Chap. XVIII.] ABSORPTION. 355 



were two masses of different sizes, one large and the other 

 small; and in others there were irregularly shaped globules; 

 so that it appeared as if the limpid contents of the processes, 

 owing to the absorption of matter from the solution, had be- 

 come aggregated sometimes round the nucleus, and some- 

 times into separate masses; and that these then tended to 

 coalesce. The primordial utricle or protoplasm lining the 

 processes was also thickened here and there into irregular 

 and variously shaped specks of yellowish translucent matter, 

 as occurred in the case of Utricularia neglecta under similar 

 treatment. These specks apparently did not change their 

 forms. 



The minute two-armed glands on the valve were also 

 affected by the solution; for they now contained several, 

 sometimes as many as six or eight, almost spherical masses 

 of translucent matter, tinged with yellow, which slowly 

 changed their forms and positions. Such masses were never 

 observed in these glands in their ordinary state. We may 

 therefore infer that they serve for absorption. Whenever a 

 little water is expelled from a bladder containing animal 

 remains (by the means formerly specified, more especially 

 by the generation of bubbles of air), it will fill the cavity 

 in which the valve lies; and thus the glands will be able 

 to utilise decayed matter which otherwise would have been 

 wasted. 



Finally, as numerous minute animals are captured by 

 this plant in its native country and when cultivated, there 

 can be no doubt that the bladders, though so small, are far 

 from being in a rudimentary condition; on the contrary, 

 they are highly efficient traps. Nor can there be any doubt 

 that matter is absorbed from the decayed prey by the quad- 

 rifid and bifid processes, and that protoplasm is thus gener- 

 ated. What tempts animals of such diverse kinds to enter 

 the cavity beneath the bowed antennae, and then force their 

 way through the little slit-like orifice between the valve and 

 collar into the bladders filled with water, I cannot con- 

 jecture. 



Tubers. These organs, one of which is represented in a 



previous figure (Fig. 26) of the natural size, deserve a few 



remarks. Twenty were found on the rhizomes of a single 



plant, but they cannot be strictly counted; for, besides the 



S4 



