178 



Biology in America 



Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and is drenched with the abun- 

 dant rainfall of the tropics. Characteristic of the coastal 

 plain and the eastern slope of tlie Appalachian Range to the 

 west are several species of pines, the low sandy areas of the 

 plain being largely characterized by these trees, which have 

 given their name to the New Jersey "Pine Barrens." 



Upon the slopes of the mountains and in the valleys of 

 their intersecting rivers, are the remains of some splendid 

 hardwood forests of maple, oak, elm, linden, hickory, beech 



Cotton Eat and Nest 

 Courtesy of the U. >S'. Bureau of Biological Survey. 



and chestnut, while in the swamps of the South are the cy- 

 press, magnolia and palmetto. 



In its large features the animal life of this region does 

 not differ from that of the Canadian, transition and upper 

 Sonoran zones of a western mountain, which has already 

 been described; although differing therefrom in many minor 

 details. But along the southeastern coast occur a few spe- 

 cies which distinguish this region from other parts of the 

 country. In the rice fields of the South occurs the rice rat, 

 while the cotton rat is another animal characteristic of the 

 South Atlantic and Gulf States. The Florida Everglades are 



