The Zoologist— Ma v, 1867. 745 



flowering about the time of the arrival of the swallow, while others 

 assert that it derives its appellation from being the plant medicinally 

 made use of by that bird. 



The belief that animals and birds possess a knowledge of certain 

 plants which will cure a disease, or benefit them in some way, is very 

 ancient, and this particular plant is alluded to by old authors as being 

 especially selected for the purpose. Pliny observes (Hist. Nat. fol. 

 1530, p. 461, xv.) " Animalia quoque invenire herbas, inprimisque 

 chelidoniam. Hac enim hirundines oculis pullorum in nido restituunt 

 visum, ut quidaui volunt, etiam erutis oculis" (!) And the same author 

 further remarks, " Chelidoniam visui saluberrimara hirundines mon- 

 stravere vexatis pullorum oculis ilia medeutes." 



Gerard, referring to this plant, in his ' Herball, or Generall Historie 

 of Plantes' (1597), observes : — " It is called Celandine, not because it 

 then first spvingeth at the comming in of the swallowes, or dieth when 

 they goe away : for as we haue saide, it may be founde all the yeere ; 

 but because some hold opinion that with this herbe the dams restore 

 sight to their young ones when their eies be out, the which things are 

 vaine and false : for Cornelius Celsus in his sixt booke doth witnesse 

 that when the sight of the eies of diners yoong birdes be put foorth 

 by some outward meanes, it will after a lime be restored of itselfe, and 

 soonest of all the sight of the swallow, whereupon (as the same saith) 

 that the tale or fable grew, how, thorow an herbe the dams restore that 

 thing, which healeth of itselfe: the very same doth Aristotle alleadge 

 in the sixt book of the historie of liuing creatures : the eies of young 

 swallowes, saith he, that are not fledge, if a man do pricke them out, 

 do grow againe, and afterwards do perfectly recouer their sight." 

 Subsequently, when speaking of the "virtues" of the plant, the sage 

 Gerard continues : " The iuice of the herbe is good to sharpen the 

 sight, for it cleanselh and consumeth awaie slimie things that cleaue 

 about the ball of the eie, and hinder the sight." The root was con- 

 sidered good for yellow jaundice, and also (being chewed) for tooth- 

 ache. Gerard adds " The roote cut in small peeces is good to be 

 giuen vnto hawkes against sundrie diseases :" and Turbervile, in his 

 ' Booke of Falconrie ' (1611), treats of a cure for " a blow giuen to the 

 eye, or of some other mischance," as follows : " Sometimes the eyes of 

 hawkes are hurt by some mishappe, some stripe, or otherwise as I said 

 afore. Against such unlooked for mischances, Master Malopin, in his 

 boke of the Prince, willeth to take the juice of Celondine, otherwise 

 Arondell, or -Swallowes hearbe, and to convey it into the eye. And if 



SECOND SEEIES — VOL. II. 2 F 



