342 Scott Elliot . — On the Fertilisation of South 
Po&alyria serieea, R. Br. (Figs. 17-20.) 
The vexillum is, as is usual in the genus, excessively 
large, and so broad that the basal lobes of the wing reach to 
the lower edges of the carina. The alae have an almost 
vertical claw, and are very broad ; they are bent under 
the carina below, and as at the same time they are held 
together by the vexillum above it, and also overlap one 
another laterally in front, the union is as close as possible, 
and the alae and carina must move together. The honey 
entrance is covered by the vexillum-claw ; the bases of the 
two highest lateral stamens are, moreover, expanded in a 
triangular manner, and their insertion is overlapped by that 
of the vexillum, so that entrance to the honey is rendered 
very difficult, and is only possible for large insects. 
Podalyria calyptrata, Willd. (Figs. 21-24.) 
This species has a similar though more specialised 
mechanism. The claws of the alae are entirely vertical. The 
upper margins of the alae are held together by the grooved 
midrib of the vexillum, while the lower margins pass below 
the carina. On depression, bending takes place at the junc- 
tion of alar limb and claw (which is horizontal). The stamens 
and style lie along the outer border of the carina in a sort of 
tubular cavity, and the younger anthers push up the pollen of 
both whorls as in Cyclopia. A gentle depression causes a thin 
ribbon of pollen to emerge, but a violent one produces emerg- 
ence of the style and anthers. Although the filaments are 
free they are rigid and expanded, and also possess hairy 
interstices, so that they are equivalent functionally to a 
sheath. The bases of the two superior lateral filaments are 
united a little way with the vexillum-claw. Visitors : — 
Xylocopa caffra , very ab., Apis mellifica , and another Hyme- 
nopterous insect, all efficient. 
Podalyria eaneseens, E. Mey . (Fig. 26.) 
Very similar to P. calyptrata , but the superior backward 
margins of the alar limb are brought back behind and below 
