insectivorous and climbing plants. 321 



classical directions in the cook-book, " first catch your 

 hare," are implicitly followed. 



Avoiding here all repetition or recapitulation of 

 our former narrative, suffice it now to mention two in- 

 teresting recent additions to our knowledge, for which 

 we are indebted to Mr. Darwin. One is a research, 

 the other an inspiration. It is mainly his investiga- 

 tions which have shown that the glairy liquid, which 

 is poured upon and macerates the captured insect, ac- 

 complishes a true digestion ; that, like the gastric juice 

 of animals, it contains both a free acid and pepsin or 

 its analogue, these two together dissolving albumen, 

 meat, and the like. The other point relates to the sig- 

 nificance of a peculiarity in the process of capture. 

 When the trap suddenly incloses an insect which has 

 betrayed its presence by touching one of the internal 

 sensitive bristles, the closure is at first incomplete. 

 For the sides approach in an arching way, surround- 

 ing a considerable cavity, and the marginal spine-like 

 bristles merely intercross their tips, leaving interven- 

 ing spaces through which one may look into the cavity 

 beneath. A good idea may be had of it by bringing 

 the two palms near together to represent the sides of 

 the trap, and loosely interlocking the fingers to repre- 

 sent the marginal bristles or bars. After remaining 

 some time in this position the closure is made complete 

 by the margins coming into full contact, and the sides 

 finally flattening down so as to press firmly upon the 

 insect within ; the secretion excited by contact is now 

 poured out, and digestion begins. Why these two 

 stages? Why should time be lost by this preliminary 

 and incomplete closing? The query probably was 



