Mr. R. B. Hinds on Geographic Botany. 17 



no difference ; if no unfriendly agents were at hand the soil was 

 covered with plants. It seems highly probable that plants like 

 animals are furnished with constitutions, having a nice perception 

 of external circumstances, and though the inquiry assumes a mi- 

 croscopic tendency, we do not despair of discovering some very 

 interesting facts, when a minute inquiry shall be instituted on 

 the state of the different regions of alpine vegetation and the in- 

 fluences under which they flourish. On the other hand, if plants 

 were diffused from one or more mountain-chains, the inquiry 

 would end totally unproductive. Those circumstances which tend 

 to establish the present view may be advantageously considered 

 in detail. 



1. The authority of the sacred writings. — The language of the 

 Bible is brief, but there is no reason for limiting its meaning ; the 

 earth is stated, and why should not the whole earth be received ? 

 as bringing forth herbs and trees. That omnipotence which could 

 call life into existence and cluster it around one centre was equally 

 capable of spreading it over the whole earth. 



2. The physical impediments presented by the distribution of 

 land and water to the diffusion of species. — Since man has been 

 an inhabitant of the globe, the changes in the relation of the seas 

 and continents have been trifling, no event having occurred to 

 disturb it ; as they were at the creation they may be looked on 

 as being now. That this disposition is such as powerfully to limit 

 vegetation we shall presently see. Linnaeus rested his hypothesis 

 chiefly on the facilities, as he supposed, with which plants can 

 be dispersed. He called to mind the great number of seeds and 

 seed-vessels furnished with appendages presenting surfaces to the 

 winds, and it must be acknowledged that the number of plants 

 which nature has provided with organs for the diffusion of their 

 seeds is very considerable. Nor can it be denied for an instant that 

 Erigeron canadense was spread over Europe in every probability 

 by the winds, assisted by the favourable structure of its seed- 

 vessel ; and next it may stand the fact, that Canna indica, though 

 unprovided with any suitable organization, has been found a na- 

 tive alike of Asia, Africa and America. These however are but 

 casualties, instances of departure from a general law, the excep- 

 tions which give birth to a rule ; they are not the models repre- 

 senting the diffusion of species generally. There is every reason 

 to suppose that the surface over which these plants are spread is 

 confined, in spite of their highly favourable organization. It has 

 often appeared to me, that birds, though furnished with such 

 admirable organs for rapid locomotion, are very local in their 

 habits. Every sportsman is acquainted with this circumstance, 

 and is influenced by it in his search for game. If birds then 

 with great locomotive powers are confined within restricted limits, 



Ann. ^ Mag. N. Hist. Volw. C 



