44 
A DICTIONARY OF 
Bird’s Knotgrass. A book-name for Polygonwn aviculare, L. — 
With. ed. vii. 
Bird’s Meat. Fruit of Cmtcegus Oxyacantlia^ L. — P)om. Hal. 
Bird’s Nest. (1) Dauciis Carota, L. — ‘The whole tuft [of flowers] 
is drawn togither when the seede is ripe, resembling a birdes nest : 
whereupon it hath beene named of some bird's nest.’ — Ger. 873. Lyte 
and Ger. give Vogels Nest as a German name of the plant. Scotl. 
Jamieson. 
(2) Pastinaca sativa, L, — Ger. Appx. 
(3) Neottia Nidus-avis, L. — =A translation of the old Latin name of 
the plant, which ‘ hath many tangling rootes platted or crossed one 
over another verie intricately, which resembleth a crowes nest made 
of stickes.’ — Ger. 176; Prior, p. 22. 
(4) Monotropa Hypopitys, L. — Prior, p. 22. A modern bookname. 
Bird’s Tongue. (1) Stellaria Holostea,'L. — Ger. Appx.; Cockayne, 
iii. 314. Probably from the, shape of the leaves. 
(2) Polygonum aviculare, L. — North. Ger. 452. ‘ So called from the 
form of the leafe.’ Coles, A. in E., 305. Prior, p. 23. 
(3) The fruit of Fraxinus excelsior, L,- — Turn. Herb. {Burdes tonges). 
From the ‘form thereof being like unto a bird’s tongue.’ — Coles, A. 
in E., 305. 
(4) Acer campestre, L. — Evelyn, Sylva. 
(5) Senecio paludosus, L. — With, ed. ii. 
(6) Anagallis arvensis, L. — Norf. Cockayne, iii. 31 ; Prior, p. 23. 
Bird Thistle. Carduus lancedlatus, L. — Because goldfinches and 
other birds feed on the seeds ; or perhaps a form of Bur Thistle 
(which see). TForc. 
Birk. Betula alha, L.-— General in the north of England and in 
Scotland, extending as far south as N. Lane. (E. D. S. Lane. Gloss., 
which see for old examples of the use of the word) and N. Line. (E. 
D. S. Gloss. C. 6). Hal. Wr. Birk-tree, Cumb. E. D. S, Gloss. C. 8. 
Birk Apples. Cones of Plnus sylvestris, L., and probably of other 
species. Yks. (Northallerton). 
Birthwort. Aristolocliia Clematitis, L., and other species. — Ger. 
696. From its supposed efficacy in hastening parturition. Prior, p. 
22 . 
Bishop, or Bishop’s, Leaves. Scrogdmlaria aqiiatica, L. — Yks. Ger. 
Prior, p. 22. ‘Yel quod aliquis nomine episcopus earn ad medicos 
usus primus adhibuit, vel quod supremi omnium flores cidarin episco- 
palem imaginoso alicui repraesentare visi sunt.’ — Skinner. 
Bishop’s Elder. NLgopodium Podagraria, L. — Wight. 
Bishop, or Bishop’s, Weed. (1) jEgopodmm Podagraria, L. — 
E. Lord. Bot. E. Bord. ; Moray, FI. M. ; Belf. Flor. Belf. 
(2) Ammi majus, L. — Ger. 882 ; Hal. ; Prior, p. 22. 
