LARKSPUR POISONING OP LIVE STOCK. 13 



forest supervisor as having lost 15 per cent of all his cattle. On the 

 Fishlake National Forest in 1915, it was estimated by the forest 

 supervisor that there was a total loss of cattle amounting to $15,000, 

 one man losing 48 out of a total of 400 head. 



An attempt has been made from reports that have been sent in 

 from the various grazing areas to get an idea of the percentage of 

 cattle losses. These percentages can not be considered as very re- 

 liable, the estimates made varying from 3 to 7 per cent. A con- 

 siderable number of the persons reporting make an estimate of 5 

 per cent. This is a very heavy toll to take of the stockmen, and it 

 is probable that with the exception of the losses from loco poisoning, 

 there is no one cause of loss that draws upon the herds so heavily 

 as larkspur poisoning. 



The specific examples which have been given have been largely 

 from Colorado, but losses occur in most of the summer ranges in 

 the mountain regions of the West, and it is probable that the ap- 

 parently greater losses from Colorado are due in part to the more 

 complete reports and in part, perhaps, to the fact that in Colorado 

 there is a larger extent of valuable summer range than in the other 

 States. The reports of losses in the United States come from all 

 the mountain regions between Mexico and the Canadian line and 

 from the Rocky Mountains on the east to the coast ranges on the 

 west. Similar losses have been reported from the Canadian ranges. 

 The major part of these losses occur in May, June, and early July. 



COMMON NAMES OF LARKSPURS. 



In Europe a number of common names have been applied to the 

 larkspurs, names derived either from the morphology of the plant 

 or its assumed characteristics. Perhaps the most common name is 

 " stavesacre," a corruption of Staphysagria. In England they are 

 also known as "dolphin flower," " king's consound," " knight's spur," 

 " staggerweed," and "lousewort." In Germany the common names 

 are " Rittersporn," "Lerchen Klaue," and "Horn Kummel." In 

 France, " pieds d'alouette," " herbe Sainte-Athalie," " fleur d'ainour," 

 are among the more common names. 



In the western United States larkspurs are commonly known as 

 ".poison," "poison weed," and "cow poison," while in parts of New 

 Mexico the term " peco " is used. In the mountain ranges of the 

 West the larkspurs are generally known and accurately distinguished 

 by the men who handle stock. Before the plants blossom, however, 

 some confuse Delphinium and Geranium, and more fail to dis- 

 tinguish between Delphinium and Aconitum. The leaves of the 

 aconites resemble the larkspur so closely that, inasmuch as they 

 grow in the same localities, it is not strange that they are not always 



