744 The Zoologist— May, 18C7. 



An Inquiry into the Nature and Properties of the Swalloio-stone and 

 Swallota's-herb. By James Edmdnd Harting, Esq., F Z.S. 



Between the so-called "swallow-stone" and the plant named 

 " swallow's-herb " theve is this remarkable connection, that both were 

 considered to be sovereign remedies for all diseases of the eye. An 

 inquiry into the history of each of these productions leads to some 

 curious information. 



\our correspondent Dr. Lebour informs us that an examination of 

 some swallow-stones showed them to be the hard polished calcareous 

 opercula of some species of Turbo, but that their worn state precluded 

 an identification of the species. He adds that their peculiar shape, 

 one side being flat and the other convex, admits of their being pushed 

 under the eyelid, across the eyeball, and thus they remove any eye- 

 lash or other foreign substance which may have got in the eye; but 

 that further than this they have no curing power. 



The popular belief on this subject, current amongst the peasants in 

 Brittany, is no doubt of some antiquity, and the allusion which Long- 

 fellow has made to it in his beautiful poem of 'Evangeline' would 

 seem to confirm this impression, inasmuch as we may assume that the 

 legend found its way into Acadia through the French colonists, who 

 were the first to settle there. There is this noticeable difference, how- 

 ever, between the current opinion in Brittany and the popular belief 

 in Acadie, as expressed by Longfellow, namely, that in the former 

 case it is the Jinder of the stone in the swallow's nest who is bene- 

 fited; in the latter it is the sight of the "Jledglings" that is thereby 

 restored. 



On referring to ancient authors wc are struck with a remark which 

 is variously expressed, to the effect that the swallow, for a similar 

 purpose, makes use of a plant named Chelidonium. 



This plant is the well-known Celandine (Chelidonium majus).* It 

 belongs to the Papaveracese, or poppies, and may be found growing, in 

 waste places, to the height of about two feet. It is brittle, slightly 

 hairy and full of a yellow foetid juice, and bears small yellow flowers 

 in long-stalked umbels. 



The name Chelidonium is undoubtedly derived from the Greek 

 %E?u5&)i/, a swallow, but the reason for its being thus named is not so 

 obvious. Some authors suggest that it was so called on account of its 



* Hooker and Arnoti's ' British Flor;i,' p. iS. 



