1 66 THE YOUNG NATURALIST. ^gust 



The name is sometimes given to the great bindweed, Convolvulus 

 sepium, another notorious and common twiner — but as its stems are 

 herbaceous, it is scarcely so appropriate. Apart from these instances 

 the woodbine seems to have no rival to the name. But i: is other- 

 wise with " honeysuckle," although by poets and popular usage 

 this is now restricted to the woodbine. Yet the farmers call the com- 

 mon red clover " honeysuckles," and this is a popular name in cer- 

 tain districts of England. In the older herbals, the name seems to 

 . be applied indifferently to the primrose and cowslip as well, and per- 

 haps included other long tubular honey-bearing flowers. A suggestion 

 has been hazarded that the name has been transferred to the honey- 

 suckle because of the amount of " honey-dew" deposited upon its 

 leaves. 



The generic name of Lonicera is given in honour of a sixteenth 

 century botanist, Adam Lonicer ; and the specific name periclymenmn, 

 from peri-cleio to enclose or entwine, appropriately alludes to its habit 

 of growth. 



For such a popular and well-known flower there are very few 

 legends or folk-lore tales associated with it. In Scotland it was some- 

 times used along with the more potent rowan-tree as a preventive of 

 witchcraft in cattle. In the language of flowers it symbolises "frater- 

 nal love" or "the bonds of affection." The poets have long and 

 sweetly sung its praises. A rather gushing versifer of a former 

 generation gives it a rare antiquity : — 



" Oh ! the lily is lovely as when it slept 

 On the bosom of Eden's lake ; 

 And the woodbine smells sweetly as when it crept, 

 In Eden from brake to brake." 



And Wordsworth so delicately recalls childhood's memories by his 

 allusion in " The White Doe of Rylstone " : — 



" Ere she had reached yon rustic shed 

 Hung with late flowering woodbine, spread 

 Along the walls and overhead, 

 The fragrance of the breathing flowers 

 Revives a memory of those hours 

 When here, in this remote alcove, 

 A fondly anxious mother strove 

 To teach her salutary fears, 

 And mysteries above her years." 



And others, too, elaborates the same sentiment — 



" Entwined 



With dripping honeysuckles, whose sweet breath 



