92 FAMILIAR WILD FLOWERS. 



appear. The specific name is derived from two Greek 

 words, signifying leopard and to destroy, as the juice of the 

 plant was formerly used, when mixed with raw flesh, to 

 poison wild beasts. We see the same principle in the naming 

 of a plant having verv poisonous berries which are used to 

 destroy in the same way hyaenas and other wild creatures : 

 the plant is the Hgeenanche globosa. The English name 

 carries out the same idea, though fortunately for us we 

 have imported the plant and its name, while the carnivorous 

 plagues on which it might have been exercised are left 

 behind. The name is similar in character to wolf's-bane, 

 flea-"bane, and several others. Dodonceus calls it panther- 

 bane, and says that " it is very hurtful to man's nature, 

 and killeth out of hand. The report goeth that if this 

 herbe or the roote thereof be layd by the scorpion that he 

 shall lose his force and be astonied, until such time as he 

 shall happen agayne to touche the leaves of white elebor, 

 by vertue whereof he eommeth to him selfe agayne/' In 

 a foot-note he gives an amusing woodcut of two scorpions 

 " astonied/' and falling different ways. 



