178 Retrospective Criticism. 



The Leaves of Drdsera are devoid of Irritability. — I have 

 frequently examined the leaves of Drosera, and am convinced 

 that, as J. D. suggests (Vol. V. p. 491.), they do not possess 

 any irritability ; but that the appearance of it is caused by 

 the fly's drawing towards it, in its struggles, the hairs and 

 edges of the leaf, by means of their viscous matter, by which 

 it is caught. — W. C. Trevelyan. Wallitigton, Newcastle 

 upon Tyne 9 Sept. 22. 1832. 



The Flowers of Drdsera rotundifblia expanded. (Vol. V. 

 p. 110. 758.) — To J. E. L. my thanks are due for his kind 

 attention (Vol. V. p. 758.) to my question (Vol. V. p. 110.) 

 concerning the opening of the sundew flowers; and I have plea- 

 sure in being able now to corroborate his observations, as 

 well as those of Linnaeus, by my own, unworthy though I 

 feel them to be placed in such company. Early in the sum- 

 mer of the present year, before the sundew yet showed its 

 little scape of flowers, I transferred several plants, surrounded 

 by their native Sphagnum, into a flower-pot; and, in order to 

 observe them constantly, and at all hours, placed them at my 

 chamber window. The window had a south-eastern aspect ; 

 and one morning, between the hours of eight and nine, when 

 the sun shone forth clearly and steadily, I was rewarded by 

 the sight of an expanded blossom. Before twelve o'clock 

 the flower closed, and it never opened again. Afterwards, 

 at the same hour, and on similar brilliant mornings, other 

 flowers unclosed, throwing widely open their little petals, as 

 if in enjoyment of the sunshine ; but never more than one or 

 two blossoms opened at one time on the same raceme; and 

 never did a flower, once closed, ever again unfurl itself. To 

 me it appeared, that if a flower was ready to bloom, and was 

 not then exposed to the influence of a powerful sun, the work 

 of nature was carried on without its expansion, as it followed 

 the example of those flowers that had opened and closed in 

 assuming an erect position ; but whether, in such a case, the 

 seeds attained perfection, I cannot pretend to determine. For 

 the sake of clearness, I may add that the portion of the cluster 

 which bears the unexpanded blossoms droops or is revolute ; 

 and that the flowers are erected, as they are successively ex- 

 panded, and with them the stalk of the cluster itself, in the man- 

 ner of a circinate inflorescence. — C, P. Surrey, Oct. 4. 1832. 



The Identity or Distinctness of Anagdllis arvensis L. and A. 

 carulea Schreber, as Species (Vol. V. p. 493., and in previous 

 pages there indicated). I think the experiments on this 

 subject by no means satisfactory, as sufficient care does not 

 seem to have been taken to prevent the possibility of any 

 seeds being previously in the mould in which the seeds on 

 trial have been sown. Here A. arvensis is common, but A. 



