ALPINE PLANTS 31 



causing much extermination 1 . The mountains of 

 Europe were quite lately covered with ice, and the 

 lowlands probably partaking of the Arctic climate 

 and Fauna. Then as climate changed, arctic fauna 

 would take place of ice, and an inundation of plants 

 from different temperate countries (would) seize the 

 lowlands, leaving islands of arctic forms. But if this 

 had happened on an island, whence could the new 

 forms have come, here the geologist calls in crea- 

 tionists. If island formed, the geologist will suggest 

 (that) many of the forms might have been borne from 

 nearest land, but if peculiar, he calls in creationist, 

 as such island rises in height &c., he still more calls 

 in creation. The creationist tells one, on a (illegible) 

 spot the American spirit of creation makes Orpheus 

 and Tyrannus and American doves, and in accord- 

 ance with past and extinct forms, but no persistent 

 relation between areas and distribution, Geologico- 

 Geograph.-Distribution. 



1 (The following is written on the back of a page of the MS.) Discuss 

 one or more centres of creation : allude strongly to facilities of dispersal and 

 amount of geological change : allude to mountain-summits afterwards to 

 be referred to. The distribution varies, as everyone knows, according to 

 adaptation, explain going from N. to S. how we come to fresh groups of 

 species in the same general region, but besides this we find difference, 

 according to greatness of barriers, in greater proportion than can be well 

 accounted for by adaptation. (On representive species see Origin, Ed. i. 

 p. 349, vi. p. 496.) This very striking when we think of cattle of Pampas, 

 plants (?) &c. &c. Then go into discussion ; this holds with 3 or 4 main 

 divisions as well as the endless minor ones in each of these 4 great ones : in 

 these I chiefly refer to mammalia &c. &c. The similarity of type, but not 

 in species, in same continent has been much less insisted on than the 

 dissimilarity of different great regions generically: it is more striking. 



(I have here omitted an incomprehensible sentence.) Galapagos Islands, 

 Tristan d'Acunha, volcanic islands covered with craters we know lately did not 

 support any organisms. How unlike these islands in nature to neighbouring 

 lands. These facts perhaps more striking than almost any others. 

 [Geology apt to affect geography therefore we ought to expect to find 

 the above.] Geological-geographical distribution. In looking to past times 

 we find Australia equally distinct. S. America was distinct, though with 

 more forms in common. N. America its nearest neighbour more in common, 

 in some respects more, in some less allied to Europe. Europe we find (?) 

 equally European. For Europe is now part of Asia though not (illegible). 

 Africa unknown, examples, Elephant, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus, Hyaena. 

 As geology destroys geography we cannot be surprised in going far back we 

 find Marsupials and Edentata in Europe : but geology destroys geography. 



