364 'Transactions. — Uotany. 



notched cuneate-fl abellate pinnse on both sides ; fertile peduncle equalling 

 or exceeding the sterile segm. when fully developed ; panicle close, 1-2 

 inches long, lanceolate-deltoid, bipinnate, Hk.Br.F. t. 48. 



" Hab. Arctic Europe and Iceland to Spain, Italy, Kamscatka, and the 

 Himalayas, South Australia, Tasmania, North-West America, Greenland." 



Art. XXVIII.— A Bird-killing Tree. By E. H. Govett. 

 [Bead before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 26th September, 1883.] 

 About a month ago my brother mentioned that in a shrub growing in my 

 father's garden at New Plymouth, two Silver-eyes {Zosteroj)s) and an English 

 Sparrow had been found with their wings so glued by the sticky seed-vessels 

 that they were unable to move, and could only fly away after having been 

 carefully washed. 



Never having heard before of such an occurrence, and being anxious to 

 learn more about this curious plant, I asked him to keep an eye upon it 

 and let me know anything further he might observe. The following mail 

 brought me some of the sticky seed-vessels and a few leaves, which I showed 

 to Mr. Buchanan, who at once identified the shrub as Pisonia brunoniana, 

 or sinclairii, a native of Whangarei Bay and a very rare plant, called by the 

 Maoris Parapara. In a letter which accompanied the leaves, my sister told 

 me that on the previous day she had rescued two more birds from the 

 plant, and, to use her own words, — " Thinking I was doing a merciful act, 

 I collected all the branches with seed on them I could lay hands on, and 

 threw them into the ashpit. To-day the servant comes in to say that about 

 a dozen ' silver-eyes ' are glued to these branches, and a pretty piece of 

 work we had to get them clear, for four or five of the sticky pods, at the 

 lowest average, were clinging to each bird. When you look at the tree you 

 can see tufts of feathers and legs where the birds have died, and I really 

 don't think they could possibly get away without help. The black cat just 

 lives under the tree, so that a good many fall to her share ; but in revenge 

 many pods get into her fur and she has to come and get them dragged out." 



This particular shrub is 10 or 11 feet high, and perhaps 20 in circum- 

 ference. I am not aware what the usual height of the tree is when full 

 grown, but probably not much more, as this one is in a sheltered position, 

 in rich soil, and is, I should think, at least fifteen years old. The gum 

 which causes the mischief is secreted by the seed-vessels when they attain 

 full size, and is nearly as plentiful on them in their green state as when 

 they become ripe. The seeds remain long in the sticky condition ; but the 

 gum does not exude from either the stem or leaves. 



