Litchfield enquirer., 1841-07-15
WHOLE No. 787.
CARNIvEROUS PLANTS.


 the most remarkab bIe is that ofthe Venus f3y- trap. It has large dilated foot.stalk and leat formed ot two lobes fixed by middle rub, with some thorny processes or protube- ranceS, an arrangement to give it irritability. Nature provides a honey like secretion which attracts the flies and insects to feed upon, and by stepping on them the leaves close, and the insect is entrapped. MT. Knight first ascertained that the fly could be fed on filaments of raw beef, but the general complaint is that it will not live long in this country from a want of a supply of it's prop, CT food. The lecturer was the first to dis cover tha. the sensibility resided in the thorns and not in the middle rib, where it was formerly supposed to belong. After flies or any other insects are entrapped, the leaves remained closed for several days, when the insect may be seen struggling with in. The process will go on till both lObes of the leaves are collapsed and straight, and the teeth locked, until at last it will re-open, when the insect will be seen crushed, every particle ot fluid being absorbed, so that the fly may be blown out at almost the first breath of wind. There is another plant al- Ii d to it in geographical distribution, which, when kept in green. house entraps beetles, flies, and other insects. At the bottom of the flower is saccharine liquid to which
 
 arrested by what are not unaptly compared to files of bayonets. The lecturer made a series of experiments on these plants, which had been in his possession for upwards of 12 years, by feeding them with 1ilaments of beef and mutton, and they were at last mere- iy destroyed by accident. Another plant, 0 native of our own country, the Droseua roc turdifolia, or sundew of our marshes, possess ses apparatus of an analogous organic char acter, bearing viscid fluid and multitude of hairs, which have the effect of catching insects whcrcon to feed the plant.
 -. Professor JoAnstOus Lecture.
 Each Party Winning the Stakes 1.-Two Yankees lately took lodgings for about ten days at a tavern in York county, Pa., and, fared sumptuously, drinking two or three; bottles of wine daily. The last day Q; dis pute arose about the speed of their horses, and they at last agreed to enter on the "proftable contest" The landlord was appointed judge, each being the rider of his own horse. When they were mounted, the judge, like those at the Olympic games, gave the word, One, t,co, three, and GO! Off they went, and have never been seen or heard of since; leaving the landlord fully compensated by having had the honor to be their judge.
 A Daniel come 10 Judgment.-A shop keep CT having dispute with another man. refer red the question in debate to the decision of u halEwitted creature who was lingering or the premises. (Which of us is right !" said he to the simpleton.
 You are right, sir" was the reply.
 "And why is MT. B. right!" demanded the other disputant.
 " Dcruuse lac Io.s mo liek 4ha nrraao a4ar, ,>1. Had hnu uNhN hnn nncNI
 Before we laugh at the poor fellow, let US, examine our own conduct, and we may aiS- cover that we have sometimes decided ques- tions on precisely the same ground, although we have not possessed the honesty ofthis ig. noramus, and would, perhaps, be unwilling to confess our weakness even to OurSelvcS.- We shall find on examination, that we have frequently decided in favor of those who let us lick the "'lasses stopple. e."-LoweU Patriot. Long Hai.--An old and experienced hair dresser condemns, in very strong terms, the present fashion of wearing the hair; and predicts that badness will be as extensive, as the present fashion of wearing long hair is prevalent among men. The fashionables have the present modification of being as- simulated to goats, balloons, ourang outangs. and the future prospect of being young bal- dies. If only our soaplock should have his hair parted over his forehead, and brought over his right ear in mat, he might be ta- ken for cropped criminal, and the cluster on his chin might be taken for the conceal ment of an ugly face. A fine face and noble forehead cannot be too much uncovered: but not possessing these, or having the re- verse, it may be well enough 10 cultivate ex- cessve locks, and exhibit only an oval wis., age of three or four inches-N. y. Express.
 Ladies loo much for Lawyers.-An intelli- gent female witness having been much per- plexed by barrister in a long cross. ss.exami- nation, happened in replying to use the term humbug. Madame said the man of law, you must not talk unintelligibly what is the court and jury 10 understand by the word humbug?' The lady hesitated. Il must insist, madame,' said the barrister, an- ticipalng victory, 'that you proceed no further until you state plainly and openly what you mean by n humbug.' 'Why then, sir returned the lady, T don't know how better to explain my meaning than by say ing, if met n company of persons who were strangers to you, and should tell them that when they saw you they might prepare to meet a remarkably handsome, gen,cel,agree- able looking man-that would be humbug.'
 The Hartford Courier gives an account of a most brutal assault upon the Sexton of the Methodist Church of that city on Sunday evening by brape young man named Tho mas R. Loreti, a student of Washington Col lege. One of Lovett's companions was rath- CT noisy in the porch of the building, and the Sexton in his efforts to restore order, was struck savage blow with a heavy loaded | ...o l;.a,tIx, nvar tho fnrahe0A- Ssa.AfinO