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IVY. HEDERA HELIX, 



Natural order, Hederacete. Caprifolia, Juss. 

 A genus of the Pentandria Monogynia class. 



" I love the ivy-mantled tower, 



Rock'd by the storms of thousand years." 



THIS symbol of a generous friendship 

 attaches itself generally to the wretched. 



* Thus stands an aged elm, in ivy bound, 

 Thus youthful ivy clasps an elm around." 



PARNELL* 



And often when death itself has smitten its 

 protector, it restores to him again the honours 

 of the forest or the shrubbery, where he lives 

 no longer, by decorating his sapless branches 

 with festoons of undecaying verdure and gar- 

 lands of winter flowers. It seems to cling 

 closer to the trunk, screening its death-struck 

 supporter by its glossy foliage, as if to prevent 

 the fatal blow of the axe. 



In this situation the black-headed yellow- 

 hammer loves to nestle, giving cheerfulness to 

 the shade by its bright plumage. 



Y 2 



