SIDE-SADDLE FLOWERS. 79 



cut longitudinal striations, in fact, so well marked are 

 they that the hair might almost be described as fluted. 

 Yet are they in error who have described them as made 

 up of a bundle of rod-like cells. Again, he says, " All 

 these modifications of surface are, without doubt, of 

 value to the plant, and in this direction, that while 

 they will allow an insect to enter, and pass down the 

 tube, it is almost impossible for it to return. Thus 

 they become veritable insect-traps. The pitchers of 

 many species contain fluid, but nothing corresponding , 

 to a digestive fluid has been detected in them." 



As to the fluids, we must carefully guard against 

 misinterpretation. To this end it must be borne 

 in mind that the honey-like, or saccharine, exuda- 

 tion from the lip of the tube, and the fluid, con- 

 tained in greater or less quantity at the bottom of 

 the tube, are two quite different and distinct sub- 

 stances. The latter will receive attention hereafter, 

 but our present subject is the secretion which is found 

 as a bait or lure at the mouth of the tube. This, 

 combined with the bright colouring, may be fairly 

 assumed to have been provided for some special 

 purpose. Dr. McBride calls it the "cause which 

 attracts flies," and Dr. Millichamp, of South Carolina, 

 set himself to investigate this, and some other dis- 

 puted points, upon living plants. Having discovered 

 some advanced plants of Sarracenia, he had no 

 difficulty in detecting, in almost every leaf, the sugary 



