348 . Wilbrand and Ritsen^s 



elude some of our principal shrubs and fruits. The Amenta- 

 ceae consist of shrubs and trees, beginning with 5'alix herbacea 

 in the neighbourhood of the snow line, and extending to the 

 leaf-wood forests of the temperate zone, terminating again with 

 the jSalix babylonica at the equator. The Coniferae begin with 

 the juniper, at the same distance from the snow line as the 

 Amentaceae, and end in the warm countries with the Casuarina ; 

 the order is in the greatest perfection at 50° N. L. Capri- 

 fcMiae commence at some distance from the snow line, with 

 Corn us and Linnae^«, and extend through the temperate zone, 

 with Lonicer^, »Sambucus, &c., to the torrid zone, where large 

 groups of trees are formed by Rhizophora Mangle. iJoraginese 

 extend from the limit of snow to the torrid zone ; Onagreas 

 from the snow line to the warm countries, where they are in 

 the greatest degree of perfection at 40? N. L. JEriceae com- 

 mence in the vicinity of the snow line, and increase towards 

 the warmer countries in variety, size, and beauty ; the most 

 luxuriant are in the African islands, and the greatest variety at 

 the Cape of Good Hope. Geraniaceae begin in Lapland with 

 Geranium sylvaticum, and terminate among the jBriceae in 

 the warmer parts of the temperate zone. jKubiaceae com- 

 mence with Galium boreale, some degrees south of the snow 

 line, and pass into the torrid zone, where they contain the 

 coffee, &c. ikfalvaceae and /Solaneae are found both in the 

 temperate and torrid zone. Convolvulaceae commence in the 

 vicinity of the snow line with herbs, continue herbaceous in 

 the temperate countries, and end with some shrubs within the 

 tropics, t/rticeae begin with the common nettle, on the plains 

 of Lapland, and end with the fig and bread fruit in the torrid 

 zone. Cucurbitaceae begin with the .Bryonia in 58° N. L., 

 and increase in perfection, through Cucumis, to the passion 

 flowers on the boundary of the torrid zone, ^pocyneae are of 

 similar extension. Papaveraceae spread over the temperate 

 zone, and also Jasmineae, commencing with the privet, and 

 ending with Nyctanthus. The Cacti are almost exclusively 

 natives of the warm zone. The Z/aurineas and ilfyrtacea? 

 extend from the torrid to the middle of the temperate zone. 

 Sapindaceae, Melastomaceae, ik/eliae, Guttiferae, Aurantiae, and 

 -Ficbideae belong chiefly to the torrid zone. We pass over a 

 number of small orders, the distribution of which will be found 

 exactly indicated in the second part of our Hortus Britminidus, 

 Animals differ from plants, in not adhering or being bound 

 to the soil. They change the country they inhabit in an arbi- 

 trary manner, and the more so as they approach man in per- 

 fection. Man extends through all the zones, passes beyond 

 the limit of eternal snow, and descends into the earth, below 



