pfant bore, heQer^/, cmol laqric/, 46; 



habited a Nut-grove. There is a superstition that tlie ashes of 



the shells of Hazel-nuts have merely to be applied to the back 

 of a child's head to ensure the colour of the iris in the infant's 



eyes turning from grey to black. In Germany, Nuts are 



jilaced in tombs, as being emblematic of regeneration and im- 

 mortality. Searchers in the old tombs of Wurtemburg sometimes 

 found Pumpkins and Walnuts, but always a number of Nuts. 



In some countries, Hazel-nuts are supposed to be endowed 



with the power of discovering or attradling wealth. Thus, in 

 Russia, there is a belief that anyone carrying a Nut in his house will 

 make money ; and on this account many of the Russian peasantry 

 invariably carry a double Nut in their purses. In fairytales, we often 

 find good fairies using Nuts as their carriages: as, in ' Romeo and 

 Juliet,' Mercutio speaks of Queen Mab arriving in a Nut-shell. 



There is a legend that St. Agatha every year crosses the sea 



from Catania to Gallipoli on a Nut-shell, which she employs as a 



boat. Authorities on the subjecfl say that to dream that you see 



Nut-trees, and that you crack and eat their fruit, signifies riches and 

 content gained with toil and pain. Clusters of Nuts imply happi- 

 ness and success : to dream of gathering Nuts is a bad omen ; and to 

 dream of finding Nuts that have been hid signifies the discovery of 

 treasure. 



NYMPHyEA.— The Nymphcea ccerulea is the Lily of the Nile, 

 the Lotus of ancient Egypt ; but not the Sacred Bean, which was 



the Nelumbiuin spcciosum. (See Lotus and Nelumbo). According 



to German tradition, the Undines often conceal themselves from 

 mortal gaze under the form of Nymphaeas. This beautiful Water- 

 lily was deemed by the Frisians to have a magical power. Dr. 

 Halbertsma has stated that, when a boy, he remembers people 

 were extremely careful in plucking and handling them ; for if anyone 

 fell with such a flower in his possession, he became immediately 



subject to fits. The Wallachians have a superstition that every 



flower has a soul, and that the Water-lily is the sinless and scent- 

 less flower of the lake, which blossoms at the gates of Paradise to 

 judge the rest, and that she will enquire strictly what they have done 

 with their odours. 



OAK. — Rapin tells us that among the ancients there were 

 many conjectural reports as to the origin of the Oak, and the 

 country which first knew the sacred tree: but the popular tradition 

 which met with most credence, he considers, was as follows: — 



" When Jupiter the world's foundation laid, 

 Great earth-bom giants heaven did invade ; 

 And Jove himself — when these he did subdue — 

 His lightning on the factious brethren threw. 

 Tellus her sons' misfortunes does deplore, 

 And while she cherishes the yet- warm gore 

 Of Rhiecus, from his monstrous body grows 

 A vaster trunk, and from his breast arose 



