Abstract
SEVERAL years ago I observed that snowdrops which I had introduced into my garden were destroyed by poultry getting in among them at the hungry season when these are in blossom. I recollect placing a bantam cock in the garden, and observed that he pecked hastily at a few of the blossoms, and then left off. I then tore up pieces of writing-paper and spread them over the newly turned-up soil. These were hastily visited and as hastily dropped by a few of the poultry. Next I procured some Indian corn, and scattered it among the poultry for the first time. A few hens tried to swallow a grain here and there, but left the most of them. It required two or three days' experience to get them to feed on the Indian corn, and a very short time taught them, to exclude snowdrop blossoms from their bill of fare. May not the case of the crocuses mentioned by Mr. Renshaw be explained as similar to that of schoolboys, who eagerly try a bright unknown berry and soon leave off when it is unpalatable? At least so I explained the fact of my snowdrops being more fiercely attacked on their first appearance in the garden than ever they have been since.
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SHAW, J. Yellow Crocuses. Nature 16, 8 (1877). https://doi.org/10.1038/016008c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/016008c0
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