282 
Hems ley. — The Flora of 
Zealand, West Australia, South Africa, and other countries 
it ranges from 60 to 85 per cent. Yet it has been objected 
that a former land-connexion between New Zealand and 
Howe Island was improbable on account of the endemic 
character of the flora of the latter. This is the view taken 
by Drude. Tchihatchef states that the flora has little affinity 
with that of Australia, and belongs to the same centre as 
Norfolk Island. Wallace, Engler, and others favour a 
considerable former land-connexion in this region ; and 
looking at the statistics, and the mixed character of the 
flora, when considered in connexion with that of New 
Zealand, Norfolk Island, and East Australia, this seems the 
only sound explanation. The figures given, pp. 272-281, make 
it difficult to decide where the strongest affinities lie, though 
when we consider the size of the different areas there 
is little to choose between them. The number of species 
common to the island and Australia only, is far in excess 
of those common to the island and to New Zealand and 
Norfolk Island combined. The next highest in these com- 
parisons is the number common to the island and to 
Australia and New Zealand combined. Still we cannot 
determine the affinities by mere numbers. 
As to the flora being derived rather than the remains of 
a former more extensive one, I think the evidence is all in 
favour of the latter view, or we must suppose a former much 
more extensive interchange of plants than under existing 
agencies could possibly take place. For many years I have 
been collecting evidence bearing on the dispersal of plants, 
and I think that all the conveying agencies combined are 
insufficient to account for the present flora of Lord Howe 
Island. 
In conclusion, I may repeat that the prominent features 
in the vegetation of Howe Island are the Palms, Screw-Pines, 
Tree-Ferns, and Banyans; and specially noteworthy among 
the rare endemic plants are Moraea Robinsoniana and Draco - 
phyllum Fitzgeraldi . Excepting the Seychelles, where there 
is an even greater development of Palms, no other remote 
