UKJO 



METEOROLOGY. 



[DISTRIBUTION or FLANK AND ANIMALS. 



confined within the parallel* of About 30 to 68* of 

 latitude, or a corresponding elevation in respect to runes, 

 above the equatorial sea-level. The same holds good 

 with grape*, their limit*, however, being somewhat more 

 narrowed* 



The dwtril.uti. n of plants is a matter of great impor- 

 tance, not tily for the vegetable food of man, but as also 

 affecting tboM animals on which he depend* for suste- 

 nance, carriage, farm-labour, ic. ; and hence every 

 civilised country has certain features, both physical and 

 social, which more or less distinguish it from others. 

 It is true that the extensive application of steam in rail- 

 ways, vecsels, machinery, &c., is fast obliterating these 

 distinctive characteristics in many places ; but the pro- 

 gress of such improvements is slow, compared with the 

 extent over which they must spread, before the revolution 

 they have to effect is completed. In our country such 

 vrogress is rapid, as also in many others in Europe and 

 North America ; but most of the colonies still have to 

 depend on brute force for the saving of human labour. 



In the particular case of cattle, sheep, and horses, we 

 have an illustration of this. These animals depend en- 

 tirely for sustenance on the grasses or inferior cereals ; 

 and where such can be obtained of good quality, and in 

 sufficient abundance, the breed of each is not only sup- 

 ported in quantity, but the quality is simultaneously 

 improved. In England, particular attention has been 

 paid to this ; and the breeds hare been so improved, that 

 the horses, cattle, and wool of this country equal any 

 other, and, in many cases, exceed in quality those of the 

 vi-ry countries from which the original stock was first 

 imported. This has arisen chiefly from our climate 

 being peculiarly suitable for such purposes, aided by 

 judicious training, and careful attention to the require- 

 ments of each animal. 



Turning to Lapland, we find that cattle and horses are 

 there replaced by an entirely different animal, the Rein- 

 deer. An almost total absence of grass is compensated 

 for by an abundance of lichen, which is the favourite 

 food of that useful creature ; and thus the exigencies of 

 the climate are completely met by a peculiar adaptation 

 of the vegetable to the animal kingdom, brought about 

 even by its extreme severity ; whilst the human being 

 has, in one animal, a source of food and clothing, and a 

 beast of draught. The camel in Africa and Arabia, the 

 elephant in India, the llama in Peru and Chili, <bc., are 

 instances of a similar kind all tending to show how 

 climatio variety is compensated for, in a manner as 

 complete as the, circumstances of the case require. 



The subjects of food, temperature, and clothin<i, must 

 be simultaneously considered in connection with the dis- 

 tribution of animals ; for these three points are those on 

 which their existence depends ; the skin and its covering 

 being an additional and most important matter in the eco- 

 nomy of animal life. In the vegetable kingdom, the organs 

 of respiration and digestion are of so simple a cha> 

 as to be more easily adapted to varieties of change, and 

 the food is usually present. On the other hand, the ani- 

 mal has nothing but its instincts to guide it in the seaich 

 for food : and from this arise all the circumstances which 

 affect its longevity, productive powers, &c. ; the acci- 

 dent* of its life being induced by its cravings for suste- 

 nance, and, in fact, struggles for existence. 



Commencing with one of the lower forms of animal life, 

 as the Mulhiira, we find them pretty equally distributed 

 throughout the waters of the ocean ; but always in re- 

 spect to the peculiarities of each climate ; for certain 

 kinds are found only within well-defined limits of lati- 

 tude, beyond which they rarely exist. Amongst the 

 lowest class of creatures, the coral Polypi are almost 

 exclusively confined to certain parts of the Pacific Ocean, 

 where, for age* past, they have been slowly but surely 

 rearing island*, now rapidly becoming the centres of 

 civilisation. Amongst Fiih, again, we find that some are 

 confined to certain zones, beyond which they are rarely 

 een : instances of this are found in the salmon tribe, 

 which is Jimitcd to the cool, temperate, or sub-arctic 

 cone*. But many of the tribes, apparently indigenous 

 to our northern sea* and rivers, liavo their representa- 



tives or substitutes in those of low latitudes, the specie* 

 corresponding, except in some physiological adaptation 

 required by altered circumstances of existence ; the type 

 being retained, whilst the exact identity is somewhat 

 affected. 



