Sarraccnia aditnca to entrap Insects. 51 



suitable to its purpose; then hanging its posterior extremity over 

 tlie margin, it ejected on the internal surface of the tube a larva 

 with a black head, which immediately proceeded downwards by 

 a brisk vermicular motion. This viviparous musca was more than 

 double the size of the common house-fly, had a reddish head, and 

 the body hairy, and streaked grayish. I had often noticed it be- 

 fore among the S. adimcce, but could never ascertain its object ; 

 the hoods probably obstructing my view. 



'I hat insects may be found in these tubes which were not al- 

 lured by the bait, I have well ascertained. At the time that I 

 discovered tlic origin of the larva?, I observed a beetle (^cara^^w* 

 carnifcx, a herd being near) in its flight strike against the erect ap- 

 pendage of the S.fiava and fall into the tube. In the leaves of the 

 S.adunca, growing on the margin of a large pool, 1 once observed 

 the fragments of a large Grylliis and several Gi/rini. These and 

 similar appearances have led me to suspect that our large Nepa*, 

 an extremely voracious insect, may occasionally use these tubes 

 as storehouses. The hooked feet of this last insect would doubt- 

 less enable it to ascend against the inverted pubescence. 



What purposes beneficial to the growth of these plants may be 

 effected by the putrid masses of insects, I have never ascertained ; 

 but I learn from a hint given in the article Dioticea, in Rees's 

 Cyclopcedia, that it has been discovered that the air evolved is 

 Avholesome to the plants. I once entertained a suspicion that 

 this air might be of such a deleterious nature as to cause the 

 precipitation of the insects exposed to it, but I have long since 

 relinquished it as entirely groundless. 



* Very nearly allied to Nepa grandis of South America. It is very strong, and often 

 destroys the Spring Frog. It inserts the claws of the two fore-feet into one of the frog's 

 hind legs, and with the claws of its hind feet it grapples rice-stubhle, or some aquatic 

 plant J the frog unable to disengage itself becomes exhausted by struggling. 



II 'i The 



