290 H. B. GUPPY, M.B., 
Drirt Seeps AND FRuITS FROM THE KeEeEtinG IsLANpDs. 
(The asterisk indicates those plants that have established themselves 
on the island). 
Anonacec. *Barringtonia speciosa, Forst. 
Pangium edule, Reinw. s sp. 
*Calophyllum inophyllum, Linn. *Guettarda speciosa, Linn. 
Guttifera ? *Scevola Kenigu, Vahl. 
Heritiera littoralis, Dryander. Cerbera Odollam, Geertn. 
* Triumfetta procumbens, Forst. *Ochrosia parviflora, HensL 
Carapa moluccensis, Lam. Lactaria salubris, Ruraph. 
Vitis sp. ? *Tournefortia argentea, Linn. 
Erythrine spine ? *Ipomea grandiflora, Lam. 
Erythrina indica, Lam. *Ipomea pes capre, Roth (biloba, 
Mucuna macrocarpa, Wall. Forst). 
» gigantea, D.C. s5 spp. 
»  spp.? (3 or 4). * Hernandia peltata, Meissn. 
Dioclea, reflexa, Hook, f. Aleurites moluccana, Willd. 
Phaseolus ? Excecaria indica, Muell. Arg. 
Cynometra cauliflora, Linn. Quercus spp. 
*Cesalpinia Bonducella, Fleming. Casuarina equisetifolia, Forst. 
Entada scandens, Bth. Gnetum sp. 
Leguminose ? huge cotyledons. Cycas circinalis, Linn. 
Rhizophora, sp. Nipa fruticans, Wurmb. 
*Terminalia Catappa, Linn. *Pandanus sp. 
Lumnitzera coccinea, Wight et Arn. Caryota ? 
Various drift seeds not identified. 
It is not a difficult matter to ascertain the direction from 
which this vegetable drift comes. Almost all of it is thrown 
up on the southern and eastern coasts, and it 1s evident that 
they have been brought by the equatorial or westerly current 
from the adjacent islands of the Indian Archipelago, and from 
the north-west coasts of Australia. It has been surmised by 
Mr. Keating that these fruits and seeds in order to reach 
this group from the Indian Archipelago have first been 
drifted down to Western Australia, whence they have been 
transported by the equatorial current to the Cocos or Keeling 
Islands. I do not believe that the vegetable drift from the 
archipelago follows such a circuitous course of over 2,000 
miles. ‘This would imply a sea-passage of several months, 
seeing that the first half of the distance depending on the 
uncertain force of the north-westerly winds during the mon- 
soon season would necessarily be very protracted. Rather. 
I would hold that the equatorial current or westerly drift 
brings the fruits and seeds in a fairly direct course from their 
original source, whether it be from the Indian Archipelago or 
the north-west coast of Australia. 
What are the facts that support such an opinion? In the 
first place the westerly drift has not a constant direction 
