HABITS AND LATIN NAMES OF BRITISH PLANTS. 
29 
membrane which unites the exterior to the middle toe,—the only difference which 
distinguishes this bird from the other European Snipes, of which it exhibits all 
the manners and habits. In isolating beings by such minute and anomalous 
characters, which do not relate to any of their animal functions, we create 
difficulties in artificial classification : the memory becomes uselessly burthened 
with a series of names; and method serves only to impart false notions on the 
nature and relations of animals.”— Manuel d’Ornithologies Yol. II., p. 680. 
The birds which compose the genus Lestris , have hitherto been confounded 
with the Lari ; although sufficiently distinguished from them by peculiarities of 
external character and of habit. The Gulls are lazy and timid birds : the Lesfres 
or Skuce, on the contrary, are bold and fearless; rarely fish for themselves; but 
subsist on food which they compel the Gulls to disgorge. The genus, as now 
constituted, comprehends four European species, among which is the subject of 
the present plate, the Common Skua, Lestris cataractes (Larus cataractes , 
Linnasus, Cataractes vulgaris , Fleming), —Stercoraire Cataracte, Fr. —This 
noble bird is figured in a style worthy of one in which the Eagle itself finds a 
formidable assailant. 
ON THE HABITS AND PECULIARITIES OF BRITISH PLANTS, 
AND ON THE DERIVATIONS OF THEIR LATIN NAMES. 
By T. B. Hall. 
(Continued from Yol. IV., p. 477.) 
Chyrsosplenium.— Named from xP vcros ? gold, and ovrXuv, the spleen ; in 
reference to the golden colour of the flowers, and the supposed virtue of the 
plant in diseases of the spleen. 
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium , Opposite-leaved Sen-green, Golden Saxifrage.—. 
It is said to be both aperient and diuretic, but not very powerfully so, as would 
seem to be shown by its common use as a salad in the Vosges, where it is freely 
eaten under the name of Cresson de-roche . 
Cichorium. —Originally, according to Pliny, an Eyptian name, and adopted by 
the Greeks. It is sometimes written xixopsiw, whence among the simple fare of 
Horace— 
-- “Me pascunt olives , 
Me CicJiorea , levesque MalveeP 
It is sometimes written K ix°P l0V > or Ktx c °P i0V > ft&p# raw x M § luVillS(V > because 
