Journal of Proceedings.
xxiii
tacles holds the insects prisoners, and in a short time the longer
marginal tentacles bend over and with merciless grasp crush the poor
captives down to death. The secretion from the glands increases in
quantity, and acts, as Mr. Darwin's patient experiments have shown,
with a veritable digestive action on the softer tissues of the insects.
The nutritive nitrogenous substances are thus dissolved and taken up
by the glands, which possess the power of absorption as well as that of
secretion. The leaves again unfold, the secretion dries up for a time,
the indigestible hard parts of the insects are blown away by the wind,
and the leaves are again in a condition to resume their predatory
functions. Sometimes large insects are caught in this way, and Mr.
Cole mentioned that he had on two occasions seen Satyrus janira (the
"Meadow-brown" butterfly), an insect measuring nearly two inches
across the wings, thus held fast. The vigorous growth of the plant is
evidently dependent on the supply of nitrogenous substances obtained
by the solution and digestion of its insect prey. Its natural habitat on
the surface of a thick layer of Sphagnum moss can give the plant little
beyond a plentiful supply of moisture, whilst the smallness of the roots,
which merely serve to anchor it to its mossy bed, proves that it derives
but little benefit from the soil. The predacious habits of the plant
are therefore probably of great importance to its well-being. Mr.
Letchford mentioned the fact that gardeners find the Droseraceae very
difficult to cultivate ; in confinement they probably miss their weekly
rations of flies and gnats.
An interesting discussion followed Mr. Meldola's observations, in
which Messrs. Letchford, Robarts, Lockyer, the Secretary, and Pre-
sident took part. The habits of carnivorous plants, the functions of
Chlorophyll (in which the Drosera is very deficient), and the supposed
distinctions between plants and animals, were touched upon.
Communications from Mr. R. M. Christy, on "A curious mass of
mud found in a thrush's nest at Audley End Park, by Mr. Travis, and
supposed to be the work of a Nuthatch;" on the question, "How do
Wild Ducks, Moorhens, and other such birds introduce their young to
the water when their nests are placed on a tree?" and on "Diseased
Trout in Essex," were read. (Trans., Vol. I., pp. 66-7:.)
Remarks on these subjects were made by the President, Messrs.
W. C. Barnes, Letchford, Robarts, English, and the Rev. C. J.
Ridgeway, and thanks voted to the author.
Mr. Lockyer read the rules he had drawn up for the Exchange 
Scheme which had been sanctioned by the Council, and which he
would superintend (particulars can be obtained by applying to Mr.
Alfred Lockyer, Tavistock Road, Snaresbrook).
At the Conversazione Messrs. English and W. Cole exhibited various
plants from the Forest in flower, including Orchis maculata (the "Spotted
Orchis"), Habenaria bifolia (" Butterfly Orchis"), Listera ovata ("Tway-
.