This difference might indeed have been expected if the islands have been stocked by occasional means of transport--a seed, for instance, of one plant having been brought to one island, and that of another plant to another island, though all proceeding from the same general source.

Hence, when in former times an immigrant first settled on one of the islands, or when it subsequently spread from one to another, it would undoubtedly be exposed to different conditions in the different islands, for it would have to compete with a different set of organisms; a plant, for instance, would find the ground best-fitted for it occupied by somewhat different species in the different islands, and would be exposed to the attacks of somewhat different enemies.

If, then, it varied, natural selection would probably favour different varieties in the different islands.