THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
33 
no relationship to the plants that bear them. A further study, 
however, often brings out some obscure connection between thenri. 
One of the most prolific sources of astonishing common names is 
found in the attempt of the public to anglicize the scientific terms. 
To this is probably due the name coptide applied to the gold thread 
{Coptis trifolia) but how the trilliums become known as Ben- 
jamins or the round leaved wintergreen (Pyrola rotundifolia) 
acquired the name of copalm is not so clear. In C. H. Dodge's 
"Flora of St. Clair Co., Mich.," a large number of these curious 
names appear. 
The New Jersey tea (Ceanotlms Amcricaniis) is also called 
sprangles; the leather wood {Dirca pahistris) is khown as wi- 
copy, and the chicory {Cichorium intybiis) as bunk. Universe- 
vine is a new one for the bear-berry (Arctostaphyllos iiva-iirsa) 
and crackers for the huckleberry {Gaylussacia resin osa) . The 
wintergreen (Gaulthcria prociiinbcns) , which has its full share of 
intelligible names, has also to its credit jinks, drunkards, pippins 
and red pollom. More light upon the origin of these names is 
greatly desired. Can any O'f our readers help us ? 
Promoting the Usefulness of Parks. -The enjoyment of 
the populace in large country parks and forests, can be greatly 
promoted by allowing the picking of flowers and berries ; and this 
permission may be safely given, provided the plants are not dug 
up by the roots, either by design or through carelessness. So 
valuable is this privilege, that it is better to run some risk of the 
extermination of desirable growths, than tO' prohibit picking. It 
is of course possible tO' keep sowing the plants which are most apt 
to be picked, like the columbine, wild geranium, anemone and 
blue violet. Some fragrant things ought to be carefully raised in 
the parks expressly for the enjoyment of the people whoi discover 
them appearing in the season. —President Eliot of Harvard in 
Park and Cemetery. 
Birds and Berries. — Apropos of Almon N. Rood's query in 
the April number of this journal as to what birds eat the berries 
of the winter-berry (Ilex verticillata) the following upon Brit- 
ish birds and berries from Nature Notes will be be of interest. 
"From personal observation I have found that song thrushes and 
the rarer missel thrushes eat freely holly berries, a small tree in 
