THE LIVING STRUCTURES 167 



most scientifically built structure that could be conceived 

 to effect the purpose for which it is made. It opens and 

 closes just like the jaws of a steel trap. The trap is built 

 out at the end of the leaf showing that it was a later idea 

 conceived by the builders of the plant after having first 

 lived for ages without this trap. The idea of catching a 

 fly now and then for food or sport or amusement must 

 have arisen in the minds of the builders of this plant. The 

 complete fly trap must have been first conceived by the 

 builders before they could have entered upon the work of 



FIG. 33.- Venus fly-trap. 



putting it together. One botanist describes it in the fol- 

 lowing language : "This plant called the Venus Fly Trap 

 grows only in the peet bogs on a narrow strip of country 

 on the east coast of North America. The peculiarity of 

 the plant lies in its leaves. The leaf stalk has become flat- 

 tened out so as to be leaf like, while the blade proper has 

 become edged with teeth and has moreover six sharp little 

 bristles standing straight up three on each side of the 

 midrib. These midribs are sense organs. Touch one ever 

 so lightly and the halves of the leaves on which they are 

 placed close up together abruptly just like the slamming 



