20 
water of the roots and leaves, taken many days together, is 
commended against melancholy and fearful or troublesome 
sleeps and dreams.” He also adds That the roots beaten 
small and applied to the nose, cures the disease called Poly- 
pus.” The medical men of the present day very properly 
object to all these nostrums, and Sir James Smith remarks, 
that the medicinal properties of the Polypody “are not 
enough to make it worth enquiring whether that of the oak, 
or that of any wall or cottage be more endowed with them.” 
Even old Gerarde designates them, “old wives’ fables, fit 
only for writers who fill up their pages with lies and frivo- 
lous toies.” 
The Plant had its name from two Greek words ttoXvs 
wovg, having the signification of many feet, because it has 
many creeping roots. Gerarde says “that the Grecians call 
it Polypodium, because the holes of the fishes Polypi appear 
in the roots.” The classical writers, Dioscorides and Pliny 
state, “that it is so designated from the suckers or feelers 
of Polypi, which resemble curls of hair.” There is certainly 
something like the feelers of Polypi in the underground 
stem and roots. 
Eamilt II. Shield-Beaeees. Aspidiecd. 
Some travellers have mentioned a most remarkable plant 
of this family, the Tartarian Lamb, Aspidivm or Oibotimi 
Baromez, This, from its peculiar colour and form, was sup- 
posed to be a vegetable animal. Struys, an old traveller, 
says “On the western side of the Volga there is an elevated 
salt plain of vast extent, but wholly uncultivated and unin- 
habited. On this plain grows the Boranez or Bornitsch. 
This wonderful plant has the shape and appearance of a 
lamb with feet, head, and tail distinctly formed. Its skin 
is covered with very white down, as soft as silk. The 
Tartars and Muscovites esteem it highly, and preserve 
it with great care in their houses, where I have seen many 
such lambs. The sailor who gave me one of these precious 
plants, found it in a wood, and I had its skin made into a 
waistcoat. I learned at Astracan, from those who were 
best acquainted with the subject, that the lamb grows 
upon a stalk three feet high ; that it turns itself round 
and bends down to the herbage, which serves for its food. 
