THE BOG. 153 



about half an inch in diameter, and a stem which 

 rises from among them, to the height of from 

 two to four inches, bearing a few inconspicuous 

 flowers. The leaves are concave, and thickly in- 

 vested on their upper surface with hairs of so 

 bright a red colour as to make the plant conspicu- 

 ous at some distance. Each hair is terminated by 

 a minute drop of viscid fluid, which does not eva- 

 porate during hot weather, but seems to be abun- 

 dant in proportion to the brightness of the sun. 

 It appears to be useful by entangling any small in- 

 sect which alights on the leaf, either accidentally, or 

 perhaps mistaking the glittering drops for some 

 delicious food. Once caught, its destruction is in- 

 evitable; its struggles serve to spread the clammy 

 fluid over its body, and finally it becomes so en- 

 tangled among the hairs that it cannot extricate 

 itself, but perishes on the spot. It is difficult to 

 say what advantage our vegetable spider derives 

 from these insidious machinations. Possibly the 

 juices of the decaying insect may be absorbed by 

 the plant, or perhaps the gases evolved during de- 

 composition may be inhaled, and converted into 

 solid vegetable substance. It is certain that, where 

 the insect dies, there it crumbles into dust, for you 

 can scarcely examine a plant without, finding the 

 remains of flies and other small insects, in various 

 stages of decomposition. This property of entrap- 

 ping insects is not peculiar to the Sundew. Several 

 plants, bearing the appropriate name of Catchfly,* 

 have their stems invested, just below each of the 

 knots, with a ring of viscid matter, easily percepti- 

 ble by the finger. Insects, endeavouring to climb 



* Silene. 



