132 IP 6 t e I s ia 



is largely conditioned by the comparative lack 

 of entomophilous flowers. And again the dis- 

 parity in the insect population may be the chief 

 cause for the scarcity of song birds, but further 

 pursuance of these suggested thoughts would be 

 digression here. 



In conclusion it can be said in general, that 

 the flora of Vancouver Island, in so far as it can 

 be judged l)y observations confined to a limited 

 area of the same, is typically boneal: with an 

 admixture of more arctic forms than the latitude, 

 the elevation above sea level, and present climatic 

 conditions would indicate. This is perhaps best 

 illustrated by the fact that several species which 

 grow onlv a few feet above sea-level on the island 

 are identical with forms found in the Canadian 

 Rockiesat altitudes of 4000-7000 ft. and at higher 

 latitudes. The infiltration of southern forms 

 is slight. The greatest complexity of plant 

 life is shown in the beach formations. The 

 coniferous forest is the principal formation of 

 the region and has reached through favorable 

 climatic and edaphic conditions it present 

 enormous development. June, 1904. 



