102 LUTHER BURBANK 



known sometimes as the compass plant, which 

 turns its leaves north and south so that only their 

 edges are reached by the sun ; or any of a number 

 of other strange protective measures which 

 plants have perfected — all manifestations which 

 would be impossible if heredity were not an ever- 

 present, controlling influence. 



We have, too, in many parts of the country, 

 plants which have learned to snare and trap in- 

 sects and even small animals and with a secretion 

 somewhat resembling gastric juice to digest them 

 and from them obtain an added supply of 

 nourishment. ^ 



Among these carnivorous plants are the com- 

 mon pitcher plants. 



The pitcher plants, instead of belonging to 

 only one species, are to be found having this habit 

 developed in several species, thus showing that 

 environment has produced a similar strain of 

 heredity in the several species. 



One of the pitcher plants {Darling tonia call- 

 fornica) which grows abundantly in the moist 

 meadows of the Sierras in northern California 

 even catches frogs, mice, and other small animals, 

 and sometimes even birds. The plant is especially 

 equipped to lure its prey into its pitchers. Above 

 the pitcher is a little latticed window, through 

 which the light can shine. The insects and the 



