[D17]

During Miocene or old Pliocene, climate apparently warmer than now, & yet many species of shells in common (when Miocene temp Flora very different & consisted of American plants) there could have been only a small polar country, (hence but few species) & these migrated southward either over land or by ice & occupied now temperate Europe or its islands, Faroe, Iceland & Greenland a desert (no peculiar species) must have been colonized subsequently; & from Europe as nearest country, & hence Baffin Bay stopped many plants hence Marten's facts about direction of immigration of plants. But migration of Birds wd. make one think that land once continuous.

Martius, Carl Friedrich Philipp von. 1839. Die Verbreitung der Palmen in der alten Welt, mit besonderer Rücksicht auf die Floren-Reiche. Munchen: n.p. (from: Münchner Gelehrten Anzeigen no. 105-118). PDF