276 WILD FLOWERS. 



commonly the letters B. and V. are respectively in- 

 terchanged. Modern authors, however, treat the 

 derivation of the old naturalist with great con- 

 tempt, asserting it to be inconsistent with the fact 

 that the plant is called Betonic in the Celtic ; and 

 resolving the word into the primitive form of Ben 

 (a head), and ton (good); it being good for com- 

 plaints in the head. I am not aware of the word 

 ton having this signification in any Celtic dialect ; 

 but without entering into the merits of the ques- 

 tion, I should, of the two, prefer the opinion of 

 Pliny; though I do not place much reliance upon 

 it; and it will be observed, that the European pre- 

 valence of the same form of name, affects neither 

 the one opinion nor the other. 



The Welsh name of Cribau St. Ffraid, "St. 

 Bride's comb," refers either to the notched outline 

 of the lower lip of the corolla, or, to the hairy, or 

 somewhat bristly, appearance of the whole plant ; 

 while doubtless its dedication to St. Ffraid, marked 

 a sense of its valuable properties, she being a very 

 favourite saint in the Principality. Indicative also of 

 the same good qualities, is the name Llys dwyfawg, 

 " the herb of double grace/' or " favour/' It is, how- 

 ever, now merely used in Wales as a yellow dye for 

 wool; a purpose for which it answers admirably. 



So complete is the catalogue of its medicinal 

 virtues, given in the " Stockholm MS.," that I will 

 present it nearly at length, as it may probably be 

 new to some of my readers. The following passage, 

 which I select, may be strongly recommended to 

 persons of studious habits. 



