128 ALPINE VEGETATION: 
I found a small group of the plants richly in flower, and as I 
had not previously had the opportunity to send to Kew 
this rare species, I was the more happy and careful to 
possess myself of the whole of them to add to that selection 
I have made at this season of this most interesting family. 
On the 25th, the wind having become sufficiently favourable 
to enable us to make an offing, we bid adieu to the colony, 
and stood out to sea." : 
(To be Continued.) 
On the permanent regions of Alpine Vegetation. By RICHARD 
BniNsLEY Hinps, Esa. 
Some comparative inquiries into the conditions of Alpine 
vegetation in different mountain-chains, have led me to com 
clude that there are certain features common to all, and 
which also hold some highly natural and interesting relations 
with the distribution of vegetation in the direction of the 
latitude. In every mountain range will be observed a cer- 
tain general character in the vegetation, as the plains are lett 
and the highlands gained. The cultivation of the land at the 
sea-level ascends a certain distance; forests succeed ; shrubs 
next appear and cease; these are followed by a proportion- 
ate increase of grasses; and lastly, vegetable life is closed by 
a few members of the agamic families. 
Hence, five distinct features are imposed by the nature of 
the vegetation, and they will be found more or less develo 
in all Alpine regions of sufficient elevation. Each may valy 
according to the influence of physical agents, but traces of 
them will be always evident. 
Something similar will be observed if vegetation is traced 
from the equator to high latitudes. At first, forests greatly 
prevail, and though there is in those countries with a Warm 
temperate climate, a partial cessation, yet they reappear ™ 
the gloomy but magnificent pine and fir districts of the c9 
temperate regions. When the trees disappear, rather a nU- 
merous assemblage of shrubs becomes conspicuous; grasse 
