its possessing the following curious characteristics: The median nerve
is prolonged beyond the leaves in the manner of a tendril, and
terminates in a species of cup or urn. This cup is ordinarily three or
four inches in depth, and one to one and a half inches in width. The
orifice of the cup is covered with a lid, which opens and shuts at
certain periods. At sunrise the cup is found filled with sweet, limpid
water, at which time the lid is down. In the course of the day the lid
opens, when nearly half the water is evaporated; but during the night
this loss is made up, and the next morning the cup is again quite
full, and the lid is shut.

About the middle of March the plants put forth their leaves, which are
from six to twelve inches long, hollow, and shaped something like a
trumpet, while the aperture of the apex is formed almost precisely in
the same manner as those of the plants previously described. A broad
wing extends along one side of the leaf, from the base to the opening
at the top; this wing is bound or edged with a purple cord, which
extends likewise around the cup. This cord secretes a sweet fluid, and
not only flying insects, but those also that crawl upon the ground,
are attracted by it to the plants. Ants, especially, are very fond of
this fluid, so that a line of aphides, extending from the base to the
summit of a leaf, may frequently be observed slowly advancing toward
the orifice of the cup, down which they disappear, never to return.
Flying insects of every kind are equally drawn to the plant; and
directly they taste the fluid, they act very curiously. After feeding
upon the secretions for two or three minutes they become quite stupid,
unsteady on their feet, and while trying to pass their legs over their
wings to clear them, they fall down.

It is of no use to liberate any of the smaller insects; every fly,