68 



others ; while along the coast the Alpine Potentilla is 

 often found. 



Of the southern species we have the Magnolia glauca, 

 Yellow Thistle, and perhaps a few others. The White 

 Cedar ( Oupressus thyoides) reaches here its northern 

 limit, and its name is in Maine and New Hampshire 

 transferred to the Arbor Vitce ( Tlnija occicUntalis) , which 

 has been the cause of much confusion. 



Mr. Robinson spoke of the water plants and those of 

 the seashore, stating that there was a much larger num- 

 ber of species to be found than most persons supposed, 

 and considerinof the natural features of the region, the 

 Essex Flora might claim to be a very rich one. 



The carnivorous habits of the Drosera were then de- 

 scribed with the aid of a diagram. If an insect alights 

 on the leaf, the tentacles, one after another, curl over and 

 entrap it. The insect is digested by the plant and then 

 the leaf opens again. 



Darwin's experiments with this plant were then ex- 

 plained. He tried placing various substances upon the 

 disc. Meat, he found, was enclosed and digested. Glass 

 was enclosed for a certain time and then rejected. 



Blowing hard upon the plant had no effect upon it. 

 The secretion he found was almost exactly like animal 

 pepsin. 



In another genus nearly allied to Drosera, the Dionceay 

 the leaves fold over and inclose insects, which are then 

 digested ; but in this case the leaves are partly open at 

 the edges, so that small insects can escape, the larger 

 ones only being held. These leaves will repeat the proc- 

 ess two or three times. Two species of Drosera are 

 common in this locality. 



The remarks were closed with some notice of a cone 

 which was imbedded in the wood of the tree, and exhib- 



