particular, wlial a marked contrast between the people 
just mentioned and the Parsees: while the former made 
coffins for their dead of the most durable and aromatic 
timber, the latter had such a veneration for wood in 
general, because it was used to feed the sacred fire (the 
representation of their deity), that they would not suffer 
any sort to be applied to such purposes, but wrapt the 
corpse in plates of iron. 
Hunter enumerates only four species of this genus; later 
writers extend the number to two and twenty. Rapid 
as is “ the march of science” in our days, this difference 
in so few years is surprising, and excites a conjecture 
how many more may be discovered before science really 
comes to a stand. 
The true cypress, as every one knows, is a tree of much 
classical celebrity. Its name, according to ancient fable, 
was derived from Cyparissa, a youth beloved by Apollo, 
who, having accidentally killed a favourite stag belonging 
to his patron, was so concerned at the luckless deed, that 
he earnestly prayed to share the fateof the beautiful animal 
he had slain. Apollo reluctantly granted his request:_ 
“ When, lost in tears, the blood his veins forsakes; 
His every limb a grassy hue partakes ; 
I lis flowing tresses, stiff and bushy grown, 
Point to the stars, and taper to a cone. 
