FLORA ОЕ NEW PROVIDENCE AND ANDROS 16 
the water were 500 fathoms shallower than at present, the Little 
and Great Bahama banks would be united with Florida and some 
of the Windward Islands would be connected. Itis not, however, 
until a layer of water 1,000 fathoms deep is removed that impor- 
tant changes would occur. Jamaica would be united with Hon- 
duras, Cuba with Florida and also with South America through 
the Windward Islands. There would be a narrow channel between 
Cuba and Yucatan, between Jamaica and Haiti and a wide and 
deep channel between Jamaica and Cuba. Watlings, the Acklin 
Island group and Inagua would still be isolated and the distances 
between them and the neighboring land would not be materially 
diminished. * * * The Greater Antilles are of ancient forma- 
tion and may have been connected with Mexico and Central 
America at some remote period. But the Bahamas, the Wind- 
ward Islands and the southern extremity of Florida are of recent 
origin." 
Professor Hitchcock thinks, however, as seems most probable, 
that the ordinary methods of dissemination are sufficient to ac- 
count for the Bahaman flora and that the theory of an ancient 
land connection is not necessary. 
= The following table shows the distribution of the plants col- 
lected by us оп New Providence and Andros and bears out the 
conclusion arrived at by Hitchcock and others that the bulk of 
the Bahaman plants have come from the south. | 
Although Andros is very nearly as close to Florida as it is to 
Cuba, its plants are most closely allied with those of Cuba, com- 
paratively few species, apparently, having come from the north. 
Our exploration of Andros, however, has shown that this northern 
contingent is considerably larger than was supposed, a distinct 
colony of northern plants having found a foothold on the west 
side of Andros. Many of these have never been reported from 
either Cuba or any of the other islands of the group. 
It was to be expected that the majority of the Bahaman plants 
would have a southern origin, on account of the greater similarity 
of the climate and because the prevailing winds and currents и: 
from that direction. There are occasionally heavy ''northers 
during the winter, when the wind blows hard from the northwest 
for a number of days at a time. Тһе velocity of the Gulf Stream 
