what similar apparatus; but there are others who believe that the insect which is attracted by the viscous fluid on the tips of the hairs is merely retained there by its glutinous nature and not by any irritability of the hairs themselves. "Loudon's Magazine of Natural History," which a few years since afforded a good medium by which naturalists in all parts of the country might communicate to each other and the public the result of their observations, published many comments on this subject, some of which we shall present to the reader. A writer who had evidently given very careful attention to the Sundew, declared his belief that the power possessed by the leaf of retaining insects was to be attributed solely to the clammy juice exuding from the extremities of the hairs. "When touched with the finger," says this writer, "this moisture is so viscid, that it will draw out into threads of more than an inch in length; and it is not likely that an insect, once touching a leaf, and becoming entangled, as it were, amidst the globules, should ever be able to effect its escape. In fact, as I have seen, by placing a minute fly on the surface of a leaf, every struggle, by rendering the parts of the body more clammy with the moisture, does but make its extrication more difficult. In respect to the hairs themselves, I did not observe anything like movement, or a spontaneous attempt to capture their prey." This was the opinion of a naturalist who, during the course of one whole month, examined the Round-leaved Sundew; but the same writer, in a subsequent number of the Magazine, very candidly retracted it. He said that further study of the plant had shown him that when an unfortunate insect had entangled itself in the clammy juice of a fresh leaf of Sundew, the hairs gradually close upon their victim, and the edges of the leaf itself curl inwards, remaining so long after the captive has died. Slowly unclosing at length, they discover its remains, and the leaf loses much of its healthful appearance for a time. He adds, that he has seen a fly, much like a common house-fly, captured by one of these leaves, and held fast until the relaxing hairs exhibited its blackened remains. Mr. William Thomson of Manchester, who afterwards communicated his observations, made in June, 1832, says that he can safely affirm that the three species of Sundew, rotundifolia, longifolia, and Anglica, have the irritability ascribed to them as surely as has the leaf of the far-famed Venus's Fly-trap. He adds, that it is quite possible that the little drops of liquid which stud the tips of the hairs may be powerfully instrumental in detaining the venturous insect, and that they may be poisonous to it. He says, however, that, according to his observation, "when an unfortunate fly has got into the centre of a leaf of Drosera, every hair turns inward, and remains curled in till the prisoner is not only dead, but entirely consumed; and then the disk, which was before extremely contracted and cone-like, expands to its fullest breadth, and the hairs become fully erect." He observes, that the leaf of Drosera Anglica, when a fly settles on it, becomes rolled up and remains in this scroll-like form till the animal is dead. Accustomed as we are, when examining Nature, to see everywhere around us the wondrous exhibition of God's goodness-to behold in the great and the minute continued evidences of beneficence, we naturally inquire for what purpose the great Creator designed the vegetable insect-traps? We may not be able to answer such questions fully, for the works of the Infinite may not always be understood by the finite mind; yet various reasons may be suggested. Some have thought that the decomposition of the insect may afford stimulant to the plants; yet, growing, as the Sundew does, on the boggy soil, it would scarcely seem to need this. The experiments made by Mr. Knight on the subject have sometimes excited a smile, but Mr. Knight has been an intelligent observer of plants, and his opinion deserves some attention. This observer laid down some fine threads of raw beef as an animal manure on the leaves of the Sundew, and he considered that the plants so treated were much more luxuriant in their growth than others. It is not impossible that the air evolved from the putrefying insects, which, as in the case of the Purple Side-saddle flower, is sometimes so powerful as to scent the atmosphere, may, in a similar manner, be favourable to the vegetation of our Sundews; but, perhaps the best reason to be assigned for its fatal power over the insect race would be, that it is in accordance with that law reigning throughout Nature, by which one kind of created things preys upon another, thus keeping the number of all within due limits, and preventing any serious departure to be made from that variety which gives to the earth one of its greatest charms. The juice of the round-leaved, as well as of the other species of Sundew, is very acrid; sufficiently caustic, indeed, to erode the skin; yet, when diluted with milk, it makes one of the best vegetable cosmetics; it also curdles milk. In its fresh state, the juice is used by country people to destroy warts and corns. The plant is in some places called Red-Rot, because it is supposed to cause some maladies in sheep feeding on it. The pastures where it abounds would, from their moist nature, be unfavourable to the health of sheep, but the plant itself may probably merit the disfavour of the shepherd, as Professor Lindley mentions a Brazilian species which is considered poisonous to cattle. The celebrated aqua rosa solis, called also rosala, or spirits of sundew, and which was highly praised by old writers as a remedy for convulsions, and even for the plague, was made from this plant. The juice of the Sundew distilled with wine affords a very stimulating spirit, and, spiced and sweetened, it was formerly much used as a tincture. The French call the plant Le Rossolis; it is Der Sonnethau of the Germans, and the Zonnedaauw of the Dutch; while the Italians term it Rugiada del Sole. It turns black in drying for the herbarium, but tinges the paper in which it is kept with a red hue. Dr. Lindley remarks, that some of the Swan River species of Drosera might perhaps be turned to account by dyers, for every part of Drosera gigantéa stains paper of a deep purple, and when treated with ammonia yields a clear yellow. 