60 Country Rambles. 



ground than the mosses, they have in some cases 

 preserved a drier nature from the first; in others, they 

 have become drier in the course of time, through the 

 escape of their moisture by runnels to lower levels; and 

 in others again, they have allowed of easy artificial drain- 

 ing, and conversion to purposes of pasturage and tillage, 

 or at least over a considerable portion of their surface, 

 and have thus disappeared into farm-land. The most 

 extensive and celebrated mosses about Manchester, still 

 undrained, are Chat Moss, Carrington Moss, and Clifton 

 Moss, near the Clifton railway station, on the left hand of 

 the Bolton-road. Fifteen years ago (i.e. in 1843), White 

 Moss and Ashton Moss might have been included in the 

 list, but both of these are now largely brought under 

 cultivation. The most celebrated moors are now nearly 

 all under the power of the plough, as Baguley Moor and 

 Sale Moor, while Newton Heath is covered with houses. 

 The above chapter was written in 1858. The story of 

 the sundews has now become an old familiar one, having 

 been placed prominently before the world by Dr. Hooker 

 during the 1874 meeting of the British Association, when 

 the novelty of the theme attracted universal attention to 

 it. It has been dealt with also by Mr. Darwin and many 

 of his disciples. The facts described have all been 

 verified, though there is still considerable difference of 

 opinion in regard to the digestive process. This question 

 is one we cannot pretend to go further into at present; 

 it remains for the rising generation of Manchester, and 

 other local physiologists, to recognise the value of the 



