528 Proceedings. 
Mr. Travers said that the first report of this proclivity in the Keá was from the head 
of Lake Wanaka, but it was discredited. He had been aware of the fact himself, and 
it was now beyond a doubt. The kaka also fed on flesh, but never attacked the living 
animal. 
Dr. Newman remarked that it was strange that these birds should prey upon such large 
animals, when it was considered that before the introduction of sheep they had not pro- 
gu seen anything larger than a rat. 
** On Pituri, a new Vegetable Product that deserves further Investi- 
Du " by S. M. Curl, M.D. (Transactions, p. 411.) 
Dr. Newman said that very little was known as to the real merit of this plant. Ii 
was no doubt, to a certain extent, à stimulant, but he thought a great deal was due to 
imagination. He could not agree with many of the author's statements as to the power 
of this product, especially in critical cases of disease. 
Mr. Kirk explained that Dr. Curl only suggested that the plant might prove useful in 
critical cases, not that it had done so. If what the author said was correct, it would be 
a most valuable drug to travellers and explorers in New Zealand. 
` Mr. Field would like to have the Chairman's opinion as to whether the experiments 
on animals referred to could be attributed to imagination. 
Dr. Newman said that no doubt the plant had an effect on animals, as it was an 
unusual food for them. It was only in the case of experiments on human beings that 
at all reliable results had been obtained, and these latter were to him unsatisfactory. 
8. “Some Remarks on Dr. Curl’s “Notes on Grasses and Fodder " 
Plants, suitable for Introduction to New Zealand,'" by Henry Blundell. 
ABSTRACT. 
The author paid a high compliment to Dr. Curl for his work. He 
thought that though rye and clover were often selected as the best known 
grasses for the cultivator, the pasture grown from them is mixed with other 
grasses, owing to the difficulty of getting pure seed. Several grasses thus 
get root in the ground, and in course of time the pasture, though nominally 
of one or two varieties, is actually composed of many. The author thinks a 
variety of food for cattle is most beneficial, if not essential, and says the 
effect of their food is especially noticeable in dairy produce. In this country 
Phormium has a great influence in the flavour of milk, and is largely chewed 
by cattle, especially the lower end of the leaf. The author has known acres 
of swamp land to be cleared of Phormium by cattle tearing off the leaves. 
He says “there is one exotic plant which I think is deserving of more 
than the passing notice it receives at Dr. Curl’s hands in his paper 
published in Vol. IX. of the Transactions. I allude to the burnet, 
which grows luxuriantly in swampy soil, and thrives well in soil of 
a much drier description. Some of it was sown at the rear of the 
homestead, on a run where it throve wonderfully, but never spread, 
for the simple reason that the sheep never gave it the chance, for though 
naturally wild and timid they would brave a good deal to get a taste of the 
DOE eh EAE ee REY RON Se a, Sy aie Re aS Oe ee RED E 
