194 TREES IN NATURE, MYTH & ART 



attendant spirits in the form of birds or 

 animals, persists still, in forms with which 

 we are all familiar; in particular, in the 

 heraldic device of our royal arms, in which 

 the lion and the unicorn are not "fighting for 

 the crown ". Needless almost to say, it 

 appears frequently in mediaeval art, and with 

 something of its old significance. In par- 

 ticular, it is conspicuous on many a sculptured 

 stone of the Cathedral of St. Mark at Venice. 

 Ruskin chose one of these stones for reproduc- 

 tion as part of the design for the cover of 

 The Stones of Venice. It shows four pea- 

 cocks around a central tree-pillar. I have 

 referred to the use of this device at St. Mark's 

 because of another sculptured stone there. 

 In the centre of it there is a throne, and on 

 the throne there is a handled cross — itself an 

 ancient symbol. Within the circular handle 

 there is a Iamb. At each side of the throne 

 are six sheep ; and these, the sculptor tells us, 

 are intended to represent the Apostles. Behind 

 the sheep are two palm-trees, one at each side, 

 and under each is a fruit-basket. There is no 

 need to interpret this sculpture. It is but a 

 somewhat varied rendering of the New Jeru- 



