Transactions. 5 



some of these plants were known for a long time, it was 

 only in 1874 that public attention was directed to the fact 

 that these plants assimilated their food by means of their 

 leaves. Having briefly referred to some of Darwin's experi- 

 ments, he proceeded to describe the different plants, with 

 special reference to our local species. These plants have been 

 classified into four natural orders, comprising 15 difi-erent 

 genera, and only three of these are local, viz. -.—Brosera, 

 Pinguicula, and Utrimlaria or bladderwort. He next referred 

 to numerous experiments which he performed during the summer 

 on Brosera and Pinguicula, the results of which were that the 

 tentacles of the Brosera commence to secrete the viscid fluid 

 immediately a nitrogenous substance is placed on the leaf, but it 

 takes 10-15 minutes before these' tentacles clasp the object. 

 Also, the fluid which was secreted on the outer tentacles, if these 

 cannot touch the object, becomes absorbed by them again, whUe 

 the quantity secreted on the inner tentacles is considerably 

 increased. He also noticed that the Pinguicula are not so 

 voracious as the sundews. 



7th January, 1881. 



Rev. J. Fraser in the Chair. Eleven present. 

 Bo.mtio.is.—By Mr Shaw, Tynron, copy of Graphic containing 

 axticle by him on "Growth of Reason in Animals;" by Mr J 

 Wilson, six old coins; by Mr John Rutherford, Kirkmichael, a 

 fine geological collection, including a massive stone hammer, 

 antimony ores, and a slate of Locharbriggs sandstone, bearing 

 several supposed reptilian footprints. 



Exhibits.— By Mr John Maxwell, a branch of the cork tree, 

 and a curious stone, probably water-worn, of nearly the exact 

 shape of the human foot ; by Mr Rutherford, a number of photo- 

 graphic transparencies. 



A short paper by Rector Chimiock, Dumfries Academy, was 

 read, consisting of a translation of the title-page and notes on the 

 text of the volume on the Military Art by Flavios Vegitius 

 Eenatus, presented to the Society at last meeting. 



Carices of Colve^id.—The Chairman read a paper on "The 

 Carices of Colvend," in the course of which he stated that of the 

 45 species proper to Scotland Colvend has 24. Of these, however, 



