Journal of Proceedings. xxiii 



tacles holds the insects prisoners, and in a short time the longer 

 marginal tentacles bend over and with merciless grasp crush the poor 

 captives down to death. The secretion from the glands increases in 

 quantity, and acts, as Mr. Darwin's patient experiments have shown, 

 with a veritable digestive action on the softer tissues of the insects. 

 The nutritive nitrogenous substances are thus dissolved and taken up 

 by the glands, which possess the power of absorption as well as that of 

 secretion. The leaves again unfold, the secretion dries up for a time, 

 the indigestible hard parts of the insects are blown away by the wind, 

 and the leaves are again in a condition to resume their predatory 

 functions. Sometimes large insects are caught in this way, and Mr. 

 Cole mentioned that he had on two occasions seen Satyrus janira (the 

 " Meadow-brown " butterfly), an insect measuring nearly two inches 

 across the wings, thus held fast. The vigorous growth of the plant is 

 evidently dependent on the supply of nitrogenous substances obtained 

 by the solution and digestion of its insect prey. Its natural habitat on 

 the surface of a thick layer of Sphagnum moss can give the plant little 

 beyond a plentiful supply of moisture, whilst the smallness of the roots, 

 which merely serve to anchor it to its mossy bed, proves that it derives 

 but little benefit from the soil. The predacious habits of the plant 

 are therefore probably of great importance to its well-being. Mr. 

 Letchford mentioned the fact that gardeners find the Droseracea very 

 difficult to cultivate ; in confinement they probably miss their weekly 

 rations of flies and gnats. 



An interesting discussion followed Mr. Meldola's observations, in 

 which Messrs. Letchford, Robarts, Lockyer, the Secretary, and Pre- 

 sident took part. The habits of carnivorous plants, the functions of 

 Chlorophyll (in which the Drosera is very deficient), and the supposed 

 distinctions between plants and animals, were touched upon. 



Communications from Mr. R. M. Christy, on "A curious mass of 

 mud found in a thrush's nest at Audley End Park, by Mr. Travis, and 

 supposed to be the work of a Nuthatch;''' on the question, " How do 

 Wild Ducks, Moorhens, and other such birds introduce their young to 

 the water when their nests are placed on a tree ?" and on " Diseased 

 Trout in Essex," were read. (Trans., Vol. I., pp. 66-71.) 



Remarks on these subjects were made by the President, Messrs. 

 W. C. Barnes, Letchford, Robarts, English, and the Rev. C. J. 

 Ridgeway, and thanks voted to the author. 



Mr. Lockyer read the rules he had drawn up for the Exchange 

 Scheme which had been sanctioned by the Council, and which he 

 would superintend (particulars can be obtained by applying to Mr. 

 Alfred Lockyer, Tavistock Road, Snaresbrook). 



At the Conversazione Messrs. English and W. Cole exhibited various 

 plants from the Forest in flower, including Orchis viacidata (the " Spotted 

 Orchis"), Habenaria bifolia (" Butterfly Orchis"), Listera ovata ("Tway- 



