296 DIONZA MUSCIPULA. Cuap. XIIL 
As in this case the glands on both sides are pressed 
against the meat or insect, the secretion from the first 
is twice as great as when a bit of meat is laid on the 
surface of one lobe; and as the two lobes come into 
almost close contact, the secretion, containing dis- 
solved animal matter, spreads by capillary attraction, 
causing fresh glands on both sides to begin secreting 
in a continually widening circle. The secretion is 
almost colourless, slightly mucilaginous, and, judging 
by the manner in which it coloured litmus paper, 
more strongly acid than that of Drosera. It is so 
copious that on one occasion, when a leaf was cut 
open, on which a small cube of albumen had been 
placed 45 hrs. before, drops rolled off the leaf. On 
another occasion, in which a leaf with an enclosed bit 
of roast meat spontaneously opened after eight days, 
there was so much secretion in the furrow over the 
midrib that it trickled down. A large crushed fly 
(Tipula) was placed on a leaf from which a small 
portion at the base of one lobe had previously been 
cut away, so that an opening was left; and through 
this, the secretion continued to run down the footstalk 
during nine days,—that is, for as long a time as it was 
observed. By forcing up one of the lobes, I was able 
to see some distance between them, and all the glands 
within sight were secreting freely. 
We have seen that inorganic and non-nitrogenous 
objects placed on the leaves do not excite any move- 
ment; but nitrogenous bodies, if in the least degree 
damp, cause after several hours the lobes to close 
slowly. Thus bits of quite dry meat and gelatine were 
placed at opposite ends of the same leaf, and in the 
course of 24 hrs. excited neither secretion nor move- 
ment. They were then dipped in water, their sur- 
faces dried on blotting paper, and replaced on the same 
