356 GEOGRAPHICAL BOTANY. 



we shall preserve as far as possible the excellent language 

 of the text which accompanies the copper-plates; they 

 afford a sample of the author's power of observation. 



The physiognomy of Central and Northern Europe 

 agrees with that of Kamtschatka much more completely 

 than we should anticipate, considering the great difference 

 between their longitudes : the number of European plants 

 is very considerable (p. 53). The peninsula is divided 

 into an eastern and western half by its mountain-chain, 

 In the former, rise the conical volcanic mountains, of 

 which the Kliutschewsk, according to Erman, is 14,800' 

 in height, or as Kittlitz expresses himself, they rival the 

 Peak of Teneriffe in height, and excel all other volcanoes in 

 the perfection of their conical form. They alternate with 

 long mountain -chains whose rugged tops are covered with 

 snow, whilst the remainder of the district is adorned with 

 the growth of noble forests and pasture. On the west side, 

 however, the coast is low and marshy, passing towards 

 the interior into a broad plain of fertile land, the soil of 

 which is watered by numerous streams, and is covered 

 partly with woods, partly with luxuriant grassy plains in 

 their original and natural state, For the purpose of car- 

 rying out this sketch completely in detail, the author has 

 given five tables, which indicate the botanical character 

 of the forests and grassy plains in the summer months 

 (July to September). 



Grass Plain at Awatscha, therefore in the neighbour- 

 hood of Peter-Paul's harbour (plate XVII). This picture 

 represents a luxuriant woody prairie, abounding in plants, 

 and containing scattered groups of shrubs, and the open 

 surface of which is inclosed by a wood of birch (Betula 

 Ermani). This birch is the principal forest tree of the 

 country; it somewhat resembles the oak in the knotty 

 and flexuous growth of its stem, and differs moreover 

 from Betula alba in its bark, which is gray and much 

 torn, whilst the leaves agree with those of the common 

 birch. A thicket of alders and willows denotes the vici- 

 nity of the stream ; some of these are shrubby, others 



