58 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF BRITISH GRASSES. 
a stiff unmitigated clay, such as is found in the Lias shales, 
Oxford clay, Forest marble, and London clays, and especially 
where not visited by local deposits, undrained, or otherwise 
badly cultivated ; these formations will be found to afford 
too much of this species, and far too little of those of a 
better quality. If, however, the soil be merely wet, and not 
of a decidedly stiff description, less of the quaking-grass 
will occur, but the specimens will be far larger in size, and 
equally useless as food. 
This grass is not touched by cattle, and, therefore, its 
culms may be observed late in the season, usually accom- 
panied by those of the Cynosurus cristatus. At any time 
it yields little to even the scanty bulk of the hay from its 
favourite habitats, and its short leaves render it useless for 
pasture. 
Daorynis—panicle with the primary branches long; 
pedicels short, so that the flowers are clustered in 
bunches; glume of two unequal valves arranged 
obliquely ; glumel pointed, almost awned.—P. 
Dactylis glomerata—cocksfoot—is too well known to need 
further description, especially as we have but a single native 
species to consider ; its agricultural capabilities render it an 
important one to the farmer, as it yields a very large bulk 
both of culms and long leaves to the hay crop, and a no less 
proportion of aftermath; and though somewhat rough, 
coarse, and woody in its culms, especially if left too long 
before cutting, yet it presents for the most part a highly 
nutritious and bountiful supply to the rick; it is, moreover, 
remarkable for its quickness of growth after mowing, as in 
a few days its light-green succulent leaves will be seen con- 
siderably overtopping the surrounding turf; and if at this 
time cattle be turned into the field, they invariably make a 
first attack upon the young coeksfoot. 
Sinclair, in speaking of this grass, says, “ By various tests 
to which the leaves and stems were submitted at different 
periods of their growth, the author found that the stems, 
