SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
i57 
mean climber, supporting itself by a bend of the stem here and a twist of the 
leaf-stalk there. I would like to learn something of the history of this flower. 
How did it come to be so generally misnamed “ Nasturtium ” ; where is its 
native country, and when was it first introduced into England ? 
[The Tropaeolums are natives of the dry regions of South and Central 
America, being in many points of structure typically “ xerophytic.” They seem 
first to have been sent from Peru to Spain previous to the year 1565, to Nicolas 
Monardes, who described the plant in his “ De las cosas qui se traen de las 
Indias Occidentals qui sirven al uso de medecina ” (Seville, 1565). This work 
was translated by an English merchant, John Frampton, as “Joyful News out of 
the New Founde World ” (1577), and into Latin in Clusins’s “ Exolicorum libri 
decern ” (Antwerp, 1605). Monardes calls it “ Flos sanguineus,” “ Mastuertjo 
de las Indias,” probably by a misprint for “ Nasturcio,” and “ Nasturcium 
peruanum.” Gerard in his “ Herball ” (1597) writes — “ Of Indian Cresses. The 
seedes of this rare and faire plant came first from the Indies into Spaine, and 
thence into France and Flanders, from whence I received seede . . from my 
loving friend John Robin of Paris.” He gives a tolerable figure of the plant and 
its blossoms. Parkinson in his “Paradisus” (1629) calls it “Nasturtium 
Indicum, Indian Cresses, or yellow Larkes’ heeles,” and adds “ It is now very 
familiar in most Gardens of any curiosity. . . The Spaniards and others use 
the leaves hereof in stead of ordinary Cresses.” He quotes the Spanish name as 
“ Mastnerzo de las Indias, which is Nasturtium Indicum.” Nasturtium was the 
Classical name for some pungent salad-plants, and was used from the time of 
Dioscorides for Cresses. In the sixteenth century plants were classed together 
rather by properties than by floral structure ; and the Cabbage White Butterfly 
recognises a kinship in food-value between the Tropccolum and the Crucipera:. 
Linnaeus restricted the Classical name Nasturtium to the Old World Water- 
cresses, now known as Radicula, and coined the appropriate Tropaolum , or 
Little Trophy-flower, for the American group, “ from the shield-like leaves and 
the brilliant flowers, shaped like golden helmets, pierced through and through, 
and stained with blood ” (Sir J. E. Smith). — E d. N.N.\ 
86. “Gabriel’s Hounds.” — In a small and isolated hamlet, a few miles 
from Matlock, several weeks ago, was heard after dark in the evening, cries as 
if of a pack of hounds in full cry. People came out of their houses to see what 
was the matter, and then someone with more knowledge than the rest stated 
that theories were uttered by “Gabriel’s Hounds.” I have since been asked 
what was the real origin, and in reply I could only surmise that a flock of birds 
flying overhead might have been the cause. Can any of your readers give me an 
explanation? I may add that these cries are regarded by country folk as an ill- 
omen. 
Matlock , July 5, 1906. Robert Hall. 
87. Reference Wanted. — Can you or any reader of Nature Notes 
refer me to the volume (?) containing the Essay by Mr. W. R. Greg “ On the 
Special Beauty of Ruin and Decay,” mentioned by our President in his address 
(Nature Notes, June, 1906, p. 104). 
Greenhill, Evesham. Edmund II. New. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
[Note. — All Announcements with regard to Future Meetings of 
the Central Society or Branches will be found together at the 
end of these Notices.] 
New Members. — Central Society . — The following members were elected 
at the last meeting of the Council : John Acutt, Esq. ; )ohn Allen, Esq. ; Miss 
Phyllis Eden ; John Selkirk, Esq. ; Henry Williams, Esq. 
Hampstead Branch — Miss J. A. Thompson. 
Subscriptions. — The Council has pleasure in acknowledging a subscription 
of greater value than 5s. from the following member : E. C. Goulton, Esq., 10s. 
Library. — The Honorary Librarian will attend at 20, Hanover Square, 
from 6 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. on the evenings of August 20 and September 17, for 
the purpose of issuing books to members. 
