J920, 



Moffat. — Notes on (Enanihe crocata. 



17 



It is true that in Mr. Moss's Report for 191 1 a pretty 

 conclusive case is made out against the Water-Hemlock 

 (Cicuta virosa) as having caused the deaths of nine out of a 

 total number of ten head of cattle in that year in a field in 

 the neighbourhood of Clones. But here, again, the circum- 

 stances seem to indicate that the plant had been uprooted 

 during a flood and was found floating in water, in which 

 situation its character would be less perceptible either to 

 taste or smell than when it was growing ; and in reporting 

 the case Mr. Moss quotes Cornevin as expressly stating that 

 cattle generally refrain from eating this very poisonous 

 plant — a plant that is happily little known in the southern 

 half of Ireland. 



I do not, therefore, see how my facts can be reconciled 

 with any other view than that which regards the green 

 parts of (Enanthe crocata as free from poisonous properties 

 in (at least) that part of County Wexford in which my 

 notes have been taken. In the coming summer I hope 

 that other observers will notice the treatment accorded 

 to this species by cattle in other districts. A ready clue 

 can be obtained by glancing at any stream where the Drop- 

 wort grows within reach of cattle, for the remains of 

 the plants that have been eaten present a conspicuous 

 appearance — suggestive (as before remarked) of the work 

 of a scythe some six or nine inches above the water. 



The juice contained in Irish plants of this species seems 

 also to call for attention. Mr. Moss informs me that the 

 juice of my Wexford plants did not correspond with either 

 Sowerby 's or Cornevin's descriptions, which were presumably 

 based on English and French specimens. Sowerby, as 

 Mr. Moss kindly quotes him to me, says, " The whole herb 

 contains a fetid yellow juice ; " while Cornevin writes that 

 " L'OEnanthe safranee contient dans toutes ses parties, et 

 plus particulierement dans sa racine, un sue laiteux, blan- 

 chatre, extremement veneneux, qui, en se dessechant, prend 

 une couleur jaune safranee." These descriptions do not 

 correspond perfectly even with one another, but Sowerby's 

 may have been " telescoped " into too much brevity. 

 A description of the juice based on Irish specimens ought 

 to be of interest, but I do not knov/ that any has been 

 published. 



