156 PflEASAXT,^ FOR roVERTS AND A]' I ARIES. 



difference in the action of the leaves of the mule and those 

 of the female yew when given to pheasants <ji' other animals. 

 This could 1)0 readily accomplished In" mixing the leaves of 

 the two trees with g'vound meal, and administering it to 

 pheasants in captivity. The informatinii tlius obtained would 

 be very valiialde, inasmuch as if it wei-e found that the leaves 

 of the f(Miiale yew were not poisonous, it would lead to their 

 being safely i)hi,nted in coverts and p]a,ces accessible to 

 animals. A great deal of tlie chmbt a.nd uncei'tainty which 

 pi-evads respecting the poisoning of animals by yew may 

 possibly depeml upon the relative amount ot poison contained 

 in the leaves of the two sexes of this pliint. if is well known 

 tliat children often gather and eat the viscid covering of the 

 berries of tlie yew without injury; coiiseipientl v iii that part 

 of the jilaiit there can be no amount of this bitter principle 

 known as taxine. Cnses, however, in which I he seeds also 

 were swallowed by the children and death resulted a.re 

 recorded in the L<iiicrt. The "whole matter rcijuires more 

 careful investigation, and offers a ver\' interesting subject 

 of exiierinient to any persiju with the opjiortiinitv at his 

 disposal. 



The liMVi'S oi the yew were used at one time in the form 

 i:if an infusion known as " }'ew-tea," as an emmciogogue, m 

 many country ])hices ; but when the decocticm took a. strono'er 

 form the syiuptoms producetl \\'tTe 'j'iddines.s, irrei^'ular action 

 of the heart, eiui vulsions, and insiuisibilit v, jnt'ceded ^t\■ 

 symptoms of gastric irritation, such as \-oiuitiiig :ind diarrhcea, 

 showing that". I he yew poison is one ol" those known as 

 Uj na.rcotico-acrnl poison (Mrdiciiidl I'lanlx^ Uentlev and 

 Trim en). 



Another freijueiitly unsuspected cause of death in pheasatits 

 is the habit they sometimes acipiire of picking it]") and 

 swallowing shol when in coverts tluit are much shot over. 

 i\Ir. J. llindle (';il\ei-t, F.('.S.,inade the followiiiLi" communica- 

 tion to the Firl,] of \\'\>. 1 Ij, ls7ti, and \\\> inferences 

 have been since amply confirmed by myself a,nd others who 



