[59]

Hooker. Antarctic Work.. Nov. 45. The absence of Alpine plants in the antarctic islds. & especially in S. America shows that the manufacture of such species (& of all species) is a hard effort.— H. attributes the uniformity & paucity of species in S. America & Antarctic islands to uniformity of climate. Opposed to this is the very fact of same species inhabiting Alpine & lowland situations. Surely there is no great difference in climate between N. New Zealand & Tasmania & yet great diff: in species. Surely S. S. America including Patagonia presents greater range of climate than S. Africa, & yet wonderful difference in number of plants.— Surely some other cause of difference in number: in isld. we can understand this on my theory: & theoretically understand it, by oscillations ha not having been many.—