hrs. the glands on all the tentacles began to dry; and next morning,
after 22 hrs., all three leaves appeared almost dead, with their glands
dry; the tentacles on one leaf alone being partially inflected.
A second plant was left for only 5 m. with some alcohol in a
watch-glass, under a 12-oz. receiver, and particles of meat were then
placed on the glands of several tentacles. After 10 m. some of them
began to curve inwards, and after 55 m. nearly all were considerably
inflected; but a few did not move. Some anaesthetic effect is here
probable, but by no means certain. A third plant was also left for 5 m.
under the same small vessel, with its whole inner surface wetted with
about a dozen drops of alcohol. Particles of meat were now placed on
the glands of several tentacles, some of which first began to move in
25 m.; after 40 m. most of them were somewhat inflected, and after 1
hr. 10 m. almost all were considerably inflected. From their slow rate
of movement there can be no doubt that the glands of these tentacles
had been rendered insensible for a time by exposure during 5 m. to the
vapour of alcohol.
Vapour of Chloroform. The action of this vapour on Drosera is very
variable, depending, I suppose, on the constitution or age of the
plant, or on some unknown condition. It sometimes causes the tentacles
to move with extraordinary rapidity, and sometimes produces no such
effect. The glands are sometimes [page 218] rendered for a time
insensible to the action of raw meat, but sometimes are not thus
affected, or in a very slight degree. A plant recovers from a small
dose, but is easily killed by a larger one.
A plant was left for 30 m. under a bell-glass holding 19 fluid oz.
(539.6 ml.) with eight drops of chloroform, and before the cover was
removed, most of the tentacles became much inflected, though they did
not reach the centre. After the cover was removed, bits of meat were
placed on the glands of several of the somewhat incurved tentacles;
these glands were found much blackened after 6 hrs. 30 m., but no
further movement ensued. After 24 hrs. the leaves appeared almost dead.
A smaller bell-glass, holding 12 fluid oz. (340.8 ml.), was now
employed, and a plant was left for 90 s. under it, with only two drops
of chloroform. Immediately on the removal of the glass all the
tentacles curved inwards so as to stand perpendicularly up; and some of
200