86 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



of the plant or only rain-water. As I have two or 

 three patches of Sarracenia 1 conveniently near in a 

 neighbouring pine barren, it was no difficult matter 

 to make the necessary examinations. On the 22nd, 

 therefore, the sandy pine-land being very dry and 

 thirsty — no rain having fallen for some days — 

 I visited the plants, which were blooming freely. 

 Many leaves were carefully examined with the throat 

 still closed and impervious to water, and inflated, as 

 they usually are, with air. Upon slight pressure the 

 air would escape, thus opening the throat for inspec- 

 tion. The leaf being tilted, there was almost in- 

 variably an escape of fluid — from three to five drops 

 generally— occasionally as many as ten drops, and 

 rarely fifteen drops. It is, therefore, a true secretion, 

 as no rain could possibly have been admitted to the 

 completely-closed and sealed leaf. 



" The taste of this secretion was bland, and some- 

 what mucilaginous, yet seemingly leaving in the 

 mouth a peculiar astringency, recalling very accurately 

 the taste of the root, with which I was quite familiar. 

 So much for the examination of the not yet matured 

 and unopened leaves, in which I may as well remark 

 that I could find no trace of insects, either by 

 puncture, or eggs, or larvae, nor indeed any debris of 

 any kind 



1 Sarracenia variolaris. 



