Onay. XV. THEIR POWER OF ABSORPTION. 349 
of the twenty-five short hairs contained some globules, This 
piece was then immersed for 2 hrs. in a solution of one part of 
carbonate of ammonia to 109 of water, and now the glands of 
the twenty-five shorter hairs, with two or three exceptions, con- 
tained either one large or from two to five smaller spherical 
masses of semi-solid matter. Three of the glands of the nine long 
hairs likewise included similar masses. In a few hairs there 
were also globules in the cells immediately beneath the glands. 
Looking to all thirty-four hairs, there could be no doubt that 
the glands had absorbed some uf the carbonate. Another piece 
was left for only 1 hr. in the same solution, and aggregated 
matter appeared in all the glands. My son Francis examined 
some glands of the longer hairs, which contained little masses 
of matter, before they were immersed in any solution; and 
these masses slowly changed their forms, so that no doubt they 
consisted of protoplasm. He then irrigated these hairs for 1 hr. 
15 m., whilst under the microscope, with a solution of one part of 
the carbonate to 218 of water; the glands were not perceptibly 
affected, nor could this have been expected, as their contents were 
already aggregated. But in the cells of the pedicels numerous, 
almost colourless, spheres of matter appeared, which changed 
their forms and slowly coalesced; the appearance of the cells 
being thus totally changed at successive intervals of time. 
The glands on a young flower-stem, after having been left 
for 2 hrs. 45 m. in a strong solution of one part of the carbonate 
to 109 of water, contained an abundance of aggregated masses, 
but whether generated by the action of the salt, I do not 
know. This piece was again placed in the solution, so that 
it was immersed altogether for 6 hrs. 15 m., and now there was 
a great change ; for almost all the spherical masses within 
the gland-cells had disappeared, being replaced by granular 
matter of a darker brown. The experiment was thrice re- 
peated with nearly the same result. On one occasion the piece 
was left, immersed for 8 hrs. 30 m., and though almost all the 
spherical masses were changed into the brown granular matter, 
a few still remained. If the spherical masses of aggregated 
matter had been originally produced merely by some chemical 
or physical action, it seems strange that a somewhat longer 
immersion in the same solution should so completely alter 
their character. But as the masses which slowly and 
spontaneously changed their forms must have consisted of 
living protoplasm, there is nothing surprising in its being 
injured or killed, and its appearance wholly changed by long 
igamersion in so strong a solution of the carbonate as that 
