James Macbride

“ These insects immediately approach the fauces of the leaves, and leaning over their edges appear to sip with eagerness something from their internal surfaces. In this position they linger; but at length, allured as it would seem by the pleasure of taste, they enter the tubes. The fly which has thus changed its situation, will be seen to stand unsteadily, it totters for a few seconds, slips, and falls to the bottom of the tube, where it is either drowned, or attempts in vain to ascend against the points of the hairs. The fly seldom takes wing in its fall and escapes ”

“ In a house much infested by flies, this entrapment goes on so rapidly that a tube is filled in a few hours, and it becomes necessary to add water, the natural quantity being insufficient to drown the imprisoned insects. The leaves of the S. adunca and S. rubra of Walter might well be employed as flycatchers; indeed I am credibly informed they are in some neighbourhoods. The leaves of the flava, although they are very capacious, and often grow to the height of three feet or more, are never found to contain so many insects as the leaves of the species above mentioned. ”

“ It is very strong, and often destroys the Spring Frog. It inserts the claws of the two fore-feet into one of the frog's hind legs, and with the claws of its hind feet it grapples rice-stubble, or some aquatic plant; the frog unable to disengage itself becomes exhausted by struggling. ”