46 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



surmount the bristles or hairs 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 held firm prisoners, 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 examina- 

 tion I find that after the death of the larger insects, they 

 fall around the roots of the plants, and so fertilise them, 

 but the smaller flies remain sticking to the leaves." 



And again, " At ten o'clock I pinned some living 

 flies half an inch from the leaves, near the apex. In 

 forty minutes the leaves had bent perceptibly toward 

 the flies. At twelve o'clock the leaves had reached 

 the flies, and their legs were entangled among the 

 bristles and held fast. I then removed the flies three 

 quarters of an inch further from the leaves. The leaves 

 still remained bent away from the direction of the 

 light toward the flies, but did not reach them at this 

 distance." 



Mr. Darwin also examined this species, which he 

 says, "had thread-like leaves from six to twelve 

 inches in length, with the upper surface convex and 

 the lower flat and slightly channelled. The whole 



