THE EUROPEAN SEAS. 



131 



border of that zone, a result dependent on some of 

 the physical features of this internal sea, which 

 may be here noticed. 



The portion of the Atlantic coast-line which may 

 be taken as characteristically Lusitanian extends 

 from the 30th to the 40th parallel of north 

 latitude. The Mediterranean Sea, according to 

 the estimate of Admiral Smythe, measures 2200 

 miles from west to east, with a breadth of 1200, 

 giving 6800 miles of coast ; but when the irregular 

 outline of this sea is taken into account, with its 

 great advancing peninsulas on the European side, 

 its promontories, bays, and countless islands, its 

 marginal line may be safely estimated at 13,000 

 miles, the whole falling between the latitudes which 

 are Lusitanian as to fauna. A marine fauna, in all 

 its elements, is immediately dependent on extent 

 of coast ; it is that assemblage of animal forms 

 which is to be met with from the marginal line 

 down to depths of seventy or eighty fathoms • so 

 that, extent alone being considered, it will be readily 

 seen what a wide field the Mediterranean expanse 

 offers for the development of the fauna of a distinct 

 Atlantic region. 



The inequalities of the bed of the Mediterranean 

 are great and abrupt ; these, as well as the irregu- 

 larity of its coast-line, favour the development of a 

 wonderful profusion and variety of forms of life 

 within narrow limits. It may assist the naturalist 

 to state that these inequalities have been found to 



