m 
PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION D. 
most effectual in the work, being best adapted in size to the flower) 
alights on the petals, it stands across the wings and keel with its feet 
resting on the wings. It then inserts its proboscis at the base of the 
standard, and forces it in ; the pressure from this causes the wings 
and the keel, to which they are locked by a projection, to be depressed, 
and the anthers and pollen emerge and dust the bee on the underside 
of the abdomen. In older flowers the style is lengthened after all the 
pollen has gone, and the pressure leaves that bare, so that it takes the 
pollen from the underside of the insect. 
Ken nedya rubicunda , Vent. — In this species, which belongs to 
Delpino’s first series, the process is exactly the same, but a larger bee 
is necessary, and in every instance where I have observed the process 
it was done by a hive bee. Indeed, it is extraordinary to what an 
extent the hive bee has taken up the position of fertiliser-in- ordinary 
to native plants. And, on the other hand, native insects are rapidly 
and effectually adapting themselves to introduced plants. In the 
natural order under consideration there is an introduced plant — the 
Bed Clover (Trifolium prat erne) — which is said by Darwin to be only 
fertilised by humble bees in Europe (this is, I believe, disputed by 
Delpino) ; for, the hive-bee’s proboscis not being long enough to reach 
to the bottom of the flower, that insect bites a bole at the base of the 
flower to reach the nectar. And when Bed Clover was introduced into 
New South Wales and failed to perpetuate itself, the natural inference 
was that it was on account of the absence of humble bees. This view 
was strengthened by the fact that in New Zealand, where humble bees 
are acclimatised, the Bed Clover seeds freely. Attempts have, there- 
fore, been made to establish the humble bees in New South Wales 
to ensure the spread of this valuable fodder plant. But, prior to these 
attempts being made, I observed that the Bed Clover had established 
itself at Mount Wilson, in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales; 
and on mentioning the fact to Mr. Fred. Turner, botanist to the 
Agricultural Department, he informed me that he knew of its being 
established in other localities. Since then the manager of one of the 
south coast estates in New South Wales has stated in the columns 
of the Daily Telegraph that the Bed Clover is well established there 
without the aid of bees. I am inclined to think that climatal in- 
fluences have, perhaps, a great deal to do with it, and that the plant 
would be more likely to establish itself in a moist and even climate 
such as prevails on the south coast or at Mount AYilson. Cer- 
tainly in a dry and warm climate the bees could scarcely establish 
themselves, and so, if they are necessary, the plant would fail in such 
a place. How much climate has to do with flowering, Ac., may be seen 
an the following instance: — All over the Illawarra district the Coral 
Tree ( Erythrina indica , Lam.), is much used as a shade and ornamental 
tree. About Wollongong the trees flower very profusely, aud about a 
month earlier than they clo at Mount Kembla, some 600 or 700 feet 
higher. And at about 1.200 feet they rarely flower at all. Both at 
Wollongong and Mount Kembla the flowers are much frequented by 
birds {Acanthor hy n elms and Ptilofis chiefly), and yet they never bear 
seed. Although I have carefully put pollen on the stigmas from 
the same and from different individual trees, yet I never succeeded in 
getting it to seed. Yet I believe it seeds freely on the northern, 
rivers and in Queensland. 
