24 DORSETSHIRE FOLK-SPEECH AND SUPERSTITIONS. 



the prickles of the white thorn, some nails, pins, and other things. 

 The object of the obstruction was considered to have been to prevent 

 the access of witches to the house by means of the chimney ! The 

 same precaution is sometimes used to keep fairies out. 



Bird : If a bird, and more particularly if a robin, happens to 

 come into a house, it is looked upon as an omen of death a sign 

 that some one in that house will shortly die. A bird tapping at 

 the window is a very ominous sign. 



Bird-pears : Haws ; the fruit of the hawthorn. (See Hails). 



Bird's-eyes : The flowers of the speedwell ( veronica chavioedrys). 



Black Bob : The cockroach (blatta orientalis). 



Black Jack: The caterpillar of the turnip-fly (athalia spinamm). 



Bloody-warriors : The garden wall-flower, so called from the 

 blood-like tinges on its corolla (cheiranthus clieiri). 



Blover : The black pollack. 



Botherum : The yellow ox-eye ; com marigold (chrysanthemum 

 segetum.) 



Boy's love : The herb southernwood * (artemisia abrotanum). 



Box : If a sprig of box in ftoioer be brought indoors, death 

 will soon cross the threshold. 



Broad-grass : The common red clover (trifolium pratense). 



Broad-weed : The cow parsnip. 



Brown-shell-nut : A kind of brown-rinded apple. 



Bryanstone-Buck : The stag-beetle (lucanus cervus), so called 

 from being often found in the neighbourhood of Bryanston. 



Bumble-Bunnen : A sea-fish ; the smaller kind of Conner. 



Butter-and-eggs : The yellow toad-flax ; so called from the 

 yellow and white of its corolla (linaria vulgaris.) See Eggs-and- 

 bacon. 



Butter-daisy : The great white ox-eye (chrysanthemum leucan- 

 themuni). 



Button (Button-craicler) : The wood-louse. 



Cammick : The plant restharrow (ononis arvensis). 



* It is somewhat curious that this herb is called "old man" in several 

 other counties. 



