Shannon, and branches, in Ireland; Douro, Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquiver, of the Spanish Peninsula, flowing directly into the Atlantic.

(c) The drainage of the Mediterranean comprises the Segura, Zucar, and Ebro, in Spain; the Rhone, in France; the Arno, and Tiber, in Italy; as well as the Po, and Adige, flowing into the G. of Venice; the Vardar, and Maritza, emptying themselves into the Grecian Archipelago; with the Danube (1700), Dniester, Bug, Dnieper (1200), flowing directly into the Black Sea; and the Don (1,000), and Kuban, emptying themselves into the S. of Azov.

(d) The Volga, and Ural, draining into the Caspian Sea.

Lakes. The largest lakes of Europe are those of N. Russia, Sweden, Italy, and Switzerland.

In N. Russia are,—Onega, Bieloe, Kubinskoe, Ladoga, Peipus, Ilmen, Saima, and Enara.

In Sweden are,-Wener, Wetter, and Mælar, besides those of the upper valleys of the rivers rising in the Dofrine Mts., and flowing eastwards into the G. of Bothnia.

In Italy are the Alpine Lakes, belonging to the tributaries of the left bank of the Po, viz.-Como, Garda, and Maggiore.

In Switzerland are the "Lakes of the Plain,” fed by the Rhine and its chief left-hand tributary the R. Aar, viz.,-L. Constance, or the Boden See; Zurich, Lucerne, Zug, Brienz, Thun, and Neufchatel. In addition we have the L. of Geneva or L. Leman, fed by the R. Rhone.

Besides these systems of Lakes, we have the following isolated in Europe:-the Platten See and Neusied ler See, in Hungary; Lomond, Ness, Katrine, and Tay, in Scotland; Windermere and Derwentwater, in Cumberland; Bala, in Merioneth (Wales); Corrib, Musk, Neagh, Erne, Ree, Derg, and Killarney, in Ireland; few others.

Islands. The largest islands of Europe are the British Isles (Gt. Britain and Ireland), Iceland, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, and Candia (ancient Crete). In addition we have the following:-Kolguev, Mageroe, Soroe, Nova Zembla, Spitzbergen, and Tromsoe Isles, and Lofoden Isles in the Arctic O.; the Aland Isles, Dago, Oesel, Faro, Gothland, Oeland, Zealand, Funen, Bornholm, Rugen, Falster, Moen, Fehmern, Langeland, and Alsen, in the Baltic Sea; I. of Wight, I. of Man, Anglesea, Holyhead, Lundy I., Bardsey I., Scilly Is., Channel I., Holy I., and Fern I., of England; the Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetland Is., Arran, Bute, Islay, Jura, Mull, Tiree, Coll, Rum Eigg, and Skye, of Scotland; Rathlin I., Achil, Clare Aran, and C. Clear I., of Ireland; the Texel, of Holland; Walcheren, of Belgium; Ushant, Belle I. Re, Oleron, and Hyeres Isles, of France; Majorca, Minorca, and Ivica, forming the Balearic Isles, of

Spain; Elba, Ischia, and Malta, off the coast of Italy; the Ionian Isies, in the Ionian Sea; and the European portion of the Grecian Archipelago, including Cerigo, and Egina.

In the N. Atlantic are also the Faroe Isles, and the Azores.

The Islands of Europe occupy altogether about one-nineteenth of the whole area.

Climate. The climate of Europe is warmly Temperate in the S., and coldly temperate in the N., according to its position in the Temperate Zone. The climate of the E. is more extreme than that of the W., owing to the contiguous continent of Asia on the one hand, and the warm waters of the Atlantic O., and the prevalent S. W. winds on the other; the climate is drier as we proceed from W. to E., for the same reason. The countries in the S. are afflicted with the Scirroco, a hot blast of wind from the Sahara. The climate of the extreme N. is very hot in summer, which is however very brief; and extremely cold in winter.

This continent offers the most favourable conditions for civilization in the temperate climate which allows leisure for mental culture after the wants of the body have been satisfied; and in the ready access to the other parts of the world by means of its comparatively extensive coast-line.

It is here accordingly that the most progressive civilizations are located; and here that the most useful and striking inventions have been made, and the arts and sciences most developed.

Divisions.-Europe is divided into different countries, which, with their capitals, areas, religions, populations, and governments, are tabulated herewith.

FRANCE.

Boundaries.-France is bounded On the N., by the English Channel, or La Manche (The Sleeve). On the W., by the B. of Biscay. On the S., by the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. On the E., by the Maritime, Cottian, and Graian Alps, dividing France from N.W. Italy; by Switzerland, further N.; and by the German conquests, Alsace and Lorraine; and by Belgium on the N.E. The whole of the eastern boundary, with the exception of the Alps, is thus seen to be an arbitrary rather than a natural one. The country extends in length 660 miles from N.W. to S.E., and 615 miles in breadth from N.E. to S.W.

Mountains. The principal mountains of France are the Pyrenees, attaining 10,000 ft., which will be described when we speak of Spain. The Cevennes, 5,000 ft., bending in a flattened arc on the W. side of the Loire, with the convexity towards that river, and having a general N. and S. direction. This chain thus forms the watershed (line of division) between the tributaries of the Garonne on the the W., and those of the right bank of the lower Rhone. To the W. of the Cevennes, but extending further N., are the Mts. of Forez, dividing the valley of the upper Loire from that of its tributary the Allier; while still further to the W., occupying the centre of the country, are the Mts. of Auvergne, 6,000 ft., containing Cantal Mt., Mt. d'Or, and the Puy de Dome. It is in this elevated district of extinct volcanic action that several of the left bank tributaries of the R. Loire, and some of the tributaries of the right bank of the Garonne take their rise.

Crossing over the valley of the Loire, we find the N. of France, generally speaking, very flat, except in the W., where we have the Heights of Brittany, in the district of Bretagne.

The eastern border, on the contrary, is very mountainous, except on the Belgian frontier. It is here that we have the elevated districts of the Ardennes;