Gr. M. Thomson. — On the Fertilization of Floivering Plants. 249 



It may also be pointed out that with regard to the two hundred and 

 thirty-five species of hermaphrodite flowers examined, there are several 

 {Oxalis magellanica being a good example) which appear quite capable of 

 self-fertilization, but are in reahty self-sterile. 



Having now considered the flowering plants, I would shortly draw at- 

 tention to what is known as to the relations of our insects to them. As far 

 as I can make out, this amounts to very little. One thing is clear, however, 

 viz., that the prevalent impression as to the poverty of insect life here (as it 

 is expressed in Wallace's work), is not quite correct. Certain prominent 

 classes of insects are very poorly represented, both in species and indi- 

 viduals, but others almost make up for them. Mr. Wallace's figures are in 

 this respect misleading, not from error on his part, but owing to the im- 

 mense number of new forms which have been described since his work was 

 pubHshed. I give shortly the approximate number of species of the various 

 orders of insects, as far as they are known at present. I am indebted for 

 this part of my subject — and I would thankfully acknowledge it here — to 

 Capt. Broun, Prof. Hutton, and Messrs. W. Colenso and E. Fereday, who 

 have given me valuable information regarding those orders which they have 

 respectively examined. Mr. Wallace's figures are subjoined for com- 

 parison. 



Of butterflies, Lepidoptera, only 18 species (A. E. W., 11 sp.) are 

 known, but of moths (not mentioned by Wallace) several hundreds are 

 described in numerous publications, while probably half as many more are 

 undescribed. These latter insects are also extremely numerous in indivi- 

 duals, and many of our flowers (as Leiicopogon, etc.) appear to be exclusively 

 fertihzed by them. Of Coleoptera about 1300 species are now described 

 (A.E.W., 300). Of these a great number are not flower-visitants, but 

 others again are greatly concerned in this work of flower-fertilization. I 

 quote with pleasure here some extracts from a memorandum on the subject 

 which Captain Broun kindly fm-nished me with: — "Of the family Palpi- 

 cornes, two genera — Hydrobius and Philhydrus — consist of water-loving 

 species as is usual in other countries ; but one peculiar New Zealand genus, 

 Rygmodus, of six species, is of quite abnormal habits. One, R. modestus, 

 which is commonly found on the inflorescence of Brachyglottis repanda, 

 Cordyline banksii, etc., has finely spinous legs, and, though somewhat 

 metallic above, is hairy underneath. It undoubtedly plays an important 

 part in the fertilization of flowers, a remarkable trait in the case of an insect 

 belonging to that family — I think the only instance known to science. 

 Most of the others are rare, and though described by me were found by 

 other collectors, so that I cannot speak authoritatively as to their habits ; I 

 suspect, however, that all frequent plants. * * * Of the Melolonthid®, 



32 



