SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
2 39 
Folkard, in his “Plant Lore,” fell into the trap was to be expected, for he 
called his book a compilation, and it is perhaps not surprising that a writer in 
“ Proceedings of the Historical Society of Lancashire and Cheshire,” vol. vii. 
(1855-6), should also follow West’s followers. Atropa grows at the Abbey now, 
and from Thomas Lawson’s notebook (cir. 1680), we know that it was there 
then. The Abbey was visited by the Commissioners of Henry VIII., and the 
monks as a body expelled in 1535, so that if the plant be, as I surmise, a relic of 
the monastic physic garden, it had plenty of time to establish itself. As the 
species is a native of the limestone, not the sandstone, and limestone occurs not 
far from Furness Abbey, a difficulty arose in some minds, fostered too by a 
misprint in one of the editions of Withering’s “ Botany,” where in place of 
“about the ruins of Furness Abbey” we read “about the mines of Furness 
Abbey.” As plainly as possible then (1) Atropa is a native of the limestone, and 
at Furness Abbey it either grows on the ruins or at the foot of the walls amongst 
the d/bris — in both places, of course, there are remains of the old mortar and 
disintegrated stone. The building itself is of red sandstone. In the real lime- 
stone area of North Lancashire, in Cartmel (not Furness, Furness is one division 
only of the area), the species still survives as a wild plant ; (2) There are also two 
other species whose English names are “ nightshade,” Solatium Dulcamara , the 
woody nightshade, (3) and Circcca lutetiana , enchanters’ nightshade. S. 
Dulcamara is a native, and generally distributed on the outskirts of the Lake- 
land area, and is common at the abbey. C. lutetiana is a native and common 
in shady places throughout the district. Therefore, let us by all means keep to 
the old name, “Vale of Nightshade,” for that is true. If any visitor who is not 
acquainted with the plants, asks the guide, he will show them the three species. 
What, then, is the Ilerba Bekan? According to the Coucher Book’s verses it was 
“ .... dulcis nunc, tunc sed acerba ” — sweet and bitter, the “ Amara 
dulcis” of Turner’s Herbal, 1568, our Bittersweet, which is Solatium Dulcamara ; 
so, at any rate, it was agreed in “Notes and Queries,” 1894, and with this I 
quite concur. — S. L. Petty in the Yorkshire Post. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
Donation towards Reduction of the Deficit.— The Council acknow- 
ledge with thanks the receipt of the following donation : G. F. Rowe, Esq., 
17s. 6d., per Mrs. Flinders Petrie. 
Additions to the Selborne Library. — The Librarian reports that the 
following books have been received from the Editor, and are hereby acknowledged 
with thanks : “ Lectures for Children — The Spider, The Ant, Our Feathered 
Allies : Useful Birds, Frogs and Toads,” by Florence Horatia Suckling. The 
Essex Naturalist, April, 1897, to March, 1898. 
Council and Committee Meetings. — The next meetings of the Council 
will be held on Tuesdays, December 6 and January 3, at 5.30; and of the 
Magazine and Leaflet Committee on Tuesdays, December 20 and January 17, 
at 5.30. 
Selborne Society Badges : — The attention of members is called to the 
recognised badge of the Society, which was designed by Mr. John Fullwood, and 
can be had of the Secretary, as follows. Prices : Brooch, 3s. : solitaire, is. 9d. ; 
pin, is. 6d. ; pendant, is. 6d. They are tastefully designed in pale blue and 
