Cuar. XIV.) ALDROVANDA VESICULOSA. 265 
of the quadrifids included a few spherical granules, but 
several were transparent and empty, and their positions 
were marked. This leaf was now immersed in a little 
solution of one part of urea to 146 of water, or three grains 
to the ounce. After 3 hrs. 40 m. there was no change either 
in the glands or quadrifids; nor was there any certain change 
in the glands after 24 hrs.; so that, as far as one trial goes, 
urea does not act on them in the same manner as an infusion 
of raw meat. It was different with the quadrifids; for the 
lining of protoplasm, instead of presenting a uniform texture, 
was now slightly shrunk, and exhibited in many places 
minute, thickened, irregular, yellowish specks and ridges, 
exactly like those which appear within the quadrifids of 
Utricularia when treated with this same solution. More- 
over, several of the quadrifids, which were before empty, 
now contained moderately sized or very small, more or less 
aggregated, globules of yellowish matter, as likewise occurs 
under the same circumstances with Utricularia. Some of 
the points on the infolded margins of the lobes were 
similarly affected; for their lining of protoplasm was a little 
shrunk and included yellowish specks; and those which 
were before empty now contained small spheres and irregular 
masses of hyaline matter, more or less aggregated ; so that 
both the points on the margins and the quadrifids had 
absorbed matter from the solution in the course of 24 hrs. ; 
but to this subject I shall recur. In another rather old leaf, 
to which nothing had been given, but which had been kept 
in foul water, some of the quadrifids contained aggregated 
translucent globules. These were not acted on by a solution 
of one part of carbonate of ammonia to 218 of water: and 
this negative result agrees with what I have observed under 
similar circumstances with Utricularia. 
Aldrovanda vesiculosa, var. australis—Dried leaves of this 
plant from Queensland in Australia were sent me by Prof. 
Oliver from the herbarium at Kew. Whether it ought to be 
considered as a distinct species or a variety, cannot be told 
until the flowers are examined by a botanist. The pro- 
jections at the upper end of the petiole oe four to six in 
number) are con-iderably longer relatively to the blade, and 
much more attenuated than those of the European form. 
They are thickly covered for a considerable space near their 
extremities with the upcurved prickles, which are quite 
absent in the latter form; and they generally bear on their 
