Picture of Organised Nature, 351 



Pelicans are found over the three zones of both hemispheres, 

 and in fresh water as well as in the sea. Gulls and cormo- 

 rants are peculiar to the northern hemisphere. Ducks and 

 geese are spread over the whole earth, but are most numerous 

 in the colder half of the temperate zone. Moorfowl, and 

 other Grallae, spread over both hemispheres, from the snow 

 line to the torrid zone. Herons are plentiful in the temperate 

 and warm zones. The common rail is met with in most 

 countries in Europe, and in North America. The plover 

 spreads over the zones of both hemispheres as far as the snow 

 line. The snipe appears to be peculiar to the northern 

 hemisphere, and the /'bis Tantalum, which is related to the 

 snipe, is numerous in warm countries. 



The land birds, Fultur and Falco, extend over both hemi- 

 spheres, perhaps even farther than the snow line. The owl 

 is spread over all the habitable parts of the globe. The 

 butcher bird is found in the warm and temperate zones of 

 both hemispheres. The parrots, a numerous family, are 

 almost confined to the tropical regions. Ravens, like owls, are . 

 spread over both hemispheres. Nuthatches, bee-eaters, and 

 humming-birds, chiefly belong to warm climates. Sparrows are 

 diffused over the whole of the habitable globe, but are most 

 abundant in the warm zone. The family of finches is very 

 abundant in the colder parts of the temperate zone. The 

 nightingale is met with throughout Europe, from Sweden to 

 Greece, and also in Siberia. The family of the thrush extends 

 from the temperate to the warm zones. The family of larks 

 inhabit the warm countries, but the field lark is found in 

 Kamtchatka. Swallows spread over the frigid, temperate, 

 and torrid zones. " Our chimney swallow (Hiriindo domes- 

 tica) is found from Norway to the Cape of Good Hope, from 

 Kamtchatka to India and Japan ; and in all the regions of 

 North America. The house marten [H, urbica) is found in 

 Europe and America: the swift marten {H, A^ns) inhabits 

 the whole of Europe, and is met with at the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and in North America." Hens, partridges, and wood- 

 cocks are diffused over all the zones, and met with near the 

 snow line. Pigeons inhabit both hemispheres as far as 60°, 

 Pheasants do not extend beyond 46° north latitude. The 

 domestic hen lives in Greenland, but does not breed there, 

 or in any cold country. It is found in its wild state in the 

 forests of India. The turkey is wild in the woods of America, 

 and the peacock in those of Africa and Asia. 



Frogs and toads are the most numerous amphibia in the 

 colder portion of the temperate zone, and lizards are the most 

 numerous in the direction of the snow line : but lizards 



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