182 



CHAPTEE VIL 



THE TROPICAL ZONE. 



FROM THE TROPICS TO LA.T. 15. 



OF the botany of some large portions of this zone little or 

 nothing is known as yet ; still, in the same way as an un- 

 finished drawing, if faithful as far as it goes, is thought 

 better than none at all when it represents some scene of 

 which we desire to learn all we can, so perhaps it will be 

 better to use those materials which are available, in giving 

 an outline of this zone, than to lay the pen down in despair, 

 because, after all, it can be only an imperfect one. 



But defective though our information be as to many 

 countries in the Tropical Zone, its broader features, as a 

 whole, have been sufficiently well defined to enable us still 

 to trace the gradual development of perfection in vegetation, 

 to which the luxuriance which characterizes it so largely 



