ISO IN LOWER FLORIDA WILDS 



have never been connected since the present life 

 migrated to their shores. I am convinced that 

 this life was largely current-borne and was brought 

 to the different land areas at different times. If 

 the greater part of our tropical plants had been intro- 

 duced by birds the seeds would have been scattered 

 promiscuously over our entire territory, and the 

 more tropical part of the State would he inhabited 

 by only a single flora ! 



Some of the minute or winged seeds might be, 

 and probably were, carried across during hurri- 

 canes, especially those of the air pines, the orchids, 

 Jamaica dogwood, mahogany, and the spores of 

 ferns, but I believe that a majority of our tropical 

 plants were introduced by the Gulf Stream. A 

 number of the drupes, berries, and other seeds 

 float and retain their vitality in salt water for a 

 considerable time. In little bays along the coast 

 of Utilla Island, Honduras, I have seen acres of 

 seeds of every conceivable description densely 

 crowded together and floating, — ^held, as one might 

 say, in these great warehouses awaiting shipment 

 to Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, or to Lower Florida. 

 Some wayward current or strong wind might drive 

 them out into the open sea and into the Gulf 



