NETTLES AND ORCHISES 449 



rough-and-ready treatment he contrived to effect 

 a cure, by exciting the nerves to increased action. 



Nettle-leaves rubbed into wooden vessels, tubs, 

 etc., prevent their leaking, the juice of the stems 

 and leaves coagulating, and so filling up any inter- 

 stices. Paper and linen have also been manu- 

 factured from the fibres of the nettle, and nettle- 

 cloth may still be procured in some parts of the 

 Continent. The caterpillars of the tortoiseshell, 

 peacock, and red admiral butterflies feed largely 

 on the leaves of the nettle ; indeed, the scientific 

 name of the first-named is Vanessa urtica. Three 

 species of the nettle are more or less common in 

 Britain, viz. : the great nettle, the small nettle, 

 and the Roman nettle. It may be seen from the 

 above that the nettle, if a plant to be avoided, 

 is, nevertheless, by no means to be altogether 

 despised. 



Without entering into any detailed account of 

 the various British orchises, it may prove useful 

 to the reader to give a list of those which are to 

 be found in this country, and which includes the 

 following fifteen varieties : 



1. The bee (Ophrys apifera). 



2. The late spider (O. arachnites). 



3. The spider (O. aranifera). 



4. The fly (O. muscifera). 



5. The green-winged meadow (Orchis morio). 



6. The early purple (O. mascula). 



7. The dwarf dark-winged (O. astulata). 



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