Plants that Live on Insects.
The plant known as the Drosera, or Sundew, is very curious, and is well worth watching, for it is what is called insectivorous. That is, it eats insects for food. Its leaves are covered with bristles, and on the end of each bristle is a drop of sticky secretion which, when the sun shines on it, looks like dew, hence the common name. But if a fly or other insect lights on the leaf, he gets caught. Then the outer bristles turn towards him, and at last, although it takes about twelve hours, the leaf folds around him. The plant takes all the nutriment from the insect's body, and opens, ready for another catch. It has been proved that a plant fed on animal food is more vigorous than a plant that is not. This Drosera is very common in wet meadows and on the shores of ponds. It has a more expert cousin, the Dionæa. This closes its leaf very quickly, and the insect has no chance to escape.
Lincoln W. Riddle.
Jamaica Plain.
Legendary Geography.
CONCEALING RIVERS, CITIES, STATES, AND ISLANDS.
In the country beyond the mountains,(1) where we spent our summer vacation, a kind of fish(2) is caught by fish-spearing,(3) in the cold spring(4) between the rivers(5) by a husher or bully.(6)
Traces of the silver or lead ore(7) in the Green Mountains(8) on the cross shore(9) are distinctly seen in the bold rock(10) by the long lake,(11) where the tired and drowsy(12) fishermen, stopping for rest and refreshment, are lulled to sleep by the thunder of waters(13) rushing through the strait(14) near the islands of land turtles or tortoises.(15)
The country is rich in geographical interest and old Indian legends. It is a curious coincidence that the initials of the geographical names concealed by their definitions, when properly arranged, give a national holiday of historic importance.
Answers.—1, Housatonic River. 2, Tippecanoe River. 3, Androscoggin River. 4, Sandusky River. 5, Nashua. 6, Indiana. 7, Galena. 8, Vermont. 9, Yokohama. 10, Aleutian Islands. 11, Kennebec River. 12, Iowa. 13, Niagara. 14, Detroit. 15, Gallapagos Islands. Thanksgiving Day.
Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.