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1859
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1869
1872

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1859
1860
1861
1869
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continents which are now 1859 1860 1861 1866
most of our continents which now stand 1869 1872

affinity 1866 1869 1872
relation (as we shall hereafter see) 1859 1860 1861

mammals inhabiting islands with those 1866 1869 1872
distribution of mammals and the depth 1859 1860 1861

nearest continent, being in part determined (as we shall hereafter see) by the depth of the intervening ocean,— 1866 1869 1872
sea,— 1859 1860 1861

seem to me 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869
are 1872

likewise seem to me 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869
are likewise 1872

of such islands favour 1866 1869 1872
favour 1859 1860 1861

OMIT 1866
mountain-ranges on the land, some at least of the islands would have been formed, like other 1859 1860 1861
continental mountain-ranges, some at least of the islands would have been formed, like other 1869 1872

distribution. 1859 1860 1861 1866 1869
distribution. I shall here confine myself to plants. 1872

something definite about the means of distribution, we shall be enabled to speculate with security on the former extension of the land. But I do not believe that it will ever be proved that within the recent period continents which are now quite separate, have been continuously, or almost
continuously
continuously,
united with each other, and with the many existing oceanic islands. Several facts in distribution,— such as the great difference in the marine faunas on the opposite sides of almost every continent,— the close relation of the tertiary inhabitants of several lands and even seas to their present inhabitants,—
a certain
the
degree of affinity between the mammals inhabiting islands with those of the nearest continent, being in part determined (as we shall hereafter see) by the depth of the intervening ocean,— these and other such facts seem to me opposed to the admission of such prodigious geographical revolutions within the recent period, as are
necessary
necessitated
on the view advanced by Forbes and admitted by his
many
many
followers. The nature and relative proportions of the inhabitants of oceanic islands likewise seem to me opposed to the belief of their former continuity with continents. Nor does
their
the
almost universally volcanic composition of such islands favour the admission that they are the wrecks of sunken continents;— if they had originally existed as OMIT mountain-summits, of granite, metamorphic schists, old fossiliferous
and
or
other
such
such
rocks, instead of consisting of mere piles of volcanic matter.
I must now say a few words on what are called accidental means, but which more properly
might
should
be called occasional means of distribution. I shall here confine myself to plants. In botanical works, this or that plant is
often stated
stated
to be ill adapted for wide dissemination; but