1869.J BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY. 93 



Virgin. Thus Lady's Comb became Venus's Comb, and so on ; 

 and this substitution was fostered by the false classical spirit 

 which became fashionable during and after the reign of Charles 

 II. Among plants popularly dedicated to other saints, we may 

 notice St. John's Wort (Hi/per icum especially H perforatum), in 

 many places corrupted into Sinjonswort, which blossoms about St. 

 John the Baptist's day, June 24; St. James' Wort (C 'psella 

 hursa pastoris), and many more will be found in herbals. In 

 some cases, however, we must admit that names referred by 

 modern writers to a similar dedication have really a very different 

 origin. Herb Bennett, for instance, is said to commemorate St. 

 Bennet or Benedict, although, as I have shown, it has a very 

 different origin ; Timothy -grass, (Phleum pratense), which really 

 took that name by being brought into cultivation by one Timothy 

 Hanson, is supposed to have been dedicated to St. Timothy ; 

 Paul's Betony (^Veronica officinalis), which, according to Dr. 

 Prior, refers to an old author, Paul ^gineta, who described it as 

 a betony — to St. Paul ; and so on. In the floral kalendar, the 

 Church's seasons were duly noticed. The Holly (^Ilex aqiii/olium) 

 from its use in church decorations at that season, is in many 

 places still called Christmas ; the Snowdrop {Galanthus nivalis) 

 in its old name " Fair Maid of February," commemorates the 

 Feast of the Purification (Feb. 2) ; Lent brings its Lent lillies 

 (^Narcissus pseudo-Narcissus) ; Palm Sunday its "palms," as the 

 willow catkins are pretty generally called ; Easter, its Paschal, 

 or Pasque, flower (Anemone Pulsatilla ; the days preceding the 

 Ascension are referred to in Rogation-flower or procession-flower 

 (Polygala vulgaris), which received its name from its use in the 

 garlands which were carried in the religious processions which 

 marked Rogation-week; Herb Trinity (Viola tricolor) pointed 

 to Trinity Sunday ; the Virgin's Bower (Clematis), to the 

 Assumption ; and the Michaelmas Daisy (Aster) to the feast of 

 SS. Michael and All Angels. 



But we must pass on to the consideration of another class. 

 Many plants take their names from a resemblance, real or imagi- 

 nary, to animals or parts of animals. The tail-like inflorescense 

 of some has suggested many names; amongst which are Mouse- 

 tail (Myosurus minimus), with the carpels arranged on the long 

 slender receptacle; Cat's tail (Typha lati/olia) with a thick stout 

 spike, a name applied also to Phleum pratense ; Hare's-tail (La- 

 gurus ovatus), remarkable for its soft flowerheads ; Squirrel-tail 



