OP PLANTS AND ANIMALS. 165 



brightness in the majestic form which now stands before 

 our eyes. 



The fauna of temperate climates, like its flora, presents 

 the same picture of arrested development and temporary 

 suspension of the powers of life during the winter months. 

 We have a considerable number of animals of graceful 

 form, animated appearance, and varied colors, though they 

 are less brilliant than those found in tropical regions. 

 There is a greater uniformity amongst them. Notwith- 

 standing the immense extent of country, the same families, 

 and frequently the same genera, are found in countries 

 widely apart from each other. There are even a few ter- 

 restrial species, regarded as" identical in the temperate 

 regions of America and Europe ; but their supposed num- 

 ber is constantly diminished as more accurate observations 

 are made. The reptilia are much reduced in size; the 

 lizard and viper take the place of the gigantic crocodile and 

 boa constrictor. The tortoises are small and of medium 

 size. All classes of molluscs are represented; but their 

 shell, are deprived of much of that beauty which charac- 

 terizes the shells of warmer climates. The patient camel 

 and dromedary, the half-reasoning elephant, the beautiful 

 zebra and tiger, are replaced in temperate climates by the 

 horse and ass, the dog, wolf, and wild cat. 



All animals which store up provisions, such as the 

 squirrel, the marmot, the beaver, and the bee, are peculiar 

 to the temperate regions of the earth. It is obvious that 

 such instincts would be out of place in tropical countries, 

 where vegetation presents herbivorous animals and insects 

 with an abundant supply of food at all times. 



On the approach of cold weather the trees, with the 

 exception of the pine, fir, and other coniferse, drop their 

 leaves ; the insects retire, and the animals wnich live on 



