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BIRCH. BETULA. 



Natural order, Amentacece. A genus of the 

 Moncecia Tetrandria class. 



*' And all in sight doth rise a birchen tree, 



Which learning near her little dome did stow; 

 Whilom a twig of small regard to see, 



Though now so wide its waving branches flow, 

 And work the simple vassals mickle woe; 

 For not a wind might curl the leaves that blew, 

 And as they look'd, they found their horror grew, 

 And shaped it into rods, and tingled at the view." * 



SHENSTONE. 



IN the early days of Rome, the lictors had 

 their fasces made of the branches of this tree, 

 and which they carried before the magistrates 

 to clear the way, beating such as caused ob- 

 struction : from hence the most ingenious ety- 

 mologist we have consulted derives the generic 

 name of the birch. " The Latins," says Coles, 



* Shenstdne is not the only poet who has celebrated the 

 mystic power of this dread tree. It is introduced thus in 

 the Dunciad: 



" When lo ! a spectre rose, whose index hand 

 Held forth the virtue of the dreadful wand ; 

 His beavered brow a birchen garland wears, 

 Dropping with infant's blood, and mother's tears. 



