THE EQUINOCTIAL ZONE. 43 



In Lapland. These facts, which might easily 

 be multiplied, sufficiently prove the statement 

 made ; but though we cannot doubt the fact, 

 the cause is by no means so obvious. We must, 

 however, leave this, and proceed to review 

 the various zoneij and their productions. 



First, then, The. Equinoctial Zone extends for 

 15 on each side of the equator, and has a mean 

 annual temperature of 78 to 82 Fahr., a heat 

 which, with a high degree of atmospherical 

 moisture, calls forth an extraordinary profusion 

 of vegetation, of the greatest variety of form 

 and most brilliant colours. The principal 

 countries embraced in these limits ire Central 

 Africa, including the Guinea Coast, and Abys- 

 sinia, etc., Ceylon, the southernmost part of 

 Hindostan, Malaya, Cochin China, Sumatra, 

 Borneo, Java, New Guinea, and the multitude 

 of islands in that part of the eastern seas, the 

 northernmost portion of Australia, and the 

 northern part of South America, including 

 Columbia, Peru, the Guianas, and part of 

 Brazil. This zone is characterized by the 

 gigantic forests so peculiar to the tropics. 

 " The atmosphere of these forests, where vapour 

 is continually ascending, is oppressively hot 

 and damp. The shrill pipe of the large 

 crickets, high up in the tops of the trees, and 

 the loud croaking of the horrid vampyre, the 

 flying-dog, and blood-sucker, often for days 

 accompany the wanderer in the forests of 

 India." Palms, bananas, orchises, arborescent 

 grasses, and gigantic climbers, are among the 



