COMMON POLYPODY. 73 



and may often be seen crowning some perishing trunk 

 with a coronet of green waving leaves 



"A gilded halo hovering round decay." 



Like our Common Brakes and many other ferns, 

 the Common Polypody contains a large quantity of 

 potash, which caused it to be used in former days 

 by glass manufacturers. It had also a reputation as a 

 medicine, its mucilaginous nature recommending it in 

 pulmonary diseases. In Paris, even now, it is used as 

 a domestic remedy for colds and coughs. Mr. New- 

 man says he has seen women collecting it in Here- 

 fordshire as a specific in hooping-cough. It is 

 gathered in October and November, when full of 

 seed : the barren fronds are rejected. It is then 

 hung up in the cottages to dry, and when required 

 for use, is slowly boiled with raw sugar. The poor 

 people call it " Maiden's Hair," or " Golden Locks." 

 The ancient reputation of this species of Polypody 

 is very curious. Pliny says that it is good for chaps 

 on the toes, and also recommends the root dried and 

 powdered to be snuffed up the nose, to consume a 

 polypus. It is doubtless the " rheum-purging poly- 

 pody" of Shakspeare. 



The foreign species of Polypodium are much larger 

 than our own ; and in the South-Sea Islands there is 

 one which is called by the natives " Pigs-god," and is 

 the presiding deity of these animals. 



Dr. Joseph Hooker mentions that, during his resi- 

 dence in India, he frequently partook of shrimp 



