198 



MALE FERN. 



Only a few years ago a clergyman's wife in this neighbourhood 

 purchased one of these St. John's hands for four shillings ; and 

 I have known others buy little bits cut from such a hand for 

 four to eight groschen, to be given in drink to their cattle, as a 

 means of protecting them against enchantment and witchcraft : 

 it is a pity that such remedies will not also protect us against 

 death." Tragus also informs us that some of the uses to which 

 this fern was formerly applied, are too scandalous to relate. It 

 is very amusing to find almost every one of these old botanists 

 bewailing the wickedness and credulity of times gone by, yet 

 recommendiag herbs for the most improper uses, or assigning 

 to them the most marvellous powers : our old friend, Gerarde, 

 after many a kind warning to his readers against credulity, 

 winds up his ' Herbal ' with an avowal of implicit faith in the 

 fable of the barnacle goose tree ! 





