pfaat Tsorc, Isegc^/, aaS. "bijnc/, 439 



from the demons who kept it shut up: the attempt was successful, 

 but the falcon, whilst flying off with its prize, was wounded by an 

 arrow discharged by one of the demons, and lost a claw and a 

 feather. They fell to earth, and struck root there ; the claw becoming 

 the Indian Thorn-tree, or Mivtosa Catechu — the younger branches of 

 which have straight thorns, that afterwards become hooked, and 



bear a strong resemblance to a bird's claw. Bishop Heber tells 



us that, whilst travelling in Upper India, he saw, near Boitpoor, a 

 Mimosa-tree, with leaves at a little distance so much resembling 

 those of the Mountain Ash, that he was for a moment deceived, 

 and asked if it did not bear fruit. The Bishop says: "They 

 answered no; but that it was a very noble tree, being called the 

 Imperial Tree for its excellent properties. That it slept all night, 

 and awakened, and was alive all day, withdrawing its leaves if any 

 one attempted to touch them. Above all, however, it was useful 

 as a preservative against magic. A sprig worn in the turban, or 

 suspended over the bed, was a perfecS^ security against all spells, 

 Evil Eye, &c., insomuch that the most formidable wizard would 

 not, if he could help it, approach its shade. One, indeed, they 

 said, who was very renowned for his power (like Lorinite, in the 

 Kehama) of killing plants and drying up their sap with a look, had 

 come to this very tree and gazed on it intently; but, said the old 

 man, who told me this with an air of triumph, look as he might, he 

 could do the tree no harm. I was amazed and surprised to find 

 the superstition which in England and Scotland attaches to the 

 Rowan-tree here applied to a tree of nearly similar form. What 

 nation has, in this case, been the imitator ? Or from what common 



centre are these common notions derived ? " The Mimosa sensitiva 



is the true Sensitive Plant, which collapses its leaflets upon the 

 slightest touch (see Sensitive Plant) ; and another member 

 of this singular family droops its branches whenever anyone 

 approaches ; hence Moore has called it 



" That courteous tree 

 Which bows to all who seek its canopy." 



Frankincense is the producfl of the Egyptian Mimosa, a tree spoken 

 of by Theophrastus as an Acanthus, and referred to by Virgil. 



MIMUSOPS. — The Mimusops Elengi is one of the sacred 

 trees of India, and dedicated to the god Krishna. An odoriferous 

 water, highly prized, is distilled from the flowers, and the astringent 

 bark of the tree is used medicinally. 



MINT. — Ovid tells us, in his ' Metamorphoses,' that the nymph 

 Minthe, a daughter of Cocytus, was beloved of Pluto, and that 

 Proserpine, discovering her husband's infidelity, transformed his 



mistress into the herb which is called by her name. In olden 



times, Mint (Mentha) was called Herba bona and Herba sanda, and the 

 ancients were wont to weave garlands of its foliage to be worn by 

 brides — corona Veneris. In later days, the herb was dedicated to the 



