Prof. Hausmann on the Physiognomy of Scandinavia. 81 



more in union in the regions of Southern Norway. If the 

 greater part of Sweden is represented as a hilly country ; so 

 again, nearly all Norway may be termed a high mountain-chain. 

 The arms of this mountain land enclose valleys, which are long, 

 and sometimes broad. Considerable rivers, sometimes expand- 

 ed into lakes, water the deeper parts. Rich corn-fields and lux- 

 uriant meadows, occasionally varied with the houses and offices 

 of substantial farmers, and the country-seats of rich merchants 

 —extend themselves as far as the gentle acclivities of the chain 

 of mountains. Where these acclivities become steeper, the 

 bright green tapestry of the meadows is supplanted by the blu- 

 ish-green leaves of the Scotch fir ; this, with its golden-coloured 

 stem, raises its proud head among the inaccessible cliffs, which, 

 destitute of all vegetation, conceal their pointed summits among 

 snow and clouds. The bays of the sea — which run far into 

 the land, and unite the rivers with the ocean — are crowded with 

 masts ; and upon their shores are situated smiling towns, the 

 abodes of wealth. The nearer the rivers are to the mountain- 

 chain, to which they owe their origin, so much the more have 

 they to struggle with the rocks through which they must force 



gree, in the whole series of natural objects, but appears to diminish with 

 their perfection. The north, in comparison with the regions near the equa- 

 tor, is astonishingly poor in quadrupeds. It is richer in birds as to their spe- 

 cies ; but it is proportionally richest in insects ; although the Insect Fauna of 

 the north, as to the number of species, is far inferior to that of our countries. 

 In like manner, the north is poor in phsenogamic plants ; but very rich in the 

 cryptogamic species; and, among these, plants of the nature of lichens are dis- 

 tinguished for variety of species, although they are among the lowest in the 

 scale of organized bodies. Likewise, in inanimate nature we observe a simi* 

 lar relation. The north is, in general, poor in crystallizations ; but, on the 

 contrary, is rich in various uncrystallized mineral substances. But the sim- 

 plicity of the nature of the north is expressed likewise in the forms, colours, 

 and delineation of objects, which, as regards their variety and beauty of 

 structure, are far behind those of the regions of the south. 



The nature of the north shews its greatness, particularly in the multitude 

 of individuals, which is far more considerable than what it is in our re- 

 gions. Legions of rats and mice people Norway and Sweden. In Lapland 

 the swarms of gnats are so great, that he who travels in that country during 

 summer, must filter the air through a veil. Thick pine-forests cover the 

 greater part of the habitable north. Rein-deer moss overspreads the largest 

 flat districts of Lapland ; and lichens are in such abundance, that Norway 

 and Sweden send whole shiploads of some of the species to England, where 

 they are used in dyeing. 



VOL. XV. NO. XXIX. JULY 1833. F 



