On a Specimen o/Elieum nobilc. 91 



Fig. 3. Panicle in a more advanced state, sliowing the shortly 

 stalked pendulous unripe fruit. 



Fig. 4. Side view of a flower separated from the axis, showiug 

 double perianth. 



Fig. 5. Fully expanded llower, as seen from above,- — showing 6 

 parts of the perianth, 6 stamens with thickened filaments, and 3 

 stigmas. 



Fig, 6. Longitudinal section of young pistil. 



Fig. 7. Longitudinal section of pistil in more advanced state. 



Fig. 8. Side view of nearly matured triangular fruit. 



The Flowering Plants of Neiu Zealand^ and their Re- 

 lation to the Insect Fauna. By George M. Thomson, 

 F.L.S. Communicated by Professor Balfoub. 



(Read 8tli July 1880.) 



The problems which meet the student of nature in New 

 Zealand, and demand solution at his hands, if he would 

 know the why and the wherefore of the most common 

 things he sees around him, are very numerous and varied. 



The total absence in these islands of terrestrial mammals, 

 the former occurrence of their peculiar wingless birds, the 

 singular forms which now occur among the birds and 

 reptiles, and the povert}^ of some very commonly distri- 

 buted forms of other animals, have often been remarked 

 and commented upon. Among other singular features 

 which have been noticed are the want of brilliantly-coloured 

 flowers, of sweet-scented flowers, and of insect life. I am 

 of opinion, however, that in regard to these three latter 

 points, wdiich are necessarily related together, a certain 

 amount of misconception prevails, and that the fact of the 

 statements which have given rise to this misconception 

 having been made by eminent authorities, has led to their 

 not being sufficiently examined into. I have in the course 

 of my botanical rambles in Otago been brought face to 

 face with so many instances of insect fertilisation among 

 flowers, that I came at last to tliink that there must be 

 some error in the commonly received opinion, and it is in 

 the hope of throwing a little more light on the subject that 

 I now pen these few remarks. 



By way of preface, I wull quote a couple of passages from 

 Mr A. E. Wallace's w^ork on the "Geographical Distribu- 

 tion of Animals," which may be taken as expressing the 



