120 INTRODUCTION. 



species now supposed peculiar to itself, as well as other 

 introduced species. It possesses a peculiar interest as the 

 connecting point betAveen the Fauna of North America 

 and that of the West Indian islands. 



Section 2. The Tertiary Begion of the Atlantic Coast 

 and the Grulf of Mexico. This embraces the eastern 

 parts of North and South Carolina and Georgia, the 

 ■whole of Florida not included in the preceding section, 

 the southern parts of Alabama and Mississippi, the 

 whole of Louisiana, and parts of Arkansas and Texas. 

 It extends from the ocean to the point where the rivers, 

 falling over the last rocky ledge, reach the level of tide- 

 water ; and is a low and humid region characterized by 

 extensive swamps and marshes, sluggish streams, and 

 wide mlets from the sea. On the streams, the soil is but 

 little elevated above the water, vegetation is vigorous 

 and prohfic, and extensive and almost impenetrable 

 cane-brakes prevail. On the higher grounds the soil is 

 chiefly sandy, and vast tracts, extending for hundreds of 

 miles, are covered by magnificent open forests of gigantic 

 pines. Here the traveller may journey for days and 

 weeks among the monotonous scenery, and will in vain 

 seek relief or change in the unvarying landscape, 



" Where to the north — pine trees in prospect rise, 

 Where to the south — pine trees assail the sides, 

 Where to the east — pine trees obstruct the view, 

 Where to the west — pine trees forever grew." 



To a favorable climate there is here superadded the 

 concurrent geological influence of a substratum of soft 



