X INTRODUCTION. 



them) ; and 'Eriaclme squarrosa, B. Br. ; thus making, in all, twenty-six 

 species, which is a little over 7 per cent, of the total recorded for the whole 

 of Australia not a very formidable array it must be admitted, still, of 

 sufficient importance to make their position felt, and somewhat dreaded, by 

 the sheep-owner. 



Supposed poisonous plants and fungoid growths. There are many trees, 

 shrubs, and herbs, which are largely used as fodder, especially so during 

 long droughts ; though there is still much to be cleared up with respect to 

 the actual value of certain of them. Even in the same district some persons 

 will assert that a particular species of plant is poisonous, while others, 

 whose testimony is equally reliable, will assert that it makes capital feed. 

 There are, perhaps, no more conflicting statements made than with regard 

 to the species of the genus Eremophila; and of the allied one Myoporum. 

 "Whilst I must admit that very little is known of the physiological properties 

 of the order Myoporinece, still I cannot close my eyes to the fact that both 

 cattle and sheep kept in country where these shrubs are plentiful eat them 

 with avidity and thrive on them, without any ill effects. Some persons 

 assert that these Myoporinous plants develop their poisonous properties 

 when in fruit, but whoever has studied the habits of the birds of Central 

 Australia will assure them that certain of these greatly depend upon the 

 fruits of these plants for their sustenance, which, in fact, are, in some 

 seasons, their principal food supply. Moreover, the aborigines, before they 

 tasted the sweets of civilisation, used to eat the fruits of several Myoporinous 

 plants. 



There is no doubt that when cattle and sheep are taken from one district 

 to another where the natural herbage is somewhat dissimilar, it must have, 

 for a time at least, some effect upon their systems, especially when they are 

 taken from rolling downs of grass to country where shrubs and herbs pre- 

 dominate ; and this brings to mind a question which I think has not received 

 that attention from stock-owners that its importance justifies. It is the 

 mechanical action that hard-foliaged shrubs have upon the larynx of both 

 cattle and sheep which are not used to eating them. This irritation of the 

 larynx not only brings on laryngitis, but sometimes tends to bring on inflam- 

 mation of the intestines. Partner, when hungry sheep or cattle have partaken 

 too freely of some leguminous plants, especially when in flower or seed, they 

 have died. But this is caused during the process of digestion, when great 

 quantities of gases are made, which cause an abnormal distention of the 

 stomach, thus preventing the lungs working freely, and, of course, strangling 

 the animals. On this account many leguminous plants are called poisonous 

 which are not really so. Still these causes could not account for all the 

 sheep that die somewhat mysteriously. I use the word mysteriously advisedly, 

 for many plants have been received by me marked poisonous which, on 

 examination, have proved to be quite harmless. Nor is my case a singular 

 one. Others have had the same experience. No doubt there are some 

 poisonous plants in the country ; but unless animals are sickly, weakly, or 

 hard pressed for food, their natural instincts will lead them to avoid browsing 

 upon them. There is a far more insiduous enemy to contend against in the 

 parisitic fungi which affect certain grasses and other herbage, not only in 

 the damp coastal districts, but even into the far interior. Some years ago I 

 drew attention to the increase of parasitic fungi on certain valuable grasses, 

 and I then said, what I think now, that fungoid growths on grasses and 

 other herbage is the primary cause of many sheep dying so mysteriously. 

 For there is abundant proof of the destructive agency of microscopic fungi 

 both on animals and flowering plants that have not sufficient vigour to repel 



