The chief of all the great mythical trees is the Norse World Tree, an ash tree called “Ygdrasil.” One of the stems of this tree springs from the central primordial abyss, from the subterranean source of matter, runs up through the earth which it supports, and issuing out of the celestial mountain in the world’s center, called Asgard, spreads its branches over the entire universe. These widespread branches are the ethereal or celestial regions, their leaves the clouds, their buds or fruits the stars. Four harts run across the branches of the tree and bite the buds. These are the four cardinal winds. Perched upon the top branches is an eagle and between his eyes sits a hawk. The eagle symbolizes the air and the hawk the wind-still ether. A squirrel runs up and down the ash, and seeks to cause strife between the eagle and Nidhögg, a monster which is constantly gnawing the roots. The squirrel signifies hail and other atmospheric phenomena. Nidhögg and serpents which gnaw the roots of the tree are the volcanic agencies which are constantly seeking to destroy the earth’s foundation. Another stem springs from the holy Urdan-fountain where the gods sit in judgment. In this fountain swim two swans, the progenitors of all the species. These are by some thought to typify the sun and the moon. Near the fountain dwell three maidens who fix the lifetime of all men, called Norns. Every day they draw water from the spring and with it sprinkle the ash Ygdrasil in order that its branches may not rot and wither away. This water is so holy that everything placed in the spring becomes as white as the film within an egg-shell. The dew that falls from the tree upon the earth men call honey-dew, and it is the food of the bees. The third stem of the Ygdrasil takes its rise in the cold and cheerless regions of the North (the land of the Frost Giants), over the source of the ocean, which is typified by a spring called Mirmir’s Well, in which wisdom and wit lie hidden. Mirmir, the owner of this spring, is full of wisdom because he drinks of the waters. * * * * * In this myth the whole universe is symbolized as a tree, and so we see how the simple thoughts of the early savage about trees grow and expand until a great poet comes upon the earth and with his larger powers of imagination throws into a myth so much wonder and beauty that we can scarcely realize what a humble little beginning it had in the groping mind of a primitive savage. In Greek mythology the woods are peopled with fauns and satyrs, dryads and hamadryads. The first were spirits or gods of the wood and were represented as goats with the heads of men. The principal of these was Pan, already mentioned as an example of an animal myth. Since, however, he is a personification of nature as a whole he partakes of the qualities of a plant myth, as do all the other gods of the wood.