Abortion in Cows. 
473 
herbage. The second period is that in which it is generally be- 
lieved to be eaten, as it is then visible ; but, from personal obser- 
vation, I think it is then least often partaken of, as I have watched 
cows grazing, and noticed how they avoided the old stems of 
rye-grass, whether ergotised or not, whilst closely cropping the 
Fig. 6. 
Timothy Grass, /'/(JeKBi Bailey Grass. Hordeum murinum,'L\rm. Spikelet of R^e with 
jiratense. Linn. Ergot. Natural size. 
surrounding herbage. The bottom-grass must be scarce when 
these are readily eaten. The third stage is that in which I 
think it does the most damage, both on account of the active 
principle of ergot being more powerful in its adult stage, and 
VOL. XXII. — S. S. 2 I 
