686 , BOTANY. 
its full size the pitcher generally collapses. At this time the worm 
is beautifully colored, and is characterized by rows of tubercles, 
which are especially prominent on the four larger, legless joints. 
The chrysalis is formed in a very slight cocoon. The species, 
kindly determined by Mr. A. R. Grote, was many years ago fig- 
ured by Abbot, who found it feeding on Sarracenia variolaris in 
Georgia. Gueneé’s descriptions were made from these figures, 
and here the author appends a few descriptive notes from the 
living material, of interest only to specialists on account of their 
technical character. The second insect which successfully braves 
captivation is a species of flesh-fly which the author names Sarco- 
phaga sarracenie. After giving some technical details of struct- 
ure, he shows how the larva of this fly riots in the putrid insect 
remains, and how, in order to undergo its transformations, it 
bores through the leaf and burrows into the ground. e im- 
mense prolificacy of these flesh-flies, and the fact that the young 
are hatched in the ovaries of the parent before they are deposited 
by her on tainted meat, are duly commented upon, as well as the 
rapid development of the species ; also the propensity of the larve 
for killing one another and their ability to adapt themselves to 
different conditions of food-supply are made appreciable. 
In conclusion the author says: To one accustomed to seek the 
why and wherefore of things the inquiry very naturally arises as to 
whether Xanthoptera and Sarcophaga play any necessary Or si 
portant rôle in the economy of Sarracenia. Speaking of the Sar- 
cophaga larva, Mr. Ravenel asks, “ May he not do some service to 
Sarracenia as Pronuba does to Yucca?” And if so may not all 
this structure for the destruction of insects be’ primarily for y 
benefit? Can he be merely an intruder, sharing the store of pro- 
vision which the plant, by ingenious contrivance, has secured for 
itself,.or is he a welcome inmate and profitable tenant? Self-fer- 
tilization does not take place in Sarracenia, and the possibility 
that the bristly flesh-fly aids in the important act of pollination, 
lends interest to the facts. No one has witnessed with g" 2 
pleasure than myself the impulse which Darwin has of late r 
given to such inquiries, but the speculative spirit, is, in some we 
ters, becoming too wild and unbridled, and we should be cautions 
lest it impair our judgment or our ability to read the simple ka 
of the facts. My own conclusions summed up are: 
First: There is no reason to doubt, but every reason to ba 
