THE WOOD. 69 



the first day of the year it was gathered by the 

 Druids with peculiar solemnities ; it was cut with 

 a golden hook by the chief Druid, and caught in a 

 pure white cloth, and, after being consecrated to 

 the most powerful of their gods, was distributed 

 among the people as a remedy against all diseases. 

 In times much later it was thought to possess 

 extraordinary virtues : the possession of it, for 

 instance, was necessary in order that a man might 

 be made a magician ; any one, by holding a branch 

 in his hand, would be enabled not only to see 

 ghosts, but to force them to speak to him. In the 

 feudal days it was gathered with great solemnity 

 on Christmas-eve, and hung up in the great hall 

 with loud shouts and rejoicing. 



" The damsel donned her kirtle sheen, 

 The hall was dressed with holly green, 

 Forth to the woods did merry men go, 

 To gather in the misseltoe. 

 Then opened wide the baron's hall, 

 To vassal, tenant, serf, and all." 



But these imaginary virtues are now no longer 

 attributed to it, even although it may appear to 

 the many, on account of its peculiar mode of 

 growth, a plant of mystery. This is still as won- 

 derful as ever. The white berries, which are a 

 very conspicuous part of the plant, are composed 

 of an exceedingly viscid substance enclosing seeds, 

 and are the favourite food of the thrush, blackbird, 

 and especially the missel-thrush. These birds, 

 after regaling on the berries, fly to other trees, 

 carrying with them seeds attached by the clammy 

 substance to their beaks. After alighting, they 

 rub them against the bark, just as you may have 

 seen canaries cleaning their bills on their perches, 



