pfanf/ an^ Siirel/. 137 



when tliey fall on the {^ronnd, take root, vej^etate, and produce a 

 tree, whicli would not grow from them if they were planted like 

 other trees." 



The Druids, dwelling as they did in groves and forests, 

 frequented by birds and animals, were adepts at interpreting the 

 meaning of their acftions and sounds. A knowledge of the language 

 of the bird and animal kingdoms was deemed by them a marvellous 

 gift, which was only to be imparted to the priestess who should be 

 fortunate enough to tread under foot the mystic Sclago, or Golden 

 Herb. 



At a time when men had no almanack to warn them of the 

 changing of the seasons, no calendar to guide them in the planting 

 of tlicir helds and gardens, the arrival and departure of birds 

 helped to dire(51 them in the cultivation of plants. So we find 

 Ecclesiastes preached " a bird of the air shall carry the voice," 

 and in modern times the popular saying arose of " a httle bird 

 has told me." 



This notion of the birds imparting knowledge is prettily 

 rendered by Hans Christian Andersen, in his story of the Fir-tree, 

 where the sapling wonders what is done with the trees taken out of 

 the wood at Christmas time. " Ah, we know — we know," twittered 

 the Sparrows ; "for we have looked in at the windows in yonder 

 town." 



Dr. Solander tells us that the peasants of Upland remark that 

 *' When you see the Wheatear you may sow your grain," for in this 

 country there is seldom any severe frost after the Wheatear 

 appears; and the shepherds of Salisbury Plain say: — 



" When Dotterel do first appear, 

 It shows that frost is very near ; 

 But when the Dotterel do go, 

 Then you may look for heavy snow." 



Aristophanes makes one of his characfters say that in former 

 times the Kite ruled the Greeks; his meaning being that in 

 ancient days the Kite was looked upon as the sign of Spring and 

 of the necessity of commencing active work in field and garden ; 

 and again, " The Crow points out the time for sowing when she 

 liies croaking to Libya." In another place he notices that the 

 Cuckoo in like manner governed Phoenicia and Egypt, because 

 when it cried Kokku, Kokku, it was considered time to reap the 

 Wheat and Barley fields. 



In our own country, this welcome harbinger of the Springtide 

 has been associated with a number of vernal plants: we -have the 

 Cuckoo Flower {Lychnis Flos cuciili), Cuckoo's Bread or Meat, and 

 Cuckoo's Sorrel {Oxalis Acetosella), Cuckoo Grass [Lasiila campestris), 

 and Shakspeare's " Cuckoo Buds of yellow hue," which are thought 

 to be the buds of the Crowfoot [Ramtncidus). The association in 

 the popular rhyme of the Cuckoo with the Cherry-tree is explained 

 by an old superstition that before it ceases its song, the Cuckoo 



