226 



THE PRIVET. 



Loudon states that a pink and a green dye may- 

 be prepared from the berries of the Privet, and that 

 they also furnish, on pressure, a mild oil, which 

 may be used for culinary purposes, as well as for 

 lamps and making soap. In Belgium and Silesia 

 the young twigs are used by the tanners ; and the 

 shoots are used, like those of the Osier, in basket- 

 making, and for tying articles. From this last ap- 

 plication, which was known to the Romans it ac- 

 quired the name of Ligustrum, from %o, to bind. 



The caterpillars of several moths feed on the 

 Privet ; the most remarkable of these is the 

 Privet Hawk-moth, Sphynx ligustri; it is among 

 the largest found in England, in colour grass- 

 green, with waved stripes of purple and white. 

 The perfect insect is large and handsome. 



THE PRIVET HAWK-MOTH. 



