PLANTS THAT KIDNAP 147 



Jack-in-the-Pulpit appears pious enough as he 

 stands in his royal ministerial chamber surrounded 

 by draperies fit for a king! But beware of him, 

 for he is a hypocrite! Like the wolf in sheep's 

 clothing, he depends upon his ministerial robes and 

 his respectable relatives for he is a cousin to the 

 stately calla lily to disguise the innate deceptive- 

 ness of his nature. His sanctimonious smile and 

 his dignified appearance are only lures to the un- 

 w r ary. If he preaches to any flock, it is to the dead 

 and decaying insects which he has beguiled into his 

 death-trap. 



Inside the palatial walls of Jack's pulpit there 

 is a slippery, treacherous lining. When gnats and 

 other small insects enter with the hope of finding 

 shelter and food, they slide easily to the bottom, 

 whence escape is impossible. Here at the bottom 

 of the pulpit may be found the corpses of many 

 wanderers all kidnapped by Rev. Jack! 



Larger insects frequently escape from this lure 

 and thus carry the pollen to other plants, but no 

 such hope can be offered to the smaller ones. Like 

 the weaker human beings, they must finally suc- 

 cumb to their fate. 



The fire-pink, or Virginia catchfly, has been well 

 named. Its wonderful scarlet blossoms seem to 

 fascinate insects by their fire-like brilliancy. This 



