VENUS' S FLY-TRAP. 59 



case of very minute insects. Contact with the glands 

 causes them to absorb, and then the secretion of the 

 acid-mucilaginous fluid commences, and proceeds as 

 long as any material is left to stimulate the action of 

 the glands. Under this treatment the insect becomes 

 dissolved, as far as it is capable of dissolution, and is 

 assimilated by the leaf, this action causing aggrega- 

 tion of the protoplasm in the cells of the glands. All 

 these steps in the process have been determined, 

 by means of careful experiment, which we have not 

 deemed it necessary to recount. That the captured 

 insects were in some way made subservient to the 

 nourishment of the plant was conjectured from the 

 first. Dr. Curtis found them enveloped in a fluid of 

 mucilaginous consistence,^ which seemed to act as a 

 solvent, the insects being more or less consumed by 

 it. This was verified, and the digestive character of 

 the liquid well-nigh demonstrated some years ago by 

 Mr. Canby, of Wilmington, who, upon a visit to 

 North Carolina, and afterwards at his own home, 

 followed up Dr. Curtis's suggestions with some 

 capital observations and experiments, which were 

 published in 1868," although they did not seem to 

 have attracted the attention which they deserved. 



^ Dr. Curtis in " Journal of Boston Society of Natural 

 History," vol. i., 1834. 



^ Canby in " Median's Gardener's Monthly," vol. x., August, 

 1868 (Philadelphia). 



