Provinces of the Animal World. 349 
the polar circle to the equator, but also in the opposite direction. 
Those of the western coast of Europe are not the same as those of 
the basin of the Caspian Sea, or of the eastern coast of Asia, nor 
are those of the eastern coast of America the same as those of the 
western. 
The first fauna, the limits of which we would determine with pre- 
cision, is the Arctic. It offers the same aspects in three parts 
of the world, which converge towards the North Pole. The uniform 
distribution of the animals by which it is inhabited forms its most 
striking character, and gives rise to a sameness of general features 
which is not found in any other region. Though the air-breathing 
species are not numerous here, the large number of individuals com- 
pensates for this deficiency ; and among the marine animals we find 
an astonishing profusion and variety of forms. 
In this respect the vegetable and animal kingdoms differ entirely 
from each other ; and the measure by which we estimate the former 
is quite false as applied to the latter. Plants become stunted in 
their growth, or disappear before the rigours of the climate; while, 
on the contrary, all classes of the animal kingdom have representa- 
tatives, more or less numerous, in the Arctic fauna. 
Neither can they be said to diminish in size under these influ- 
ences ; for, if the Arctic representatives of certain classes, particu- 
larly the insects, are smaller than the analogous types in the tropics, 
we must not forget, on the other hand, that the whales and larger 
cetacea have here their most genial home, and make amends, by 
their more powerful structure, for the inferiority of other classes. 
Also, if the animals of the north are less striking in external orna- 
ment—if their colours are less brilliant—yet we cannot say that they 
are more uniform ; for, though their tints are not so bright, they 
are none the less varied in their distribution and arrangement. 
The limits of the Arctic fauna are very easily traced. We must 
include therein all animals living beyond the line where forests 
cease, and inhabiting countries entirely barren. Those which feed 
upon flesh, seek fishes, hares, lemmings—a rodent the size of our 
rat. Those which live on vegetable substances are not numerous. 
Some gramineous plants, mosses, and lichens, serve as pasture to the 
ruminants and rodents ; while the seeds of a tite flowering plants, and 
of the dwarf birches, afford nourishment to the little granivorous 
birds, such as linnets and buntings. The species belonging to the 
sea-shore feed upon marine animals, which live themselves upon 
each other, or upon marine plants. 
The larger mammalia which inhabit this zone are—the white 
bear, the walrus, numerous species of seal, the reindeer, the musk 
ox, the narwal, the cachalot, and whales in abundance. Among 
- the smaller species, we may mention the white fox, the polar hare, 
and the lemming. The birds are not less characteristic. Some 
marine eagles and wading birds, in smaller numbers, are found ; 
