14 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 
more he tries to free himself, the more hopelessly 
he becomes bound. Finally his struggles are ended, 
and the flood-like hairs, having poured out enough 
fluid to digest him, innocently assume their normal 
condition and await the next prey. 
The sundew is very widely distributed through- 
out the world, there being more than one hundred 
species. They are found in the marshy regions of 
North and South America, in India, China, and 
all of Europe. Their general habits are very much 
the same everywhere. 
Interesting experiments may be made with the 
sundew by placing it near a sunny window in a 
saucer or pot filled with damp sand. Here, if 
properly fed and cared for, it will live and flourish 
for a considerable length of time. Its favourite 
food seems to be a particle of beef, or a fly, or a 
bit of boiled egg. If this is placed near the outer 
border of the leaves, the glands which touch the 
food will immediately begin to send out their liquid 
to secure it. As a result, the food-particle is soon 
rolled and pulled to the centre of the leaf, where the 
short hairs are located; long and short tentacles 
then pour out their fluid to digest it. When the 
meal is finished, they assume their original posi- 
tions. 
Chief among the insect-decoyers are the siren- 
