62 Instinct, 



the plant its name. When the victim is fairly en- 

 snared the leaf slowly encloses the body, taking 

 days for the operation, and all the slender points 

 bend towards it as though the plant were feeding 

 like the hawk or tiger, on its prey. 



Near by this beautiful destroyer may often be 

 found the Pitcher -plant, Sarracenia piLrpurea, of 

 which it may be said, '' If the Drosera slays its 

 thousands, the Sarracenia slays its ten thousands." 

 Where can be found such a death-dealing instru- 

 ment? one more perfectly fitted for its work? 

 Each leaf forms of its blade a tube or pitcher that 

 becomes a horrid prison. Down deep in its cav- 

 erns there is a pool of death probably supplied by 

 the plant itself, so that the place of execution is al- 

 most ever ready for its victim. The expanding 

 portion of the leaf that serves as a portal to this 

 Avernus for insects, is attractive enough and offers 

 no resistance to the various kinds that seek the ap- 

 parently safe and cool retreat that always stands so 

 invitingly open. The sharp hairs upon its surface 

 all point downwards and gradually lengthen towards 

 the prison. But when the last row is passed there 

 is a steep and smooth passage to that bourne from 

 which so few insects ever return. For if by chance 

 one can drag himself up the steep plane, he is met 

 by those frowning palisades over which he went 

 down with ease, now rising high, thickly set and 

 pointing downward. Those who have gathered 

 these plants in summer and poured out from the 

 hollow leaves the hundreds of decomposing insects, 

 have seen that this machinery has done its appoint- 



