TURNING THE TABLES.'' 



261 



Fig. 93. — Leaf of 

 Drosera oboz<ata. 



experiments, these red " tentacles " are sensitive ; 

 nay, they even know what is good to eat and what 

 is worthless ! If a frag- 

 ment of meat or boiled 

 egg is placed on the leaf, 

 the tentacles gradually 

 bend over, the edge of 

 the leaf by curling assists 

 them, the viscid secre- 

 tion is poured out in 

 greater quantity as if 

 stimulated, until pre- 

 sently the morsel is com- 

 pletely enveloped, and fig. 92.-Leaf of 



the process of digestion Drosera anglka. 



or assimilation commences. When it is over the 

 leaf flattens out to its old position, the tentacles 

 regain their erectness, their tips become globular 

 with viscid dew, and thus the trap is once more set. 

 But in a state of nature the leaves of the Sun- 

 dew know nothing of chopped beef- steak and frag- 

 ments of hard-boiled o:^^. They recognise insect 

 visits, however, for they are an instinctive tradition 

 to all genuine flowering plants. Therefore, for the 

 particles mentioned in the above experiment, substi- 

 tute flies ; and any observer who has seen the help- 

 less, frantic struggles of insects wishful to allay 

 their thirst, who have been attracted by the glistening 

 drops of seeming moisture secreted by the tentacles 



