HOLLY. 41 
It has a bitterish aromatic taste, accompanied by a de- 
gree of pungency which is by no means unpleasant* 
TETRAGYNIA. 
56. HOLLY (Ilex aquifolium) is a small evergreen tree, 
with shining, irregular, and spinous leaves, and white flowers 
which grow in clusters round the branches, and are succeeded 
ky small red berries. 
In those parts of the country where hollies are very 
abundant they afford a cheerfulness to the scenery in 
winter which is extremely pleasing. It is on this ac- 
count principally that they are planted in gardens and 
shrubberies. The barbarous taste of our ancestors was 
such that they frequently clipped them into the shape 
of birds, quadrupeds, and other fantastic representa- 
tions of nature. / 
As a fence, holly is eminently serviceable. When 
formed into hedges, it admits of being cropped, and 
retains its verdure and beauty, without injury, even 
through the severest winters. Its growth is slow, and 
its duration longer than that of most other trees. The 
'wood, which is hard and close-grained, is much used in 
veneering, and is frequently stained black, to imitate 
ebony. It is likewise advantageously used in making 
handles for knives, cogs for mill-wheels, and other ar- 
ticles. The leaves in winter afford a grateful food to 
sheep and deer ; and the berries yield a subsistence, 
during this inclement season, to the feathered tribes. 
In some places, particularly in the island of Corsica, 
the inhabitants employ the seeds of holly for making a 
beverage somewhat similar, but much inferior, to coffee. 
The bark of the holly is smooth, and replete with a 
strong mucilaginous substance, from which the article 
called bird-lime is made. For this purpose it is boiled 
ten or twelve hours ; and, when the green rind is sepa- 
rated, it is covered up in a moist place, to stand for 
a fortnight. It is afterwards reduced to a tough paste, 
and washed in a running stream until no impurities are 
