290 Distribution of MotJis oj the Sub-family Bistonince. 



Evidently', if this were the route, other species of varying 

 relationships should exist at different points of the broken 

 fragments of the bridge, and, fortunately, such can be produced. 

 The former connection of the Ladrones and Carolines with the 

 Palnsarctic region needs no better example than that afforded 

 by their possessing one of our ordinary Fritillary Butterflies 

 of the genus Argynnis, and we shall, in consequence, not 

 linger here. 



So, too, the linking up with New Zealand is not a tedious 

 undertaking, so many instances of various values and types 

 being procurable. Take, for example, the very characteris- 

 tically Palaearctic plant subfamily Capnfolica. Look at this 

 selection of its contents : — 



Genus Caprifolium. Distribution : — Holarctic. 



Genus Weigalia. Distribution : — North East America and 

 Eastern Asia (note the valuable hint as to its age and origin 

 provided by its discontinuity). 



Genus Aleuosmia. Distribution : — New Zealand. 



Genus Abelia. Distribution : — China and Japan. 



Comment is superfluous ; the areas cited must have been 

 joined up in a manner allowing of the migration of temperate 

 forms. 



Further, consider the whole of the Natural Order ElcBo- 

 carpacecB, in particular the type genus Elceocarpus, found in 

 New Zealand, E. Asia, Japan, and the Sandwich Islands. 

 Examine it in conjunction with the closely related Antholoma 

 and Duboutzia from New Caledonia, and again the old path 

 available between Japan and New Zealand is clearly indicated. 

 If still further examples are needed, many may be quoted, but 

 we shall content ourselves with the mention of two more, one 

 the Composite genus Lageniphora, found in the East Indies, 

 Japan, and New Zealand, useful as driving home the lessons 

 of the preceeding, and, lastly, the Natural Order, the Araliaccce, 

 which occurs in all moods and tenses at all parts of the suggested 

 route and its surroundings. Moreover, the case of this order 

 presents us with a curious and forceful fact, and that is the 

 enormous number of endemic genera evolved within its limits 

 in New Caledonia, implying that this important island was 

 much more extensive in past epochs than now, and that, there- 

 fore, in the New Caledonian neighbourhood, the land connex- 

 ions we have postulated attained their maximum breadth ; 

 this statement the soundings confirm. 



To forge the last link of the chain is our next task, and 

 that is to adduce examples bringing New Caledonia, Australia 

 and New Zealand into contact. Of all the admirable examples 

 to be used, none will stand us in better stead than the plant 

 Natural. Order, Epacridaccce, for its whole tendencies are 

 temperate. No better choice from it can be chosen than the 



Naturalist, 



