1 16 Observations concerning certain vegetable Muscicapce. 



ascertained fact will not be deemed incurious in a historv 

 ot the genus Sarracenia ; nor unimportant in a history of 

 ihe instincts and intelligence of the great class of birds. 

 We know much less of the structure and ceconomy of the 

 different species of the genus Nepenthes, and of the only 

 species of the genus Aquariion that has yet been discovered, 

 than we do of the structure and ceconomy of the species of 

 Sarracenia. But it is highly probable, that the ascidia of 

 both Nepenthes and Aquarium* will be found by future 

 botanists and naturalists to serve the same purpose, with 

 respect to birds, as do the Sarracenia varioluris and other 

 species of the genus in America. 



The large ventricose ascidia of Sari-acenia purpurea are 

 employed as cups, for holding and conveying water, by the 

 reapers and mowers in some parts of the United States, 

 particularly, 1 think, in New Jersey, where the plant is 

 called " Water Brash." 



After proceeding thus far, it was originally my intention 

 to have offered some speculations of mv own concerning 

 the final object of Nature in constructing VkgktableMls- 

 ciCAP^, and especially those which I have ventured to call 

 irritable Muscicapce. But the present essay has already 

 been extended to loo great a length. My intended specu- 

 lations may possibly form the subject of a future commu- 

 nication. In the meanwhile, these " Desultory Observa- 

 tions" may perhaps contribute to the amusement of some 

 of my brother naturalists, both in Europe and in America. 

 If they shall produce this effect, my i)rincipal object in lav- 

 ing them before the public, in their present crude and irre- 

 gular state, will have been acconiplislicd. 



Benjamin Smitii Barton, M.D. 



Philadelphia, Septen^ber 3, IS 1 1. 



Utriadaria, being suspended in the water and totally detached horn the 

 earth. If it be true, as is asserted, that the T/oc/ii/»,s C"/i/ti'.s. or common 

 Humming- Bird, is sometimes seen about the ascidia of the Sarriiriiiicc, we 

 seem safe in conjecti ring, that this beautiful bird visits these tubes for the 

 double purpose of sipping the honeyed fluid and of eating the Insects.*! hive 

 elsewhere shown that insects constitute a part, and perhaps a considerable 

 part, of the food of thlsTncluhts. — See thePhiladelpliia Medical and Physical 

 Journal, vol. i. part i. art. xxiv. 



• I do not know whether this singuWr plant {Aquar'nim sitifns of Lesche- 

 nault% belonging to the natural order of cSucculenUe, has yet been publicly 

 figured or described by any botanist. I have seen a drawing of the plant, 

 which is a native of Australasia, in the possession of Mr.Lcschehauit, when 

 1 had the pleasure of knowing this intelligent botanist, and of inspecting a 

 part cf his rich col'ection of plants, &c. in Philadelphia, in 1S07. The 

 Aquarium grows in a moist but firm soil. Its radlc:!l leaves are hollowed, 

 and are in shape somewhat like a water-pot. Each pot is about an inch 

 long, and is capable of containing a good deal of water. 



XVII. Case 



