H8 



Beside the Drosera or Sundew, we have also in the same kind 

 of soil the Butterwort, which is a great insect destroyer, and effects 

 its purpose by the same means as those employed by the Sundew. 

 This plant is easily recognised by its bright green leaves, which 

 spread out and form a rosette on the dark mossy ground. In 

 spring it bears a pretty purple flower resembling the marsh violet, 

 but at this season is destitute of both flower and flower-stem. The 

 leaves of this plant, like the Sundew, are covered with glands 

 which secrete an abundance of tenacious fluid. When a small fly 

 or other insect touches this fluid it is instantly arrested and 

 captured, and on one occasion I remember seeing a plant that was 

 completely sprinkled over with captured insects. It was a plant 

 of ten leaves, and on one leaf there were twenty insects, and as 

 each leaf seemed equally covered with dead or captured flies, the 

 total number of insects secured by this plant would be about two 

 hundred. 



On arriving at the lake edge again, we have the opportunity 

 of examining another member of the carnivorous family of plants. 

 One which captures its prey in a very peculiar manner, quite 

 different to that by which the Sundew and Butterwort obtain their 

 victims. The plant is found in the pools of water known as moss 

 dubs, not far from where Smiddy Beck empties itself into the lake. 

 It is rather an insignificant-looking plant, which is found floating 

 in the water ; the hair-like leaves forming tufts of foliage near the 

 surface. On examination it will be found that these tufts have 

 branches attached to them bearing something that are neither 

 leaves nor flowers. They are something like bladders, and the 

 plant gets its name, Bladderwort, from these appendages. It was 

 supposed at one time that these bladders served quite a different 

 purpose to that which it is proved by the investigations of Darwin 

 and others they do serve. The idea was a very plausible one, and 

 may perhaps still be partly true. The theory was as follows : — 

 When the plant is very young it is found at the bottom of the pool. 

 At this time it is said the bladders contain a kind of mucus, 

 which prevents their floating, but as the plant requires more 

 light and air, the mucus from the bladders is discharged, and thQ 



