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in South Africa . 
tion of the style, the style is left with all this grooved portion 
covered with pollen. The minute stigma at the top cannot 
receive any of this pollen, although the separation of the 
sepals is almost explosive. 
The bird, standing on the edge of the involucral bracts, dips 
its head repeatedly into the cup to suck the honey with 
which it is full. In so doing, it rubs against the rigid pollen- 
covered styles, and will also first touch several of the stig- 
matic extremities. 
Both Promerops caper and Nectarinia chalybea act in this 
way, but the former is the commoner. Insects are also 
abundant, and no doubt assist in fertilisation. Very common 
forms are — 
Diptera. Camponotus niveosetosus , etc. 
Coleoptera. Lytta nitidula , and three other species which 
I have not been able to name. 
Protea mellifera, Thun. (Fig. 10.) 
The heads are five inches long and two and a-half inches in 
diameter. The involucral scales are pointed and very sticky. 
The mode of fertilisation is similar to that of P. incompta \ 
Promerops caper very common on this species, and also 
Nectarinia chalybea . 
Insects are also common, e. g. — 
Coleoptera. Anisonyx ursus , ab., Dichilus simplicipes , Seym - 
nus , sp., and four other species which I cannot name. I have 
also seen Apis mellifica flying round the heads and sucking 
the honey which exuded between the bracts. 
Protea lepidocarpon, R. Br. 
Fertilisation almost identical with the preceding. 
Visited by Nectarinia chalybea . 
Insect visitors : Coleoptera. Trichostella capensis , Platysoma 
capensis , and six unnamed species. 
1 The ovary in this form is covered by a dense brash of beautiful golden brown 
hairs. I was unable to imagine the use of these hairs, as they are completely 
enclosed by the calyx, but I have often found the ovary destroyed by a beetle 
grub, and have no doubt that these hairs are to protect the ovary from its ravages. 
