SHORT CUTS BY BIRDS ТО NECTARIES. 399 
and 4 of the 8 were slit or punctured as to their lower (exposed) surfaces— 
none elsewhere. The basal holes were all oozing. Of the remaining 
flowers of the raceme 16 showed the usual ‘ accidental’ slits. 
“No. 6. A very perfect head, but with only a few rows at the base in 
flower as yet and the ‘mat’ barely commencing to form. 4 * accidentals” 
out of about 100 flowers. 
“No. 7. 6 slits and 2 bill-point marks. А good head with a little more 
mat than No. 6; about the same number of flowers open. 
“No. 8. А very small head, about 50 flowers open: 2 ‘accidentals.’ 
Two faults were present, but the opening flowers had in each case barely 
reached them, and no damage had been inflicted on the bases of the exposed 
buds. 
* No. 9. Small head, nearly over, about same number of flowers as last. 
3 ‘accidentals’ and 8 punctures of a type that seemed unlikely to have 
been accidental. The three flowers in which the latter were present occupied 
the same position in their respective rows—that is, one was immediately 
below the other—and all three showed the same puncture, on the right side. 
The uppermost was lying over to the other side, leaving the right side 
exposed. The flower immediately below it, though also lying over, was 
intact. The two below this again were punctured, though, owing to their 
by now pressed-down condition, it was difficult to say what may have been 
their actual position previously. 
* No. 10. А smaller raceme with about 100 normal flowers. One slit and 
three bill-point marks noticed. 
“No. 11. A very fine raceme, but with fewer flowers out than in No. 3. 
The flowers were distinetly wider at the mouth than in No. 3, with segments 
more splayed ; each mouth was separately conspicuous to a greater extent 
than in No. 3. All this may have accounted for my finding only 5 * acei- 
dentals ’ out of about 150 flowers actually open. 
“ No. 12. А small raceme with about 110 flowers in all open. Flowers 
small-mouthed and close-packed as in No. 3. Over 20 * accidentals.’ 
* No. 13. About 70 flowers ; no faults, 5 * accidental? slits. 
“No. 14. Another small head. One fault involving about 10 flowers, some 
of which, however, were only just out. Four of the 10 were slit and punctured 
on the side towards the fault, another was merely slit on the side away from 
it. Of the remaining flowers over 25 were slit, i.e. about a third of the 
whole. 
“ No. 15. About 60 flowers ; no appreciable faults, 10 ‘accidentals.’ 
“No. 16. Small raceme, no mat yet, about 50 flowers, апа 5 probable 
‘accidentals.’ А serious fault, but the 8 flowers affected were only just 
open or beginning to open and remained still quite unpunished. 
“No. 17. About 120 flowers ; no faults, 10 ‘accidentals.’ 
^ No. 18. А very good raceme, about 150 flowers separately conspicuous as 
