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128 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



■ ■• V. 



dered all distinct. It is however, we think, probable that the three 

 former, at all events, are identical, and that the range will be found to 

 be continuous from the Punjab to Western Africa. 



Mr. Webb has appended to the list of plants an introductory disser- 

 tation, which presents some interesting details respecting the different 

 travellers who have investigated the flora of Ethiopia, and a narrative 

 of the districts visited by M. Figari during his t^venty years' residence 

 in Egypt. We gather from this Introduction, that a forthcoming work 

 by the same traveller, on the physical geography and geology of Egypt, 

 will afford much important information on the geography of plants. 

 That he is fully competent to throw light on these subjects, is evident, 

 from the extracts of his letters published by Mr. Webb. 



M. Eigaii states that the Egyptian flora may be divided into four 

 regions, characterized by different forms of vegetation : — 1. The region 

 of the Nile valley, containing many Nubian and southern plants. 

 2. The granitic flora of the east coast, characterized by Arabian and 

 Abyssinian plants, many of which are very local. 3. The limestone 



flora of the Desert. And, 4. The Mediterranean flora. 



The species of Acacia, which are indigenous in Egypt, are, we learn, 

 six in number. 1. A. Seyal, Delile, which is common throughout the 

 Desert, from Cairo to Wadi Eeirael, but which never leaves the lime- 

 stone tract. 2. Further south and east occurs a species which is often 

 confused with A. Seyal, but is easily distinguished by being not a shrub, 

 but a tall tree, by its white (not yellow) flowers, and by its falcate, spi- 

 rally-twisted pods. This species, which first appears at Kossier, grows 

 on the granite hills near the coast. It produces a red resinous gum, 

 like kino. 3. A. Jielerocarpay an undershrub, with very beautiful yellow 

 and reddish flowers, which is a native of the neighbourhood of Kosseir, 

 and of the Emerald Mountains. 4. A species which was formerly 

 confounded with A. Seyal (to which indeed, and to the second species, 

 it appears very closely allied), it is a shrub, with odorous flowers, 

 and yields a red gum ; it is found near Kossier, and becomes more 

 abundant to the southward. 6. A. alhlda, Delile, which is confined to 

 the banks of the Nile. 6. A. Niloiica,De\i\e, which is plentiful through- 

 out Nubia, and produces true Gum Arabic. 



