i868-i88i] DESMODIUM 397 



be of no service, any more than the incessant movement Letter 718 

 of amoeboid bodies. The movement of the terminal leaflets, 

 though insensible to the eye, is exactly the same as that of 

 the little lateral leaflets viz. from side to side, up and down, 

 and half round their own axes. The only difference is that 

 the little leaflets move to a much greater extent, and perhaps 

 more rapidly ; and they are excited into movement by warm 

 water, which is not the case with the terminal leaflet Why 

 the little leaflets, which are rudimentary in size and have lost 

 their sleep-movements and their movements from being 

 shaken, should not only have retained, but have their spon- 

 taneous movements exaggerated, I cannot conceive. It is 

 hardly credible that it is a case of compensation. All this 

 makes me very anxious to examine some plant (if possible 

 one of the Leguminosae) with either the terminal or lateral 

 leaflets greatly reduced in size, in comparison with the other 

 leaflets on the same leaf. Can you or any of your colleagues 

 think of any such plant? It is indirectly on this account that 

 I so much want the seeds of LatJiyms nissolia. 



I hear from Frank that you think that the absence of both 

 lateral leaflets, or of one alone, is due to their having dropped 

 off ; I thought so at first, and examined extremely young 

 leaves from the tips of the shoots, and some of them pre- 

 sented the same characters. Some appearances make me 

 think that they abort by becoming confluent with the main 

 petiole. 



I hear also that you doubt about the little leaflets ever 

 standing not opposite to each other : pray look at the en- 

 closed old leaf which has been for a time in spirits, and can 

 you call the little leaflets opposite? I have seen many such 

 cases on both my plants, though few so well marked. 



To J. D. Hooker. Letter ?I9 



Down, Oct. 23rd [1873]. 



How good you have been about the plants ; but indeed I 

 did not intend you to write about Drosophyllum t though I 

 shall be very glad to have a specimen. Experiments on other 

 plants lead to fresh experiments. Neptunia is evidently a 

 hopeless case. I shall be very glad of the other plants 

 whenever they are ready. I constantly fear that I shall 

 become to you a giant of bores. 



