174 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
We may both here, and in other of our scientific deductions, 
probably find hints to check our dogmatism, but nothing to ex- 
tinguish our faith in general scientific conclusions, 
Other startling paradoxes come to view in other departments of 
Science. I cannot refrain from alluding to Dr. Hooker’s “ Car- 
nivorous Plants,” which he described in what was perhaps the most 
attractive paper at the Belfast meeting. It was delivered in the 
Biological Section of the British Association, and had the curious 
but significant title of “The Carnivours Habits of some of our 
Brother-organisms—Plants.” These plants are a race of which we 
have well-known instances in the Sundew (Drosera) and Venus’ 
Fly-trap (Dionae). The fact that small insects get entangled and 
killed in their hairy or sticky leaves has long been familiarly 
known. LBut it is only lately that lively interest has been 
awakened in this, as in so many other familiar facts, by Mr. 
Darwin’s researches and beautiful descriptions. It seems that this 
entanglement of the insects is no accidental circumstance, but that 
the plant actually kills, eats, and digests them. An American 
botanist, Mr. Cianby, had actually fed a Dionae with small pieces 
of beef. The leaf closed upon the morsels as if they were insects, 
and after a while they were found to be completely dissolved and 
absorbed, the leaf opening again with a dry surface, and ready for 
another meal, though with an appetite somewhat jaded. More- 
over, the plant has no more control over its appetite than a human 
being. It was found that cheese horribly disagreed with the leaves, 
turning them black, and finally killing them. With these facts in 
view, the contrivances in the plant for the capture of its prey 
acquire a new interest. They are often most curious and intricate ; 
and Dr. Hooker held his audience in rapt attention, while -he de- 
scribed, and with the aid of numerous diagrams made them clear. 
The single instance of the Dionacw may suffice as a specimen. It 
was thus described long ago by Ellis, an English naturalist, who in 
1768 sent a drawing of it to Linneus: “The plant shows that 
Nature may have some views towards its Nourishment, in forming 
the upper joint of its leaf like.a machine to catch food. Upon the 
middle of this hes the bait for the unhappy insect that becomes its 
prey. Many minute red glands, which cover its surface, and which 
perhaps discharge sweet liquor, tempt the poor animal to taste 
them; and the instant these tender parts are irritated by its feet, the 
two lobes rise up, grasp it tight, lock the rows of spines together, 
