n8 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



Dr. Dickson surmises that its secretion may serve to 

 dilute the other secreted matter (fig. 16, c). 



Of the oblique curved elevations on which these 

 latter glands are situated, Mr. Gilburt writes : " On 

 the lateral walls of the pitchers near the base there 

 are two crescent - shaped raised patches inclined 

 forward and downward towards the front of the 

 pitcher at a very acute angle. These are without 

 doubt the most active secreting organs of the plant. 

 In mature pitchers these patches are coloured a 

 deep crimson ; whether they serve in any sense as a 

 bait to lure the insects into the pitcher I do not 

 know, but such an idea is not improbable." And 

 Dr. Dickson says that "the red coloured cell-contents 

 very soon after injury of the cells, or treatment by 

 reagents, change to a bright blue." 



Insects are undoubtedly caught in these pitchers,, 

 and their destiny is summed up in a few words by 

 Dr. Tait : " In two pitchers I found insects bathed in 

 fluid with a strongly acid reaction, and this fluid 

 digested shreds of albumen exactly as I found the 

 fluid of Nepenthes pitchers did. I conclude, there- 

 fore, that a true digestion of its victims is carried on 

 by the Cephalotus pitchers." 



The reader will experience no difficulty in coming 

 to conclusions upon the facts we have submitted. 

 This chapter may conclude with a reference to two 

 plants mentioned by Knapp, but which have not 



