COLUMBINE, 119 



The Englisli name of Columbine i.s derived from 

 Columha, the Latin name of tlie pigeon, as the 

 nectaries of this flower are tliought to resemble 

 the head and neck of these birds. The generic 

 name comes from Aquila, an eagle, from the fan- 

 cied resemblance which the same parts of the flowers 

 have to the claws of this king of birds. Some ety- 

 mologists are of opinion that the name of Aquilegia 

 is given to this plant, because the leaves, when not 

 fully expanded, collect and gather a great deal of 

 rain-water. 



Gerard tells us that it was formerly called Herba 

 Leonis by some persons, from a supposition that it 

 •was the favourite plant of the lion. 



The French call it AncoUe, the Italians Aq uilegia 

 the Dutch Agley and Akeleyen, the Germans Akeley 

 and Acjlcy. 



The common Columbine, Vulgaris, has long 

 held a situation in our gardens, since it is men- 

 tioned by Dr. Turner in that part of his work 

 which bears date 1564 : he observes, that he liad 

 not seen it growing wild in England, but that 

 he had found it in that state in Germany, and of 

 difierent colours. Gerard tells us that it was cul- 

 tivated both in the double and single state in his 

 time. 



It is a curious character in the natural history 

 of this plant that it should take three distinct 



