A C O R N. G L A N S. 



THE OAK TREE. QUERCUS. 

 In Botany, of the Monoecia Potyandria Class. 



THE acorn, which is the fruit or nut of the 

 oak tree, was the food of the ancient Britons, 

 and particularly of the Druids, who, says 

 the historian, lived in caves and hollow 

 trees; their food was acorns and berries, 

 and their drink, water. The name of Druid 

 seems to be taken from the Greek word tyuV, 

 an oak. They thought whatever grew on 

 the oak was sent from heaven, and nothing 

 was held so sacred by them as the mistletoe 

 of an oak ; and they believed it to be the 

 favourite tree of the Deity. 



Content with food, which nature freely bred, 

 On wildings and on strawberries they fed ; 

 Cornels and bramble-berries gave the rest, 

 -And falling acorns furnished out a feast. Ovid. 



