of a Stomach in Vegetals* 287 



shapes and sizes fitted for the retention of water when caught 

 from rain or condensed from dew, the cups or sacs would 

 seem to be fortuitous appendages ; or rather anticipations of 

 'coming events which thus cast their shadows before ;' for the 

 water, when caught, seems not necessarily applied to any im- 

 portant use in the internal economy of the plant, which still 

 depends on its terrene root for its support. In other instances, 

 however, (in perhaps the Teasel, and certainly the Pitcher 

 plants) the reverse is found to be the case, and a great ad- 

 vance is here perceived towards a digestive receptacle, over 

 those simple plants which not only are destitute of such foliar 

 appendages and sacs, but also are devoid of leaves; or even 

 over those which having leaves, still are chiefly dependent for 

 support upon their ordinary roots. These various examples 

 which mark the progressive stages of developement in the 

 organization, and the gradual separability of structure in per- 

 fecting the functions, even of automatic life, although un- 

 worthy a more formal essay, may probably be thought not 

 undeserving this transient notice. 



In Nepenthes and Sarracennia, previously referred to, this 

 shadowing forth of an animal organ is carried to the furthest 

 developement that occurs among plants ; in these and other 

 similar vegetables some of the leaves are of the ordinary types, 

 while others are so congenitally incurved and connected at the 

 edges as to form a pouch or pitcher of considerable extent, or 

 the membranous sac is even an especial appendage separate 

 from, although a continuation of, the midrib and proper ex- 

 pansion of the leaf. In many instances this apparatus is fitted 

 with a lip or lid, by which the mouth can be shut and opened ; 

 the machinery of which limb is so contrived that, when the 

 cavity within is well supplied, it closes to prevent evaporation ; 

 that when the stock is diminished or consumed, the lip is 

 raised, so that the mouth again is open to receive the falling 

 rain, or the rising dew. That such plants condense into their 

 receptacles large proportions of atmospheric moisture, as other 

 plants do on their general surface, common observation will 

 sufficiently attest, for they continue well supplied, even in 

 conservatories, where no rain can reach them ; and in many, 

 the over-hanging lid forbids the entrance of falling moisture, 

 but its arched form is well fitted to receive and condense the 



