THE USES OF FERNS. 35 



in alkali, and are applied to various economic uses, as 

 the manufacture of soap and glass, the dressing of leather, 

 &c. These species have also been used in the preparation 

 of beer ; and the Aspidium fragrant has been employed as 

 a substitute for tea. 



The bruised leaves of Angwpteris evecta and Polypodium 

 phymatodes are said to yield an aromatic oil, employed in 

 perfuming the cocoa-nut oil of the South Sea Islands. 



Deserving of especial mention in this place is the vegetable 

 curiosity called the Barometz, Boranez, or Tartarian or 

 Scythian lamb, of which marvellous tales have been told. 

 This "lamb" consists merely of the decumbent shaggy 

 rhizome of a Pern, what it has been supposed is that of the 

 Cibotmm Barometz ; when turned upside down, the bases of 

 four of its fronds being retained as legs, by the aid of a little 

 manipulation, this not inaptly resembles some small animal, 

 and may fairly rank as a vegetable curiosity. 



The 'traveller's tale' on this subject is, that, on an ele- 

 vated, uncultivated salt plain, of vast extent, west of the 

 Volga, grows a wonderful plant, with the shape and appear- 

 ance of a lamb, having feet, head, and tail distinctly formed, 

 and its skin covered with soft down. The ' lamb' grows 

 upon a stalk about three feet high, the part by which it is 



