Notice of Dr. Hooker's Flora of New Zealand. 345 
wy on the lofty mountains, a new set of influences is demanded ; 
nd 
have prevented it. But changes of relation erneee sea and land in- 
vegetation. ‘The retirement of the plants to in summit of the New 
Zealand mountains,* would be the necessary consequence of the ame- 
lioration of climate that followed the isolation of New Ze 2h and the 
replacement of the Antarctic continent by the present oc 
The climate throughout the south temperate zone is so e yoqudble, and 
Th he fires inference from such an hypothesis is that the Alpine plants 
of New Zealand, having survived the greatest changes, are its most 
ancient boloninte : and it is a most important one in many respects, but 
especially when considered with reference to the mountain floras of the 
With Sag oe © the British mountains, Professor Forbes imagines that they were 
with | 
itade, and ery slight gevlogical change aghiins: lower its mean temperature many 
+ The New Zealand naturalist has probably a very simple means of determining 
for hi whether his island has been subject to a geologically recent amelioration 
of climate ; to do which, let him examine the fiord-like bays of the west coast of 
he Middle Island, for evidence of the — which there exist in ne pane nten o 
having formerly descended lower than they now do. Glaciers to this day escend 
® the level of the sea in South nage : oo latitude of Dusky Bay; and if oad 
lave done so: in. the latter locality, the 1 have left abst Mg ‘the shape of 
‘moraines, and scratched and Mtished rocks. 
2 
