CONTENTS 



Preface Pages vii— x 



List of some of the Principal Authorities quoted, with an Enu- 

 meration OF THE Author's Botanical Papers . . . Pages xiii — xv 



List of Illustrations . . . . Page xxvii 



Additions and Corrections . . Page xxviii 



CHAPTER I 



introduction 



The study of insular floras. — Their investigation in this work from the stand- 

 point of dispersal. — The significance of plant-distribution in the Pacific. — 

 The problems connected with the mountain-flora of Hawaii. — The per- 

 sistence of dispersing agencies at the coast, their partial suspension on the 

 mountain-top, their more or less complete suspension in the forest, and the 

 effect on the endemic character of plants. — The connection between the 

 endemism of birds and plants. — The relative antiquity of plants of the coast, 

 forest, and mountain-top. — The genetic relation between coast and inland 

 species of the same genus. — The ethics of plant-dispersal. — Evolution takes 

 no heed of modes of dispersal. — The seed-stage is the price of Adaptation. 



Pages I — II 



CHAPTER II 

 the floras of the pacific islands from the standpoint OF dispersal 



BY currents 



The initial experiment. — The proportion of littoral plants. — The two great 

 principles of buoyancy. — The investigations of Professor Schimper. — The 

 investigations of the author. — The great sorting process of the ages. — 

 Preliminary results of the inquiry into the buoyancy of seeds and fruits. 



Pages 12 — 22 



