756 Retrospective Criticism. 



of others, that the leaves of this little plant are not possessed 

 of the slightest claims to irritability. That they have the 

 power of retaining any small insect that may happen to touch 

 their upper surface is undoubted ; but this seems to arise 

 solely from the clammy nature of the liquid that exudes from 

 the glands at the extremities of the hairs with which the most 

 exposed sides of the leaves are covered. When touched with 

 the finger, this moisture is so viscid, that it will draw out into 

 threads of more than an inch in length ; and it is not likely that 

 an insect once touching a leaf, and becoming entangled, as it 

 were, amidst the globules, should ever be able to effect its 

 escape. In fact, as I have seen, by placing a minute fly on 

 the surface of a leaf, every struggle, by rendering the parts 

 of its body more clammy with the moisture, does but make 

 its extrication more impossible. In respect to the hairs 

 themselves, I did not observe any thing like movement, or a 

 spontaneous attempt to capture their prey. Were the leaves 

 possessed of any degree of irritability, would it not be made 

 manifest to us on our applying any thing to their surface, in the 

 same manner as we see the stamens close around the pistil of 

 the berberry, on the flowers being touched with the finger ; or 

 should we not at least observe it when an insect is struggling 

 amidst the hairs ? In such cases, however, no movement is 

 perceptible. An admirer of the little Drosera, I cannot help 

 regretting that its leaves should be so constantly disfigured 

 with the dead bodies of insects, which give so otherwise pretty 

 a plant a somewhat revolting appearance ; but most probably 

 their being so answers some purpose in the economy of nature, 

 or, rather, of the all-wise Director of nature, although I can 

 hardly think it is that of affording nourishment to the plant. 

 Perhaps it is but in accordance with the law that causes one 

 thing to prey upon another, that nothing may become too 

 abundant ; and the little Drosera is thus made an agent of a 

 destruction useless to itself, but subservient to the general 

 good. 



Although I may have already said more than sufficient, I 

 cannot conclude without mentioning the extreme beauty of 

 the leaves of Drosera rotundifolia when placed beneath a mi- 

 croscope. The looseness of their cellular tissue, glistening 

 like gold, the crimson hair, each tipped with a knob of the 

 same rich colour, from which exudes a clear white liquid, 

 would render them objects well worth examination, without 

 the additional interest of some poor insect struggling in vain 

 to effect its release. — C. P. Surrey, June 5. 1832. 



Drosera rotundifolia, its Leaves possess Irritability. — J. D. 

 (p. 491.) in reply to J. E. L. (Vol. IV. p. 135.) doubts the 



