268 CHAPTER III 



A removal of these species, however, does not appreciably change the zoogeo- 

 graphical character of the island and I am completely unable to accept the idea 

 that, 'for instance, the culture-avoiding, wingless, sluggish, and, contrary to the 

 majority of species within the genus, obligatorily bisexual Weevil Otiorrhynchus 

 arcticus O. Fbr. (fig. 41) should have been introduced into Greenland or Iceland 

 (Lindroth, 193 1, p. 514-515). Also, Porsild (1932) has published weighty argu- 

 ments against the opinion of Ostenfeld, and others, that man is responsible for the 

 European element of vascular plants in Greenland. 



The trade from Europe to Iceland and Greenland from oldest times had a 

 character essentially different from that with Newfoundland and the present Mari- 

 time Provinces of Canada. From the very first time after discovery, the firstnamed 

 island possessed a permanent population badly in need of all kinds of necessities 

 (provisions, timber, metals, &c.) and there was certainly no use of ballast on the 

 outward voyage. Consequently, the experiences gained from the study of the New- 

 foundland trade (p. 154 a.f.) have no application at all to the naval connections 

 of the northern islands. This explains why several species, for instance Notiophilus 

 biguttatus F., Amischa analis Gr., Coccinella ii-punctata L., Barynotus squamosus 

 Germ., Otiorrhynchus rugifrons Gyll., Sciaphilus asperatus Bonsd., Strophosomus 

 melanogrammus Forst., and Tropiphorus obtusus Bonsd., in table 7 are regarded as 

 introduced in eastern North America, but as indigenous in Iceland, where they 

 occur, in part or entirely, in the most inaccessible parts of the coast. 



The most weighty objection to the opinion that the European element of the 

 faunas of Iceland and Greenland was imported with man is the large amount 

 of species in common among the species here regarded as indigenous. 



From table 7 and diagr. 7, regarding Coleoptera, the following figures can be 

 extracted: — 



Of 1 1 native Palaearctic species in Greenland, 8 (73 %) are common also to Iceland. 

 Of II native Palaearctic species in Greenland, 6 (55%) are common also to the 



Faeroes. 

 Of 56 native Palaearctic species in Iceland, 38 (68%) are common also to the 



Faeroes. 



The introduced species^ of the same islands show a different picture: — 



Of 23 introduced Palaearctic species in Greenland, 10 (43 %) are common also to 



Iceland. 

 Of 23 introduced Palaearctic species in Greenland, 9 (39%) are common also to 



the Faeroes. 

 Of 99 introduced Palaearctic species in Iceland, 32 (32%) are common also to 



the Faeroes. 



^ The records of introduced species among the Coleoptera of Greenland are from Hen- 

 riksen (4939, p. 43-48), of Iceland from Lindroth (1931, p. 171-236) and S. G. Larsson 

 {in litt.). 



