PRACTICAL CARP CULTURE. 68 



"processes," as Darwin calls them) which are found on the inside of the 

 bladder, and protrude obliquely and in the back (see Plate 2, Fig. 5), re- 

 sembling the barbs of a hook, prevent the prey from escaping, and by 

 every movement entangle it still more in this trap. After having been 

 swallowed completely the animal begins to decompose, assumes a viscous 

 appearance, and is rapidly absorbed by the same glandular thorns which 

 have in the beginning aided in the capture of the little fish. This is at 

 least the supposition at present entertained by most botanists. Mrs. 

 Treat, however, thought she could see in the bladder of the Utricularia a 

 stomach, digesting in the same manner as in the Drosera; but Darwin 

 entertains grave doubts as to the correctness of this opinion, for he has 

 observed flesh and hardened portions of the white of an egg remain for 

 three days in the space where the little animals died, without undergoing 

 any change. He is rather inclined to think that they died of asphyxia, 

 after having entirely consumed the oxygen of the water in the bladder, 

 He admits, however, that some special juice may accelerate the decompo- 

 sition of the dead fish, in the same manner as the juice of the papaw- 

 tree, well known in the tropical regions, at first softens and afterwards 

 rapidly decomposes meat exposed to its action. Planchon says, "We 

 have here reached the vague line where different modes of nutrition seem 

 to combine and intermingle." Whatever the process may be, when it is 

 once changed the animal matter enters definitely into the composition of 

 the carnivorous plant. 



The beautiful Utricularia, whose handsome yellow flowers form an 

 ornament of ponds, both in the Old and the New World, is therefore a 

 genuine piscivorous plant. But curious and interesting as the discovery 

 of this new phenomenon in plant life may appear at first sight, it is in 

 reality only a special illustration of a general law, a necessary adaptation 

 to the conditions of the element in which the plant lives. 



In all the so-called carnivorous plants the roots, according to the ob- 

 servations of Darwin, are very little developed, and scarcely suffice to 

 draw into the plant the water and the salts found in it in a dissolved con- 

 dition. It is therefore quite natural that these plants should endeavor to 

 obtain by some other process the nitrogen which is necessary for their 

 life, and that their leaves should aid in performing the functions which 

 their roots cannot entirely fulfill. In reality we must say, with Van 

 Tieghem, that all plants are carnivorous, and we add that it cannot be 

 otherwise, for how could we in any other way explain the various trans- 

 formations and the infinite changes of matter which constitute the mar- 

 velous equilibrium of nature." 



Another very interesting description of and experience with this 

 same plant is given in the following article taken from the Fishing Ga- 

 zette, May 31, 1884: 



A FISH-EATING PLANT, 



By. G. E. Simms, Jr. 

 " I have recently discovered amongst the aquatic weeds placed in my 



