148 THE HUMAN SIDE OF PLANTS 
open woodland flower also is a kidnapper; although 
it is not one of the worst kind. As it must pro- 
tect its flowers from pilfering insects that crawl, 
the flower-stems are covered with a sticky fluid, and 
those ants which persist in trying to ascend the 
stalk are held fast by the glue until they are dead. 
A case of slaughter, but in self-defence. 
Another member of the Pink family, and one 
equally skilled in catching insects, is the starry 
campion. In the tubes of its snowy white flowers 
are tiny drops of honey that must be saved to re- 
ward the flying insects which carry its pollen. 
Therefore, it spreads a sticky fluid on its calyces, 
and occasionally on its pedicels, to catch crawling 
intruders; and in this way it entraps the would-be 
burglar. 
As there are no general prisons in the plant 
world, each individual plant is compelled to hold 
and imprison its own enemies. Thus kidnapping is 
really forced upon them. 
The common or card teazel, sometimes known 
as gypsy combs, has learned through ages of ex- 
perience how best to care for itself. Not only 
does it defend itself against browsing animals by 
means of its numerous prickles; but, that it may 
be sure of enough food, it has learned to kidnap 
insects. This is done in a most novel manner. The 
