DEOSERA. 177 



formis, and found the plant in Atlantic County, New 

 Jersey. It was in full bloom, and growing as thick as 

 it could well stand on either side of an extensive cran- 

 berry plantation. This charming plant, with its pretty 

 pink blossoms, together with the viscid, dew -like sub- 

 stance exuding from the glands (the glands surmount 

 the bristles, or tentacles, which cover the long thread- 

 like leaves), was one of the most beautiful sights I ever 

 beheld. From former observations I had supposed this 

 plant caught only small insects, but now found I was 

 mistaken; great Asilus flies were firmly imprisoned, 

 innumerable moths and butterflies, many of them two 

 inches across, were alike held captive until they died — 

 the bright flowers and brilliant, glistening dew luring 

 them on to sure death. But what is the use of this 

 wholesale destruction of insect life? Can the plants 

 use them? Upon examination I find that after the 

 death of the larger insects they fall around the roots 

 of the plants as if to fertilize them, but the smaller flies 

 remain sticking to the leaves. 



Careful and repeated experiments during several days 

 revealed the fact that on some days the plants worked 

 much better than on others. Whether it was the elec- 

 trical condition or amount of moisture in the atmos- 

 phere is yet to be ascertained. 



I experimented with three species of these plants — 

 D. filiformis, D. longifolia, and D. rotundifolia. I care- 

 fully removed them from all atmospheric agitation, and 

 found they were the most active on July 11th. I will 

 12 



