OF THE AMAZON. 6 



The Northern limit of Palms is, in Europe 43° of 

 latitude, in Asia 34°, and in America 34°. 



The Southern limit is 34° in Africa, 38° in New 

 Zealand, and 36° in South America. 



To the north of the tropic of Cancer there are 43 

 species of Palms known, and to the south of the 

 tropic of Capricorn only 13, while as we advance 

 from either side towards the equator the number in- 

 creases, until in the Chief Zone, between 10° north 

 and 10° south latitude, there are more than 300 

 species (see Frontispiece Map). 



In the Old World, the rich islands of the Eastern 

 Archipelago produce the greatest number of Palms ; in 

 the New, the great valleys of the Amazon and Orinoco 

 on the main land, are most prolific. 



In proportion to its extent, America is the most pro- 

 ductive palm country; for while the Old World, in- 

 cluding Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Eastern Archi- 

 pelago, with New Holland and all the Pacific Islands, 

 contain 307 species, the New World or America alone 

 has 275 different kinds. 



In the Old World the islands produce more species 

 than the continents, the former containing 194, while 

 the latter have only 113. 



In the New World, however, the reverse is the case, 

 the continent there containing 234, while the islands 

 possess only 42 kinds of Palms. 



The total number of Palms at present known is less 

 than 600. Dr. Martius thinks that the probable num- 

 ber existing on the earth may be from 1000 to 1200 ; 



b2 



