To D. F. Nevill   18 September [1874]¹

Dear Lady Dorothy Nevill

I am so much obliged to you. I was so convinced that the bladders were with the leaves, that I never thought of removing the moss, & this was very stupid of me. The great solid bladder-like swellings almost on the surface are wonderful objects, but are not the true bladders.² These I found on the roots near the surface & down to a depth of 2 inches in the sand. They are as transparent as glass,—from $\frac{1}{20}$^th to $\frac{1}{100}$ of inch in size, & hollow. They have all the important points of structure of the bladders of the floating English species,³ & I felt confident I sh^d. find captured prey. And so I have to my delight in two bladders with clear proof that they had absorbed food from the decaying moss. For Utricularia is a carrion-feeder & not strictly carnivorous like Drosera &c &c.

The great solid bladder-like bodies, I believe are reservoirs of water like a camel’s stomach. As soon as I have made a few more observations, I mean to be so cruel as to give your plant no water & observe whether the great bladders shrink & contain air instead of water.⁴ I shall then, also, wash all earth from all roots & see whether there are true bladders for capturing subterranean insects down to the very bottom of the pot. Now shall you think me very greedy if I say that supposing the species is very precious & you have several, will you give me one more plant, & if so please to send it to “Orpington Stⁿ S.E.R^y. to be forwarded by foot-messenger”.—

I have hardly ever enjoyed a day more in my life than this day’s work; & this I owe to your Ladyships great kindness.

The seeds are very curious monsters: I fancy of some plant allied to medicago; but I will show them to D^r Hooker.⁵

Your Ladyship | Very gratefully | Ch. Darwin