Produced by StevenGibbs, Keith Edkins and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors have been corrected: they are listed at the end of the text. * * * * * FRONTISPIECE [Illustration] ISLAND LIFE OR THE PHENOMENA AND CAUSES OF INSULAR FAUNAS AND FLORAS INCLUDING A REVISION AND ATTEMPTED SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM OF GEOLOGICAL CLIMATES BY ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE AUTHOR OF "THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO," "THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS," "DARWINISM," ETC. _SECOND AND REVISED EDITION_ London MACMILLAN AND CO. AND NEW YORK 1895 _The Right of Translation and Reproduction is Reserved_ * * * * * RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BUNGAY. _First Edition printed 1880 (Med. 8vo). Second Edition 1892 (Extra cr. 8vo). Reprinted 1895._ * * * * * TO SIR JOSEPH DALTON HOOKER, K.C.S.I., C.B., F.R.S., ETC., ETC. WHO, MORE THAN ANY OTHER WRITER, HAS ADVANCED OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS, AND ESPECIALLY OF INSULAR FLORAS, I Dedicate this Volume; ON A KINDRED SUBJECT, AS A TOKEN OF ADMIRATION AND REGARD. * * * * * {vi} CORRECTIONS IN PRESENT ISSUE. The first issue of this Edition being exhausted, the opportunity is taken of making a few corrections, the most important of which are here stated:-- _Page_ 163. Statement modified as to supposed glaciation of South Africa. _Pages_ 174 and 338. Many geologists now hold that there was no great submergence during the glacial epoch. The passages referring to it have therefore been re-written. _Page_ 182. Colonel Fielden's explanation of the occurrence of large trees on shores and in recent drift in high latitudes, is now added. " 272. A species of Carex peculiar to Bermuda is now given. " 356. _Geomalacus maculosus_, as a peculiar British species, is now omitted. Verbal alterations have also been made at pages 41, 105, 356, and 360. * * * * * {vii} PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION This edition has been carefully revised throughout, and owing to the great increase to our knowledge of the Natural History of some of the islands during the last twelve years considerable additions or alterations have been required. The more important of these changes are the following:-- Chapter VII. The account of the migrations of animals and plants during and since the Glacial Epoch, has been modified to accord with newer information. Chapters VIII and IX. The discussion of the causes of Glacial Epochs and Mild Arctic Climates has been somewhat modified in view of the late Dr. Croll's remarks, and the argument rendered clearer. Chapter XIII. Several additions to the Fauna of the Galapagos have been noted.