THE IVY. 339 



flowers, which, sober though they may bo in hue, show no 

 symptom of decay, and, at the eame time, lengthen the 

 existence of myriads of insects. The Red Admiral butter- 

 fly especially is sure to be a guest at this banquet, but is 

 far from being alone ; the Painted Lady regales herself 

 close by ; and flies of all sizes and shapes, hornets, wasps, 

 bees, all flock hither in wonderful harmony to enjoy once 

 more a full feast before they submit to the necessity of 

 their long winter's fast. 



A few months later, and the banquet is spread again on 

 the same table for another wanged tribe. Blackbirds, 

 thrushes, and wood-pigeons know well where Ivy-berries 

 grow, and now that they have stripped the Hawthorn and 

 Mistletoe bare, resort to the Ivy-bush in quest of food by 

 day and shelter by night, and many a cluster of barren 

 stems shows how keen was their appetite ; while the 

 abundance yet left tells us plainly of the ample provision 

 that their heavenly Father had made for them, during 

 even the most inclement period of the year. It is a fact 



