Physical Geography. 129 
“The natural limits of the Alps, it is rather more difficult to estab- 
lish, The Appenines are so closely connected with the (so called) 
Maritime Alps, that they are justly considered as an arm of that chain. 
In like manner, towards the east, the Alps extend to the mountains of 
Croatia and Dalmatia, and even to those of Bosnia, the eastern por- 
tion of which formerly bore the name of Hemus. But as in phys- 
ical geography we are allowed to consider, when we form subdivis- 
ions, not one alone, but a great number of different relations, each of 
those spurs ought to be separated from the principal branch, on ac- 
count of the difference of climate and vegetation which characterises 
them; and even, independently of these, the change of direction 
which is evident at the points of junction of these branches with the 
Alps, the abasement of the ridges, and their geognostic character, 
would be sufficient to require or to admit of this separation. The 
Alps and the Pyrenees can be considered as a single chain of moun- 
tains, only by those who embrace the hypotheses of the connection 
of all possible chains. ‘The Rhone is a natural limit of the Alps to- 
ward the west. With respect to the Jura, the question is more doubt- 
ful; nevertheless as it is separated from the Alps and united to other 
mountains, by geognostic as well as by other relations, and as the re- 
gion between the Alps and the Jura is low, I am inclined to consider 
tasnot belonging to the Alps. Still less can we admit as appertain- 
ng to them, the inferior mountains of the interior of Germany and 
France, Thus, the natural limits of the Alps are,—on the east, the 
plains of Hungary ; on the south, the Adriatic Sea, the Lombardo- 
Venetian plains, (the Valley of the Po,) and the Mediterranean Sea ; 
on the west, the Rhone ; and on the north, Lake Leman, the Lake 
of Neuchatel, the Aar, the Rhine from its junction with the Aar to 
the Lake of Constance, and lastly the Danube. 
The Pyrenees are terminated on the east by the Mediterranean, 
. the West by the Atlantic; on the north by the low region, (a great 
Portion of which is almost a perfect plane,) watered by the Adour, 
; Garonne, the Aude, &c. They have some connection, towards 
eo West, with the chain which extends into the Spanish penin- 
_ Nong the southern coast, and with some other mountains of that 
peninsula, But the reasons which induce us to separate the Appe- 
aan the Alps, are equally in favor of a separation of these 
The Pi that of the Pyrenees. ee 4 
os €e chains being thus defined, the author examines an 
spares them under all imaginable points of view, namely, their 
ou. XX] ae 
—No. 1 
