144 HONEY-DEW. 



of " my very noble and approved good master," to 

 mention a circumstance which can easily be verified 

 by your owti observation. 



The first time it attracted my attention, was on a 

 fine day in the month of September, 1829. I was 

 then visiting the beautiful demesne of Lord Annesley, 

 at Castle-weUan, and noticed a holly tree, on which 

 a number of wasps were continually alighting, run- 

 ning rapidly over its leaves, and flitting from branch 

 to branch. A number of hoUy trees were scattered 

 over the lawn ; but not one exhibited the same exhi- 

 larating bustle. I sat down beside it, to endeavour 

 to ascertain what peculiar attraction this tree pos- 

 sessed, and soon found that the wasps were not its 

 only visitors. A number of ants were plodding 

 quietly along the twigs and leaves, exhibiting, by 

 their staid and regular deportment, a singular con- 

 trast to the rapid and vacillating movements of the 

 wasps. I now discovered, that both ants and wasps 

 were attracted by a substance which was plentifully 

 sprinkled over all the leaves, — the celebrated honey- 

 dew of the poets. This substance has furnished 

 Shakspeare with a touching and pathetic simile, 

 which he has put into the mouth of Titus Andronicus — 



"When I did name her brother, then fresh tears 

 Stood on her cheeks ; as doth the honey-dew 

 Upon a gather'd lily almost wither'd."— .4c^ ///. Sc. I. 



