LINN^US. 



217 



difficulties, which were compensated by the invalu- 

 able fruits obtained on these excursions." 



If he turned to such advantage the observations 

 which he had made in a region but scantily sup- 

 plied with the forms of animal and vegetable life, 

 how much more profitable, it may be thought, would 

 it have been for himself and for the world, had it 

 been his lot to travel in some equinoctial country, 

 teeming with the wonders of creation ! Yet, perhaps 

 the multiplicity of objects which would have forced 

 themselves upon his notice in that richer scene, in 

 an age when natural history was only beginning to 

 emerge from its pristine chaos, would have bewilder- 

 ed the most comprehensive mind ; whereas the less 

 abundant stores of Lapland and Sweden presented 

 themselves to him in such a way as to afford time 

 to examine each individually, and to note the com- 

 mon and distinctive characters. It seems indeed 

 more than probable, that if he had been a native of 

 one of the warmer regions of the globe, he would 

 not have attained such distinguished merit as a 

 reformer of science. 



