THE MISTLETOE — continued. 
In the berries, which ripen in October, the seed fills the entire cavity of the 
ovary and adheres to its inner walls. These pearly white fruits, from which the 
species derives its name album , are eaten by many birds, especially the missel-thrush, 
fieldfare, and redwing ; but the extremely sticky layer of viscin which surrounds the 
seed prevents them from swallowing it, and they accordingly scrape it ofF their bills 
on a branch, where it may adhere and sprout. 
It is remarkable that Mistletoe most commonly grows downwards, the seed in 
germination sending its tap-root upwards. This character formerly made it a rustic 
remedy against epilepsy, “ the falling sickness.” It occurs on a great variety of 
trees, but especially on the Apple, Poplar, Linden, and Hawthorn. It may grow upon 
exotic trees, such as the Robinia ; and even upon another plant of its own species. 
Upon the Oak, however, it is very rare, only about a score of “ Mistletoe Oaks ” 
being known in England, most of them in Herefordshire. Pliny, in his account 
of the Druidical veneration of the plant, apparently recognises this rarity. 
“ Calling it,” he says, M in their own language ‘ all heal,' after their sacrifices and banquets have been duly prepared 
under the tree, they bring near two vhite bulls whose horns are then for the first time bound. The priest, clothed in a white 
robe, ascends the tree, and cuts the mistletoe with a golden hook j and it is caught in a white mantle.” 
In Scandinavian mythology the name Mistletoe seems to be connected with 
“ mist ” in the sense of winter gloom. The story is that the happiness of the iEsir 
or chief gods depended upon the life of Baldur, the beautiful, the sun-god. 
Thereupon Baldur’s mother Frigg exacted an oath from all minerals in the earth, 
all plants growing from it, and all animals, that they would not injure him. As 
Mistletoe does not grow out of the earth it was overlooked. Loki, the Evil One, 
envious of Baldur, made a dart of Mistletoe-wood ; and, when the iEsir were 
amusing themselves by shooting at the supposedly invulnerable Baldur, gave it to 
Hodi, the blind god of brute strength, and guided his aim, so that Baldur fell dead, 
pierced through by the fatal missile. 
There is but little to connect the modern mystic use of the plant either with 
Druidical or Scandinavian legend. Possibly the evergreen character of the plant in 
the season of bare boughs suggests the reproductive powers of Nature, whilst its 
numerous clustering berries have a significance similar to that of the rice or confetti 
thrown after a newly-married couple. 
