PLANTS THAT EAT INSECTS 15 
mannered pitcher-plants. These are divided into 
several species, which are widely distributed 
throughout the world. An exceedingly curious and 
striking species is the American pitcher-plant, or, 
as it is sometimes called, side-saddle plant, known 
to botanists as Sarracenia purpurea. The pitchers 
are closed at the bottom, and the inside contains a 
considerable quantity of an attractive fluid, while 
the upper part of the pitcher is covered with a half- 
closed lid. It is the leaves of the plant which form 
the pitchers; and they are charmingly coloured, be- 
ing usually of a dark greenish-purple. 
The plant has a very ingenious manner of cap- 
turing its prey. The inner walls are covered with 
a number of hairs, which point downward. On 
these hairs is the sweet, sticky fluid, that lures the 
insect to its death. The fly or bee enters this 
palatial death chamber very cautiously. There is 
no apparent danger, only a veritable palace of 
sweets! But lo, once within, there is no escape! 
The hairs on the walls, which have bent easily for 
his entrance, project to prevent him from crawl- 
ing out; while the top is so shaped that he can- 
not fly vertically. As a result he soon tumbles, be- 
wildered, into the putrefying liquid below, and 
there miserably drowns. 
These murderous plants are often filled with 
