TEANSACTIONS OF SECTION D. 207 



of the sparrows. There is, however, in these eggs such a very 

 large range of variation abeady that the question will not be 

 readily decided except by carrying on observations for a con- 

 siderable length of time. It is certainly, then, premature to 

 speak about a change which has not yet taken place ; but it 

 must be borne in mind that it is likely enough to occur, and 

 when it does take place it is also probable that it will be 

 reproduced rapidly and extensively. 



I have elsewhere" alluded to the slight alteration in habits, 

 especially of hibernation and of visiting new flow'ers, shown by 

 humble-bees in this country. These changes may also be 

 expected to develope rapidly, and others may be looked for to 

 arise, all of which will repay close attention. 



(/. ) Changes undergone by Introduced Plants since 

 THEIR Naturalisation. 



Eeference has already been made to the changes undergone 

 by some of our introduced plants, and then- marvellous growth 

 and jDOwers of spreading. Watercress, sheep's-sorrel, thistle, 

 cat's-ear, and meadow poa (P. pratensis) have been referred to. 

 But these are only a few examples, and were we to extend 

 the list to the whole colony we should have to name a score 

 of plants which since their introduction seem to have broken 

 free from restraint, and run riot in a style they could not do 

 elsewhere. Comparatively little has been done in the way of 

 observing whether any changes occur in our introduced plants 

 beyond those due to extra-rapid growth and distribution. The 

 following few observations, however, may show a direction in 

 which changes may be looked for. 



H. Miillert instances the fact that, in the United States, 

 cultivated species of strawberry (Frag aria) tend to dicecism. 

 I am inclined to think the same holds good in this country, 

 although it is difficult to get satisfactory evidence. I have 

 myself observed several cases of infertility among strawberries, 

 and see frequent reference to it in such papers as the Otago 

 Witness, where the writers ask for a remedy. It has, of course, 

 to be borne in mind that the so-called " hautbois " varieties in 

 Britain are shy bearers, though the cause of this comparative 

 unproductiveness is not understood, as a rule, by gardeners. I 

 applied for information to various growers near Dunedin, among 

 others to the veteran horticulturist of Otago, Mr. William 

 Martin, of Fairfield. He tells me that the only variety in 

 cultivation in the early days of the settlement was one called 

 the " Chile " (perhaps an x\merican variety), which grew very 



* "New Zealand Journal of Science," January, 1891, p. IG. 

 t " Fertilisation of Flowers," p. 231. 



