152 Poisonous Plants. [Sess. 



observed without being recorded. The origin of the name 

 " roller " is said to be from the rolling of the bird in its flight 

 and its dropping through the air like a tumbler-pigeon. It is 

 regarded by some naturalists as belonging to the class of 

 Corvidce, and by others to the bee-eating family Meropidae. I 

 have no desire to detain you with any lengthened observations, 

 more especially as I cannot give you any of my own. 



At this meeting Mr A. J. Pressland, B.A., F.B.S.E., read a 

 paper on the " Wild Cattle of Britain," and was awarded a very 

 hearty vote of thanks. 



II.— POISONOUS PLANTS. 

 Br Mr MARK KING. 



(Read Dec. 23, 1895.) 



There may be a difference of opinion as to the utility of 

 spending much time in the study of the vegetable kingdom, 

 but all should be agreed as to the importance of being at least 

 acquainted with the common plants of one's own country, and 

 especially with those of which man may make use. This is 

 what lately befel a party of New Zealand explorers in conse- 

 quence of the want of special knowledge. They found them- 

 selves one day without food, and with starvation staring them 

 in the face. Searching for some fruit or root with which to 

 appease the pangs of hunger, a new fear suddenly confronted 

 them — a more terrible death by poison. Dragging their wea- 

 ried limbs along, they reached an encampment of natives, who 

 were roasting some kind of grain among the ashes. Partaking 

 of this, their strength returned, and their lives were saved. 

 The " fruit," on inquiry, proved to be obtained from the cones 

 of the Araucaria Bidwillii, of which vast forests had been tra- 

 versed by them without a suspicion of its usefulness to them 

 in the circumstances in which they were placed. 



