33 



length of time, ami sometimes I have known them to continue in 

 motion for over 12 liours. The last of ihem that I liad under 

 observation AVtsre four on one piece of tht^ lliccia, ami they kept 

 alive and in motion, witliout any material change, until May the 

 1st, when they all withdrew the long tube and remained ou the 

 weed, in wliich quiut state they continued for fifteen days, when 

 tlicy again put fortli a long and transparent tube, but no cilia or 

 wheel was in motion, yet the two horns were very prominent at 

 the top, nor wcx-e the jaws seen as before, neither were the tubes 

 Avitlidrawu in a tek'scopic form as at the first, but folded them- 

 scdves down worm-like. 'Hi us they continued for three days, and 

 iinally escaped into tlic Avater, when I lost sight of them entirely. 

 They left the oval case, out of which they came, rtmaiuing ou 

 the weed. 



AUGUST. 



On the Sun-dew (Drosera RotundifoliaJ, htj Colonel JTorsleij. 



This specimen of " Drosera Rotundifolia," or round-leaved sun- 

 dew, was discovered by Mr. H. Deun, of St. Peter' s-street, at 

 Ilothlield iieath, near Ashford. In this plant tlic most remarkable 

 part is the leaves, and the least remarkable the fructification. The 

 former are nearly round and grow upon long hairy stalks; thev 

 are at first folded up in such a manner that they look something- 

 like green hoods, Init they afterwards spread out into small con- 

 cave disks, covered over with long, shining, red hairs, that t^ecrete 

 from their point a clear fluid, "which gives the leaves the appear- 

 ance of being covered with dew drops. This glittering dew-like 

 secretion is most abundant when the sun is at its highest, and hence 

 it has acquired its popular name ot sun-dew. The apparatus by 

 means of which the moisture is secreted, forms one of the most 

 beautiful objects for the microscope. Let us take a single liair and 

 place it under a magnifying glass, taking care to throw upon it from 

 above a strong reflected light, and using the precaution of cutting off 

 all the rays that come from below. You will now see that what 

 seemed a little hair with a drop of water at its point, is really a long 

 curved horn, transparent and glittering like glass, delicately studded 

 from top to bottom with sparkling points; beautifully stained with 

 bright green passing into pink, and mellowing into a pale yellow, 

 as if emeralds, rubies and topazes had been melted, and just run 

 together without mixing ; and finally tipped with a large polished 

 oval carbunch-, or ruby of the deepest dye. 



I should mention tliat the above description of the leaf of tho 

 Drosera is taken from Dr. Lindley's Ladies' Botauj-. 



Tlio hairs of our British Droseras possess tlie power of closing 

 upon insects and holding- tlicm fast. " When an insect settles 

 upon them it is retained by the vi.seosity of the glands, and in a 



