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177 
There are occasions, it may be admitted, when observation 
should be devoted to flowers that have several nearly related 
species, because they can be watched and compared in their 
different forms and habits ; on the other hand much can be made 
out of a solitary species, and that is how the mistletoe fits well 
into such a scheme. The mistletoe has no close relation in 
Britain, and the botanist has been compelled to set it in an 
order by itself. 
It is a plant of the southern and midland counties, whilst 
further north it is rare, and is not found as a native in Scotland 
and Ireland. With a shrub frequently to be seen around Bristol 
what is more natural than to keep a look out for it and watch its 
habits? and to the steady observer it can yield many facts of an 
interesting character. 
At the beginning of the search one detects it in almost every 
orchard, pendent from the mossy branch of some old apple tree ; 
and the Mistletoe and an apple tree become associated in one's 
mind. Then a large bunch is noticed high up on a lofty tree, 
with no leaves of its own in winter time to hide the bright green 
mass, and it is evident that the common Italian black poplar 
shares with the apple this distinguishing mark. Or, again, 
when passing along one of the main roads out of Bristol it can 
be detected hanging from the rugged bark of the white flowering 
acacia, or sprouting upwards on the spreading branches of many 
lime trees. Thus as one wanders out and home again on winter 
rides the mind half unconsciously keeps a look out for the 
mistletoe. In this way the feeling becomes a sporting instinct, 
and all the delights of a harmless chase serve to brighten the 
miles, and a new clump of mistletoe, even if seen on a kind of 
tree already known to bear it, makes the ride a successful winter's 
outing. 
In such a manner I have sought for the plant during the last 
year, and know now from actual observation upon what trees 
it certainly likes to develop its juice-sucking habit, and what 
ones appear to be able to keep off this enemy, out of the many 
that attack our native trees. 
For it must be known to all of you as common knowledge 
that the mistletoe is a parasite — that is, it obtains much of its 
regular supply of food from the juices of other and nobler plants. 
The word parasite was applied in olden times to a person who 
introduced himself at the table of the rich in order to obtain a 
free meal, so in modern language it has become an appropriate 
word to describe the plant that makes a home for itself in the 
substance of some other plant and lives on food sucked from its 
tissues. 
Nature provides examples of many kinds of a similar parasitic 
habit, both in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, each kind 
usually confining itself to a limited number of species. 
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