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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



of the six slender hairs or to alight on the triangular area on either 

 lobe which is bounded by the three hairs, the lobes of the trap imme- 

 diately begin to close together. In perhaps as short a time as five 

 seconds they have shut on the luckless insect, the stout marginal hairs 

 have formed an interlocking fringe about the edge of the trap, prevent- 

 ing its escape, and the small hairs have begun to pour out digestive 

 juices upon the hitherto dry surfaces of the lobes. Any touch, pres- 



Fig. 11. The Venus Fly-trap. 



sure or wound on the slender hairs or on the triangular areas will cause 

 the lobes to close, whether the touch be that of an insect or that of an 

 inanimate object. The other portions of the trap are so much less 

 sensitive that it is necessary for them to he some time in contact with 

 a nitrogenous substance in order to bring about closing of the trap. 

 The contact of raindrops on any part of the leaf is without effect, and 

 the other parts of the plant are entirely without sensibility. Still 

 more effectually is the entrapped insect surrounded with the digestive 

 juices than in the sun-dew, hut the complete consumption of its soft 

 parts may take many days. On reopening after a capture the trap will 

 he torpid and unresponsive for some time, hut if it has chanced to close 



