186 FLORA HISTORIC.*. < 



tells us that the root was chewed as a cure for the 

 tooth-ache, but if kept long in the mouth it de- 

 stroyed the teeth. 



We are not aware that the garden Ranunculus 

 has been used in medicine, and shall not in this 

 place dwell further on the properties of our native 

 species of this family of plants, than to observe that 

 they contain virulent qualities, which affect both men 

 and cattle, particularly sheep ; and that it was with 

 one of the kinds of Ranunculus that the ancients 

 poisoned the points of their arrows. Mons. C. 

 Dubois gives us the following pretty moral verses 

 on the dangerous nature of the Ranunculus of our 

 fields, called Butter-cups. 



Vois, mon fils, ce bouton charmant 



Que Zephyr berce de son aile ; 

 Comme il etale, en s'inclinant, 



L'or dout sa corolle etincelle ! 



Ce joli bouton satine, 



Qui sourit comme l'innocence, 

 Recele un sue empoisonne, 



Et souvent blesse 1' imprudence. 



Des pieges d'un monde inconnu 



Apprends, mon fils, a te defendre ; 

 Tel nous mon t re un front ingenu, 



Qui ne cherche qu'a nous surprendre. 



