NATURAL THEOLOGY. 389 



this depth in the earth. Our seeds, therefore, 

 though so safely lodged, would, after all, be lost 

 to the purpose for which all seeds are intended. 

 Lest this should be the case, " a second admirable 

 provision is made to raise them above the surface 

 when they are perfected, and to sow them at a 

 proper distance :" viz., the germ grows up in the 

 sj^ring, upon a fruit-stalk, accompanied w ith leaves. 

 The seeds now, in common with those of other 

 plants, have the benefit of the summer, and are 

 sown upon the surface. The order of vegetation 

 externally is this ; — the plant produces its flowers 

 in September ; its leaves and fruits in the spring 

 following. 



V. I give the account of the dioncea muscipula, 

 an extraordinary American plant, as some late 

 authors have related it : but whether we be yet 

 enough acquainted with the plant, to bring every 

 part of this account to the test of repeated and 

 familiar observation, I am unable to say. " Its 

 leaves are jointed, and furnished with two rows 

 of strong prickles ; their surfaces covered with a 

 number of minute glands, which secrete a sweet 

 liquor that allures the approach of flies. When 

 these parts are touched by the legs of flies, the 

 two lobes of the leaf instantly spring up, the rows 

 of prickles lock themselves fast together, and 

 squeeze the unwary animal to death."* Here, 

 under a new model, we recognise the ancient 



♦ Smellie's Phil, of Nat. Hist. vol. i. p. 5. 



