HYLECOETUS OR LYMEXYLON DERMESTOIDES (L.). 1 95 



the treatment in case of the insect becoming harmful would 

 be the barking of all felled stems. 



Two natural checks to the increase of this beetle were 

 noted. The little beetle Rhizophagus dispar, present in large 

 numbers, was destructive to eggs, and larvae. The greater- 

 spotted woodpecker destroys the pupae. Traces of the work 

 of the woodpecker were very evident in the case of beech 

 logs, and examination of the workings revealed the empty 

 pupal beds. 



29. Trees in Myth and Legend. 1 



By Ernest V. Laing, President of the Aberdeen University 

 Forestry Society. 



1. It is proposed to deal in the course of this paper first with 

 the attitude of our ancestors and the Ancients towards trees, 

 and the effect which trees had on the general trend of the lives 

 of men, and secondly, biiefly and in a general way, with a few 

 of the myths and legends connected with some of our best-known 

 trees, and to try to show how a knowledge of tree lore and a 

 greater cultivation of interest in trees and their habits might 

 affect men beneficially, more especially those engaged in 

 forestry work. 



2. Mankind in its attitude towards trees may be broadly 

 divided into two great classes. In the first place, there are 

 those who treat trees to a greater or less extent from a com- 

 mercial or scientific point of view, and, in the second place, 

 there are those who regard trees more or less from an 

 aesthetic standpoint. Under the latter group, namely the 

 aesthetic group, may be classed those who love or admire 

 trees, and those, primitive people it may be, who worship 

 trees. It is more particularly with the latter, namely worshippers 

 of trees, with whom we have to deal. 



3. The portion of humanity which regards trees purely from 

 a utilitarian aspect, is after all a comparatively small one. 

 Trees to most people are of interest aside from their scientific 

 or utilitarian value. The majority view trees as elements in the 

 world of beauty out of doors. " I am not surprised that the 



1 A paper read to the University of Aberdeen Forestry Society, on 15th 

 November 1919. 



