138 UTRICULARIA MONTANA. CHAP. XVIII 



other small; and in others there were irregularly 

 shaped globules ; so that it appeared as if the limpid 

 contents of the processes, owing tc the absorption of 

 matter from the solution, had become aggregated 

 sometimes round the nucleus, and sometimes into sepa- 

 rate masses; and that these then tended to coalesce. 

 The primordial utricle or protoplasm lining the pro- 

 cesses was also thickened here and there into irregular 

 and variously shaped specks of yellowish translucent 

 matter, as occurred in the case of Utrieularia neglecta 

 under similar treatment. These specks apparently did 

 not change their forms. 



The minute two-armed glands on the valve were 

 also affected by the solution ; for they now contained 

 several, sometimes as many as six or eight, almost 

 spherical masses of translucent matter, tinged with 

 yellow, which slowly changed their forms and posi- 

 tions. Such masses were never observed in these glands 

 in their ordinary state. We may therefore infer that 

 they serve for absorption. Whenever a little water is 

 expelled from a bladder containing animal remains 

 (by the means formerly specified, more especially by 

 the generation of bubbles of air), it will fill the cavity 

 in which the valve lies ; and thus the glands will be 

 able to utilise decayed matter which otherwise would 

 have been wasted. 



Finally, as numerous minute animals are captured 

 by this plant in its native country and when culti- 

 vated, there can be no doubt that the bladders, though 

 so small, are far from being in a rudimentary con- 

 dition ; on the contrary, they are highly efficient 

 traps. Nor can there be any doubt that matter is 

 absorbed from the decayed prey by the quadrifid and 

 bifid processes, and that protoplasm is thus generated. 

 What tempts animals of such diverse kinds to enter 



