Hamamelis Virginica. 23 



cupied, fixed upon it for a new American shrub which Mitchell had 

 called in his letters Trilopus. The reason of its application in the pre- 

 sent instance seems to be, that as the fruit is a whole year in ripening, 

 it accompanies the flowers in autumn, which are destined to produce 

 the next year's fruit. The shrub begins to bloom generally in October, 

 while the leaves have either fallen, or are for the most part yellow and 

 decayed — and continues flowering in favourable situations all winter. 

 It inhabits stony ground, generally near the sunny borders of water 

 courses. 



The divining rods formerly used by impostors, who pretended to 

 find precious ores, were made of the twigs of this tree ; and, in some 

 parts of the United States the credulous vulgar arc still imposed on by 

 persons who pretend to find water by the indication of its branches. 

 For this purpose a forked branch is used and twirled between the 

 lingers and thumbs of both hands, during the muttering of some 

 mystical words, when, in the spot towards which the point of the bi- 

 furcation drops or points, water is said by them to exist. Hence the 

 name Witch Hazel. 



The figure represents a terminal flowering twig of the size of na- 

 ture, culled on the 20th of October. 



VOL. III. 



