GLASGOW SOCIETY OF FIELD NATUEALISTS. 181 



researches have proved that their chief use is to capture and absorb 

 the smaller animals that frequent the ditches in which they grow. 

 The bladders are about ^ of an inch in length. They are trans- 

 parent, and of a light green colour. Each bladder is attached to 

 the leaf by a short footstalk, which possesses a peculiar power of 

 movement. They are furnished with a number of cellular prolonga- 

 tions called antennae, which gives them the appearance of some of 

 the lower crustaceans. Below the antennae is the opening to the 

 bladder, which has on either side of it a number of bristles. The 

 entrance to the bladder is closed by a valve which only opens 

 inwards. This valve is covered with a number of glands containing 

 a fluid which holds a large quantity of matter in solution. The 

 interior of the bladder is covered with a number of processes occurring 

 in groups of four, hence the name of quadrifid processes applied to 

 them. The use of the bladders is to capture small aquatic animals, 

 principally entomostracan crustaceans and insect larvae, as it 

 was found that the plants when examined generally contained great 

 quantities of these animals. These animals die, and at length decay, 

 when the plants absorb the product of the decay. They do not 

 possess the power of digesting the animal matter like such plants as 

 Venus' fly-trap, JDioncea muscipula. The animals enter the 

 bladders by bending inwards the posterior free edge of the valve, 

 which, from being very elastic, at once closes upon its victim. As 

 this edge is extremely thin and fits very closely, it is evident that it 

 will be difficult for an animal to get out when once imprisoned. 

 The use of the antennae is to guide small animals to the entrance to 

 the bladder, as well as to prevent large animals from trying to pass 

 in, as in doing so they would rupture the entrance, and so destroy 

 the bladder. It is not known what attracts the insects to enter the 

 bladders, unless it be that these small animals are habitually trying 

 to enter every small crevice. 



By Mr. David Wood Inglis, M.A. — Primula farinosa, from bogs 

 in Peebleshire. This most beautiful Primrose is pretty rare in 

 Scotland and England. The leaves, which are all radical, are 

 smooth above, while below they are covered with a dense mass of 

 white or orange-yellow meal, hence the name of the plant. It bears 

 a close resemblance to large specimens of P. Scotica, but the 

 dimorphic condition of the reproductive organs will at once dis- 

 tinguish it. 



By Mr. E. H. Paterson. — The very rare fungi Agaricus asper, 



