102 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA. Chap. VI. 



secretion from the glands. In 18 hrs. tho fibrin was com. 

 pletely liquefied, but undigested atoms still floated in the 

 liquid; these, however, disappeared in under two additional 

 days. 



From these experiments it is clear that the secre- 

 tion completely dissolves pure fibrin. The rate of 

 dissolution is rather slow; but this depends merely 

 on this substance not exciting the leaves sufficiently, 

 so that only the immediately adjoining tentacles are 

 inflected, and the supply of secretion is small. 



Syntonin. — This substance, extracted from muscle, 

 was kindly prepared for me by Dr. Moore. Very 

 differently from fibrin, it acts quickly and energetic- 

 ally. Small portions placed on the discs of three 

 leaves caused their tentacles and blades to be strongly 

 inflected within 8 hrs. ; but no further observations 

 were made. It is probably due to the presence of 

 this substance that raw meat is too powerful a stimu- 

 lant, often injuring or even killing the leaves. 



Areolar Tissue. — Small portions of this tissue from. a 

 sheep were placed on the discs of three leaves ; these 

 became moderately well inflected in 24 hrs., but began 

 to re-expand after 48 hrs., and were fully re-expanded 

 in 72 hrs., always reckoning from the time when the 

 bits were first given. This substance, therefore, like 

 fibrin, excites the leaves for only a short time. The 

 residue left on the leaves, after they were fully re- 

 expanded, was examined under a high power and 

 found much altered, but, owing to the presence of a 

 quantity of elastic tissue, which is never acted on, 

 could hardly be said to be in a liquefied condition. 



Some areolar tissue free from elastic tissue was next 

 procured from the visceral cavity of a toad, and 

 moderately sized, as well as very small, bits were 

 placed on five leaves. After 24 hrs. two of the bits 



