xxxiv LETTERS TO MARCO 233 



these creatures get washed down into the 

 cups, giving it a sweetish taste. Certainly 

 small flies do get drowned in the water 

 at times; but I am doubtful whether the 

 plant can be considered as a carnivorous 

 one. 



If Walter is troubled with ants or wood- 

 lice in his hot-houses, I shall be very pleased 

 to send him a live toad or two. Mine are 

 very useful in this way, and live through the 

 winter very comfortably, coming out of their 

 holes directly the sun gains power in March. 

 My toads alter their colour a good deal. I 

 suppose the chameleon's alteration is some- 

 what of a similar character. Some days they 

 look much darker than on others, and vary 

 from dark gray and olive gray to light 

 yellowish gray and ferruginous gray. I do 

 not know whether there is anything in the 

 somewhat similar method that toads and 

 thrushes adopt in catching their prey that 

 accounts for their colouring being much the 

 same ; both having olive gray backs and 



