114 02f THE BAEK OF A EEPUTED ECBOLIC PLANT, 



end ; the thinner end pointed. Length, ri5 in by 0-8 in. The 

 nest is similar to that of others of the genus, — a round cup- 

 shaped structure of sticks, lined with finer material and grass, &c. 



[To he continued.^ 



Note uP02f the Baek of a reputed Ecbolic Plant from 



New Caledonia. 



By Dr. Thomas Dixox, Sydney. 



Some two months ago I received from this Society about (2J) 

 two and a half ounces of bark, sent by Mr. Layard, of New 

 Caledonia ; it was in pieces apparently from an undershrub — 

 inside it was fibrous and brown, outside it had a corky layer 

 oV inch thick, with a grey-brown surface more or less tuberculated. 

 On tasting it had a slightly astringent barky flavor only. 

 Perchloride of iron gave a black infusion, caustic potash solution 

 darkened it, shewing presence of tannic acid. Having so little 

 to work with I made a cold infusion of some, then spirituous 

 etherial extract from the rest, and finally I made a decoction of 

 the already used bark. The result was three very light brown 

 clear fluids, very slightly astringent in the case of the infusions. 

 I added all three together, carefully dried at a temperature of 

 120o Ft., and made thus an extract weighing some nine grains, 

 which was chiefly fine powder from the bark. I gave a cat (in 

 kitten) three grains as a pill, — no effect of any kind visible, even 

 on the pupil of the eje. I gave her a week later the remaining 

 six grains in milk, which she devoured greedily, though it made 

 the milk quite brown, — no effect resulted. A kitten three months 

 old took a little left in the milk dish, with no visible effect. The 

 cat littered four mature kittens two days after. 



Now, be it remembered that here was six grains of extract 

 from \\ oz. of bark given to an animal 6 lbs. weight, which should 

 be a powerful dose if the medicine had any potency of con- 



