97 



account of the CEjianthe crocata. which I have now 

 convicted of poisoning two mares in foal belonging 

 to the Duke of Richmond last November. I have 

 viewed the field in company with the gardener and 

 groom, who found one mare dead and the other 

 dying. The stream (Lavant), which bounds one side 

 of the field for a considerable length, was quite dry, 

 and I was shown one plant of which the mares had 

 evidently dug up the roots with their hoofs. Their 

 stomachs were full of a white substance like saw- 

 dust, agreeing exactly with what we observed on 

 examining the roots this year, which were inter- 

 mixed with those of last season in decay. The bank 

 of the stream was abundantly full of the plant, and 

 more decisive evidence of murder could not be pro- 

 nounced against it. A few days ago I observed a 

 horse in a ditch cropping the tops of the plant, 

 which I suppose are comparatively innocent. The 

 brood mares possibly might have depraved appe- 

 tites, which induced them to dig up the roots. 



Yours, 



Thomas Frankland. 



Viro gravissimo et experientissimo Naturae scruta- 

 tori oculatissimo, D. Smith, Preesidi Societatis 

 Linneeanse Londinensis celeberrimo, fautori ac 

 patrono summo, pietatem, observantiam, obse- 

 quium spondet Hedwig. 



Lipsiae, Aug. 2, 1802. 



Quum amicissimus Dawson Turner me per literas 

 certiorem reddiderit, te, yir gravissime, suscepturum 



VOL. II h 



