1064. Marvels of the Universe 
knees of the tiny little legs. The tongue of Humming-birds is a characteristic feature something 
like that found in Woodpeckers. It can be suddenly protruded for a considerable distance 
and as suddenly drawn in again, carrying with it on its sticky saliva the many small insects 
for which the bird probes the flower. Many Humming-birds have serrated edges to their beaks, 
with which, no doubt, they crush some of the insects before swallowing them. 
Photo by] SIGTOLISTROR [A. W. Dennis. 
The Mistletoe is here seen in its natural position growing from the branch of 
an apple-tree. 
WIE WIL 18, I Os 
BY EDWARD STEP, F.L.S. 
WE are too apt to regard 
familiar things as common- 
place and lacking the quality 
of marvellousness. We buy 
boughs of Mistletoe at Christ- 
mas to decorate our houses 
because it is the custom to 
do so; and we revive the old 
Norse fairy-tales in which it 
figures, and do not forget its 
supposed connection with the 
mystic rites of the Druids. 
Yet some of the later anti- 
quarians would tell, as Lord 
Avebury does, that its associa- 
tion with the Druids is very 
doubtful. In spite of this 
blow to our cherished beliefs, 
there are still some things 
connected with the “ mystic 
plant” that are worthy of 
consideration. 
For one thing, the Mistle- 
toe is almost singular among 
native flowering plants in 
being an epiphyte—a plant 
that grows upon a_ plant 
and has no direct connection 
with the soil. It is quite 
singular in being an epiphytal 
parasite that possesses green 
leaves. These leaves, too, 
have a character all their 
own—their shape is peculiar, their consistence leathery, their surface dull, and their particular 
yellow-green unusual. Their presence is a certificate of character: they testify that the 
Mistletoe is not altogether abandoned to piratical courses. On the strength of its possession 
of green colouring matter there are not wanting those who claim that the Mistletoe gives as 
well as takes: that in winter, when its host is leafless and therefore unable to elaborate new 
material, the evergreen Mistletoe is active and supplies some of its surplus produce to its 
host. 
