iNSECTiroh'ors rf.Axrs 301 



Leaves with t^Iaiulular hairs arc not rare 

 amongst our wild plants, and if this was the 

 onl)' character that the sundew possessed it would 

 not be spcciall)- noticeable. It is, however, the 

 unusual structure and l)eha\iour of these hairs 

 tliat claims our notice. The term tentacle is a 

 not inapi^ropriate one to appl\- to these "hairs." 

 A leaf of sundew, with all its tentacles standing 

 out at different angles from the surface of the leaf, 

 and each point armed w ith a drop of \ iscid lluid, 

 is an effectixe arrangement for catching insects. 

 The bright glistening drojjs are a fatal attracticjii 

 to flies, gnats, and other small insects. When they 

 alight upon the p(jints of the tentacles the}' soon 

 find that the\- are held prisoners. In their efforts 

 to get free the\- entangle themseKes more and 

 more on the slim}' points of the treacherous hairs. 

 If we watch the tentacles after a fl}' has been 

 caught, it will soon be seen that the hairs are 

 bending over and closel}- pressing down the 

 wretched ca|)ti\e. This folding over occupies 

 four or fi\e hours from the time the capture 

 is made. The glands also begin to gi\e out an 

 increased amount of gumm}' secretion, and this 



