covered with blossoms of dazzling brightness and beauty." Between the 30th and 40th parallels, the camellia tribe is conspicuous. The beautiful camellia-japonica, so much admired in our green-houses, is a native of this region. China and Japan, in fact, are rich in floral treasures, the former being frequently styled by its inhabitants the "Middle Flowery Kingdom."

65. No part of the world has a vegetation more luxuriant and varied than the Asiatic Archipelago. "Jungles* and dense pestilential woods entirely cover the smaller islands," and overspread the plains of the larger. The coasts are lined with mangrove thickets and with a "matted vegetation of forest trees, bamboos, and coarse grasses," interwoven with climbing and creeping plants, and choked with huge mosses and rank parasites.

66. Palms and tree-ferns are more abundant here than in any other part of the world. All the principal spices except pimento abound, with fruits and esculent vegetables in endless variety.

67. Farther India forms, in some measure, a transition region between the vegetation of the archipelago and that of Hindoostan. But it has a splendid flora of its own, including numerous plants of rare value and beauty. Its soil, in many parts, yields three crops a year, and the bamboo-cane grows in the lowlands, a foot and a half thick.

68. The vegetation of both the Indian peninsulas, where well watered, is little inferior in richness and variety to that of the neighboring islands. Their flora as a whole is characterized by its numerous plants of the ginger tribe (which produce ginger, cardamons, and turmeric). It is also distinguished for its leguminous† trees, vines, etc. Fig-treeswhich have been mentioned, in connection with tree-ferns, as generally characteristic of the tropical zones [see page 95, paragraph 26]—are exceedingly abundant, and in Hindoostan present the most peculiar and gigantic forms.

69. The forests of these peninsulas, as well as of the Indian Archipelago, abound in rich and valuable woods; such as teak, iron-wood, ebony,

Questions.-What are mixed with these etc.? Camellia tribe? Beautiful native flower? In what are China and Japan rich? Frequent appellation of the former? 65. Vegetation of the Asiatic Archipelago? Jungles and woods? Vegetation of the coasts? 66. Palms etc.? Spices, fruits, etc.? 67. Region formed by Farther India? Its own flora? Its crops and growth of bamboo? 63. Vegetation of both the Indian peninsulas? By what is their flora characterized? For what else distinguished? Fig-trees? 69. Woods abounding here?

* Jungles are dense thickets of reeds etc.

+ Such as are pod-bearing-yielding beans, peas, and the like.

rose-wood, satin-wood, and the fragrant sandal-wood. Nearly all the orange tribe and most of the banana tribe originate here. Among other native fruits are the lemon, citron, guava, mango, mangosteen, roseapple, etc.

70. The highlands of southwestern Arabia constitute a peculiar botanic region, chiefly marked by trees yielding balsam-such as balm of Gilead, myrrh, aloes, frankincense, and gum-arabic. They are also distinguished, like other regions of a dry hot climate, for plants and flowers of rich odors. But much of this region, as well as other parts of Arabia, is a sterile wilderness, whose verdure is mainly confined to the mountain-sides and to oases. The date-palm abounds here, and the tamarind and other fruits flourish.

71. "The vegetation of western Asia approaches nearly to that of India at one extremity, and Europe at the other." Syria and Asia Minor, like other countries on the Mediterranean, form a region of transition, where the vegetation of the temperate and tropical zones is united. We owe many of our best fruits and sweetest flowers to these regions. The pear, peach, apricot, cherry, mulberry, damson, pomegranate, and olive, the melon and cucumber, the almond and walnut, the lilac, oleander, garden ranunculus, and damask rose, all have their origin here. On the dry table-lands, vegetation is poor, consisting largely of thorny shrubs; or is wholly wanting.

72. Asia affords an extraordinary share of plants which contribute to the support and comfort of man.

73. Wheat, rye, and oats are supposed to be natives of Tartary and Persia; rice-the most important of all the cereals,-of southeastern Asia. Barley grows spontaneously in Tartary, as well as in European Sicily. Buckwheat is understood to be a native of the middle or northern regions of temperate Asia, and to have been introduced into Europe in the fifteenth century.

74. The batatas, or sweet potato, is of Indian origin. The cocoa-nut palm is indigenous in southeastern Asia, whence it has been transplanted to other parts of the torrid zone. Among other nutrient plants of Asiatic origin, tea and the spices-cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, cassia,

Questions.-Fruit tribes originating in these regions? Other native fruits? 70. Botanic region of Arabia? For what are these highlands also distinguished? Character of much of this region etc.? Its fruits? 71. Vegetation of western Asia? Region formed by Syria and Asia Minor? What do we owe to these regions? Mention some of the fruits etc. which have their origin here. Vegetation on the dry table-lands? 72. Of what does Asia afford an extraordinary share? 73. Native regions of wheat etc.? Of rice? Of buckwheat? 74. Origin of the batatas? Where is the cocoa-nut palm indigenous, and to what parts has it been transplanted? Other nutrient plaats of Asiatic origin?

and the common black pepper-have already been mentioned. Coffee, which is extensively cultivated in Arabia and the East Indies, was doubtless introduced from Africa.

