628 



of Cerinthoidea , the members of which have a rigidnm-Yike habit. 

 It has allied forms (H. scoticum Hanb., etc.) in the British Isles. 



The above pro ves that the greater part of the Færoese forms 

 are Atlantic, especially so all the Cerinthoidea, H. færoerne and H. epi- 

 leucoides of Rigida, and perhaps H. sarcophijlloides, and H. ardisodon 

 (both of which ought otherwise to belong to the Temperate-European 

 element), or, in all, 14 (16) forms; 5 (perhaps 7) may, on the other 

 hånd, be reckoned among the Temperate-European forms, viz., H. con- 

 strietiforme, H. ciliolatum, H. epileiicum and H. cordifrons of Vulgata, 

 and H. Simmonsianum of Rigida. Both the Alpestria: H. Hartzianum 

 and H. Ostenfeldii belong to the Arctic-Alpine element. It is an 

 interesting faet that the Atlantic element in this genus, is so 

 strongly represented in the Færoes. The presence of this element 

 lends considerable weight to the theory of a post-glacial land connec- 

 tion, which perhaps existed much longer than we have hitherto be- 

 lieved, judging from the other data. The occurrence in Iceland of 

 two Cerinthoidea, closely related to the Færoese forms, appears to 

 me also to be an important support for the above theory. It may 

 be argued that these forms having flying apparatus, may easily be 

 carried to great distances by the help of the wind ; but , on the 

 one hånd, I have proved that the fruits of the Hieracia usually 

 do not spread ve ry far, and on the other, that the Cerinthoidea 

 have heavier and larger fruits than the greater part of the other 

 groups, with the exception of Oreadea and Alpina vera, consequently, 

 if it be maintained that they are conveyed across larger areas by 

 the agency of the wind, then they ought to be more poorly re- 

 presented in the Færoes than the rest of the groups which have 

 lighter fruits. 



That the forms of the remaining categories are so few in 

 number may be accounted for by the climatic and physical condi- 

 tions prevailing on the islands. The greater part of the forms of 

 Vulgata, Rigida and Alpestria are especially adapted lo life in vari- 

 ous localities in woody districts. The Cerinthoidea, on the other 

 hånd, as proved by their general structure, are distinctly coast and 

 rock forms. It is therefore very remarkable that the Oreadea-group, 

 which almost exclusively consists of rock and coast forms, and 

 numerous forms of which are represented in Great Britain (chiefly 

 Scotland), on the Norwegian coasts, in western as also in eastern 

 Sweden, and a few, moreover, in Iceland, is quite wanting in thi' 

 Færoes. The Alpina are likewise totally absent from the Færoes, 



