14 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 



more he tries to free himself, the more hopelessly 

 he becomes bound. Finally his struggles are ended, 

 and the flood-like hairs, having poured out enough 

 fluid to digest him, innocently assume their normal 

 condition and await the next prey. 



The sundew is very widely distributed through- 

 out the world, there being more than one hundred 

 species. They are found in the marshy regions of 

 North and South America, in India, China, and 

 all of Europe. Their general habits are very much 

 the same everywhere. 



Interesting experiments may be made with the 

 sundew by placing it near a sunny window in a 

 saucer or pot filled with damp sand. Here, if 

 properly fed and cared for, it will live and flourish 

 for a considerable length of time. Its favourite 

 food seems to be a particle of beef, or a fly, or a 

 bit of boiled egg. If this is placed near the outer 

 border of the leaves, the glands which touch the 

 food will immediately begin to send out their liquid 

 to secure it. As a result, the food-particle is soon 

 rolled and pulled to the centre of the leaf, where the 

 short hairs are located; long and short tentacles 

 then pour out their fluid to digest it. When the 

 meal is finished, they assume their original posi- 

 tions. 



Chief among the insect-decoyers are the siren- 



