288 Transactions. — Botany. 



this paper, but it is also the case in nearly every other department of 

 the subject. Botanists may rest contented when they can answer satis- 

 factorily why there are so many diversities of form and structure among 

 plants, and can give a conclusive reason for the occurrence of each 

 peculiarity. Meanwhile, we require patient and continuous observation for 

 many years, even to open up the main subject touched upon in this paper. 



One question I would commend for enquiry among others is this : — 

 How can we account for so many coriaceous and woolly-leaved plants in 

 these islands, belonging, too, either to endemic genera, or to genera which 

 are not so specially characterized in other parts of the world ? Seeing that 

 there are no herbivorous Mammalia to be defended against, the only 

 solution I can offer as probable lies in the abundance and size of our 

 Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc.), which are particularly abundant on the 

 mountains, where these coriaceous and woolly-leaved plants are also 

 chiefly found. 



The following are the only works or papers I am acquainted with, which 

 refer to the subjects mainly alluded to in this communication, as far as New 

 Zealand plants are concerned. 



(1873). T. F. Cheeseman: " On the Fertilization of New Zealand Species of Ptero- 



stylis." " Trans. N. Z. Inst." Vol. V., p. 352. 

 (1875). ,, " On the Fertilization of Acianthus and Cyrtostylis."' 



" Trans. N. Z. Inst." Vol., VII., p. 349. 

 (1877.) C. Darwin : " Fertilization of Orchids " (2nd Edit.), pp. 88-90, 127, etc. 

 „ " Different Forms of Flowers," pp. 181, 285, 332, etc. 



T. F. Cheeseman: " On the Fertilization of Selliera.^^ " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," 

 Vol. IX., p. 542. 

 (1878.) ,, "On the Fertilization of Glossostigma.'" "Trans. N.Z. 



Inst.," Vol. X., p. 353. 

 (1879.) Geo. M. Thomson : " On Gleistogamic Flowers of the Gemas FioZa." "Trans. 



N.Z. lust.," Vol. XI., p. 415. 

 „ " On Means of Fertilization among some New Zealand 



Orchids." " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," Vol. XL, p. 418. 



DESOEIPTION OF PLATE X. 

 Fig. 1. Copfosma fropinqua — female flower — magnified. 



2. ,, rotundifolia ,, „ 



3. Mimulus luteus. 



4. Utricularia monanthos — a. flower — side view. 



,, ,, b. „ front view of upper lip. 



6. ,, ,, bladders magnified 26 diameters. a. external 



appearance, h. same cut through the middle, 

 showing the neck of the collar forming the neck 

 of the cavity. 



6. „ ,, quadrifid processes magnified 115 diameters. 



