1893. ] NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 195 
which are particularly prominent on Cape Cod, Martha's Vine- 
yard, Nantucket and the south shore of Long Island. In many 
instances, single species, mostly by the aid of man, have spread 
under such conditions, but never in any considerable number, 
especially such as are under consideration. In fact, the species 
in question generally disappear with the advent or continued 
presence of man, and this, as is well known, has been the case 
to a very appreciable extent in several of the localities within 
the area of our investigation. 
Following out our line of argument, we would be forced to the 
conclusion that if continuous land connection once existed and 
any fragments of it remained, these ought to carry with them 
some evidences of their former relationship. The islands to the 
east of Long Island Sound (Gardiner’s Island, Plum Island, 
Gull Islands, Fisher’s Island, the Elizabeth Islands, Block 
Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket), naturally, in fact 
almost irresistibly suggest themselves in this connection, even 
to the most superficial observer of any ordinary map of the 
region, and if the coast survey charts, showing the submarine 
shoals and contours are studied, their significance becomes 
irresistible. A study of the flora of these islands ought, there- 
fore, to be of great assistance in solving the problem at issue. 
Unfortunately their native vegetation has suffered from the 
inroads of man to such an extent that we can form little or no 
idea of what it once was, in many instances. Thus, in regard to 
Penikese Island, the flora of which was compiled by Prof. D.S. 
Jordan as long ago as 1874*, he says: ‘‘ Altogether it is about 
as barren looking a pile of rock and stone as one could well 
imagine.”’ 
Block Island has suffered in the same wayf, and Martha's 
Vineyard and Nantucket show but a limited flora at the present 
day compared to that which once covered them. An exceed- 
ingly interesting account of the flora of this latter island has 
been written by Maria L. Owen, which gives not only a complete 
list of the plants, but memoranda in regard to their past 
abundance, recent destruction, ete. In it may be noted the 
names of some twenty-five of the pine barren species, besides 
many others not classed as such, but showing unmistakably 
their affinities with the far off Long Island shores, distant some 
* The Flora of Penikese Island.” (Am. Nat. viii. 193-197.) 
t “ Notes on the Flora of Block Island.” W. W- Bailey, in mss. ‘ Trees of 
any sort are extremely scarce. Those there are, appear, with rare exceptions, 
to have been planted.’ 
