Opposed to this view, that aggregation is caused by the outward passage
of fluid from the cells, are the following facts. There seems no close
relation between the degree of increased secretion and that of
aggregation. Thus a particle of sugar added to the secretion round a
gland causes a much greater increase of secretion, and much less
aggregation, than does a particle of carbonate of ammonia given in the
same manner. It does not appear probable that pure water would cause
much exosmose, and yet aggregation often follows from an immersion in
water of between 16 hrs. and 24 hrs., and always after from 24 hrs. to
48 hrs. Still less probable is it that water at a temperature of from
125° to 130° Fahr. (51°.6 to 54°.4 Cent.) should cause fluid to pass,
not only from the glands, but from all the cells of the tentacles down
to their bases, so quickly that aggregation is induced within 2 m. or 3
m. Another strong argument against this view is, that, after complete
aggregation, the spheres and oval masses of protoplasm float about in
an abundant supply of thin colourless fluid; so that at least the
latter stages of the process cannot be due to the want of fluid to hold
the protoplasm in solution. There is still stronger evidence that
aggregation is independent of secretion; for the papillae, described in
the first chapter, with which the [page 57] leaves are studded are not
glandular, and do not secrete, yet they rapidly absorb carbonate of
ammonia or an infusion of raw meat, and their contents then quickly
undergo aggregation, which afterwards spreads into the cells of the
surrounding tissues. We shall hereafter see that the purple fluid
within the sensitive filaments of Dionaea, which do not secrete,
likewise undergoes aggregation from the action of a weak solution of
carbonate of ammonia.