144 



THE BEECH. 



But that this opinion is erroneous, will appear from the 

 following consideration. 



THE PURLEY BEECHES. 



The Eoman poets make frequent mention of the tree 

 (Fagus) which Caesar declares to be not a native of Britain. 1 



1 The (}>rjy6s (phegos) of Theophrastus does not appear to be the 

 same as the Fagus of the Romans, though both names have the 

 same etymology, from q&yw (phago), to eat. Our Beech is most 



