10 Procccdim/s of the Royal Irish Academy. 



in that manner. JMost of them require for their dispersal a solid and 

 continuous expanse of soil. They will proceed on it slowly, and step by step 

 as it were. 



To return to the subject under discussion, Sir Joseph Hooker evidently 

 believed that the flora of Greenland had travelled across from Europe by a 

 land-bridge in Pre-Glacial times. He considered the existing plants of the 

 country as certainly older than the Glacial period ; for he argued that the 

 severity of the climate destroyed many species, while the remainder took 

 refuge and survived in tlie southern parts of Greenland.' 



Professor James Geikie maintains that a land-connexion between 

 Greenland, Iceland, the Farcies, and Scotland must have existed, because the 

 plants could only have migrated from Europe over a land surface.- 



To Professor Geikie the idea of a survival of plants during the lee Age in 

 Greenland is inconceivable. He therefore argues tliat the land-bridge could 

 only have existed in Post-Glacial times. Hence the Glacial period and its 

 supposed adverse influence upon the flora of northern Europe has now become 

 tlie mainspring of most speculations as to the former presence or absence of 

 a northern land-bridge. 



Professor Nathoret concurs with Professor Geikie in so far as he believes 

 in the extinction of the Greenland flora during the Ice Age. He had formerly 

 advocated a Post-Glacial land-bridge, and now regards it as somewhat 

 doubtful.' Anotlier Scandinavian botanist, Professor Wanning,* admits 

 that the mass of the Gi-eenland flora survived the Glacial period in 

 the country. The remainder arrived more recently by various modes of 

 occasional transjiort, and with this view Sir Henry ITowortli agrees." In 

 his " Botany of the Fari>ea," Professor Warming argues that the entire 

 flora of the islands is due to accidental dispersal. Yet, in the same volume, 

 Ur. Ostenfeld expresses himself very strongly against Professor Warming's 

 tlieiiry. Only ^^'\ per cent, of the flora, he maintains, are adapted for dissemi- 

 nation by the agency of wind. The ocean currents seem to be as unfavourable 

 as possible for the Faroes. A strong extension of the Gulf Stream flows 

 south-east of the islands; and as it comes from the open Atlantic directly 

 south-west of the Faroes, and has not touched land since the West Indies, 

 the only seeds it could possibly convey are tropical. The current thus forms a 

 regular barrier between Scotland and the Faroes. Any seeds coming from 



' Hooker, J. D., " Dutribiition of Arctic PUnt«," pp. 252-5.'j. 



' Gcikip, James, " Prehistoric Europe," p. 520. 



' Xathor.-t, A. 0., "Geachichtc d. Vegetation Oronlands," p. 214. 



* Warming, E., " Ceber Gronlanda Vegetation," p. 403. 



» Ho*orth, H., "Geological History of Arctic Lands," p. 500. 



