Page:The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage.djvu/20

xii peculiar productions are confined to the narrowest limits, is a strong argument in favour of a general distribution of vegetable life over separate spots on the globe. Hence it will appear, that islands so situated furnish the best materials for a rigid comparison of the effects of geographical position and the various meteorological phenomena on vegetation, and for acquiring a knowledge of the great laws according to which plants are distributed over the face of the globe. These subjects are however foreign to the present sketch, the author of which hopes, ere long, to have an opportunity of dwelling upon them at large and in a different form.

Those persons who have spent a series of years on the ocean, in pursuit of a favourite science, know how little can be effected by the unaided efforts of one individual, and where much is accomplished, how large is the debt of obligation incurred, not only to the facilities afforded by shipmates, but to the accommodating disposition of those with whom he comes in daily contact, and with whom he literally shares one cabin and one table. The author may here be allowed to say, that no man can be more deeply sensible than he is of the rare privilege he enjoyed, in having messmates who were ever ready to sacrifice their own convenience for his accommodation. Most especially does he feel it incumbent on him here to return his thanks to the commanding Officer of the expedition (as is his first duty) for the opportunity afforded of accompanying him, for the kindness always shown during this the most important and interesting scientific voyage that has been accomplished since the days of Cook, and for the generous manner in which that officer's private cabin and library were unreservedly placed at his disposal during the whole time the expedition was afloat. Attached as Sir James Clark Ross has ever been to the various branches of Natural History, he took a pleasure in promoting the interests of the collections at all times, and himself gathered many of the plants here described.

There were few of the officers of either ship who did not contribute something to the collection of plants; but the botanist feels it peculiarly imperative on him here to enumerate and return his especial thanks to Mr. Lyall, Lieut. Smith, and Mr. Davis. Mr. Lyall indeed, as appointed to take charge of the botanical collections on board the "Terror," formed a most important herbarium, from which great assistance has been derived, amounting to no less than 1500 species.