1 26 



THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



Tabular View of all the Vascular Plants at present known from South Trinidad. 



Species. 



Canavitliit gladiatat 

 Abatia sp. 

 Euffi nia sp. . 



Achyrocline disjunda 



A Iternanthera paronych ioides 

 Ricinus communis . 

 Cyperns atlanticus . 

 Fimbristylis nesiotis 

 Sjioroliulit.? rirginiats 

 Cyathea copelandi , 

 A splenium J 'ureal u m 

 A.<[ilrnium cioiiprrssum . 

 Polypodium lepidqpteris . 



Distribution. 



Everywhere in the Tropics. 



The genus restricted to Tropical South America. 



A large and widely dispersed genus, ahundantly represented 



in Brazil. 

 Species endemic. Genus in Africa and America. 

 Widely dispersed in Tropical America. 

 Now general in warm countries. 

 Species endemic. Genus widely spread. 



Littoral, and widely dispersed. 

 Species endemic. Genus widely spread. 

 Widely diffused in warm countries. 

 Elsewhere only in St Helena. 

 Common in Tropical America. 



The foregoing fragment of the flora of South Trinidad offers little for comment ; but 

 assuming it to be an average sample, it indicates a recent origin in comparison with the 

 flora of St Helena. Out of thirteen species, twelve belong to widely-dispersed genera, 

 and the thirteenth to a genus peculiar to South America. All the genera except this one 

 [Abatia] are represented on the opposite coast of Africa. Only one genus {Asplenium) is 

 represented by more than one species, and four of the species at least are apparently 

 endemic. The presence of Asplenium compression in the island is the most noteworthy 

 fact that Dr Copeland's visit has brought to light. It is to be hoped that the first 

 opportunity will be taken advantage of to thoroughly investigate the natural history of this 

 island. The goats and hogs left on the occasion of Halley's visit in 1700, when the island 

 was taken possession of in the name of the King of England, seem to have multiplied at 

 first, for, as has already been mentioned, Commodore Amaco Delano reports them as being 

 numerous at the beginning of the present century ; but they have since died out, probably 

 in consequence of the failure of food. It may be, too, that before they died out they extir- 

 pated some of the native plants. 



In 1781 a party of English under Commodore Johnstone attempted a settlement in 

 the island, but after two or three months' sojourn they abandoned it as impracticable. A 

 few years later some Portuguese made a similar attempt and failed. 



Since the foregoing was put into print, we have had an opportunity of perusing E. F. 

 Knight's " Cruise of the Falcon," in which the author gives a graphic narrative of a perilous 

 and toilsome exploration of the island of South Trinidad, accompanied by his Italian 

 sailor-cook and an English lad of seventeen. Mr Knight is not a naturalist, but 

 bring endowed with uncommon powers of observation, and possessing a facile pen and 

 pencil, we are able to glean some definite information from his sparkling book. He and 

 his companions first landed in a cove in South- West Bay, where they ineffectually attempted 



