Notes on the Loranthage^e of the 

 WiLLOGHRA Valley. 



By Chas. F. Johncock. 

 [Read November 5, 1901.] 



The late Professor Tate, in his paper on " The Host Plants of 

 tiie Australian Loranthacese," read before the Australasian Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science, January, 1898, remarks 

 on the probable role played by some then undetermined species 

 of birds in the distribution of Loranthus, and quotes Dr. 

 Ramsay,* F.L.S., New South Wales, as saying of Bicceum hiru7i- 

 dinaceum : — This species is universally dispersed over the 

 whole of Australia ; feeds on berries and fruits of various kinds, 

 but seems to prefer those of Loranthus. This plainly accounts 

 for the distribution of the Loranthus all over the districts fre- 

 quented by the Dicceum, in which it is locally known as the 

 " Mistletoe Bird." 



In this district the Loranthaceae occurring are L. exocarpi, 

 L. linearifoliiis, and L. penduhis. L. linearifolius is found only 

 in a fevv localities, and then not plentifully ; almost exclusively 

 on Acacia sentis, and only in the more liberally watered parts of 

 the plains. 



L. exocarpi is found on Acacia seriiis, Cassia Sturtii, Bossiaea 

 Battii, and Santalum lancmlatum. L. pendulums grows almost 

 exclusively, and in some places in striking profusion, en Santalum 

 lanceolatum. These last two occur in the scattered tracts of 

 scrub which abound in varying area and frequency all along the 

 eastern side of the valley. 



In one instance only have I observed Dicfeum Idrundinaceum 

 in this district, and then only a solitary pair, within the space of 

 five years. Therefore, comparing the striking abundance with 

 which L. exocarpus and L. pendulus are found, and the extreme 

 rarity of Dicceum, one is compelled to seek other agents for the 

 distribution of the plants in question. 



Careful and patient observation convinces me that the birds 

 playing this role are (1) the Acanthiza, known as the yellow- 

 rumped tom-tit ; and (2) Ptilotus sonora. While the Acanthiza 

 does not actually eat the berries of Loranthus, it very frequently 

 uses the pendant branches as a site for its nest. This alone 



^ Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S. W., Second Series, vol. I., p. 1,093, 1886. 



