98 Mr George M. Thomson on the 



and found abundance of nectar. Again, after fertilisation, 

 tlie secretions of flowers seem to dry up very rapidly, even 

 before the petals begin perceptibly to wither. The number 

 given therefore as meliferous, amounting as it does to 

 nearly 38 per cent., is probably somewhat under the mark. 



In regard to scent, the same remarks apply ; some 

 flowers which are scentless or nearly so on dull days, 

 becoming perceptibly fragrant when the weather is bright, 

 while others again only emit their fragrance at certain 

 times of the day. I have only recorded 64 species of 

 fragrant flowers, or less than 25 per cent. Here again we 

 may note that the largest and most prominent flowers are 

 destitute of scent, whereas many extremely inconspicuous 

 flowers are over-poweringly fragrant. As far as I can 

 make out, these latter flowers are mostly visited by 

 Diptera, and an interesting question has often occurred to 

 me, to which, however, I cannot obtain trustworthy 

 answers — Is it not the case that the most of the Diptera 

 are attracted by smell and not by sight, but the majority 

 of the flower-loving Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymen- 

 optera more by sight than by smell ? 



Of the total number of 262 species, I am certain that 

 110 are absolutely incapable of self-fertilisation. Of these, 

 63 are entomophilous, and 47 anemopliilous ; but of the 

 remaining 152 species, I believe 96 are more or less 

 dependent on insects. Eiglit species, viz., Fuchsia ex- 

 corticata and F. procurribens^ Bletrosideros lucida, Loranthus 

 Qolensoi and L. Jlavidus^ Clianthus puniceus, Sopliora tetrap- 

 tera, and Phoi-'mimn tenax, are mostly fertilised by birds 

 of the family Meliphagidce, such as the Tui (Prosthemadera) , 

 and Bell-bird (Anthornis). These flowers are mostly large 

 and conspicuous, are quite scentless, but produce abundance 

 of honey. 



As I have already stated, these plants were all care- 

 fully examined by me, and represent only a fraction of all 

 the flowering plants of the colony ; but I believe the pro- 

 portions stated would apply fairly well to the whole flora 

 (if we exclude the Glumiferae among Monocotyledons). 

 I have not sufiicient knowledge personally of the British 

 flora to draw up any comparisons, nor can I obtain sufficient 

 data from other works — even such as Sir John Lubbock's 



