1 874.] INSECTIVOROUS PLANTS. 327 



He was indebted to Lady Dorothy Nevill for specimens of 

 the curious Utricidaria mo?itana, which is not aquatic like the 

 European species, but grows among the moss and debris on 

 the branches of trees. To this species the following letter 

 refers :] 



C. Darwin to Lady Dorothy Nevill. 



Down, September 18 [1874]. 



Dear Lady Dorothy Nevill, — I am so much obliged 

 to you. I was so convinced that the bladders were with the 

 leaves that I never thought of removing the moss, and this 

 was very stupid of me. The great solid bladder-like swellings 

 almost on the surface are wonderful objects, but are not the 

 true bladders. These I found on the roots near the surface, 

 and down to a depth of two inches in the sand. They are 

 as transparent as glass, from 2V to you °f an ^ ncn in s ^ ze ' an< ^ 

 hollow. They have all the important points of structure of 

 the bladders of the floating English species, and I felt con- 

 fident I should find captured prey. And so I have to my 

 delight in two bladders, with clear proof that they had absorbed 

 food from the decaying mass. For Utricularia is a carrion- 

 feeder, and not strictly carnivorous like Drosera. 



The great solid bladder-like bodies, I believe, are reservoirs 

 of water like a camel's stomach. As soon as I have made 

 a few more observations, I mean to be so cruel as to give 

 your plant no water, and observe whether the great bladders 

 shrink and contain air instead of water ; I shall then also 

 wash all earth from all roots, and see whether there are true 

 bladders for capturing subterranean insects down to the very 

 bottom of the pot. Now shall you think me very greedy, if 

 I say that supposing the species is not very precious, and 

 you have several, will you give me one more plant, and if 

 so, please to send it to " Orpington Station, S. E. R., to be 

 forwarded by foot messenger." 



I have hardly ever enjoyed a day more in my life than I 



