m 
of the Southern parts of Brazil. 
ter staid for a long time in the province of the Mines ; Lukok 
lived for ten years at Rio de Janeiro, St Catherine, Rio-Grande 
and S. Joao-del-Rey ; and it is to be supposed, that, if these au- 
thors had meant to speak of some dangerous poisons, they would 
have made mention of them in their writings. 
In reality, MM. Spix and Martins say, in their interesting 
travels, that in the neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro, the Cancer 
Uca retires among the roots of the mangliers, to feed upon poi- 
sonous plants ; but the learned Bavarians do not name these 
plants ; and as the remark which I have cited occurs only in a 
note, it is to be believed that it is only the result of a supposition 
which the authors have conceived, because they considered the 
crab in question as a suspected animal. 
With regard to myself, I have met with many plants in my 
travels, which, in certain circumstances, and taken in certain 
doses, might prove very hurtful ; some very active stimulants, 
acrid plants, Euphorbiacece , which often cause dangerous pur- 
gings, &c. I have received confirmations of the properties of the 
Timbo and Tinguy {Magonia pubescens and glabrata , N.) ; 
and I have even been assured, that one of the Timboes was not 
only hurtful to fishes ; but that it might be dangerous for qua- 
drupeds, as well as for man, {Serjania lethalis , N.), Several 
JRubiacece (Rubia noocia , Psycotria noxia , Palicourea Marc - 
gravii , N.) have been pointed out to me by the planters ; and 
always under the name of Erva de rata , as causing death in 
beasts that eat of them. The leguminous plant, which is call- 
ed Jacatupe, and whose roots are edible, is said to produce 
poisonous flowers. A Convolvulus , which I have found abun- 
dantly upon the shores of the sea, in the provinces of Rio de 
Janeiro, and of the Holy Spirit, is also asserted to be dangerous 
for cattle. A sort of inebriation is produced, when one has 
eaten to excess of the fruits of the Myrtea , which is commonly 
named Cagaiteira. The Miomio of the Rio de la Plata de- 
stroys horned cattle. It appears certain, that the Schinus 
arroeira causes swellings in those who sleep under its shade. 
Lastly, I have been assured, that the root of the Mimosa , called 
Spongia , was a true poison, &c. 
These are undoubtedly dangerous plants ; yet, after what has 
been said above, it is clear that hitherto no poisonous species 
