74 HANDBOOK OF MOSSES. 



If we compare the moss flora of Europe with that of 

 North America, or vice versci, we shall meet with similar 

 results. In Lesquereux and James's " Mosses of North 

 America," we have about 900 species of moss recorded 

 from that continent, and of these I find that about 515 

 species are natives of both the continents of Europe and 

 America respectively/but 383 are non-European ; whilst out 

 of the 900 species recorded for Europe in Schimper's 

 " Synopsis," 394 have not as yet been recorded from North 

 America. A comparison of the European moss flora with 

 that of India, shows, however, a great difference in the ratio 

 of European species. In Mr. Mitten's valuable " Musci 

 Indise Orientalis," about 770 species are recorded, and of 

 these only no species are natives also of Europe. This 

 record, however, can scarcely be a full one ; and doubtless 

 when that country has been more thoroughly investigated, 

 the ratio of European species will be found to be greater. 



But comparing the floras of still more distant countries, 

 such as that of Europe with that of New Zealand, it will be 

 found that the differences are more marked. Sir Joseph 

 Hooker, in the " Handbook of the Flora of New Zealand," 

 vol. ii., records 348 species as having been found in that 

 island. Of these only sixty-six are recorded as natives also 

 of Europe, and several of these being common species, liable 

 to be introduced by man's agency, may be considered as 

 doubtfully native. An analysis of Spruce's " Mosses of the 

 Andes," yields nearly the same results. 



But when we compare the moss flora of New Zealand with 

 that of Tasmania, we find a great similarity in the record. 



Tasmania is very much more remote from New Zealand 

 than England is from the continent of Europe, and yet of 

 the 158 species recorded from Tasmania 120 species are 

 natives of both that island and New Zealand. Many of 

 these Tasmanian species will be found to have a wide range, 

 some being found in South America, and at least twenty- 

 seven are found in South Africa. 



Berkeley, in the " Handbook of British Mosses," mentions 

 a remarkable deviation from the general laws of distribution 

 occurring in the centre of Germany : " In some situations 



