8 Europe ; — a popular Physical Sketch. 



longer able to graze in the first zone. Inhabited places, 

 and even some towns occur, as Simplon in the Over-Inn valley 

 5333 feet, and Sils, 4800 feet, above the level of the sea. 



Next follows the zone of the beech and oak, 4800, 2666 

 feet on the south side ; 4266, 2133 feet on the north side, 

 where the forests consist of the above mentioned pines, and 

 of beech and oak. The plants resemble those of the north 

 European plain. Here we find pastures and corn fields. 



The lowest zone is that of the chestnut, showing itself 

 completely on the south side of the Alps only (between 

 2666 and the foot of the mountains) where not only the 

 North-European kinds of grain are cultivated, but also 

 maize, and vine. Of wild beasts, are found bears, wolves, 

 foxes, lynxes, which equally appear in Scandinavia ; also 

 the chamois, and the ibex — the latter now a days very rare, 

 both of which form the game of the rash hunters ; also 

 the marmot, notorious for its long hybernation ; and among 

 birds, the bearded vultures (Lammergeyer) and eagles in- 

 habit the higher regions of the Alps. 



The domesticated animals are the same as those of the 

 northern and central Europe ; grazing is considerable, and 

 exquisite in the highlands. The mule is important as a 

 transport across the mountains. If the Alps be compared 

 to the Scandinavian mountains, the following differences in 

 particular obtrude themselves. 



The latter in point of extent exceed the Alps, which 

 however have twice their height, whether the mean height 

 or the loftiest peaks be chosen as standards. (Mont Blanc 

 15786, Skagestoltind 8112 feet.) The direction of the 

 Scandinavian mountains approaches more N. and S. ; that of 

 the Alps more E. and W. The former occupy 13 degrees 

 of latitude, the latter only four and a half, for which reason 

 there exist in Scandinavia a greater difference in climate and 

 plants, i. e. if solely compared to the lowland ; as the Alps 

 however are so much higher, they display upon the whole 



