32 
Injurious Fodder and Poisonous Plants. 
and it is evident that the general belief in their utility is 
abundantly justified. 
This short paper must now be brought to a conclusion. 
The sins of omission are many, but I trust there ' are no 
incorrect statements. It woiild have been a pleasure to me to 
acknowledge the sources from which I have drawn information, 
but I have ransacked all the writings of competent ornitholo- 
gists on which I could lay my hands, and the list would be so 
long that it would suggest the mountain bringing forth the 
mouse. I am, however, glad to take the opportunity of 
expressing my gratitude to my colleagues, Wm. 6. Smith, 
Ph.D., and T. H. Taylor, M.A., who have always been most 
patient in identifying seeds, insects, and various animal and 
vegetable fragments taken from the crops or stomachs of wild 
birds. 
Chaeles F. Archibald. 
The University, Leeds. 
, INJURIOUS FODDER AND POISONOUS 
PLANTS. 
Injurious Fodder. 
The discriminating powers of the natural instinct of animals 
in selecting their food are quite reliable, but the animals can- 
not always make free use of these marvellous qualities, 
especially when there is no choice of food, or when unnatural 
conditions prevail and the animal finds itself in a starving 
condition. The first clause of this statement applies to all 
animals that are fed in their stables by means of dry or 
prepared food- given at regular intervals. Though the food 
thus given to animals may possess properties disagreeable or 
unpleasant, and cause them to reject it instinctively, the 
hunger which soon makes itself felt, overcomes all instinct and 
the animal devours its food, wholesome or not. The food 
provided for animals should therefore be of a wholesome 
nourishing character and be devoid of any properties causing 
disturbance of the natural functions and thus becoming dele- 
terious to the health. 
An important kind of unwholesome food is hay which is 
damp or which has been damp, though it may be quite dry 
when offered to the stock. The quality of the hay is much 
