` Of course they answer to their names ? ' the Gnat remarked carelessly . ' I never knew them to do it . ' ` What 's the use of their having names , ' the Gnat said , ` if they wo n't answer to them ? ' ` No use to THEM , ' said Alice ; ` but it 's useful to the people who name them , I suppose . If not , why do things have names at all ? ' ' I ca n't say , ' the Gnat replied . ` Further on , in the wood down there , they 've got no names -- however , go on with your list of insects : you 're wasting time . ' ` Well , there 's the Horse-fly , ' Alice began , counting off the names on her fingers . ` All right , ' said the Gnat : ` half way up that bush , you 'll see a Rocking-horse-fly , if you look . It 's made entirely of wood , and gets about by swinging itself from branch to branch . ' ` What does it live on ? ' Alice asked , with great curiosity . ` Sap and sawdust , ' said the Gnat . ` Go on with the list . ' Alice looked up at the Rocking-horse-fly with great interest , and made up her mind that it must have been just repainted , it looked so bright and sticky ; and then she went on . ` And there 's the Dragon-fly . ' ` Look on the branch above your head , ' said the Gnat , ` and there you 'll find a snap-dragon-fly . Its body is made of plum-pudding , its wings of holly-leaves , and its head is a raisin burning in brandy . ' ` And what does it live on ? '
` Frumenty and mince pie , ' the Gnat XXXXX ; ` and it makes its nest in a Christmas box . '
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