CONTENTS 



PREFACE Pages vii x 



LIST OF SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES QUOTED, WITH AN ENU- 

 MERATION OF THE AUTHOR'S BOTANICAL PAPERS . . . Pages xiii xv 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page xxvii 



ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS Page xxviii 



CHAPTER I 



INTRODUCTION 



The study of insular floras. Their investigation in this work from the stand- 

 point of dispersal. The significance of plant-distribution in the Pacific. 

 The problems connected with the mountain-flora of Hawaii. The per- 

 sistence of dispersing agencies at the coast, their partial suspension on the 

 mountain-top, their more or less complete suspension in the forest, and the 

 effect on the endemic character of plants. The connection between the 

 endemism of birds and plants. The relative antiquity of plants of the coast, 

 forest, and mountain-top. The genetic relation between coast and inland 

 species of the same genus. The ethics of plant-dispersal. Evolution takes 

 no heed of modes of dispersal. The seed-stage is the price of Adaptation. 



Pages i ii 



CHAPTER II 



THE FLORAS OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF DISPERSAL 



BY CURRENTS 



The initial experiment. The proportion of littoral plants. The two great 

 principles of buoyancy. The investigations of Professor Schimper. The 

 investigations of the author. The great sorting process of the ages. 

 Preliminary results of the inquiry into the buoyancy of seeds and fruits. 



Pages 12 22 

 b 



