292 
PLINr's KITUEAL HISTOET. [Book VIII 
discharged on their feeding upon this plant/ The same ani- 
mals, too, when they happen to have been wounded by the 
phalangium, a species of spider, or by any insect of a similar 
nature, cure themselves by eating crabs. One of the very best 
remedies for the bite of the serpent, is the plant^ with which 
lizards treat their wounds when injured in fighting with each 
other. The swallow has shown us that the chelidonia^ is 
very serviceable to the sight, by the fact of its employing it 
for the cure of its young, when their eyes are affected. The 
tortoise recruits its powers of effectually resisting serpents, by 
eating the plant which is known as cunile bubula ; and the 
weasel feeds on rue, when it fights with the serpent in the 
pursuit of mice. The stork cures itself of its diseases with wild 
marjoram, and the wild boar with ivy, as also by eating crabs, 
and more particularly those that have been thrown up by the 
sea.^^ The snake, when the membrane which covers its body 
^ The fabulous account of the powers of this herb is referred to in B. 
XXV. c. 53, and supported by the highest authorities ; among others, by 
Aristotle, Hist. Anim. B. ix. c. 6. ; Cicero, De Nat. Deor. B. ii, c. 50 ; 
Yirgil, ^n. B. xii. c. 412.— B. 
® See B. xxii. c. 45, for a similar cure. It is not known what plant is 
here alluded to, but it has been though*;: to he the cinara, or artichoke. 
^ The Chelidonium majus of Linnaeus. It probably derived its name 
from the swaUow, ^eXi^wi/, because its flowers appear at the time that 
bird makes its first appearance in the spring. This supposed property is 
mentioned by ^lian, Anim. Nat. B. iii. c. 25. Pliny speaks of its efficacy 
in diseases of the eyes, B. xxv. c. 50, and c. 91. — B. 
Pliny speaks of the medical virtues of cunile bubula, in B. xx. c. 61 ; 
Columella, B. vi. c. 13, says that it is a cure for scabies. It is not certain 
what is the plant here referred to ; it is considered identical with origanum, 
by Hardouin, and has been supposed by some to be marjoram, or penny- 
royal. The effect of the cunile on the tortoise is mentioned by Aristotle, 
Hist. Anim. B. ix. c. 6 ; by Plutarch, Nat. Qusest. ; iElian, Anim. Nat. 
B. vi. c. 12 ; and by Albertus Magnus, B. viii. Tr. ii. c. 2 ; but there is 
some difference in their statements. Some speak of it as an antidote, en- 
abling the tortoise to counteract the poison of the serpent, while others 
regard it as giving the tortoise increased vigour to resist the attacks. 
Aristotle, ubisK^ra, and ^lian, Anim. Nat. B. iv. c. 14, refer to this 
supposed fact, which is without foundation, so far, at least, as the contest 
of the .weasels with the serpents and the rue are concerned. The hostility of 
the weasel to the mouse is probably correct. Pliny again refers to it, B, 
XX. c. 51, and it forms the subject of one of Phaedrus's Fables, B. iv. 
c. 2.— B. 
^2 We have the same account in Plutarch, — B, Plutarch speaks, however, 
of the rivjr crab. 
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