78 lewis's AMERICAN S P H T S M A N. 



This well-knoAvn evergreen flourishes in every section of our 

 country, being particularly abundant on the sides of hills and 

 mountains. There is also another variety, known as marsh laurel, 

 (kalmia glauca,) that inhabits the lowlands and possesses nearly 

 the same properties as the other species. Some animals partake 

 of these evergreens with impunity, while others are fatally poisoned 

 by the use of them. The partridge and grouse both eat of their 

 foliage and berries without any ill consequences to themselves ; but 

 their flesh, it is said, has often been poisoned to such an extent 

 by long indulgence in this food, that death, in some rare instances, 

 has resulted from persons partaking of them while in this noxious 

 state. 



Doctor Shoemaker published, some time back, an account of 

 two cases of poisoning arising from the eating of a pheasant 

 whose craw was stufied with laurel-leaves when shot. The most 

 prominent symptoms in these cases were intolerable nausea, partial 

 blindness, severe pain in the head, difiicult breathing, feeble pulse, 

 &c. Great relief was obtained for these unfortunate patients by 

 the free exhibition of mustard and warm water, in quantities 

 sufficient to provoke vigorous vomiting. 



OLD AND YOUNG BIRDS. 



The bills of young birds are soft and brown, the legs yellowish 

 or bluish white ; the old birds have hard black bills, and legs dark 

 and scaly. The young birds are somewhat smaller than the old 

 and full-grown ones of the previous season. In some sections of 

 country partridges seem to thrive and grow much larger than in 

 other parts. Those shot in the neighborhood of the Tapahannock 

 marshes, in the State of Delaware, are generally very heavy and 

 remarkably fine birds. 



Geo. D. Wetherill, Esq. — a zealous and ardent sportsman, by- 

 the-by — informs us that he once shot, in the neighborhood of 

 Mount Holly, New Jersey, ten brace of birds that averaged eight 

 ounces each. 



