237 BOTANY. 
the seeds found on the surface of the glaciers themselves, belie- _ 
ing that these must indicate accurately the species whose seeds are 
dispersed by the agency of the wind. Of the former description 
he was able to identify, on five different moraines, one hundred 
and twenty-four species of plants, and a careful examination of the 
substances gathered from the surface of the glacier showed seeds — 
belonging to thirty-six species which could be recognized with 
certainty. The two lists agreed entirely in general character, and 
to a considerable extent, also specifically ; belonging, with scarcely 
an exception, to plants found on the declivities and in the moui- 
tain valleys in the immediate vicinity of the glacier ; scarcely ina 
single instance even to inhabitants of the more southern Alps. 
M. Kerner’s conclusion is that the distance to which seeds can bè 
carried by the wind, even when provided with special apparatus 
for floating in the air, has generally been greatly ov rer-estimated; : 
and this is very much in accordance with the view advanced by 
Mr. Bentham in his Anniver sary Address to the Linnzan Society 
of London, in 1869. Along with the seeds M. Kerner found, 00 
the surface of the glacier, more or less perfect remains of a nun 
ber of insects belonging to the orders Lepidoptera, emis 
Diptera and Coleoptera, which, like the seeds, belong 
exclusively to species abounding in the immediate rit ; 
of the glaciers. 
The species of plants which are specially inhabitants 
higher mountain regions M. Kerner divides into two classes. 
the first the seed or fruit is provided with an appendage of val ce 
kinds, to enable it to be carried easily by the wind; the spect 
possess generally a short span of life, are continually shifting ti 
habitat, will grow where there is scarcely any soil, and ba pe 
love to establish themselves in the clefts or on the inaccessible § 
of rocks; their floating apparatus appears designed rather to en 
them to reach these habitats, where no other plants could : 
themselves, than to be carried any great distance by * 
The second kind are much more stationary, have a a grea 
of life, require a richer soil, are unprovided with any ap? 
for flight, and can advance only very gradually ; they are 
quently much less abundant than the first kind. From ! the 
tached loe 
Ips; ve 
e 
observations, and the fact of the existence of de 
for some of the mountain species in the Tyrolese A 
mote from their more abundant habitats further sout 
