BY W. P. BLAKELY. 25 



after by birds, and they are also used as an article of food by the blacks in 

 the remote parts of the continent. 



E. Palmer (Proc. Roy. Soc, N.S.W., xvii., 1883, p. 100) says that the 

 fruits of L. longiflorus Desr. (L. odontocalyx F. v. M.), L. Exocarpi and L. 

 Quandang Lindl. are used for food by the natives of the Flinders and Mitchell 

 Rivers. They also bruise the leaves of L. Exocarpi in water and then drink the 

 concoction in eases of fever. Mr. F. M. Rothery in the "Sydney Mail," 17th 

 Februai'y, 1904, drew attention to the possibilities of the growth of the mistletoe 

 being turned into ornamental articles. 



Nuytsia is said to exude a large quantity of transparent gum which makes 

 a good adhesive mucilage. It also appears to be suitable for paper pulp. 



Phrygilanthus eucahjptifolkis and Loranthus vitellinus fruit profusely, the 

 fruits containing copious viscin which is suitable for making bird lime. 



Professor Ewart (Flora Northern Territory, p. 88) states that "L. longi- 

 florus Desr. (L. odontocalyx F. v. M.) is said to contain 10 per cent, of 

 Tannin." 



Seeman (Flora Vitiensis, p. 429) states that "the leaves of L. insularum A. 

 Gray are used by the natives for dyeing their cloth and cordage black." 



Stock Food. 



From time to time reports are received from stock owners and others 

 directing attention to various species of mistletoes being relished by stock. 

 Sheep and cattle are said to be particularly fond of Loranthus and Korthalsella. 



Spencer Moore (Journ. Linn. Soc, xxxiv., 1898-1900, 259) mentions that 

 the parasites are gi-eedily eaten by camels, and in some cases thej' prefer the 

 parasite to the hosts, although the latter are excellent food. W. Bauerlen has 

 observed the same with L. miraculosus var. (b). Stock Inspector A. W. Melleii 

 states that in the Bourke district "stock are fond of the Mistletoe, L. linearifolius 

 but in many eases they will not eat the tree it grows upon." Between Wahroonga 

 and Normanhurst on the Pennant Hills road, Sydney, there is a large plant of 

 Magnolia grandiflora laden with Phrygilanthus celastroides ; the lower branches 

 of the Mistletoe are eaten off by cattle as high as they can reach, showing that 

 they will eat the parasite when it is Avithin their reach. Mr. Max Koch (Trans. 

 Roy. Soc. S. Aust., xxii., 1898, p. 101) writing from Mt. Lyndhurst states that 

 the mistletoes are eaten by stock. 



In reference to Korthalsella breviarticulata, Stock Inspector M. H. Simon 

 reports that "in the Gunnedah district, cattle and sheep are passionately fond 

 of this plant." 



Spencer Moore, on Poisoning of Camels (Jour. Bot., xxxv., 1897, 172) 

 writes, "I never sa,w camels browsing on vegetation known or reasonably sup- 

 posed to be harmful; my early fears in respect of some, such as the Loranthi. 

 ,and Alyxia huxifolia, having proved quite groundless." 



