46 



THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



to obtain some clue to the nature of the sen- 

 sations experienced by insects, we might 

 expect to get also some light upon ths point. 



With my present knowledge, however, to 

 return to the question of the endurance or 

 non-endurance of pain by insects, I must 

 believe that, as we understand it, it does 

 not occur amongst them. Notwithstanding 

 that, we should avoid, in every possible way, i 

 any such destruction of insect life as may 

 lay us open, however unjustly, to the charge 

 of cruelty. 



THE WHITE DEAD NETTLE : 



(Lamium Album.) 

 By J. P. SouTTER, Bishop Auckland. 



This is one of the very latest of the 

 flowers of Summer to linger into the lap 

 of Winter. 



"When chill November's surly blast, 

 Makes fields and forests bare," 



this handy and robust wilding may be 

 found in cosy banks and sheltered hedge- 

 rows, exposing its snowy blossoms to the 

 passing blinks of the watery wintery sun : 

 indeed, in mild seasons, it and its near 

 relative (Lamium pnvpuveum), an abundant 

 weed in gardens, may be said to be never 

 out of bloom, but like the daisy, have a per- 

 rennial blossoming. The White Dead 

 Nettle may be taken as the type of the 

 natural Order Labiates, which derives its 

 name from the peculiar lip-shaped form of 

 the corolla, which is found more or less 

 obviously developed in all the members of 

 this Order, although it is not exclusively 

 confined to it. The Labiates are charac- 

 terised by square stems, often swollen or 

 thickened at the insertion of the leaves, 

 which are produced in pairs, on opposite 

 sides of the stem ; and these pairs often cross 

 each other at right angles ; that is, the third 

 pair is directly above the first, the fourth 

 above the second and so on. The flowers 

 are borne in peculiar clusters in the axils of 

 the leaves, they are often so crowded as to 



seem to form a ring or whorl around the 

 stem, but careful examination will show 

 that they all spring from a single short 

 much-branched stalk, in the fork of each leaf. 

 The calyx is composed of five united sepals 

 with usually evident ribs or ridges at the 

 point of union, and five prominent teeth, it 

 is persistent, and remains as a cup contain- 

 I ing the four triangular, prismatic, nutlike 

 fruits. The corolla is always tubular, and 

 generally lip-shaped. The four stamens 

 are in two pairs, two long and two short, 

 they are inserted on the corolla and fall 

 with it. The style is long, rising from 

 between the four carpels, and terminating 

 in a forked stigma. Many of the plants of 

 this natural order contain a pungent, vola- 

 tile essential oil, which makes them highly 

 esteemed as condiments and medicines, such 

 as the various mints, sages, horehounds, &c. 

 Others are valued and cultivated for their 

 aromatic odours, as Lavender, Rosemary, 

 Balm, Thyme, &c. Like the CrucifevcB, none 

 of the Lahiatece are poisonous, nor indeed 

 has any of them ever been suspected of 

 being hurtful or noxious ; and, as we have 

 seen, some of them have even attained a 

 high repute as adjuncts to cookery and 

 medicine. Yet there is not a single one that 

 can truly be ranked as a food-plant, or 

 which forms a staple article of diet. The 

 flowers of the White Dead Nettle are very 

 highly specialised, and fitted for the visits 

 of insects, the most indifferent observer can- 

 not avoid noticing the beautiful adaptation 

 of means to the end in view. Take first the 

 shape of the corolla. We have a long tube 

 with a store of nectar at the base, which is 

 protected from the rain by the overhanging..- 

 penthouse of the arched upper lip. The 

 tube is sufficiently deep and narrow to 

 prevent any insects from reaching it except 

 those who have a long proboscis like the 

 humble bees. And the more effectually to 

 secure the honied treasure from minute 

 invaders, who might rob and carry off the 



