OBSERVATIONS ON THE SUNDEW. 707 
bristles touching the substance, like so many mouths receiving 
nourishment. 
Half past 10, A. m., I placed raw beef on some leaves of D. ro- 
tundifolia; by 1 o'clock the inner bristles were curving about it, 
and the longer bristles on the outer edge of the leaf were slowly 
curving upward. By 9 o’clock, in the evening, all the bristles 
of three of the most vigorous leaves were clasping the beef, al- 
most hiding it from sight, while an ea vigorous leaf made no 
move like clasping a bit of dry cha 
About 10 o’clock in the morning, I placed bits of raw apple 
on some of the leaves of the last named species ; by 9 o'clock 
in the evening part of the bristles were clasping it but not so 
closely as the beef. By 10 o’clock next day, twenty-four hours, 
nearly all the bristles were curved toward it, but not many of the 
glands were touching it. So it would seem that these plants are 
really carnivorous, that they prefer, and absorb animal substances 
directly through their leaves. And Mr. Darwin says that by prick- 
ing a certain point in the leaf of Drosera, he can paralyze half of 
it, and this indicates nerves! 
The following is a brief summary of the experiments. 
First, with D. filiformis. 
July 11th, 10 a.m. Pinned living flies half an inch from apex 
of D. filiformis. 10 o’clock and 40 minutes; the leaves are bent 
perceptibly toward the flies. 12, m., the leaves have reached the 
flies, and the flies’ legs are entangled in the bristles and held fast 
by the sticky substance exuding from the glands. 
Second, with D. longifolia. 
10 o’clock and 15 minutes, a. m., I place raw beef on the leaves 
of D. longifolia. Ten minutes past 12, the leaves are folded 
around the beef. 114 o’clock a. m., I place living flies on the 
leaves of this species. 12 o'clock and 48 minute’, P. mM., one 
of the leaves has folded entirely around the fly. 23 o’clock, P. M., 
four leaves have each folded around a fly. 
Third, with D. rotundifolia. 
10 o’clock and 35 minutes a. m., raw beef on leaves of D. ro- 
tundifolia. 1 o’clock, P.m., the inner bristles are curving about it, 
and the longer bristles on the outer edge of the leaf are slowly 
curving upward. 9 o’clock, p.m., all the bristles of the most vigor- 
ous leaves are clasping the beef. 10 o'clock a. m. I place bits of 
raw apples on the leaves. 9 o’clock P. m., part of the bristles are 
