106 Instinct and Reason. [ February, 
The Movements of Plants —Slow motion is obvious in all plants, 
as in their growth, and in their tendrils, creepers, etc. But the 
most rapid and continuous motion probably possessed by plants, 
is exhibited in the Desmodium gyrans, of India. Each leaf of this 
plant consists of three parts, two external and small leaflets, and 
one central and large leaflet. The external leaflets move up and 
down in alternate jerks, at the rate of sixty a minute. The cen- 
tral one moves but little. This motion is continued during all 
the seasons of the year, and during the whole lifetime of the 
plant. Warmth and moisture, however, expedites the motion} 
The Offensive Weapons of Plants——The first of these offensive 
plants is the familiar Venus’s fly-trap (Dione@a muscipula) which 
sets its traps, and woe betide the unwary insect which ventures 
near the the hidden toils, allured by its attractive appearances. 
The springs are all set, the prison prepared and sure destruction 
awaits the victim. 
The Darlingtonia californica belongs to the pitcher plant family. 
Its appearance has been likened to a cobra in the act of striking. 
The beautiful “red wattles” within the brim of its pitcher offer 
irresistible attractions to insects, especially to flies. These alight 
first upon the “ wattles,” then flying upward strike the pitcher, and 
owing to the peculiar twist of its walls fall to the bottom of the 
receptacle, where many another thoughtless fly has, too late, 
found its sepulchre.? 
r. Erasmus Darwin,’ grandfather of the celebrated naturalist 
of the same name, about a century ago, advanced many curious 
theories respecting the consciousness and volition of plants, in a 
work under the title of “The Loves of the Plants.” This book 
at the time was much ridiculed. Plants seem to put on their 
most gorgeous dyes for the same purposes as the animals; and the 
idea of the “loves of the plants,” though seemingly absurd, needs 
more investigation ere it be wholly discarded and ridiculed. 
Plants not only actually eat and digest animal food, but also 
drop the insects they have destroyed, upon the ground, and thus 
fertilize the soil. 
Dr. Hooker has described several kinds of plants which sub- 
sist upon animal food, and are hence termed carnivorous. The 
1 Wond. of Veg. S. de Vere. 
2 Loc. cit. 
3 For what follows, vid. Sci. American Dec. 22, 1874, and July 3, 1875. 
