almost insures the distribution of the seeds by adherence to the 

 birds' feathers. Moreover, I have on a few occasions seen the 

 viscid berries clinging to the backs and wings of these birds ; and 

 I once watched an Acanthiza rid itself of the adherent seed by- 

 removing it with its bill, and then by stroking its bill on a 

 branch actually transfer the seed to a very favorable situation on 

 the tree, a Santalum lanceolatum. This is no doubt a frequent 

 occurrence in the nesting season of Acanthiza^ whi3h is at the 

 time when the berries are ripe. 



Ptilotus sonora. — This bird, now something of a pest in the 

 fruit gardens in the hills, is fairly plentiful in this district, and I 

 have very often observed it eating the ripe berries of L. pendulus 

 especially, with very evident relish — almost greedily. It is 

 rather a timid bird. This disposition in a locality such as this 

 is perhaps caused through the presence of numbers of small hawks 

 in the scrubs and the rather scant cover afforded. When sud- 

 denly startled it shows evident fear, and at once will endeavor to 

 make good its escape by dashing with all speed from bush to 

 bush, mostly using Bossiaea as its refuge, and on this species 

 (Bossiaea Battii) the Loranthacea? very frequently occur. While 

 I cannot state that I have had visible proof that Ptilotus is the 

 agent distributing the Loranthii^s, as above suggested, neverthe- 

 less, I feel confident that such is the case. In the watercourses 

 on the sides of the hills, and for a short distance outward on the 

 plain. Acacia sentis occurs abundantly, and Buisaria spi^iosa 

 fairly frequently. In these positions Ptilotus is sure to be met 

 with, and here, too, Z. exocarpi is common. In these creeks, 

 therefore, the habits of the bird and its association with the 

 Loranthus point to its agency as the distributor of the seed. 

 The wattle bird is occasionally to be met with in these creeks, 

 and possibly may play some part also in the distribution, but I 

 have as yet no evidence to offer with regard to this bird, although 

 I hope to be able shortly to establish proof of its being a means 

 of distributing the seeds of L. linearifolius. 



Turning now to the question of " particular adaptation of the 

 host plant to the requirements of its particular parasite," it may 

 be worthy of note that in the case of L. exocarpi I have observed 

 a tendency in the leaves to become very thick and fleshy where 

 the plant occurs on Bu7'saria. In the case of L. pendulus there 

 is a striking difference between the thinner, cleaner, and darker 

 leaves of the plant as it occurs on the Eucalypti in the southern 

 parts of the colony, and the thicker, duller, and lighter-colored 

 appearance of the plant as it growls here in the Eremian region. 

 But whether the differences noted are to be ascribed to any 

 peculiarity in the nature of the host plants, or whether the widely 

 different climatic conditions may not be the cause, I cannot say. 



