16 INTRODUCTION. 



An amusing illustration of the effects of these may be drawn 

 from a large volume, entitled " Gerarde's Herbal," first pub- 

 lished near the end of the 16th century, but looked up to by 

 many of a generation, not long since passed, as their chief 

 botanical authority. " Having travelled," he says at the con- 

 clusion of his volume, u from the grasses growing in the bottom 

 of the fenny waters, the woods, and mountains, even unto 

 Lebanus itself and also the sea and bowels of the same we 

 are arrived at the end of our history ; thinking it not impertinent 

 to the conclusion of the same to end with one of the marvels of 

 this land, we may say of the world the history whereof, to set 

 forth according to the worthiness and variety thereof, would not 

 only require a large and peculiar volume, but also a deeper 

 search into the bowels of Nature than my intended purpose will 

 suffer me to wade into, my sufficiency also considered. There 

 are found in the north parts of Scotland, and the islands 

 adjacent, called Orchades, certain trees whereon do grow certain 

 shells of a white colour, tending to russet, wherein are contained 

 little living creatures; which shells, in time of maturity, do 

 open, and out of them grow those little living things, which, 

 falling into the water, do become fowls, which we call Barnacles, 

 in the north of England Brant-geese, and in Lancashire Tree- 

 geese ; and the other that do fall upon the land, perish and come 

 to nothing. Thus much by the writings of others, and also 

 from the mouths of people of those parts, which may very well 

 accord with truth." 



" But what our eyes have seen and our hands have touched" 

 continues % the Author, doubtless with full sincerity, " we shall 

 declare. There is a small island in Lancashire called the Pile of 

 Foulders, wherein are found the broken pieces of old and bruised 

 ships, some whereof have been cast thither by shipwreck, and 

 also the trunks and bodies, with the branches of old and rotten 

 trees, cast up there likewise, whereon is found a certain spume 

 or froth, that in time breedeth unto certain shells, in shape like 



