IV. ] PREDATORY PLANTS. 61 
fluid is poured out. When the process of digestion 
is complete the glands of this artificial stomach 
change their functions, and instead of secreting 
pepsin, absorb chyle. The cells of the filaments are 
now found to exhibit a change in their protoplasmic 
contents; the protoplasm becomes aggregated into 
masses of various shapes. 
But we have no need to travel to the marshy lands 
of North Carolina for specimens of such interesting 
plants. We have growing in our own bogs at home 
three allied species of insectivorous plants—the Sun- 
dews. For the last twenty years Mr. Darwin has 
been carefully studying the habits of our native Sun- 
dews, and other insectivorous plants, and as the result 
has published a most interesting and valuable volume 
upon the subject. More than half of this book is 
devoted to the consideration of the common Round- 
leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), a species which 
may be obtained in tolerable plenty from the bogs 
in the neighbourhood of London, It is an exceed- 
ingly pretty little plant, and very prominent among 
the bright-green tufts of Sphagnum, where it grows. 
The leaves are developed from the root, and lie flat, 
forming a little rosette. They unfold like the fronds 
of a Fern, being in the early stage rolled up. From 
the centre of this rosette the flower-stalks rise; the 
stalk is wiry, leafless, and the flowers white and in- 
conspicuous, The leaves somewhat resemble a spoon, 
being narrow at the base, gradually enlarging until 
about the centre, from whence it suddenly assumes 
a rotund, slightly concave form. The surface is 
thickly set with long, fine, red filaments, each tipped 
