24 The Botanical Gazette. [January, 
ing above the water to golden-yellow patches of ripe grain. 
At Hanalei, my destination, I found excellent accommodation 
and a delightful bathing beach, the latter especially attractive 
after a thirty-five-mile drive over dusty roads. Hanalei is © 
beautifully situated on a picturesque bay with bold mountains — 
rising directly back. The next morning a native was hired 
to go with me into the woods, and the day was spent in col- 
lecting. The variety of trees, as well as other phaenogams, — 
is much greater here than in Hawaii; the ferns, also, were 
very fine. Here I obtained a prize ina fine lot of the pro- 
thallia and young plants of Marattia, as well as some other 
interesting things. 
Want of space forbids going into details, but no botanist 
visiting the islands can afford to miss Kauai. . 
In position, the Hawaiian Islands are unique, being more 
isolated than any other land of equal area upon the gfobe. } 
More than 2,000 miles separates them from the mainland, — 
and 1,860 miles from the nearest high islands. Of purely _ 
volcanic origin, thrown up from an immense depth, they have — 
always been thus isolated. As might be expected, the flora 
1S very peculiar, more so than in any other country. Ac 
cording to Hillebrand, of 800 species of spermaphytes and 
pteridophytes that are strictly indigenous, 653 or seventy- 
ve per cent. are endemic. Taking out the pteridophytes, 
the spermaphytes show over eighty-one per cent; and the 
dicotyledons over eighty-five per cent. that are found only — 
in this group. * 
For a thorough study of this very curious flora, a long time — 
would be necessary, 
and many of the most interesting localities are very difficult | 
and the ages of the islands. The formation of the islands 
€ poorest in forms, although in hi! 
S are most favorable for a luxuriant 
