4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 
able in perilous paths or ordinary emergencies, acting so like a fool, to the 
shame of all sensible animals. 
What is most remarkable with this, and the Colorado Loco, is the perma- 
nence of the impression, often lasting many months, or even for years, half 
demented, until at length they die. Death often supervenes suddenly; the 
effect is similar with horned cattle and sheep. The allied Tephrosia, or 
Devil’s Shoe-string of the south, although it stupifies and intoxicates, yet the 
impression soon wears off. This species of Rattle Weed is by no means con- 
fined to damp ground, but thrives well on dry hills and all soils. The stem 
is tall and leafy, growing in bunches from a perennial root, leaflets many- 
paired (twenty or more), stipuls at base of the leaves trianguloid, membra- 
naceous flowers dirty pale yellowish or whitish, tinged with red, bent forcibly 
back. Pods inflated, about two inches long, and thinly membranous, indeed 
so bladder-like that boys amuse themselves by popping them—hence the name 
jPoOpyeeas.: 
Lambert’s milk-vetch, of Colorado Territory, Oxytropis Lamberti, Pursh; 
(Astragalus Lamberti, Spreng.) consists of about six to eight varieties, which, 
for all popular purposes one description might suffice. The root is perennial, 
stemless, or nearly so—not considering the flower or fruit-scape, as such— 
they grow in tufts or stool-like suckers, springing out by very short 
branches from the root-crown—are more or less silvery, satiny-silky in every 
part; the common leaf-stem is about three inches long, the upper oddly pin- 
nate portion the same, or whole length of leaf about six inches, or much 
shorter than the flower scape stem; pea-blossomed flowers, purplish, blue and 
white, violet, etc.; leaflets five to fourteen pairs, usually about eight or nine; 
stipular appendages at the base of the leaves, at, or under the soil, sheathing; 
pods white, satiny-silky, with very short close-pressed hairs, erect, somewhat 
cylindric, one-half to an inch long, sharpening out at the point, and partly 
two-celled. 
Found from Saskatchewan to Texas, New Mexico, west to Rocky Mount- 
ains, and Colorado to Washington Territory, and, in the opinion of Hooker, 
to Arctic America and Labrador. 
Of this species of ‘‘loco’’ we have no personal observation. Asst. Surgeon 
P. Moffatt, U.S. A., writing from Fort Garland, Colorado Ter., says: ‘‘ Cat- 
tlemen inform him that the weed abounds in damp ground; he is assured that 
after eating it the animal may linger for months or years, but they invariably 
die from its effects. The animal does not lose flesh apparently, but totters on 
its limbs, and becomes crazy. While in this condition a cow will lose her calf 
and never find it again, and will not recognize it when presented to her. 
The eyesight becomes affected so that the animal has no knowledge of dis- 
tances, but will make an effort to stop, or jump over a stream or an obsta- 
cle while at a distance off, but will plunge into it, or walk up against it on 
arriving atit. The plant pointed out to him seemed related to the Lupin.’’ 
The members were notified that the appointments of corres- 
ponding members would be made shortly, and those desiring to 
present names could do so by leaving their lists with the Sec- 
retary. 
