196 INSECTIVOROUS PLANTS. [Jan. 



are enticed. Immediately below the portion covered by tlie bait is 

 a smooth part formed of glassy cells, overlapping like the tiles of a 

 house, termed the conducting surface. Below this again, extending 

 a short distance down the tube, is a portion covered with very short 

 hairs pointing downwards, termed the glandular surface ; and the 

 remaining portion extending to the bottom of the tube, which is 

 lined with longer hairs, also pointing downwards, is termed the 

 detentive surface. The falling of the insect is due to the slippery 

 nature of the conducting surface, where the fly cannot take a hold 

 sufiiciently strong to support itself, but tumbles to the bottom of 

 tlie well, from whence it is unable to crawl iip. The fine sharp- 

 pointed bristles, pointing strictly downwards, prove a most effectual 

 barrier to its ascent. Au ingenious American has observed that 

 flies which sip honey secretion of Sarracenia become intoxicated, and 

 in that condition faU down and are drowned. There may be some 

 truth in the statement. I tried to get hold of a perfectly sober fly, 

 and taking a member of the " blue-bottle " army, placed him in the 

 tul)e of a Sarracenia pitcher, without allowing him to touch a single 

 drop of the nectar, and he could no more crawl out of the pitcher 

 than the most dissipated of liis American brethren. It is astonish- 

 ing what a large number of flies, wasps, and other insects a few 

 plants of Sarracenia will capture iu a season. Their leaves are 

 usually packed to half their length with insect remains, which must 

 be far in excess of the wants of the plant. The licpiid contained in 

 their pitchers is not distinctly acid, and does not show digestive 

 properties very markedly ; but it is very wet, wetter than water. 

 If a fly falls into water it may get out, but if it falls into glycerine 

 or into Sarracenia liquid it gets wet all over and dies of asphyxia. 

 The liquid product of decomposition is probably taken up by the 

 leaves. Darlingtonia Calif ornica is a most remarkable member of 

 this family. It is found on the .Sierra Nevada of California. The 

 pitchers differ from Sarracenia in being twisted and in widening as 

 they reach the apex, which forms a hood. This appendage appears 

 as if perforated at the upper part, and terminates in two fish-tail- 

 like prolongations, which give it a most curious appearance. The 

 Heliamphora niitans} a native of Venezuela, differs from the others 

 in having several flowers on a scape which are destitute of corolla. 

 But as this plant is not yet in cultivation, we can only express a 

 hope, as old G-erard did so long ago regarding Sarracenia purpurea, 

 " that those who travell into foreign parts may bring it home with 

 them, that so we may come to a perfecter knowledge thereof" 



E. L. 



' Since the above was written this interesting plant has been introJnced into cultiva- 

 tion by the Messrs. Veitch, of London. 



