VENUS S FLY-TRAP. 



163 



these curious reservoirs, which may be compared to the stomachs 

 of Animals. 



246. One more curious modification of the leaf may be 

 noticed; that which forms the insect-catching trap of the 

 Dioncea muscipula, a plant inhabiting the southern part of the 

 United States, and commonly known as Venus s Fly-trap. In 

 this plant, we find certain of the leaves fringed at their edges 

 with a row of long spines, and endowed with the power of fold- 

 ing the two sides of the leaf towards each other, so as to enclose 

 any thing between them which may have settled upon its sur- 

 face. When thus folded, the spines cross each other in such a 

 manner, as completely 

 to prevent the escape 

 of an insect, which 

 may be thus captured. 

 Upon each half of the 

 blade of the leaf, there 

 are three projecting 

 thorns ; and it is when 

 either of these receives 

 the slightest touch, 

 that the two sides fold 

 together, and form a 

 complete trap ; the 

 walls of which seem 

 to press more closely 

 upon the captive, the 

 more it struggles. Any 

 unfortunate insect which alights upon the leaf, is thus speedily 

 destroyed ; and its decay appears to furnish the plant with nu- 

 triment beneficial to it. Plants of this kind, which have been 

 kept in hot-houses in this country, from which insects were care- 

 fully excluded, have been observed to languish ; but were restored 

 by placing little bits of meat upon their traps, the decay of 

 these seeming to answer the same purpose. The petioles of the 

 leaves which form these traps, are very much widened and flat- 

 tened ; forming leaf-like organs, which seem to perform the func- 

 tions of true leaves. 



M 2 



FIG. 71. DION.EA Musci 



