440 CELL INTELLIGENCE THE CAUSE OF EVOLUTION 



in addition to the ordinary method it makes a poisonous 

 gas heavier than air which floats over the water in the 

 pitcher. The insect is attracted and fooled into this gas 

 by perfume and honey and when it becomes poisoned and 

 suffocated by this gas, it falls into the fluid below. This 

 fluid is possessed of digestive properties similar to those 

 of gastric juice, and the cells of the plant digest and eat 

 the insects. Where does man display any more inventive 

 genius and intelligent schemes, by which to catch ani- 

 mals for food? Do you suppose that the manufacture of 

 this heavier-than-air poisonous gas could come about by 

 chance? While every plant and animal displays actions 

 purposive and intentional to affect some future end, still 

 the insect catching plants are the clearest illustrations of 

 intelligent acts because they are analogous to those of 

 man. It is a singular thing and the cause is not yet 

 understood, why only the meat of insects and particles 

 good for food become stuck and fastened in the sticky 

 secretions on the leaves of insect catching plants. The 

 sticky secretion is in composition similar to that used by 

 man to catch flies, but it is so manipulated that if any- 

 thing like leaves, gravel, etc. touches it, it does not stick 

 but for an instant, unless good to eat. How are the cells 

 of the plant able to manipulate the stickiness of the fluid 

 so as to stick in one case and not in the other? The 

 human mind with its limited capacity has not yet been 

 able to understand or comprehend this secret of the plant 

 cells. The plant has specialized organs just as the ani- 

 mals have. When the insect is caught, one crowd of 

 cells holds him with the trap while another bunch pours 

 digestive fluid over him and the third group carries his 

 several microscopic parts to the interior of the plant 

 where he is eaten by the whole colony of cells that make 

 up the individual we call insect catching plant. The 



