New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-20

seryers The author was informed by Mrs. Treat Oh
New-Jorsey, whose valuable researches III this ine
he cordially recognizes that several leaves caught
spccessiyely three insects each but most OF them
were not able to digest the third fly but died IN the
attempt Five leaves however, digested three mes
and closed over the fourth but died soon after INC
fourth capture. Many leaves did not digest even
one large insect" Ii thus appears that the leaves
possess only limited powers OF Digestion 1hey away
remained casped for many days over an insect anu
do not recover their power Of closing again ior
raj days. In this respect donaa differs from uro-
sera, which catches and digests many insects arter
shorter intervals OF time.
of The drosera family, all the six known genera
are carnivorous, and are provided Win al Us
for the capture of insects This is Effected by droso-
pbvllum. roridula. and bybs, solely through the
yiscid fluid secreted from their glands by drosera
through the same means. together with the
movements of the tentacles; by dionea and aldro-
wanda through the closing of the blades OF the leaf
In the two last genera rapid movement makes
M for the loss Of vscd secretion. In every case IT
is some part of the leaf which moves. There can
hardly be doubt that all the plants Of these six
genera have the power Of dissolying animal matter
by the aid of an acid secretion, together with Ter
ment almost identical in nature with pcpsin, ana
that they afterwards absorb the matter thus d.
gested.
OF the six genera drosera has been by far the
most successful in the battle for life. Its success In
a great measure NAV be attributed to Its manner OF
catching insects. 1t is dominant form, including
about 100 species, which range III the ora "oIio
from the Arctic regions To Southern lndla' To the
Cape of Good Hone, Madagascar aud Australia aHu
IN the new world from Canada 10 Terra aei u'e"'
In this respect, it presents marked contrast 10 'i0
five other genera. which appear to he faDg groups
Ii is n singular fact that dionea winch Is one oi tie
most beautifully adapted plants III tie vegetable
kingdom should apparently be on the higi ROAD 10
extinction.
Mr.. Darwin naturally touches the problem as to
the steps by which the extraordinary chaiac'erS'ics
If these plants were gradually acquired III IeeaIu
10 the power Of absorbing digcsted matter TIC re-
marks that as the walls OF the cells are necessarily
permeabe to fluids. in order to allow the eiS'ius IT,
socrco II * not surlsinc that they should readily
allow fluids 10 pass inwards. ms inward PisN"sc
woud deserve to he called an act OF absorption, ii
the fluids combined with the contents OF the eihdS'
There is evidence that the sccrting glands OF many
other plants can absorb salts of ammonia, OF when
tieymus. receive small quantities from the ram ms
is the case with two species of saXfraea The glands
of one Of which apparently absorb matter from cap
tured insects and certainly from an infusion OF IA"
meat Hence there is nothing anomalous In the
drosera family having acquired the power OF absoip-
tio,, in much more highly developed degree AS 10
the power of sccreting a digestive iluid the slA
genera of this family have probably inherited 1t from
q common progcnitor. But this cannot Apply 10
other plants not related to droscIa. III may now
ever. be said that the juices OF many plants CON
tain an acid, and apparently any acld serves loi
digestion Again. the embryos of some plants secrete
a fluid which dissoves albuminous substances out OF
the endosperm aud all plants have the power OF dis-
solving protoplasm cl.lorophyll, gluten and other
alhupinous substances, and Of carrying them
from one part to other parts of Their TISSUES.
This must be effected by solvent. prob
ably consisting of ferment together with IN
acid Now III the ease OF plants winch are
able 70 absorb soluble matter from captured insects
thouqh not CAPABLE OF true digestion rue SolFci'
rcfrT.d 70 which must occasionally be Present IN me
glands would be apt to exude rom tie slinas 10
cether with the Viscid Oh; Al soh t i,il i
meter contained within the captured insects ana
this would he an act Of true Digestion IS TINS pre-
cse would he of great service 10 plants growing ~
very door soil it would tend TO be perfected by natn-
raj seectioD Hence any or linarY plant hsVing Wis
nid glands which sorally caught insects, right
tl e converted under favorable circumstance 1lt0
y ,,,oe conahIe of true digestion. Not much light,
Mr. Darwin admits. can Dc thrown On me gladiHl
acnusition Of the power OF movement Whth cAccu.
have gained this power IN lhiiuneiaple instances
Enthusiastically Of inheritance from any common
parent fo1n Example, OF tins may he 1"nnd III ten
drl-hearers and leaf-Climbcrn-that j. plants WIN
their leaves modified FOL Observation-Disclosures TO a
large number of tie most widely distinct ORDER, IN
the leaves OF the many plants "ii'h 90 orlceP ~
nirht or move when shaken, and IN the irritable
staurus and pistils of not few Species IL may
therefore be Inferred that the power OF movement
can be by some means readily acquired, IL Is p'opa-
be indeed that ali leaves are 10 slight dceice rri-
table Even if an insect alght, upon leaf, slight
Inolpcu!ar change Is probably TRANSMITTED To some
distance across its tissue. On the Whole, we may
conclude that the requirement oI hleh dcgl"e ct
spnsitvcness by certain genera OF the drcStra 1dny
presents no greater diff entity than that presented ~
The similar but feebler powers Oh multitude OF
In the summary of Mr.. Darwn's admirable
p,aub which has now been given. We have mftiy
Glanced NJ some Of his leading views, without at
tom,no to exhibit the results of his c0lOus cXpcri-
mqnte OF 10 reproduce the ample and Ingenious Illus
trations which are brought IA Their support As a
model of scientific inquiry. his work VIII scarcely
find parallel IN any language. IT Is niterlT frtc
from the difiusc verbiage which corpis the style 81
90 MANY of the prominent German naiurastS, and
from the subtle fcilnemenfs winch often throw an
air of romance around the physical speculatons Of
French writer's In English scientific Literature !!
certainly has no superior III acutenesS oil thought.
candor of Judgment aud felicity Of expression. Mr.
Darvn's manner is equally remote from the vchc-
mrnce of the poemic and the indifference oil the
cod-blooled observer. His pages are warm with
deep human interest but All interest inspired by the
love of truth and know- dye. not by personal pas
sion. His anxious cndeayOr for accurate Obscrva-
tiou is cynced III every line Of his writings. and if
he clings 10 theories with the edrncstness of dis
covcrcr he cngs still more dcvoutly to the facts of
Nature which he undertakes 10 interpret. The
ecope Of his experiments illustrates the fertility
of his mind a, we'll as his wonderful patience. The
thoronghnoss If their execution Is fully equal t. the
ingenuity Of their conception. No detail appear -
cScapc his notice. mad crtr-cc mars the harmony
of his statements unWlsc Taste dSturbs the clear
ness and serenity Of hi. judgment, and If one
could he Indifferent 10 lis volume as scientific pro-
duction it nu still be admired as a masterpiece Of
intellectual workmanship.