Chap. XV.] THEIR POWER OP ABSORPTION. 283 



enlarged terminal cell is globular, forming a gland which secretes 

 a variable amount of thick, slightly viscid, not acid, brownish- 

 yellow matter. 



A piece of a young flower-stem was first immersed in distilled 

 water for 2 hrs. 30 m., and the glandular hairs were not at all 

 affected. Another piece, bearing twenty-five short and nine long 

 hairs, was carefully examined. The glands of the latter contained 

 no solid or semi-solid matter ; and those of only two of the twenty- 

 five short hairs contained some globules. This piece was then im- 

 mersed for 2 hrs. in a solution of one part of carbonate of ammonia 

 to 109 of water, and now the glands of the twenty-five shorter 

 hairs, with two or three exceptions, contained either one large or 

 from two to five smaller spherical masses of serai-solid matter. 

 Three of the glands of the nine long hairs likewise included similar 

 masses. In a few hairs there were also globules in the cells imme- 

 diately beneath the glands. Looking to all thirty-four hairs, there 

 could be no doubt that the glands had absorbed some of the car- 

 bonate. Another piece was left for only 1 hr. in the same solu- 

 tion, and aggregated matter appeared in all the glands. My son 

 Francis examined some glands of the longer hairs, which con- 

 tained little masses of matter, before they were immersed in any 

 solution; and these masses slowly changed their forms, so that no 

 doubt they consisted of protoplasm. He then irrigated these haira 

 for 1 hr. 15 m., whilst under the microscope, with a solution of 

 one part of the carbonate to 218 of water; the glands were not 

 perceptibly affected, nor could this have been expected, as their 

 contents were already aggregated. But in the cells of the pedicels 

 numerous, almost colourless, spheres of matter appeared, which 

 changed their forms and slowly coalesced ; the appearance of the 

 cells being thus totally changed at successive intervals of time. 



The glands on a young Hower-stem, after having been left for 

 2 hrs. t5 m. in a strong solution of one part of the carbonate to 109 

 of water, contained an abundance of aggregated masses, but 

 whether generated by the action of the salt, I do not know. This 

 piece was again placed in the solution, so that it was immersed 

 altogether for 6 hrs. 15 m., and now there was a great change; for 

 almost all the spherical masses within the gland-cells had disap- 

 peared, being replaced by granular matter of a darker brown. The 

 experiment was thrice repeated with nearly the same result. On 

 one occasion the piece was left immersed for 8 hrs. 30 m., and 

 though almost all the spherical masses were changed into the 

 brown granular matter, a few still remained. If the spherical 

 masses of aggregated matter had been originally produced merely 

 by some chemical or physical action, it seems strange that a some- 

 what longer immersion in the same solution should so completely 

 alter their character. But as the masses which slowly and spon- 

 taneously changed their forms must have consisted of living pro- 

 toplasm, there is nothing surprising at its being injured or killed, 

 and its appearance wholly changed by long immersion in so strong 

 a solution of the carbonate as that employed. A solution of this 

 strength paralyses all movement in Drosera, but does not kill the 



