412 MR. С. Е. М. SWYNNERTON ON 
Algiers and Corsica, and are exceedingly interesting. — Blackeaps (Sylvia 
atricapilla) were watched biting small pieces out of each of the two nectar- 
concealing calyx-segments of Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis, Linn., revisiting them 
at intervals, and later in the day, when the moisture had dried, extending 
the tears ; they were also seen in the early morning pecking at the ripe 
pulp and tearing pieces off the skin of Yucca berries, and later revisiting 
them; Blackcaps and Phylloscopus fortunatus, Tristr, [ = Collybita canariensis, 
Mr. Bannerman tells me] were watched visiting the similarly punctured 
perianths of Aloë vera, Linn. ; a Garden Warbler (Sylvia simpler, Lath.) “ was 
seen to pick out a small piece at the base of each corolla-tube " of Antholyza 
* “in turn as it ascended the stem " ; and Black-headed Titmice 
æthiopica 
(Parus tenerife, Tristram) made openings in any or all of the calyx-segments 
of ап Abutilon in which the calyx * had nectar all round the receptacle.” 
Here Dr. Lowe adds :— The object of this proceeding seems to be to afford 
a ready means by which the ants may arrive at the nectary. These, after 
the calyx is torn (never before ....) enter in great numbers, and after 
consuming the nectar are found in a semi-torpid state. ... They then fall 
an easy prey to the Tits, which visit the flowers at short intervals during the 
day, and clear off the ants.” 
The motive for piercing—whether honey or insects—is the main point 
discussed ; and Dr. Lowe seems to lean towards the view that insects are tho 
main, if not the sole, object the bird has in view. Thus of the Blackeaps he 
says :—'* The object with which these preparations are made is, as it would 
seem, not merely for the purpose of sucking the nectar but in order to 
furnish a bait to attract insects to serve as prey." And again :— It is 
of course possible that the Blackeap may, in the first instance, feed on the 
nectar, but certainly neither it nor Phylloscopus, at their subsequent visits, 
does anything more than search for insects. ... Whether this is the primary 
object is not so clear. It may be that the Blackcap is a nectar-eating bird, 
though there are no observations to show this f. I certainly think it very 
probable that the Garden Warbler punctures G. Antholyza for the purpose 
of obtaining the nectar, in the first instance ; but in the case of Abutilon 
* Whether Gladiolus æthiopicus, Draper, Antholyza c«thiopica, Linn, or Gladiolus 
Antholyza [= Antholyza nervosa, Thunb.], is not made completely clear in the text: but the 
figure given certainly corresponds best with the second of these. On looking through the 
material of these plants in the British Museum Herbarium, I was interested to find one 
flower of A. cethiopica, Linn., and at least three of A. nervosa, Thunb., with basal punctures 
that had quite likely been inflicted by birds. The specimens in which these punctured 
flowers occurred had in each case been collected in the Cape Peninsula. 
+ The pollen-covered foreheads of Capt. Boyd Alexander's Blackcaps, which I refer to 
шоге fully below, are, it seems to me, possibly suggestive in this connection, though it 
might doubtless be argued that they were merely following insects into the flowers.— 
C. F. M. S. 
