Cuar. VI. DIGESTION. 101 
drops of hydrochloric acid (one part to 437 of 
water) were added; this seemed to hasten the process 
of digestion, for on one leaf all was liquefied and 
absorbed after 20 hrs.; but on the three other leaves 
some undissolved residue was left after 48 hrs. It 
is remarkable that in all the above and following 
experiments, as well as when much larger bits of 
fibrin were used, the leaves were very little excited; 
and it was sometimes necessary to add a little saliva 
to induce complete inflection. The leaves, moreover, 
began to re-expand after only 48 hrs., whereas they 
would have remained inflected for a much longer 
time had insects, meat, cartilage, albumen, &c., been 
placed on them. 
I then tried some pure white fibrin, sent me by Dr. 
Burdon Sanderson. 
Experiment 1.—Two particles, barely 35 of an inch (1:27 mm.) 
square, were placed on opposite sides of the same leaf. One of 
these did not excite the surrounding tentacles, and the gland 
on which it rested soon dried. The other particle caused a few 
of the short adjoining tentacles to be inflected, the more distant 
-ones not being affected. After 24 hrs. both were almost, and 
after 72 hrs. completely, dissolved. 
Experiment 2.—The same experiment with the same result, 
only one of the two bits of fibrin exciting the short surround- 
ing tentacles. This bit was so slowly acted on that after a 
day I pushed it on to some fresh glands. In three days from 
the time when it was first placed on the leaf it was completely 
dissolved. 
Experiment 3.—Bits of fibrin of about the same size as before 
were placed on the discs of two leaves; these caused very little 
inflection in 23 hrs., but after 48 hrs. both were well clasped by 
the surrounding short tentacles, and after an additional 24 hrs. 
were completely dissolved. On the disc of one of these leaves 
much clear acid fluid was left. 
Experiment 4.—Similar bits of fibrin were placed on the discs 
of two leaves; as after 2 hrs. the glands seemed rather dry, 
they were freely moistened with saliva; this soon caused 
strong inflection both of the tentacles and blades, with copious 
