PASTURAGE. 61 



The holly, the privet, phillyrea, elder and com- 

 mon bramble, together with sweet fennel, nastur- 

 tiums and asparagus, are also much frequented by 

 the bees. They are likewise very partial to the 

 yellow flowers of the crowfoot, as well as to the 

 flowers of the dead nettle, especially the white. 



The blossoms of the cucumber, gourd and vege- 

 table marrow also, yield a considerable quantity 

 both of honey and farina, as do likewise those of 

 the white lily. 



" Apes sestate serena 



Floribus insidunt variis, et Candida circum 

 Lilia funduntur." VIRGIL. 



Dr. Evans speaks of the Cacalia or Alpine 

 coltsfoot as affording a great quantity of honey, 

 the scent of which is often diffused to a consider- 

 able distance ; and Dr. Darwin, in a note to his 

 " Botanic Garden," mentions having counted on 

 one of those plants, besides bees of various kinds, 

 upwards of two hundred painted butterflies, which 

 gave it the appearance of being loaded with 

 additional flowers. 



" When o'er her nectar'd couch papilios crowd, 

 And bees in clusters hum their plaudits loud." EVANS. 



" What is it," says the anonymous writer whom 

 I lately quoted, " that brings the bees buzzing 

 round us so busily ? See, it is this tuft of colts- 

 foot, which they approach with a harmonious 