Amongst the Reptilia, as the lizards, or saurian 

 tribe, the Loricata, See. of which our common field- 

 lizard is typical, and the analogue of the crocodiles and 

 alligators of the Kile, India, ana America the develop- 

 ment proceeds rapidly a* to size and strength, a* 

 lower latitudes are reached. The variety of these classes 

 is very extensive about the equatorial and tropical re- 

 gions, where they abound both on land and in water. 

 Equally, amongst Birds, also, the same climatic law is 

 influential : the eagle of Scotland and Norway has its 

 family represented in the Himalayas, and by the condor 

 in the Andes ; and we may observe the same fact 

 throughout the whole class. In some Islands, how 

 exceptions exist, as in the aptcryx and the diuornis of 

 New Zealand, the emeu of Australia, the dodo of 

 Madagascar, &c. ; but still, comparative anatomists can 

 find connecting links for this apparently broken 

 chain. 



With respect to Mammalia, the distinction of climate 

 is very remarkable. The Quadmmana (monkeys, &c.) 

 are invariably inhabitants of tropical countries ; as are 

 the Caritirora (the lion, tiger, &c. ), with comparatively 

 few exceptions. The Padiydermata (elephant, rhi- 

 noceros, hippopotamus, &c.) are nearly limited to these 

 regions. The Rodent ia (beavers, rats, hares, &c.) are 

 more extensively distributed, for their food is more 

 generally diffused in its growth. A similar remark applies 

 to the Intccticora. The Edentata, are almost exclusively 

 confined to tropical countries, especially on the south 

 of the equator : they include the ant-eater, pangolin, 

 sloth, &c. The Humituintia, in which our don 

 animals (of which wo have already spoken) are comprised, 

 embrace a vast variety, as the camel, llama, deer, giraffe, 

 goat, bison, buffalo, &c. Amongst the horse tribe, or 

 SolidwiguUi, we may notice how much the ass is de- 

 generated in our climate, compared with his appearance, 

 temper, &c., in regions more southerly, as in Arabia, 

 Asia Minor, &c., where he appears to great advantage ; 

 and, indeed, there some species are of great beauty, and 

 even swiftness, as is seen in the djiggetai of Central Asia. 

 Possibly the zebra may also be allied to it, for it par- 

 takes of many of its characteristics. The tfirtnia, as the 

 manatees and dugongs, resemble, in many respects, our 

 Cetacea (whales) and Pinnipedia (seals) ; whilst the 

 Martupiula (kangaroos) are allied to the opossum of 

 America. 



We have specially remarked on the clothing of ani- 

 mals, as being peculiarly related to the climate in which 

 any gpecies is indigenous. Several remarkable instances 

 of this may bo cited. The Arctic bear, Tlialassarctot 

 mtiritiiinis of naturalists, exclusively a native of the 

 polar regions, is clothed with a profusion of hair, the 

 texture and colour of which prevents the rapid << in- 

 duction and radiation of heat from its body.* K\.n 

 the feet are covered with hair, which is supposed to ni\o 

 it a firm hold when walking over the snow and ice. The 

 Arctic fox, Vulpct laijopiu, is similarly clothed with 

 abundant fur ; but what is remarkable, the hair, which 

 is of a dark-brown colour in summer, becomes quite white 

 in winter, increasing rapidly in length and thickness, 

 just as the exigency of the severe climate nocessii 

 such a protection. Some species of the hare, as the 

 Ltput variabilis, and of the weasels, as the ermine (.Ifiw- 

 tela enninca), which are confined to the colder climates, 

 have the colour of the fur changed similarly, as winter 

 approaches : this may frequently be noticed in both 

 animals in the northern parts of our own country. 

 Amongst the dog tribe, or Canidrr. as the Newfoundland 

 and St. Bernard breed, we find a similar provision 

 against tho extreme cold, contrasting strongly with the 

 clothing of tho greyhound, &c. , which are indigenous to 

 milder climates. Numerous instances of this kind 

 might bo adduced ; but the above will bo sufficient to 

 Sec ante, Section on licit, pp. 2J and 26. 



