72 RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS. 
while the grass is closely cropped around them. 
It is nevertheless unavoidable, so common are 
these plants, that portions of them should be 
eaten very often by these animals, It is probable 
that small quantities of the less acrid sorts do 
them no injury. At least,it appears that their 
stomachs are much less susceptible to this kind 
of stimulus than ours., Inthe Pan Suecus some 
experiments upon these plants, with domestic 
animals, are detailed ; in which, it is stated that, 
horned cattle refused to eat all the species when 
offered to them, except R. auricomus. .This 
species was rejected by horses, while they would 
eat. R. flammula, Sheep and goats eat the R, 
acris, one of the most pungent species. Dr. 
Pulteney states, as a well known fact, that hogs, 
in England, devour the roots of R.. bulbosus, 
How it is that these animals resist the deleterious 
effects of so virulent plants, it is noteasy to say, 
It is, however, a not. more remarkable fact, than 
the power of some animals to devour Cantharides 
and even mineral poisons with impunity.* 
In their dry state, various species of Ranun- 
eulus enter into the composition of hay, particu- 
larly R. acris. Having lost their acrimony 
altogether in drying, they are harmless and 
probably nutritive. 
* See a note, vol. i. p. 164. 
