With respect to the nature of the motor impulse which is transmitted from the glands down the pedicels and across the disc, it seems not improbable that it is closely allied to that influence which causes the protoplasm within the cells of the glands and tentacles to aggregate.  We have seen that both forces originate in and proceed from the glands within a few seconds of the same time, and are excited by the same causes.  The aggregation of the protoplasm lasts almost as long as the tentacles remain inflected, even though this be for more than a week; but the [page 259] protoplasm is redissolved at the bending place shortly before the tentacles re-expand, showing that the exciting cause of the aggregating process has then quite ceased.  Exposure to carbonic acid causes both the latter process and the motor impulse to travel very slowly down the tentacles.  We know that the aggregating process is delayed in passing through the cell- walls, and we have good reason to believe that this holds good with the motor impulse; for we can thus understand the different rates of its transmission in a longitudinal and transverse line across the disc.  Under a high power the first sign of aggregation is the appearance of a cloud, and soon afterwards of extremely fine granules, in the homogeneous purple fluid within the cells; and this apparently is due to the union of molecules of protoplasm.  Now it does not seem an improbable view that the same tendency—­namely for the molecules to approach each other—­should be communicated to the inner surfaces of the cell-walls which are in contact with the protoplasm; and if so, their molecules would approach each other, and the cell-wall would contract.

To this view it may with truth be objected that when leaves are immersed in various strong solutions, or are subjected to a heat of above 130o Fahr. (54o.4 Cent.), aggregation ensues, but there is no movement.  Again, various acids and some other fluids cause rapid movement, but no aggregation, or only of an abnormal nature, or only after a long interval of time; but as most of these fluids are more or less injurious, they may check or prevent the aggregating process by injuring or killing the protoplasm.  There is another and more important difference in the two processes:  when the glands on the disc are excited, they transmit some influence up the surrounding [page 260] tentacles, which acts on the cells at the bending place, but does not induce aggregation until it has reached the glands; these then send back some other influence, causing the protoplasm to aggregate, first in the upper and then in the lower cells.