REVIEWS AND BOOK NOTICES. 477 
large enough to be clearly discerned with a hand lens; these 
glands, soon after an insect is closed upon, give out a saliva-like 
liquid which moistens the insect, and in a short time (within a 
_ Week or two) dissolves all its soft parts — digests them, we must 
believe; and the liquid; with the animal matter it has dissolved, 
_isreabsorbed into the leaf! We are forced to conclude that, in 
addition to the ordinary faculties and function of a vegetable, 
this plant is really carnivorous.” 
But by far the most interesting part of the book is the second and 
longest chapter, which takes up the Fertilization of Plants by In- 
_ Sects. There are especially two things for which we have to thank 
_ Dr. Gray, besides the general charm of his writing upon this theme. 
€ has given us the simplest and most comprehensive statement of 
- this great subject which we have seen, and it is no small advantage 
to have the enthusiasm of a thorough student of Botany turned to 
the work of instructing others. But in addition, he has taken his 
illustrations largely from common flowers, such as the Houstonia, 
Kalmia, Arethusa, Iris, etc., and has figured each with great 
beauty and accuracy. He has a word upon each of the many pe- 
culiarities in the arrangement of their stamens and pistils which 
ee its present, and shows that instead of being limited to any 
a one family, as to the Orchids, the agency of insects is very largely 
_ “ployed by all families of plants. It is impossible to quote 
: ftom this chapter where all is so interesting, unless we give a 
Bate two of Dr. Gray’s summary, where the flowers: of an 
git e theologian’s poetry are themselyes fertilized in the 
‘terest of Science : i 
: "The reciprocity of flower and flower, and of insects and flow- 
Pia Something admirable. Insects pay liberal wages for the 
ey Which flowers provide for them. ‘The familiar rhymes of Dr. 
gente the attention of young people to the bee visiting 
wer as a model of industry. With a slight change of a 
? ais adapting it to our present knowledge and to the lesson _ 
OF mu 
Zz 
ual helpfulness, we may read :— 
How doth the little busy bee 
Improve each shining hour, 
While gathering honey day by day, 
Ma fortil a » 
h 
: The paper, print, and illustrations of this little volume are 
f theyre, The vignette title page is an excellent grouping 
“arious plants described within. — E. C. B. 
