 

 which the people of Lancashire call by no other name then 

 a tree Goose ; which place aforesaide, and all those parts 

 adioning, do so much abound therewith, that one of the 

 best is bought for three pence ; for the truth heerof, if an}^ 

 doubt, may it please them to repaire vnto me, and I shall 

 satisfie them b}- the testimonie of good witnesses." 



We are afterwards told of these remarkable Barnakle 

 trees that "They spawne as it were in March and Aprill; 

 the Geese are formed in Maie and lune, and come to fulnesse 

 of feathers in the moneth after.'** 



t 

 ■■' Jolinson, in liis edition of Gerard, remarks: — " Tlie Barnakle 



whose fabulous breed my Author here sets downe, and diners others 



haue also deliuered, were found by some Hollanders to haue another 



criginall, and that by egs as other birds haue : for they in then- thii'd 



