VIRGINIAN CREEPER. 255 



managed to peep at nature, without the fear 

 of fences being broken by neighbouring cat- 

 tle, or trampling sportsmen treading down 

 her fairest hopes, which, however, were soon 

 spoiled by a host of enemies as ravenous as 

 unexpected. The adjoining house was occu- 

 pied by a furrier, who, finding his muffs and 

 tippets required air, placed them on his leads 

 also, where the heat of the sun soon gave 

 birth to numerous insects, which, escaping 

 from the eggs concealed in the hairs of the 

 fur, flew to the new created Babylonian gar- 

 den, and there fixed themselves, until every 

 leaf was destroyed ; and it was only by the 

 interference of mutual friends and neighbours, 

 that damages were not sought in the Court of 

 King's Bench. 



The Virginian creeper grows naturally in 

 all the northern parts of America. It was 

 first brought from Canada into Europe, but 

 at what exact period is uncertain. Parkinson 

 is the oldest writer who notices this plant : 

 he mentions it in 1629, under the title of 

 Virginia Vine ; but observes, that it would be 

 more proper to call it Virginia Ivy, which it 

 resembles nearer than the vine ; but M. Jus- 

 sieu is of opinion that it should be removed 

 to the genus Vitis or Vine. 



The flowers of this plant are of a greenish 



