188 
DO ANIMALS EAT THE RANUNCULAC EJE 
singular nature. It is so volatile, that in most cases simple drying, or 
infusion in water, or decoction, is sufficient to remove it, and to render 
the plants innocuous; and in some it is developed in such small quan- 
tities as not to be injurious. It is said to be neither arid nor alkaline, 
but its activity is increased by the addition of acids, or the admixture of 
sugar, honey, wine, spirit, &c.; and that it is only removed or effec¬ 
tually destroyed by the agency of water.” 
Pereira says of these plants, they are “ mostly poisonous: 
acridity is the prevailing quality^ conjoined, in a considerable 
number of instances, with a narcotic quality. Several of the 
species are topical benumbers.” 
Speaking of the R. acris (upright meadow crowfoot), he 
observes that Orfila has shown, by experiments on animals, 
its power of causing inflammation of the tissues to which it 
is applied. Its acrid principle is either very volatile, or it 
readily undergoes decomposition, as, by drying, the plant 
loses its acridity. 
Being desirous of obtaining all the information we could 
upon the subject, we forwarded to Mr. Watson, M.R.C.V.S. 
(respecting whose acquaintance with the science of botany we 
need not say a word, as our pages bear ample proof of it), 
some of the plants forwarded to us by Mr. Wallis. The 
following is his reply, in which it will be seen that he fully 
confirms our opinion. 
Rugby; January 30th, 1860. 
The plant you kindly forwarded to me the other day is the Ranun¬ 
culus bulbosus (butter-cup, or crow-flower); Nat. Ord., Rununculoceas. 
It is very common in meadows and pastures of most parts of England. 
My attention was directed to this tribe of plants some time since, 
and I have found this one in almost all situations, both on high and 
low grounds. Since I received your letter I have furnished myself 
with specimens from meadows on the borders of the river Avon, which 
have been recently under water, and also from high pasture land. 
From inquiries I have made of parties occupying the meadow lands 
near the Avon, I find, they all agree, that cattle cannot be with safety 
long kept on them in the autumn of the year, diarrhoea being always 
produced. What this depends upon I am not quite prepared to state, 
but probably this plant has something to do with it, as well as some 
of the other Ranunculaceae. 1 am, however, satisfied it does not depend 
upon these alone. 
As you observe, the chief question to decide is, will animals partake 
of these plants? because if they do, I think there is little doubt that 
serious effects would be produced by them. They are-described by 
almost all authors as possessing exceedingly acrid properties, which are 
much modified by position and cultivation, and entirely disappear by 
drying. By some authors it is stated that sheep and goats eat the ra¬ 
nunculus, but that horses, cows, and swine refuse it. From my own 
observation I find that all kinds of cattle (the goat excepted, of which 
I know nothing) refuse to partake of almost all the plants belonging to 
this order. This is not to be wondered at when the irritating effect it 
