140 The Scottish Naturalist. 



und Thier-seele.' Leipzig, 1863. There are two other books 

 dealing with the subject that have a good deal of interest — 

 Ludwig Schmarda's ' Andeutungen liber das Seelenleben der 

 Thiere,' and Scheillin's ' Versuch einer vollstand Thierseelen- 

 kunde.' I came across these in the course of my reading lately^ 

 and was much struck with them." 



There is a popular belief that the dog, cat, and other animals 

 — domestic or wild — are in the habit, at certain times, or 

 under certain circumstances, of inducing in themselves vomit- 

 ing or purging by chewing or swallowing various common 

 native plants, especially one or more Grasses. And the presump- 

 tion is that such a common popular belief is based, to some 

 extent at least, on facts. But it is important, for the purposes. 

 of generalisation, to determine exactly what the facts are. In 

 order to which I had occasion recently to apply to several 

 authorities conversant on the one hand with our domestic ani- 

 mals and their habits, and on the other with our native plants 

 and their properties. The fullest and most satisfactory reply I 

 rceived came from Mr. William Gome of Trinity, Edinburgh, 

 formerly one of the Vice-Presidents of the Botanical Society of 

 Edinburgh, and also one of the editors of the " Farmer" news- 

 paper, published in Edinburgh. 



Writing from Rait Lodge, York Road, Trinity, Edinburgh, 

 on 3d May, 1875, Mr. Gorrie, says : — 



" I regret that I am not able to give you any definite 

 information on the use by animals of plants, medicinally. I 

 have never seen the dog using the Cynosurus cristatus, but have 

 often seen dogs chewing up the common Couch grass (Triticuvt 

 repens), as well as other broad-leaved grasses, such as Cocksfoot 

 (Dactylis glomerata). And when they get into my garden 

 here they frequently make free with the leaves of the Holy 

 grass ( Hicroclilocborealis), and the Bunch grass of British Colum- 

 bia (Elymus condensates). Their teeth do not appear to be 

 suited for pulping these grasses, but they rather roll them up 

 aud swallow them nearly whole. This is generally, or rather 

 among shepherds and other dog owners, looked upon as a proof 

 that the dog is not well. The grass does not seem to be digested 

 by them, but passes through much in the same condition as 

 when swallowed. I have on several occasions seen it so passed, 

 with tape-worm intermixed or entwined in the folds of the grass. 

 And rightly or wrongly, I have a notion that these broad, 



