io8 DION&A, DROSERA. [CHAP. 



in the middle, and thus close over (Fig. 82), kill, 

 and actually digest any insect which may alight on 

 them. The plant has recently been studied by 

 an American botanist, Mr. Canby, and, says Dr. 

 Hooker, " by feeding the leaves with small pieces of 

 beef, he found, that these were completely dissolved 

 and absorbed ; the leaf opening again with a dry 

 surface, and ready for another meal, though with an 

 appetite somewhat jaded. He found that cheese 

 disagrees horribly with the leaves, turning them 

 black, and finally killing them. Finally, he details 

 the useless struggles of a curculio (beetle) to escape, 

 as establishing the fact that the fluid is secreted, 

 and not the result of the decomposition of the 

 substance which the leaf has seized. The curculio 

 being of a resolute nature, attempted to eat his way 

 out 'when discovered he was still alive, and had 

 made a small hole through the side of the leaf, but 

 was evidently becoming very weak. On opening the 

 leaf, the fluid was found in considerable quantity 

 around him, and was without doubt gradually over- 

 coming him. The leaf being again allowed to close 

 upon him, he soon died.' " Prof. Burdon Sanderson 

 has recently made some interesting observations on 

 the electrical changes by which these movements are 

 accompanied. (Brit. Ass. Report, 1873.) 



In the genus Drosera (Fig. 81), the hairs which 

 cover the leaf, fold over and capture insects. This was 

 first observed almost simultaneously by Mr. Whately 

 and Mr. Roth. The latter says, " I placed an ant upon 

 the middle of the leaf of D. rotundifolia, but not so as 

 to disturb the plant. The ant endeavoured to escape, 



