moseLey. ii 



It will be seen that the numbers correspond pretty 

 well with the size of the islands, the largest island 

 having the greatest number of species, the next in size 

 the next greatest number, etc. The different islands are 

 very similar in character, consisting of limestone 

 covered more or less with clay and without any 

 permanent streams. The difference in physical features 

 and the difference in flora between the islands are much 

 less than between parts of the mainland of Erie county 

 separated by shorter distances. The entire number of 

 different species is 612. Fourteen of these are 

 Naiadaceae growing in the water of bays or along the 

 shore, most of them at Put-in-Bay and North Bass. 

 The islands are poor in ferns, the whole number of 

 species being only eight, of which Kelley's has six, Put- 

 in-Bay three, all scarce, Green Island two, Middle Bass 

 and Rattlesnake one each, and North Bass none. We 

 have found on them no orchids and no Ericaceae. 

 Kelley's island, owing to its extensive commerce and 

 cultivation, together with the protection from frost 

 afforded by the water, has many naturalized species, 

 especially along the south shore, two or three of which 

 have not been noticed elsewhere. Excepting these and 

 three rare sedges, and one rare golden rod, the islands 

 appear to have no plants that have not been found 

 also on the mainland of Erie county or on Marblehead, 

 — not so many species as are afforded by each town- 

 ship of Erie county, excepting Groton. However, in 

 view of the fact that the islands have no permanent 

 streams, no ravines, no alluvial soil and little or no 

 sand except the barren sand in some places along the 

 shores, their flora is probably as varied as that of 

 equal areas on the mainland where these defects exist. 

 Their combined area is only about ten square miles. 



It has been supposed that the lake, which after the 

 melting of the southern portion of the glacier over- 

 spread a larger area than Lake Erie does now, sub- 



