1896 | BOTANICAL PAPERS AT BUFFALO 219 
the periphery of the islands. The following zones were described 
from periphery to center: (1) shore zone, (2) outer shrub, (3) 
tree zone, (4) inner shrub, (5) central meadow or central shrub 
In islands in which the soil formation was recent the zonal dis- 
tribution was shown to be distinct, but in older soiled islands, 
where the soil had become thick, it was shown that the central 
meadow at first becomes a central shrub and, finally, with the 
addition of further soil layers, a central tree formation is devel- 
oped. Zonal distribution is still evident in islands with thick 
soil sheets, for the peripheral tree formation is made up of older 
individuals than occur at the center of the island. If, however, 
the rock surface is very irregular, this zonal distribution cannot 
appear, and the island in such a case is commonly clothed with 
a pretty uniform coniferous formation. 
It was shown that after burning off an island zonal distribu- 
tion will reappear in the new plants established only when the 
soil is thin; when it is thick the whole island is uniformly ten- 
anted by light seeded species such as willows, poplars, and epi- 
lobiums. 
The two basal forms of islands, the irregular and the dome- 
shaped, may be considered as combining and forming the var- 
lously shaped larger islands of the region. All islands can be 
explained in terms of these. Slope, contour, strike, and bedding 
of country rock, disposition of talus masses, direction and width 
of crevices, and formation of gullies, were discussed as influenc- 
ing the general distribution of the plants, and attention was 
directed to the influence upon vegetation by proximate islands 
which modulated the wave action upon a given shore. 
Zonal distribution on land is quite as evident in these areas as 
is the zonal distribution in lakes described by Mangin and others. 
The paper was illustrated by numerous lantern slides. 
N. L. Brirron: An Eleocharis new to North America.—1n 
the Alaskan collections of Thomas Howell an Eleocharis was 
found which proves to be a species hitherto known from Japan. 
It is remarkable for its very large tubercle, which exceeds the 
