48 



THE KATUEAL UISTORY EEVIEV/. 



Plora of Venezuela and G-uiana. Jamaica again, from its moun- 

 tainous cliaracter, and more dista-nt position, — most of the Leeward 

 Islands, from being wooded voleanos, — and the majority of the 

 Windward ones, with a dry climate and a low calcareous soil, form 

 three divisions of this tropical archipelago, which show as many 

 peculiarities. Thus the whole of the British West Indies, as com- 

 prised in this Elora, may be divided into five natural sections, eacb 

 with a distinct botanical character, and including the following 

 islands, the geographical area of which is added according to the 



American almanac for 1858, and other sources. 



English 

 Square miles. 

 I. 27°— 21° KL. Bahamas . . . 5420 



21° Turk Islands . . 400 



II. 19«— 18° Jamaica . . . 5470 



III. Western Caribbean Islands (most Leeward, and 

 including some of the Windward Islands). 



140 



70 



30 



50 



290 



225 



130 



155 



30 



90 



100 



170 



190 



2000 



'' Thus the territory comprised may be estimated as amounting 

 to about 15,000 English square miles, or nearly twice as much as 

 the area of Wales. Haiti alone is nearly twice as largo as the whole 

 of the British West Indies ; Cuba surpasses them almost three 

 times, and this will account for the fact, that, considerable as were 

 the materials at my disposition, and great the exertions of so many 

 excellent collectors, the number of novelties in my Flora is, compa- 



