114 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



on the third zone, so we have here the glands at 

 their maximum, and almost uncovered by the hoods, 

 which still remain in existence however. The glands 

 are so large and so close that the bulk of the surface 

 is occupied by them." 



If we were to summarise these details we should 

 arrive at something like the following conclusions 

 as to the pitchers of Nepenthes. That they are 

 adapted for the capture and retention of insects ; 

 that at the orifice are certain attractions, such as 

 the production of a sweet fluid, which would be 

 likely to allure insects into the traps ; that the 

 mouth is protected by an overhanging lid, which 

 would prevent the falling in of small and useless 

 objects, but insufficient to obstruct the entrance of 

 living prey ; that this lid may also prevent the 

 admission of an excess of external moisture ; that 

 the internal structure is extensively glandular, the 

 glands being elevated, but at the same time protected 

 by a hood ; that the glands are largest, cover the 

 largest surface, and are least protected at the bottom 

 and the lower third of the inner surface ; that these 

 glands secrete a digestive fluid, with an acid reaction ; 

 that insects are commonly found at the bottom of 

 the pitchers where they become disintegrated ; that 

 they are probably digested by the excreted fluid, 

 and their soluble nitrogenous matter absorbed and 

 assimilated for the advantage of the plant. Hitherto 



