86 



DROSERA ROTUNDIPOLIA. 



[Chap. HI. 



are here given (Fig. 7), and illustrate some of the simpler 

 and commonest changes. The cell A, when first sketched, in- 

 cluded two oval masses of purple protoplasm touching each 

 other. These became separate, as shown at B, and then 

 reunited, as at C. After the next interval a very common 

 appearance was presented D, namely, the formation of an 



1 



vm 



Fig. 8. 



(Drotera rotundifolia) 



Diagram of the same cell of a tentacle, showing the various forms saceoh 



sively assumed by the aggregated masiies of protoplasm. 



extremely minute sphere at one end of an elongated mass. 

 This rapidly increased in size, as shown in E, and was then 

 reabsorbed, as at F, by which time another sphere had been 

 formed at the opposite end. 



The cell drawn in Fig. 7 was from a tentacle of a dark red 

 leaf, which had caught a small moth, and was examined under 

 water. As I at first thought that the movements of the 

 masses might be due to the absorption of water, I placed 

 a fly on a leaf, and, when after 18 hrs. all the tentacles were 

 Well inflected, these were examined without being immersed 

 in water. The cell here represented (Fig. 8) was from this 

 leaf, being sketched eight times in the course of 15 m. These 

 sketches exhibit some of the more remarkable changes which 

 the protoplasm undergoes. At first, there was at the base of 

 the cell 1 a little mass on a short footstalk, and a larger mass 

 near the upper end, and these seemed quite separate. Never- 



whlcb Hnrs tho wnlln. In the 

 procefM of ntrjtroKiitlon the vacu- 

 ole expelH n ;rt>nt part of Its 

 watery contenlK. rotnlnlnir, how- 

 ever, the red colouring matter of 

 the cell-Hap. an wi>ll ns tannin 

 and alhnmlnoud matter. The 

 vncuole doe not remain a siuKle 

 body, hut divldoH Into numerous 

 neoondnry vacuoles. These are 

 the aggregated masses which are 



rendered conspicuous bv being 

 surrounded by the expelie<l fluid 

 which servos as a colourless 

 backjrrotmfl to them. The ujove- 

 ments of the masses are, accord- 

 lUK to I)e Vrlcs, >nflrply passive, 

 and are accounfeil for by the cur- 

 rents of protoplasm, stirring 

 them and washing them to and 

 fro.-P. D.] 



