POISONOUS HON.EY. 31 



specting the injurious effects of that plant, as none of our animals 

 appear to browse on it ; and many writers regard it as the cause 

 of the bad qualities attributed to the Corsican honey. To the 

 Taxus, the Cicuta is also added ; but whether that term indicates 

 the cowbane (C. virosa) of modern times, it is difficult to de- 

 termine. Whilst the ancients condemn the honey of some 

 countries as being of an inferior kind, they extol that of others 

 with the highest praise, particularly of Hymettus in Attica, a place 

 still famous for the excellence of its honey, and Hybla, a mountain 

 in Sicily. Of the latter place, Hogg, in his learned account of 

 classical plants in Sicily, makes especial mention under the family 

 called Labiates. Bees, he says, delight in these species, and to 

 them may be attributed the celebrity of the Hyblean honey. 

 Even at the present day, sages, thymes, germanders, mints, and 

 other aromatic herbs cover the calcareous range of Mount Hybla ; 

 and from their flowers, the wild buzzing bee still extracts most 

 delicious honey, as in the time of Theocritus, and honey is exported 

 from Syracuse. The Labiate family* is not a very numerous 

 one in New South Wales, and with the exception of the wild 

 pennyroyal, or MentJia, I do not know of any indigenous plant 

 which can be regarded as representing in any degree the sweet 

 scented Labiates of Mount Hybla. This little plant, when bruised, 

 is very fragrant, and possesses medicinal properties, being used 

 by country people as a tonic. 



* The Labiates of this part are not numerous nor important. With the 

 exception of two which have been introduced, viz., Stackys arvensis and Mar- 

 rubium vulgare I have noticed only the following: Lycopus Australis, West- 

 ringia rotmarinifolia (near the coast), Westringia longifolia (George's River), 

 Hemigenia purpurea (near the coast), Ajuga Australia, Teucrium corymbosum 

 (rare), Mentha satureoides, Plectranthus Australis, Prunella vulgaris, 

 Scutellaria humilis, Scutdlaria mollis (rare), Prostanthera marifolia (near 

 the coast). 



It would be advisable for persons keeping bees to cultivate somewhat ex- 

 tensively the Labiates, which are found so beneficial to honey in Europe, nor 

 shovilcl they despise the species of our Tea- trees (Melaleuca, Leptospermum, 

 Callistemon, &c.) for great quantities of honey may be procured Irom them at 

 certain seasons. Let such persons, however, beware of the showy species of 

 heathworts, and not cultivate many near their hives ; and, I may add, let 

 thejn destroy the thorn-apple (Datura stramonium) and Nicandra physaloides 

 (a plant sometimes mistaken for the Cape gooseberry), wherever they spring 

 up. Amongst the bush flowers which, perhaps, may be suspected, there are 

 probably some species of Gompholobium and Gastrolobium, but hitherto, as 

 far as the experience of the colonists has extended, the injurious effects of 

 these plants are confined to Western and North Eastern Australia. 



