Chap. XIV.] CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



decaying animal matter. It is a more curious face that the 

 points on the infolded margins apparently serve to absorb 

 decayed animal matter in the same manner as the quadrifids. 

 We can thus understand the meaning of the infolded mar- 

 gins of the lobes furnished with delicate points directed 

 inwards, and of the broad, flat, outer portions, bearing quad- 

 rifid processes; for these surfaces must be liable to be irri- 

 gated by foul water flowing from the concavity of the leaf 

 when it contains dead animals." This would follow from vari- 

 ous causes, from the gradual contraction of the concavity, 

 from fluid in excess being secreted, and from the genera- 

 tion of bubbles of air. More observations are requisite on 

 this head; but if this view is correct, we have the remark- 

 able case of different parts of the same leaf serving for very 

 different purposes one part for true digestion, and another 

 for the absorption of decayed animal matter. We can thus 

 also understand how, by the gradual loss of either power, a 

 plant might be gradually adapted for the one function to the 

 exclusion of the other: and it will hereafter be shown that 

 two genera, namely Pinguicula and Utricularia, belonging 

 to the same family, have been adapted for these two dif- 

 ferent functions. 



[Duval-Jouve's obaorvatlons Similar structures are described 

 throw some doubt on this point. by Duval-Jouve as occurring ou 

 He has shown (' Bull. Soc. Bot. the leaves of Callltrlche, Nuphar 

 de France,' t. xxlll. p. 1.30) that httcum and N]/mph<Fa alba, and 

 In the uHnter buds of Aldrovanda similar observations were made 

 the leaves are reduced to a petl- by the late E. Ray Lanljester 

 Die, the lamina being absent. C Brit. Assoc. Report,' 1850, pub- 

 Now the lamina bears both the llshed 1851. 2nd part of volume, 

 glands for which a peptic func- p. 11.3). This being so we must 

 tlon Is suggested In the text, and suspend judgment as to the func- 

 also the quadrlfld processes which tlon of the quadrlfld processes on 

 are believed to absorb the prod- the outer region of the lamina of 

 ucts of deca;y. Since the leaves the leaves of Aldrovanda. Charles 

 of the winter buds have no Darwin appears to have been Im- 

 lamlnse, and cannot therefore pressed with the Importance of 

 capture prey, we . must believe these facts, as I Infer from a 

 that the glands on the petioles note pencilled In Professor Mar- 

 have merely general absorptive tin's translation of ' Insectlvo- 

 functlon, and are not specialised rous Plants,' where Duval-Jouve's 

 In relation to the products of the paper Is discussed In a note by 

 decaying victims of the plant. the translator. F. D.] 