2. D. longifolia (Spathulate-leaved Sundew).-Leaves all from the root, erect, oblong, broad at the upper part, and tapering towards the base; leaf-stalks smooth; seeds with a rough, not chaffy coat. Plant perennial. This Sundew sometimes grows in the bogs with the round-leaved species, but it is less frequent, and is altogether a smaller plant. It is more abundant in the south than in the north of England, and, like the other species, its leaves are frequently darkened with the remains of insects. Its flowers are white, and it blossoms in July and August. We never see this plant without recalling the anecdote of the little Swedish naturalist, Pyppon. The narrative is pleasantly told by Dr. E. D. Clarke, in his voluminous "Travels." This little Pyppon was a barefooted boy who, at the time of this traveller's visit to Sweden, was apprenticed to an apothecary. His love for natural history was so great, that he rose daily at three o'clock in the morning to ramble over the country in search of plants and insects, hiding them in his hat lest they should be seen by his master. The apothecary thought, perhaps with some reason, that these pursuits might prevent him from giving due attention to the business of the shop, and therefore he opposed them angrily. As it often happens, however, enthusiasm is the secret of success; and the ardent young naturalist had searched the neighbourhood so well, that he knew the habitat of every plant which grew in it. Dr. Clarke told this boy that he had been Ꮐ looking in vain for some specimens of the Siberian sowthistle, which was said to grow near the town; and he had scarcely uttered the word, when the young enthusiast dashed from the spot, and, running as fast as possible, soon returned with the plant in his hand. Many a happy hour was spent by young Pyppon with his new friend, who purchased various articles from the shop that the boy might have to bring them, and who, at length, succeeded in persuading his master to allow more scope to his favourite pursuits. One long and happy day was granted, in which Pyppon was permitted to accompany Dr. Clarke to Tornea, and the parting was at last very bitter to the hitherto friendless boy. When the traveller asked him what he should send him as a gift from England, he replied with characteristic simplicity, and with eyes filled with tears, "If you should remember me when you arrive in your country, send me Drosera longifolia; I am told it is a common plant in England.” 3. D. Ánglica (Great Sundew).—Leaves all from the root, erect, oblong, on very smooth stalks; seeds with a loose chaffy coat. Plant perennial. This is the rarest species, growing, like the others, in boggy places. Its leaves are long and narrow, and Sir William Hooker and Dr. Arnott remark, that this plant would better than the last deserve the name of longifolia. It occurs in some parts of Scotland, and in Lancashire, Norfolk, Devonshire, and some other English counties. ORDER XI. POLYGALEÆ.-MILKWORT TRIBE. Sepals 5, unequal, the two inner larger, generally petal-like; petals 3-5, unequal, more or less combined with the filaments; stamens 8, in two equal parcels; anthers 1-celled, opening by pores at the summit; pistil 1; capsule 1-3-celled; seeds pendulous. This Order, though possessing but one genus of British plants, has many exotic genera, several of which are well worthy the attention of the gardener. They are either herbaceous or shrubby, and some are remarkable for their beauty or neatness, and others for their medicinal properties. Several of them are very small. Our native species is not a large plant, and dwarf specimens of the Purple Milkwort of North America are frequently not more than an inch high. The shrubby species vary from humble rigid plants to tall, graceful, drooping ones. The leaves are generally bitter and astringent, and the roots, which are especially so, are also acrid, and somewhat resinous in flavour. Our British Milkwort has these properties, but the species most remarkable for them is the North American Snake-root (Polýgala Senega), which has been highly extolled as a medicine by some practitioners. The wellknown Rhatany root of Chili is the root of a plant of this order, and possesses tonic and astringent properties. According to the analysis of a French chemist, it contains gallic acid, but neither tannin nor resin. 1. POLYGALA (Milkwort).-Sepals 5, the two inner coloured, wing-shaped ; petals combined with the filaments, the lower one keeled; capsule flattened, 2celled, 2-valved; seeds downy, crested at the base. Name from the Greek, signifying much milk, the juice of the root being milky. 1. POLYGALA (Milkwort). 1. P. vulgáris (Common Milkwort).- Lower petal crested in a star-like manner; wings of the calyx about equal in length to the corolla; bracts three at the base of each flower; stems simple, ascending; leaves narrow; branches procumbent. Plant perennial. Those who are accustomed, during May and June, to wander in the country where the soil is of chalk, and where hilly pastures and open heaths abound, well know this pretty flower. Its tufted stems, |