75. Various species of cotton, hemp, and other plants affording textile fibers are natives of India and China.

76. Animals.-Asia contains a greater number and variety of animals than any other of the grand divisions. Most of the higher forms of animal life are indigenous to it, and most of the species domesticated by civilized nations have sprung from this region.

77. The elephant, by reason of its great strength and docility, stands at the head of the latter. It is seldom bred in a tame state; but, taken from its native forests, is readily subdued and trained to usefulness. Immense herds are found in northern Hindoostan, Ceylon, the Malay Peninsula, and several of the larger East India Islands.

78. The horse and ass are natives of the highland plains of western Asia, and in these regions attain their finest development.

79. The Bactrian camel-distinguished from the dromedary, or Arabian camel, by having two humps on its back, instead of one-is found chiefly among the wandering Tartars of Toorkistan. The dromedary has a wider range; and spreads not only over Arabia, Persia, and the intermediate countries, but extends into India, and probably into China.

80. Of the ox kind, no fewer than four species have been, from time immemorial, domesticated in different parts of Asia; viz., the yak or sarlyk of central Asia, the zebu or Indian ox, the buffalo of the south and east, and the gayal of Birmah.

81. The sheep and goat exist in several varieties. The broad-tailed sheep was known to the ancients: it is now spread throughout the steppes and also through northern Africa. On the higher tablelands there are other species, with a longer and finer wool. The famous Cashmere or shawl goat is found principally in the extreme northern and northeastern parts of Hindoostan, along the northern face of the Himalayas, and in the Plateau of Tibet. The Angora goat is an inferior variety of the shawl-goat. Both are comparatively small animals; while the common goat of Asia is tall, long-limbed, and shorthaired.

Questions.-Coffee? 75. Plants affording textile fibers? 76. Animals of Asia? Forms indigenous to it? Domesticated species? 77. What stands at the head of the latter? How is it obtained and fitted for usefulness? Herds found in various regions? 78. Native regions of the horse and ass? 79. Bactrian camel? Dromedary? 80. Domesticated species of the ox kind? 81. Sheep and goat? Broad-tailed sheep, and their present distribution? Other species of sheep? Cashmere goat? Angora goat? Appearance of these as compared with the common goat?

82. The hog, found wild in most parts, is a common domestic animal only among the Chinese.

83. Asia contains a great variety of dogs. In all the Indian villages there are troops of these animals, called pahria dogs, which belong to the public, and serve as watchers and scavengers. The most noted varieties, besides the above, are the large mastiff of Tibet and the greyhound of Persia.

84. The cat has always been a favorite domestic among the Asiatics. In central and western Asia it is noted for its superior beauty and mild disposition.

Questions,-82. The hog? 83. Dogs? What of those in Indian villages? Other noted varieties? 84. The cat?

85. Of wild mammals peculiar to Asia there is a remarkable variety. 86. The ape and monkey tribes include a great number of species, most of them inhabiting the Indies and southern China. Among the former are the orang-outang-noted for its resemblance to man-and the solemn apes-distinguished for their gentleness, quietude, and intelligence. The orang is confined chiefly to the large islands of the archipelago.

87. Several of the pachyderms or thick-skinned mammals of Asia have already been noticed. A species of one-horned rhinoceros inhabits India; and another, Java. A two-horned rhinoceros also is found in Sumatra. Of the hog genus, six species are known here: one-the common wild boar-inhabiting most of temperate Asia and Europe; the rest confined to the East India Islands and Malay Peninsula. The only other animal of the thick-skinned order is the tapir, in the southeast. Its existence in this locality is quite remarkable; since its kindred belong solely to America. The tapirs are the only genus of pachyderms common to both the Old, and New World.

88. The deer tribe abound; but antelopes are comparatively rare except in the archipelago. The Tibet musk-deer (about the size of a small goat) inhabits the mountainous regions of central and southeastern Asia. The male of this species yields the musk of commerce.

The

89. The Asiatic carnivora are exceedingly numerous. The tigerwhich is peculiar to Asia-and the leopard and panther are common in the hot latitudes, and wander as far north as the Altai Mountains. The lion inhabits the country from western Persia to the Plain of the Ganges; but unlike the African species, it has only a scanty mane. striped hyena is found in the warmer latitudes, especially toward Africa. The wolf ranges throughout the temperate regions except in the southeast; and wild dogs and foxes, of various species, are almost everywhere abundant. Bears are common in the mountainous regions chiefly and in the cold latitudes of the north. Vaulting or flying cats-a genus unknown in other quarters of the globe-are found in some parts of the Indies, chiefly in the archipelago.

90. Among the fur-bearing animals, northern Asia produces the sable, ermine, otter, marten, beaver, etc.

Questions.-85. Wild mammals of Asia? 66. Ape and monkey tribes? What are among the former? Range of the orang? 87. Pachyderms of Asia? One-horned rhinoceros? Two-horned rhinoceros? Species of the hog genus? Regions they inhabit? Only other animal of the thick-skinned order? Remarkableness of its existence here? Distribution of the genus? 88. Deer and antelopes? Musk-deer? Source of the musk of commerce? 89. Asiatic carnivora? Tiger etc.? Lion? Difference between this and the African species? Hyena? Wolf? Dogs etc.? Bears? Vaulting or flying cats? 99. Fur-bearing animals?