PLANTS THAT EAT INSECTS 15 



mannered pitcher-plants. These are divided into 

 several species, which are widely distributed 

 throughout the world. An exceedingly curious and 

 striking species is the American pitcher-plant, or, 

 as it is sometimes called, side-saddle plant, known 

 to botanists as Sarracenia purpurea. The pitchers 

 are closed at the bottom, and the inside contains a 

 considerable quantity of an attractive fluid, while 

 the upper part of the pitcher is covered with a half- 

 closed lid. It is the leaves of the plant which form 

 the pitchers ; and they are charmingly coloured, be- 

 ing usually of a dark greenish-purple. 



The plant has a very ingenious manner of cap- 

 turing its prey. The inner walls are covered with 

 a number of hairs, which point downward. On 

 these hairs is the sweet, sticky fluid, that lures the 

 insect to its death. The fly or bee enters this 

 palatial death chamber very cautiously. There is 

 no apparent danger, only a veritable palace of 

 sweets! But lo, once within, there is no escape! 

 The hairs on the walls, which have bent easily for 

 his entrance, project to prevent him from crawl- 

 ing out; while the top is so shaped that he can- 

 not fly vertically. As a result he soon tumbles, be- 

 wildered, into the putrefying liquid below, and 

 there miserably drowns. 



These murderous plants are often filled with 



