DIONiEA. 187 



the edge of the pot, and with plenty of reading matter 

 before me, what should hinder me from keeping my 

 resolve? In less than fifteen minutes I was surprised 

 at the amount of pressure about my finger, and for 

 more than an hour the pressure seemed slightly to in- 

 crease, but by this time my arm began to pain me. 

 Here is a problem for the psychologist. Was it the 

 knowledge of my being held fast that caused the pain '{ 

 Surely I have kept quiet longer than this without any 

 discomfort ! In less than two hours I was obliged to 

 take my finger from the plant, defeated in so simple an 

 experiment, and heartily ashamed that I could not bet- 

 ter control my nerves. The slimy secretion had com- 

 menced oozing slightly from the inner surface of the 

 trap, and if I could have kept the position for five 

 hours, I presume it would have been much more copi- 

 ous, the plant not knowing but that I was as good to 

 eat as a bug ! 



