486 ISLAND LIFE 



full and accurate knowledge of the flora of New Zealand, 

 as well as of that of Australia and the south temperate 

 lands generally, it will be well to see how far these con- 

 clusions are supported by the facts of plant distribution, 

 and wdiat further indications they afford us of the early 

 liistory of these most interesting countries. This inquiry 

 is of sufficient importance to occupy a separate chapter. 



