406 Dr George Johnston on the 
well as of passion and imagination, laid up; and from these, 
valuable lessons may be derived, if only our attention was 
awakened to their exstence. For like unto some traveller 
passing unmoved over notable battle-fields, and through cities 
of old renown, because unconscious of the noble actions which 
have been wrought, and of the great men who have lived 
there,—so we, like him, lacking that knowledge which breeds 
admiration, are thus deprived of this pure mental excitement, 
and miss much valuable instruction. 
We are glad that our author has paid considerable atten- 
tion to the local names of plants,—a department of research 
which at first sight may appear of trivial importance, if not 
even childish ; but if prejudice is laid aside, and if one list of 
local names is compared with another, a key may perhaps be 
obtained to some obscure points in the language or dialect and 
history of their respective inhabitants. The critics of Shak- 
speare have often been obliged to resort to the local names 
of plants and animals found near Stratford-on-Avon, to il- 
lustrate the meaning of the immortal bard; so, in like man- 
ner, will the student of the Scottish bards, such as Douglas, 
Ramsay, Ferguson, Burns, Scott, Leyden, Tannahill, and 
Hogg, gladly welcome the information embodied in this work ; 
and future poets will resort to its pages as to some precious 
mine, rich in all the materials for poesy. The old national 
language in which most of these poets wrote, is going into dis- 
use, and giving place to the smoother numbers of the English 
tongue; nor should this be a subject for regret, for all that 
is beautiful, and good, and true, that has been wedded to im- 
mortal verse, shall never be forgotten. But the subject of the 
popular names of plants is to be viewed in a still higher light. 
From the local we must rise to the national; and for this 
we have a few notices, which will only serve to whet the ap- 
petite, it may be, of the philologist for farther information. 
Thus, the beautiful wood-sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) is locally 
termed gowk’s-meat; in Gothland, Sweden, ‘‘ Goikmat ;” in 
France, “‘ pain de coucou.” The fruit of the bird-cherry 
(Prunus Padus) is termed hagberry ; in Sweden, “ hagg,” 
which means hedgeberry. The fruit of Empetrum nigrum 
is locally called crawberry; in Sweden, “ ckrak-ris.” 
