224 INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN FORAGE PLANTS. 



nature of the poison will therefore probably remain undetermined 

 until such time as a chemist can work at the plant on the spot, 

 or take steps to receive a perfectly fresh supply of it. 



86. Swainsonia gaglegifolia, R. Br., B. FL, ii., 217. Syn. : S. 



Osbomii, Moore; Vicia galegifolia, Andr. ; Colutea galegifolia, 

 Sims. N.O. Leguminosse. " Darling Pea." " Indigo Plant." 

 Found in New South Wales and Queensland. 



This is a dreaded plant from the great amount of loss it has 

 inflicted on stock-owners. Its effect on sheep is well known ; 

 they separate from the flock, wander about listlessly, and are 

 known to the shepherds as " pea eaters," or " indigo eaters." 

 When once a sheep takes to eating this plant it seldom or never 

 fattens, and may be said to be lost to its owner. The late 

 Mr. Charles Thorn, of Queensland, placed a lamb which had 

 become an " indigo eater " in a small paddock, where it refused 

 to eat grass. It however ate the indigo plant greedily, and 

 followed Mr. Thorn all over the paddock for some indigo he held 

 in his hand. At Taroom (Q.) horses were hobbled for the night 

 at a place where much of this plant was growing. On the 

 following morning they were exceptionally difficult to catch, and 

 it was observed how strange they appeared. Their eyes were 

 staring out of their heads, and they were prancing against trees 

 and stumps. The second day two out of nine died, and five 

 others had to be left at the camp. When driven they would 

 suddenly stop, turn round and round, and keep throwing up 

 their heads as if they had been hit under the jaw ; they would 

 then fall, lie down for a while, rise, • and repeat the agonizing 

 performance. On one station in the course of a few weeks, eight 

 head were shot, having injured themselves past all hope of 

 recovery. (Plants Injurious to Stock, Bailey and Gordon.) 



The Bev. Dr. Woolls, however, points out (Proc. Linn. Soc, 

 N.S.W., vii., 315) that from experiments made near Mudgee, 

 New South Wales, it does not appear that this species is 

 deleterious when eaten with other herbage. 



87. Swainsonia Greyana, LindL, B. FL, ii., 216. Syn. : S. 

 grandijiora, B. Br. N. 0. Leguminosse. " Poison bush." 

 Found in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and 

 Queensland. 



This plant is reported to cause madness, if not death itself, to 

 horses. The poison seems to act on the brain, for animals 

 affected by it obstinately refuse to cross even a small twig lying 

 in their path, probably imagining it to be a great log. Sometimes 

 the poor creatures attempt to climb trees, or commit other 

 eccentricities. (Woolls.) It is regarded with great horror on 



