Chap. XII.] DROSERA CAPENSIS. 227 



glands were touched half a dozen times with a needle; one of the 

 tentacles became well inflected in 17 m., and re-expanded after 24 

 hrs.; the two others never moved. The homogeneous fluid within 

 the cells of the tentacles undergoes aggregation after these have 

 become inflected ; especially if given a solution of carbonate of am- 

 monia; and I observed the usual movements in the masses of pro- 

 toplasm. In one case, aggr^ation ensued in 1 hr. 10 m. after a 

 tentacle had carried a bit of meat to the centre. From these facts 

 it is clear that the tentacles of Drosera anglica behave like those 

 of Drosera rot undi folia. 



If an insect is placed on the central glands, or has been natu- 

 rally caught there, the apex of the leaf curls inwards. For in- 

 stance, dead flies were placed on three leaves near their bases, 

 and after 24 hrs. the previously straight apices were curled com- 

 pletely over, so as to embrace and conceal the flies; they had 

 therefore moved through an angle of 180. After three days the 

 apex of one leaf, together with the tentacles, began to re-expand. 

 But as far as I have seen and I made many trials the sides of 

 the leaf are never inflected, and this is the one functional difl"er- 

 ence between this species and Drosera rot undi folia. 



Drosera intermedia (Hayne). This species is quite as com- 

 mon in some parts of England as Drosera rotundifoUa. It difl"er3 

 from Drosera anylica, as far as the leaves are concerned, only in 

 their smaller size, and in their tips being generally a little reflexed. 

 They capture a large number of insects. The tentacles are excited 

 into movement by all the causes above specified; and aggregation 

 ensues, 'with movement of the protoplasmic masses. I have seen, 

 through a lens, a tentacle beginning to bend in less than a minute 

 after a particle of raw meat had been placed on the gland. The 

 apex of the leaf curls over an exciting object as in the case of 

 Drosera anylica. Acid secretion is copiously poured over captured 

 insects. A leaf which had embraced a fly with all its tentacles re- 

 expanded after nearly three days. 



Drosera capensis. This species, a native of the Cape of Good 

 Hope, was sent to me by Dr. Hooker. The leaves are elongated, 

 slightly concave along the middle and taper towards the apex, 

 which is bluntly pointed and reflexed. They rise from an almost 

 woody axis, and their greatest peculiarity consists in their folia- 

 ceous green footstalks, which are almost as broad and even longer 

 than the gland-bearing blade. This species, therefore, probably 

 draws more nourishment from the air, and less from captured in- 

 sects, than the other 8f>ecies of the genus. Nevertheless, the ten- 

 tacles are crowded together on the disc, and are extremely numer- 

 ous; those on the margins being much longer than the central 

 ones. All the glands have the same form; their secretion is ex- 

 tremely viscid and acid. 



The specimen which I examined had only just recovered from a 

 weak state of health. This may account for the tentacles moving 

 very slowly when particles of meat were placed on the glands, and 

 perhaps for my never succeeding in causing any movement by 

 repeatedly touching them with a needle. But with all the species 

 16 



