94 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



sisted in blocking the mouths of the pitchers with 

 cotton-wool, which had the desired effect, and after- 

 wards the cultivation of that species proceeded 

 satisfactorily. This fact would certainly indicate 

 that animal food is not essential to at least one 

 species. 



In an interesting communication on carnivorous 

 plants, from an entomological point of view, Professor 

 C. V. Riley (American Department of Agriculture) 

 has described two insects, and given details of their 

 life-history, which live in, and are parasitic upon, the 

 contents of the pitchers of Sarracenia. He has 

 shown that these insects flourish upon, the ruin of 

 the many victims of the honeyed lure which these 

 pitchers present, and as a summary of his observa- 

 tions he concludes thus :— 



" I. There is no reason to doubt, but every reason 

 to believe, that Sarracenia is a truly insectivorous 

 plant, and that by its secretions and structure it is 

 eminently fitted to capture its prey. 



"2. That those insects most easily digested (if I 

 may use the term), and most useful to the plant, are 

 principally ants and small flies, which are lured to 

 their graves by the honeyed paths ; and that most 

 of the larger insects, which are not attracted by 

 sweets, get in by accident and fall victims to the 

 peculiar mechanical structure of the pitcher. 



" 3. That the only benefit to the plant is from the 



