The fly has not escaped, but it has been dissolved by a fluid formed inside of the trap, and the plant has absorbed a portion of the fly.

In fact, it has really eaten it.

The process by which food is dissolved and changed so that it can be absorbed and may nourish the body, is called _digestion_ (di-ges'-tion).
~3.~ The Venus's fly-trap has a very simple way of digesting its food.
Its remarkable little trap serves it as a mouth to catch and hold its food, and as a stomach to digest it.

The arrangement by which our food is digested is much less simple than this.

Let us study the different parts by which this wonderful work is done.
[Illustration: THE DIGESTIVE TUBE.] ~4.