2 BOTANICAL FEATURES OF THE ALGERIAN SAHARA. 



I wish to take this early opportunity to acknowledge my appreciation 

 of assistance received from different persons during the course of the Alge- 

 rian study, or as a means of preparing for it. I am especially indebted to 

 Prof. H. J. Hall, of Leland Stanford University, who was my companion 

 in Algeria and whose knowledge of the American deserts made his advice 

 doubly valuable. Dr. Keltie, secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, 

 provided letters and information of much use. Dr. Trabut, government 

 botanist of Algeria, whose acquaintance with the country is extensive, very 

 kindly identified all plants sent him and gave valuable aid in other ways. 

 The map (plate A) was prepared expressly for this study by Mr. Godfrey 

 Sykes. 



In a country where travel away from the beaten path is not without 

 discomfort, it is important that the way be made as smooth as possible, 

 not alone for comfort but for personal safety as well, and it is therefore a 

 pleasure to acknowledge the many kindnesses shown by the civil and mili- 

 tary authorities of the French colony, as also by the American consul and 

 vice-consul at Algiers. 



GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ALGERIA. 



The French colony of Algeria is of large extent and possesses a highly 

 varied topography and great range in climate. With an all-land connec- 

 tion with the continent of Europe in earlier geologic times, the flora and 

 fauna of this portion of northern Africa are closely allied to the fauna and 

 flora of southern Spain, France, and Italy. 



Algeria lies to the south of the Mediterranean Sea, between Tunis to the 

 east and Morocco to the west. The northern portion extends somewhat 

 beyond latitude 37 , or that of southern Spain, southern Greece, and the 

 southern part of Asia Minor. The limit of the colony on the south is 

 indefinite, reaching to about latitude 21 . Thus east and west the extent 

 is about 650 miles, and north and south 1,200 miles. 



The most important topographical features of the northern part of 

 Algeria are the several mountain masses which together constitute the 

 Atlas range. Lowest in Tunis, where the Atlas Mountains do not exceed 

 5,000 feet altitude, they attain their greatest height in Morocco, over 13,000 

 feet. In Algeria an altitude of about 7,500 feet is reached in the Aure's, Dj. 

 Chelia, and in the Great Kabylies. In the eastern portion of Algeria the 

 mountains extend to the coast, but farther west a narrow strip of lowland 

 separates them from the sea. In the east (in the department of Constan- 

 tine) they constitute a single general uplift, although made up of several 

 groups, but as one proceeds westward the mountains separate into two 

 ranges, which at the Morocco border are about 125 miles apart. The two 

 ranges have been called by various names, among which are the Great 

 Atlas for the southern range and the Little or Maritime Atlas for the north- 

 ern one. But it seems best to use the names Atlas of the Sahara or Saharan 



