194 LEAVES FROM THE BOOK OF NATURE. 



which has no sooner touched the sweet store, than the 

 plant moves either the long stiff hairs, which grow along 

 the middle nerve, or closes its crown of gorgeously colored 

 leaves above, and thus seizes upon the unlucky robber. 

 We can speak no longer of sweet innocent flowers for 

 so fond are these blood-thirsty plants of their favorite 

 delicacies, that they will not thrive in green-houses from 

 which insects are excluded, and gardeners have been com- 

 pelled to supply them, strange as it may sound, literally 

 with animal food, to see them thrive and blossom as in 

 their native home! 



