pfar^t/ of me 9eVit 83 



witches and sorcerers in their incantations. The spells of wizards, 

 magicians, witches, and others who were acquainted with the 

 secrets appertaining to the black art, were always made in the 

 name of the Devil : hence all herbs and plants employed by them 

 became veritable plants of the Devil. These plants are particu- 

 larised in the chapter on Plants of the Witches. 



The belief that certain trees are haunted by the Devil, or 

 by malignant demons who act as his satellites, is of world-wide 

 extent, and, in connection with tree spirits, the subject has been 

 incidentally touched upon in the previous chapter. A Russian 

 proverb says that "From all old trees proceeds either an owl or a 

 Devil ; " and in many countries where a tree becomes old and past 

 bearing, its sterility is attributed to a demon. The Albanians 

 believe that trees are haunted by Devils which they call a'irico. 

 Certain trees are especially affected by these aerial demons : these 

 are the Fig, the Walnut, the wild Plum, the Mulberry, the Syca- 

 more, the Pimpernel, the Willow, and in general all fruit trees (but 

 especially the Cherry) when they are old and cease to bear. As 

 regards sterile fruit trees, the belief that they are haunted by Devils 

 is common to many countries. In some parts of England, Black- 

 berries are never picked after Michaelmas-day, when the Devil is 

 supposed to stamp them with his hoof. Mrs, Latham has told us 

 that the watchfulness of the Devil makes it dangerous to go out 

 nutting on a Sunday, and worthy mothers may be heard warning 

 their children against it by assuring them that if they do so, " the 

 Devil will hold down the branches for them." Mr. Sawyer has 

 pointed out that the Sussex saying, " as black as the Devil's nutting 

 bag," is associated with this belief. St. Ouen, writing in the 17th 

 century, cautioned shepherds and others never to let their flocks 

 pass a hollow tree, because by some means or other the Devil 

 was sure to have taken possession of it. 



Moore, in 'The Light of the Haram,' speaks of the Siliim,'a. 

 demon which is thought to haunt the forests of Persia, and to lurk 

 among the trees in human form. The Indian demons bhiitus and 

 pigacds are represented as dwelling in trees. 



In the vicinity of Mount Etna the country people have a very 

 strong aversion to sleep beneath trees on St. John's Eve, lest they 

 should become possessed of an evil spirit ; for according to popular 

 tradition, on that night — the shortest of the year — the demons 

 inhabiting trees and plants quit their leafy habitations, and seek 

 refuge in the first object they come across. 



In Germany, numerous demons are recognised as dwelling 

 in trees ; and, according to Prof. Mannhardt, whole troops of 

 emissaries of the Devil are thought to haunt the fields, and lurk 

 among the crops of W'heat and vegetables. Among the most 

 noticeable of this satanic legion are the Aprilochse, a demon in- 

 festing the fields in April; Auesau, or Sow of the Wheatsheaf, 

 a spirit which lies concealed among the Corn ; Baiimescl, a goblin 



