136 
VENUS FLY-TRAP. 
The lobes, when undisturbed, lie open like the leaves 
of a book, and from their surfaces, which are co- 
vered with a number of minute glands, is secreted 
a sweet liquor that attracts the unwary fly. The 
moment an insect alights upon the leaf it closes, or 
folds up, so as to prevent the escape of the fly, and 
either crush or pierce it to death. The irritability 
in the surface of the leaves, together with the at- 
tracting syrup with which they are provided, and 
the rows of prickles, which, like the teeth of a rat- 
trap, surround their edges, are evidently contrived 
by nature to effect a purpose which appears incon- 
sistent with the office of a vegetable. The ant-eater, 
which lays its long and glutinous tongue on the 
ground, and silently waits till it is covered with in- 
sects, is employed in search of food which is essen- 
tial to its existence : but the plant, with organs 
as manifestly contrived for the purpose, has no ap- 
parent end to answer in the capture, since the ani- 
mal juices of a fly can hardly be supposed to contri- 
bute any thing towards the nourishment of a vege- 
table. 
The leaves may at anytime be excited; for, if a light 
substance be drawn along the middle rib, they will 
almost immediately fold up, so as to cross and inter- 
lock the prickles that grow on the edge of each lobe. 
Jn this plant the singularity of structure is in the 
leaves. In a species of dogs-bane, the j4pocynum an - 
droscemifolium , it is in the flowers. The end to be 
effected is the same in both, and they are equally 
the objects of curiosity. A little honey-bag or nec- 
