ASH TREE. 25 



Ash, the trunk of which is twenty-one feet ten inches 

 round, and seventeen feet high before the branches break 

 out, which are of enormous bulk. When a funeral of 

 the lower class passes by, they lay the body down a few 

 minutes, say a prayer, and then throw a stone to increase 

 the heap which has been accumulating round the roots. 



" At Doniray, near Clare Castle, in the county of Gal- 

 way, is another that, at four feet from the ground, mea- 

 sures forty-four feet in girth ; and at six feet high, thirty- 

 three feet. The trunk has been long quite hollow, a 

 little school having been kept in it : there are very few 

 branches remaining, but those few are fresh and vigorous. 



" Lastly, in the church-yard of Lochaber, in Scotland, 

 Dr. Walker measured a dead Ash, the trunk of which, 

 at five feet from the ground, was fifty -eight feet in cir- 

 cumference." 



" Consider the value, sir, of such a piece of timber." 



There is an old superstition relative to the Ash-tree, 

 that a serpent will rather creep into the fire than over a 

 twig of it. " This is an old imposture of Pliny 's," says 

 Evelyn, " who either took it up upon trust, or we mistake 

 the tree. 11 



Cowley, enumerating various prodigies, says 



" On the wild Ash's tops, the bats and owls, 

 With all night, ominous, and baleful fowls, 

 Sate brooding, while the screeches of these droves 

 Profaned and violated all the groves. 



But that which gave more wonder than the rest, 

 Within an Ash a serpent built her nest, 

 And laid her eggs ; when once to come beneath 

 The very shadow of an Ash was death ; 



