48 THE HEDGE-BANK. 



honey with their flexible trunks ; and the Ata- 

 lanta, or Red Admiral, whose favourite food, while 

 he wears his more showy dress, is the honey which 

 exudes from ivy blossoms : on this he regales him- 

 self as long as it lasts, that is, to the very close of 

 autumn ; and, when the rains of winter have set 

 in, hides himself in some sheltered corner, but, as 

 if anxious to enjoy every hour of sunshine during 

 his "little year," takes an airing every fine day, 

 till the frosts of Christmas banish him from the 

 scene altogether. 



Nettle-leaves afford a dainty repast to many 

 other insects besides these, while in their larva 

 state, and not to insects only. When boiled and 

 chopped small, they afford a nutritious and in- 

 expensive food for young ducks, who devour it 

 greedily ; and young nettle tops are said, like the 

 young shoots of the hop, to be a very cheap and 

 good substitute for Asparagus. This may be 

 the case, though I am somewhat inclined to doubt 

 it ; but the full-grown stems, if treated like Hemp, 

 may be applied to purposes very useful to man, 

 for they may be converted into a serviceable kind 

 of twine. These uses of the Nettle have never 

 before probably come under your notice. With 

 one of its properties, I dare say you are much 

 better acquainted, for it is a knowledge which is 

 generally acquired in a way no less strange than 

 easy, namely, by the touch. You have doubtless 

 discovered that nettles have the power of stinging 

 any one who meddles with them. If you will run 

 the risk of suffering a little pain for the sake of 

 gaining a little knowledge, grasp a leaf boldly and 

 firmly and gather it. It is covered, you will see, 

 with a countless multitude of small spikes, termi- 



