280 Cypress. 



m coffins of Cypress ; and chests in which the Egyptian mum- 

 mies are found are generally of this wood. Ovid gives a tradition- 

 ary account of the mournful origin of this tree. Cyparissas, son 

 of Telephus, of Cea, was beloved by Apollo. Having killed the 

 favorite stag of his friend, he grieved, pined, and dying was 

 changed by Apollo into a cypress- tree. Calmet describes it as 

 a tall straight tree having bitter leaves. The shade and smell 

 were said to be dangerous, and hence the Romans look on it 

 as a fatal tree and used it at funerals. The wood is heavy, of 

 a rather fragrant smell ; not liable to be attacked by insects, 

 and does not speedily decay. When the Turks plant it over 

 the graves of departed friends they are careful to select the 

 upright variety, as they suppose it to indicate that the soul of 

 their friend has ascended to the regions of bliss. 



Peace to the dust that in silence reposes 

 Beneath the dark shades of cypress and yew ; 

 Let spring deck the spot with earliest roses, 

 And heaven wash their leaves with its holiest dew. 



PlERPOICT. 



O'er mined shrines and silent tombs 

 The weeping cypress spreads its glooms 

 In immortality of woe, 

 Whilst other shrubs in gladness blow, 

 And fling upon the passing wind 

 Their liberal treasures unconfined. 

 And well its dark and drooping leaf 

 May image forth the gloom and grief 

 Which, when we parted, gave reply 

 From heaving heart and dewy eye. 

 Then, lady, wear this wreath for me, 

 Plucked from the faithful cypress tree. 



We have some species in common use in the United States 

 hr timber trees. The Cupressus Thuyoides— White Ce- 

 dar, is an evergreen, and looks somewhat like the funeral cy- 

 press ; its cones are small and nearly spherical. The abundance 

 with which it grows in mossy swamps often gives the names of* 

 Cedar Swamps to such morasses. Nuttall speaks of another 

 important species, the Cupressus Dis T icHA,one of the largest 

 of our American forest trees, which has been placed by Mir- 

 bel in a distinct genus called Schuberti : it differs from all the 

 other species in having some of its leaves regularly fall off. 



