Miscellaneous. 157 



that the rigidity of the filaments has some effect in causing the sepa- 

 ration of the locuH ; for where the filaments are most slender and 

 delicate, the least amount of separation occurs, and vice versd. 



The mode in which this result is produced, is apparently by the 

 strong filaments, as they increase in size, drawing the loculi apart, 

 whilst the slender ones yield and bend inwards, allowing the loculi to 

 retain their position. In proof of this we find, that when the fila- 

 ments are strong, or united into a tube, the circle of united anthers is 

 large, and when the filaments are slender, the antherine circle is 

 small, and the filaments, though brought together at their apex, are 

 wider apart, and even bulging below. The nmnber examined is 

 twenty-three, the names of wbich are given in the following list. I 

 have not been able to observe whether any peculiarities exist in the 

 anthers of the allied genera, as they are not now in flower. 



Erica Caffra. Erica magnifica. 



rupestris. Banksiana. 



Eassoniana purpurea. verticillata. 



rubens. hyemalis. 



Lambertia rosea. vernix coccinea. 



linnseoides. Sebana lutea. 



Aitonia Turnbulli. melanthera. 



turgidula. Princeps. 



ampullacea. magnifica. 



arbuscula. vestita coccinea. 



cerinthoides. ventricosa superba. 



taxifolia. 



4. "Summary of the Flora of the Lake district of England," by 

 Mr. James B. Davies. 



Mr. Davies read a full list of the rarer plants of the district, with 

 their habitats, which he remarked would be found in the Appendix to 

 Black's admirable ' Guide to the Lakes.* 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Observations on the Nests of Humming Birds. 

 By John Gould, F.R.S. &c. 



Mr. Gould exhibited a collection of nests of Humming Birds, ex- 

 emplifying the habitual characteristic structures of several genera. 

 The first group to which his remarks were directed were the Hermit 

 birds {Phaethornis), which invariably build at the extremity of leaves, 

 perhaps from the protection which that situation affords against the 

 attacks of monkeys and other predatory animals. Oreotrochilus builds 

 a beautiful nest, attached to the sides of rocks. Ueliomaster meso- 

 leucus makes a nest in a beautiful species of moss, depending from 

 the trees. Most of the nests are cup-shaped, some being placed in 

 forks, some on branches, some on leaves, some in ferns ; they are 

 shallow and delicately formed, ornamented in the most varied man- 

 ner with feathers, or with festoons of moss and lichen, especially in 

 the genus Hylocharis. The attachment of the lichen and other orna- 

 ments is effected by means of fine cobwebs. 



