216 Sargent.—Fragments of the Flower Biology 
pollinators. Calyx and corolla may be absent from the open flower, or, if 
present, reduced to mere scales. In such cases the stamens are numerous; 
but when simplicity is attained by reduction of the perigone to scarcely 
more than a funnel-shaped tube the stamens are few. In most cases the 
style is slender, often quite filamentous (but usually very rigid), and the 
stigma a mere point. This reduction of parts is doubtless an advantage in 
an arid country such as this; but still my present impression is that the 
aggressiveness of birds has had more to do with the survival of so many 
ornithophilous plants, or is responsible for the prevalence of ornithophily, in 
this Southern Land. What has struck me more than anything else as the 
outstanding characteristic of bird-pollinated blossoms is the rigidity of the 
parts. The anthers are often almost woody, and, disregarding versatility, are 
usually only moved from their normal position with some difficulty because 
of the rigidity of the stamens. The style, if fleshy, is sufficiently thick to 
be rigid, and if slender is sufficiently woody to be springy or stiff. 
In dealing more particularly with instances of bird pollination that have 
come under my notice it will be most convenient to classify the facts 
according to types of floral structure, proceeding from the simple to the 
complex. There is, right at the outset, a difficulty in judging ; but I think 
the brilliant orange flower of Nuytsia floribunda , R. Br., is the least specia¬ 
lized on my list. It is practically tubeless as the petals with the attached 
stamens spread rather widely from their bases, so that the nectar is well 
exposed. The simple erect subulate style is crowned by a minute apicular 
stigma, which appears to be ripe at anthesis simultaneously with the anthers. 
The only trace of dichogamy I have noticed is that sometimes a few of the 
anthers do not dehisce on the day the flower opens. I have repeatedly 
watched hive-bees visiting the flowers; but though they often brush against 
the anthers I have never seen one touch the stigma. On just a few occa¬ 
sions I have seen a bird (honey-eater) visit the flowers. My observations 
and the structure of the flower incline me strongly to the opinion that birds 
are the ‘ official ’ pollinators, if that convenient and expressive term may be 
permitted me. My experience has made me desire a word to describe that 
visitor which seems specially connected with a flower. Others may be 
efficient pollinators ; but one appears to be the one for whom the blossom is 
‘ intended \ The parts of the Nuytsia blossom are rather rigid, which points 
to a vigorous pollinator. The flowers are borne in immense trusses ; and, 
when a bird alights on a truss to sip the proffered nectar, it is highly probable 
that wholesale pollination takes place. 
The flowers of Loranthus linophyllus , Fenzl., are slightly more specia¬ 
lized. Petal bases and epipetalous stamens are suberect, a short but definite 
tube is formed by the connivent bases of the petals, and the blossom is 
definitely proterandrous. I have many times seen birds {Zosterops gouldi, 
B’parte, and other honey-eaters) sipping nectar from the blossoms of this 
