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are essentially plants of the Sun. This is particularly noticeable in 

 the case of the Dandelion [Dent de Lion) or Lion's Tooth. In 

 Geneva, Switzerland, children form a chain of these flowers, and 

 holding it in their hands, dance in a circle; a German name for it 

 it is Sonneswirbcl (Solstice), as well as Solsequium heliotropium. The 

 Romans saw in the flower of the Helianthus a resemblance to a 

 Lion's mouth. In the Orobanche or Broom Rape (the Sonnenwurz, 

 Root of the Sun, of the Germans) some have seen the resemblance 

 to a Lion's mouth and foot ; it was called the Lion's Pulse or 

 Lion's Herb, and was considered an antidote to poison. 



The tiny Mouse, like the majestic Lion, is represented in the 

 vegetable kingdom by several plants. From the shape of the 

 leaves, Hieracium Pilosella is known as Mouse Ear, Cerastium vtdfrare. 

 Mouse Ear Chickweed, and Myosotis palustris, or Forget-Me-Not, 

 Mouse Ear Scorpion Grass. Myosuvtis minimus, from the shape of 

 its slender seed-spike, is called Mouse Tail ; and A/opecurus agrestis. 

 Mouse Tail Grass. Hordeiim marinum is Mouse Barley. 



Swine plants are numerous. We have the Swine Bane, Sow 

 Bane, or Pig Weed {Chenopodium nibnim), a herb which, according 

 to Parkinson, was " found certain to kill Swine." The Pig Nut 

 [Buniuni Jlexuosum) is so called from its tubers being a favourite food 

 of Pigs. Sow Bread {Cyclamen Etiropceum) has obtained its name 

 for a similar reason ; and Swine's Grass (Polygonum aviculare) is so 

 called because Swine are believed to be fond of it. Hyoseris minima 

 is Swine Succory, and Senebiera Coronopus, Swine's Cress. For 

 possession of the Dandelion, the Pig enters the lists with the Lion, 

 and claims the flower as the Swine's Snout, on account of the form 

 of its receptacle. According to Du Bartas, Swine, when affected 

 with the spleen, seek relief by eating the Spleenwort or Miltwaste 

 (Asplenium Ceterach), 



" The Finger- Fern, which being given to Swine, 

 It makes their milt to melt away in fine." 



De Gubernatis states that the god Indra is thought to have 

 taken the form of a Goat, and he gives a long list of Indian plants 

 named after Sheep and Goats. The Ram, He-Goat, and Lamb, 

 called Mesha, also give their names, in Sanscrit, to different 

 plants. In England, Rtunex Acetosella is Sheep's Sorrel, Chcerophyllum 

 tenmlum Sheep's Parsley, Jasione montana Sheep's-Bit-Scabious, and 

 Hydrocotyle vulgaris, or White Rot, Sheep's Bane, from its character 

 of poisoning Sheep. 



The Squirrel, although a denizen of the woods, only claims 

 one plant, Hordeum maritimum, which, from the shape of its flower- 

 spike, has obtained the name of Squirrel Tail. 



The Elephant has a whole series of Indian trees and plants 

 dedicated to him, which are enumerated by De Gubernatis; the 

 Bignonia snaveolcns is called the Elephant's Tree; and certain 

 Cucumbers, Pumpkins, and Gourds are named after him. 



