( 43 J 
tiful appearance. Thefe hairs with their 
vifcous juice entangle the flies, which at- 
tempt to plunder the leaves, fo completely, 
that, when once enclofed by them, it is not 
poffible they mould efcape. It is alfo fup- 
pofed, that the leaves of the drofera poffefs a 
power of folding themfelves upon the infect, 
that they would deftroy, in a manner fimilar 
to thofe of the- flytrap. This elegant little 
plant grows commonly upon marfhes, and 
upon wet parts of heaths and on ditch banks ; 
in thefe fituations they are not difficult to 
difcover, as they form a little red patch, which 
immediately attracts the eye, There is alfo 
a vifcous juice furrounding the ft ems of 
feme plants, which effectually defends them 
from the depredations, of infects, as they can- 
not extricate themfelves from this glutinous 
material, if, by an attempt to fettle upon the 
flalks, they become entangled by it; from 
this circumftance a fpecies of Silene has ob- 
tained the common name of catch-fly. There 
are many more extraordinary arts, which na- 
ture has ufed to preferve the vegetable king- 
dom from it's numerous enemies of the ani- 
mal creation. This curious and interefting 
part of the fubject of botany muft, however, 
be 
