8 Chapters in Modern Botany CHAP. 



correspond to those of Sarracenia, which we may therefore 

 describe more minutely. 



The gaily-coloured lid of the Sarracenia pitcher is 

 bedewed in spring and early summer with drops of nectar, 

 which lie on its inward surface, at least for the most 

 part ; not on both, as in the pennon of the Darlingtonia. A 

 closer examination of its surface shows that these drops are 

 at once helped to form, and if sufficiently large to trickle 

 downwards by a coating of fine but short and stiff hairs 

 which arise from the epidermic surface. Here, in fact, is 

 in every way an admirably-constructed " attractive surface," 

 and it is obvious as well as natural that the insects which 

 sip the honey should travel down into the interior of the 

 pitcher to seek for more. Beyond the lid surface with its 

 hairs and nectar-glands they come upon the smooth and 

 glassy " conducting surface," a well-paved path leading 

 indeed towards destruction. In S. pur pur ea there are 

 indeed a few fresh nectaries to be reached by this descent, 

 a new secreting surface below the conducting one in S. 

 flava and other species not even this, but in all cases we 

 soon reach the " detentive surface " of the whole lower part 

 of the pitcher. This is covered with long, stout, bristly 

 hairs, averaging say \ inch long, all sloping downwards 

 into the cavity of the pitcher, and so presenting no 

 obstacle towards descent, but much resistance towards 

 return, as the finger can easily verify, or as the dead 

 inmates of the tubular prison still more conclusively show. 

 That so comparatively powerful an insect as a wasp or 

 bluebottle can be thus detained may be at first sight 

 perplexing ; but we see that there is no scope to use the 

 wings for escape, while legs and wings alike become 

 entangled and held back by the stiffly-pointed hairs, which 

 the struggling insect can at most only thrust along, and 

 thus not break. Another captive soon comes on top ; 



