Cuar. XIV. CONCLUDING REMARKS. 331 
the infolded margins apparently serve to absorb de- 
eayed animal matter in the same manner as the quad- 
rifids. We can thus understand the meaning of the 
infolded margins of the lobes furnished with delicate 
points directed inwards, and of the broad, flat, outer 
portions, bearing quadrifid processes; for these sur- 
faces must be liable to be irrigated by foul water 
flowing from the concavity of the leaf when it con- 
tains dead animals. This would follow from various 
causes,—from the gradual contraction. of the concavity, 
—from fluid in excess being secreted,—and from the 
generation of bubbles of air. More observations are 
requisite on this head; but if this view is correct, we 
have the remarkable case of different parts of the 
same leaf serving for very different purposes—one 
part for true digestion, and another for the absorption 
of decayed animal matter. We can thus also under- 
stand how, by the gradual loss of either power, a plant 
might be gradually adapted for the one function to 
the exclusion of the other; and it will hereafter be 
shown that two genera, namely Pinguicula and Utri- 
cularia, belonging to the same family, have been 
adapted for these two different functions. 
