4 PITCHER OF CEPHALOTUS FOLLICULARIS. 



among these pigment-cells are very numerous oval bodies, 

 each consisting apparently of a central somewhat elevated oval 

 cell surrounded by 2 to 4 others. These bodies are colourless 

 or slightly yellowish, with brilliantly refractive cell- walls, and 

 offer a most beautiful contrast with the deep red ground over 

 which they are studded. Besides the structures above described 

 there arc, on the lateral coloured patches, pretty numerous im- 

 bedded glands of the same type as those in the upper secretmg 

 surface ; but, for the most part, of very much larger size, their 

 linear measurement being about double of that of the glands on 

 the upper portion. The small ends of these large glands form 

 bulgings on the surface of the patch, and, as in the glands above, 

 are not covered by epidermis. On surface view the cells at the 

 uncovered apices of the ovoid glands, both on the upper secreting 

 surface and on the lateral patches, present a very remarkable 

 appearance. The cell-walls here are somewhat thickened, and 

 between the adjacent cell-walls are oblong or roundish spaces, 

 filled apparently wdtli oil, which give to the superficial cell net- 

 work a somewhat beaded appearance. On the coloured j)atches 

 the epidermis-cells in the vicinity of the uncovered portions of 

 the imbedded glands are more or less wavy in outline and are 

 unmixed with the small oval bodies just mentioned ; and their 

 contents exhibit a fine gradation of tints from the palest rose- 

 colour immediately around the exposed part of the gland, which 

 is nearly colourless, to the deep crimson of the common ground- 

 work of the patch. A surface view of the coloured patches affords 

 one of the most exquisite microscopic appearances imaginable. 

 The red-coloured cell-contents here, as well as in other parts of 

 the pitcher, very soon after injury of the cells or treatment by 

 reagents, change to a bright blue. 



G. Surface of the Bottom of the Pitcher — that part where the 

 insect-prey finds its last resting place — is smooth, eglandular, with 

 wavy epidermis-cells. 



Postscript. — Glast/ow, November, 1877. — On announcement 

 of the foregoing results to the British Association, Dr. Lawson 

 Tait, who was present, stated that he also had studied the 

 anatomy of the CephaJotus pitcher ; and, for the most part, 

 spoke in confirmation of my statements. He further stated the 

 result of experiments performed by him with fluid taken from 

 virgin or unopened pitchers, showing that it exerted a similar 

 digestive action upon animal substances to that exhibited by fluid 

 from Nrpnithes pitcher, &c. He correctly pointed out wdiat I had 

 not then had opportunity of observing, that in young unopened 

 pitchers the lateral patches (called by him the '* <jlandular bodies') 

 are not pigmented. I may here mention that in old pitchers a 

 dark red coloration of a considerable portion of the general inner 

 surface of the pitcher may sometimes be seen. This, perhaps, 

 detracts somewhat from the distinctive significance of the term 

 •* colom-ed " as applied to these patches. 



I have further to state that a little previous to the Association 

 meeting I had sent to Sir J. D. Hooker (as it happened, just as he 



