154 HOME STUDIES IN NATURE. 



is fast on all sides except on the margin marked " En- 

 trance " in the figure ; and here the two edges fit close 

 together, and are always closed, except when something 

 touches them in precisely the right way, when they 

 suddenly open, and close again as quickly, and not often 

 does it miss its prey. The valve is so large in this 

 species, and projecting out and above the mouth as it 

 does, it is not a difficult matter to cut it free and spread 



FIG. 10. — MAGNIFIED UTRICLE Of UTRICULARIA PURPUREA. 



it out so as to examine its structure. We do not find 

 glands on its surface, as we do in the other species. It 

 seems as if all the energies of the plant had gone to 

 construct the elegant cluster that crowns the summit 

 of the valve, situated on the point where the valve 

 doubles ; it consists of a globular body which supports 

 from twelve to fifteen beautiful, transparent, glassy- 

 looking glands, the use of which is not clear to me. 



