Lord Howe Island . 
281 
72; to Norfolk Island, 39; to Polynesia, 82; to the Malay 
Archipelago, 54 ; and the extensions beyond the countries 
named, 79. 
Now a few facts with regard to the absence of certain 
elements from the flora. It has already been mentioned that 
few of the plants known from actual observation to be dis- 
persed by ocean currents and birds are found in the island. 
All the Leguminosae in the island, however, with the exception, 
perhaps, of the Carmichaelia , belong to this category, as well 
as several species of Ipomoea. The characteristic shrubs and 
trees of tropical and subtropical Polynesia, such as Thespesia , 
Peinphis , Barr ing to n ia , Suriana , Gnettarda , Monnda , Cordia , 
and T our nef or ti a are wholly absent. Gymnosperms and 
Proteaceae are unrepresented, though both are present in 
New Zealand and Norfolk Island. The commonest Aus- 
tralian types, abundant in Tasmania, such as Eucalyptus , 
Acacia , and Casuarina , are wanting here, as they are also in 
New Zealand. The liliaceous genus Cordyline , a conspicuous 
feature in New Zealand, Tasmania, Australia, and Norfolk 
Island, though not restricted to these countries, might have 
been expected to occur. Equally singular is the absence 
of Ranunculus , Epilobium , and Veronica , genera of world- 
wide distribution, so copiously developed in New Zealand, 
where they are exceedingly numerous in species, and not 
uncommon in Australia, alike in lower latitudes and lower 
altitudes. Poverty in Leguminosae it shares in common 
with New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and the distant Juan 
Fernandez and St. Helena, to say nothing of the numerous 
smaller southern islands. I might continue these com- 
parisons, but enough has been said to give an idea of the 
composition of this peculiar small flora, the affinities of which 
are somewhat complex. The endemic element in this, as 
in so many other insular floras, has been much over-estimated 
by some writers, and this has often led to false or improbable 
deductions. After eliminating all plants likely to have been 
introduced, accidentally or intentionally, the specific endemic 
element does not exceed 25 per cent., whereas in New 
