[3259] “Convolvulus.” He alludes to the vine Pyralis, one of the Lepidoptera, the caterpillar of which rolls itself up in the leaves of the tree, after eating away the foot-stalk.
[3260] The “fly,” or “winged” insect. The grey weevil, Fée thinks, that eats the buds and the young grapes.
[3261] An absurd superstition.
[3262] This may possibly be efficacious, but the other precepts here given are full of absurdity.
[3263] It might possibly drive them to a distance, but would do no more.
[3264] An absurd notion, very similar to some connected with the same subject, which have prevailed even in recent times.
[3265] De Re Rust. 160. The words of this charm over the split reed while held near the injured limb, were as follow:—“Sanitas fracto—motas danata daries dardaries astataries”—mere gibberish.
[3266] De Re Rust. 139. This prayer was offered to the deity of the sacred grove, after a pig had been first offered—“If thou art a god, or if thou art a goddess, to whom this grove is sacred, may it be allowed me, through the expiation made by this pig, and for the purpose of restraining the overgrowth of this grove, &c.” It must be remembered that it was considered a most heinous offence to cut down or lop a consecrated grove. See Ovid, Met. B. viii. c. 743.
[3267] See end of B. ii.
[3268] See end of B. iii.