128 REVIEWS. 



sea on the east, thus occupies about 20° of longitude, and about 12° of 

 latitude, from the Shan-alin range on the south to the Stanovoi moun- 

 tains on the north. 



The climate is by no means a genial one : under the latitude of 

 London, the river is frozen over six months in the year. The mean 

 monthly temperature, taken from the averages of two years' daily ob- 

 servations (three times each day at 6, 7, or 9, a.m.; at 2, or 3, p.m.; 

 and at 9, or 10, p. m.), at Mariinsk was - 11° E. (about 8° Fahr.) in 

 January, and -14° E. (0° Fahr.) in February; and still lower at Mko- 

 laeiosk, with a minimum at Mariinsk of - 31° E. (about - 38° Fahr.) At 

 the southern bend of the river there is some improvement; the river may 

 not freeze over till after the middle of November, arid breaks up very 

 early in May, or in the end of April ; but further south again, at Girin, 

 on the Ssunguri, at the foot of the Shan-alin range, the thermometer 

 frequently falls in winter to - 30° E. (- 35° Fahr.) The whole territory, 

 in short, belongs to that coldest of all regions in proportion to latitude, 

 North-eastern Asia ; and it is only when the high snow-clad mountains 

 of Southern Mantchuria are passed, and wo descend their southern de- 

 clivity towards Pekin, that a sudden rise of temperature is experienced, — 

 the mean monthly temperature in that capital, on an average of thirteen 

 years, being, -2° 74' E. (about 26° Fahr.), for January; and -0*9' E. 

 (about 31° Fahr.) for February, with a minimum of - 8° E. (14° Fahr.) 

 The narrow coast-line, separated from the lower Amur by a ridge of 

 pine-clad mountains rising in most places rapidly from the shore, may 

 be somewhat milder ; but even here the moderating influence of the sea 

 is felt less than in most maritime countries, probably from the interven- 

 tion of the long mountainous island of Sachalin, running parallel to the 

 coast from lat. 46° to 54° 30', in some parts only at a few miles' distance. 



Under these circumstances, the Flora must be expected to be of a very 

 northern character; and all the peculiar plants of the country which have 

 as yet been introduced into the St. Petersbugh Botanic Garden appear to 

 bear well the winters of that place (in lat. 60°), without protection. 

 During the short summers, however, the heat on the southern and lower 

 Amur is considerable, without long droughts ; vegetation is rapid and 

 luxuriant, including more southern species than we should have ex- 

 pected, protected perhaps in winter by the great mass of snow, which 

 accumulates habitually to the depth of several feet. In the Upper 

 Amur, the climate in this respect, as well as the Flora, partakes more of 

 that of Nertchinsk, in Dahuria, where, in lat. 51° 19', with an average 

 January temperature of- 23° 67, E. (about - 21° Fahr.), and a minimum 

 of - 36° E. (-49° Fahr.), there sometimes does not fall the whole year 

 round sufficient snow for the use of sledges. 



The geographical distribution of the Amur Flora is treated of by M. 

 Maximowicz with great detail, and considerable ability, under various 

 points of view as to species, genera, and orders, taking in many respects 

 for his guide the principles laid down in A. de Candolle's ' Geographie 

 Botanique raisonnee,' and exhibiting the relations to climate and phy- 

 sical conditions, as well as to the vegetation of adjoining regions, as far 



