FRANCE. 



597 



14. Mineral Springs. There are no less than 240 mineral springs m France. Those of 

 Aix, in the south, were known to the Romans ; they contain sulphur, lime, and salt. At 

 Bagneres, are several warm springs. The greater part of the mineral springs are under the 

 superintendence of physicians appointed by government. Accommodations for the sick are 

 provided at 151 of them. There are salt springs in the Department of Jura, from which salt 

 is manufactured. 



15. Animals. Bears are numerous in the Pyrenees, and in the Alpine districts ; and com- 

 mit frequent ravages among the corn-fields. Wolves and wild boars are found in the forests, 

 in various parts. The ibex and chamois inhabit the Alps and Pyrenees. The fox, otter, 

 wildcat, martin, squirrel, and beaver, are known in different districts ; scorpions are common 

 in the southern provinces. 



16. Face of the Countiif. France generall}' exhibits a level, but not undiversified surface. 

 The most level tracts are in the north. The picturesque beauty of the hilly parts is heightened 

 by the rich and luxuriant verdure of the chestnut-trees. In the south, the deep hue of tne 

 olive gives rather a sombre look to the landscape. From the mouth of the Garonne to the 

 border of Spain, the coast consists of a flat, sandy, barren tract, called the Landes^ extending 

 30 miles into the country, and producing nothing but heath, broom, and juniper. The remain- 

 der of the country is, in general, agreeably diversified with gentle undulations. 



POLITICAL GEOGRAPH\". 



1. Divisions. France is divided into 86 Departments ; these are subdivided into Arron- 

 dissements ; these, into Cantons ; and these, into Communes.* 



* Before the Revolution, France was divided Into 32 

 Provinces, the names of which, as they are connected with 

 many historical associations, still continue in popular use, 

 although their political significance has ceased. The fol- 

 lowing are the names of the Ancient Provinces, with the 

 Departments into which they were changed. 



Ancient Provinces. 

 Flanders, 

 Artois, 

 Picardy, 



Normandy, 



Isle of Fraa:;e, 



Champagne, 



Lorraine, 

 Alsace, 



Brittany 



Maine, 



Anjou, 

 Touraine, 



Orieannais 



Berry, 

 Nivernais, 



Burgundy, 



Departmenls. 

 North. 



Pas de Calais. 



Somme. 

 ( Lower Seine, 

 i Calvados, 

 <i La Manche, 

 I Orne, 

 1^ Eure. 



(Seine 

 Seine and Oise, 

 Oise, 

 Seine and Mavne, 

 1^ Aisne. 

 f Marne, 

 J Ardennes, 

 j Aube, 



Upper Marne. 

 f Meuse, 

 J Moselle, 

 I Meurthe, 

 [_ Vosges. 

 ( Upper Rhine, 

 ( Lower Rhine. 

 Ille and Vilaine, 

 Cotes du Nord, 

 -( Finisterre, 

 Morbihan, 

 1^ Lower Loire. 

 C Maycnne, 

 I Sarthe. 

 Maine and Loire. 

 Indre and Loire. 

 C Loiret, 



< Eure and Loire, 

 ^ Loire and Cher. 

 5 Indre, 

 I Cher. 



Nievre. 

 f Yonne, 

 j Cote d' Or, 

 j Saone and Loire, 

 I Ain. 



Ancient Provinces 



Franche Corapt^, 



Poitou, 



La Marche, 



Limousin, 

 Bourbonnais, 

 Saintonge and Angou- 

 mois, 



Aunis and Saintonge, 

 Auvergne, 



Lyonnais, 

 Dauphiny, 



Guyenne, with Gascony, 



Navarre, with Bearn, 

 County of Foix, 

 Roussillon 



Languedoc, 



Provence, 



County of Venaissin, and 



Avignon, 

 Corsica, 



Departments. 

 ' Upper Saone, 



Doubs, 



Jura. 

 ' Vendee 



Two Sevres, 



Vieniie. 



Creuse, 



Upper Vienne. 



Correze. 



AUier. 



I Charente. 



Lower Charente. 

 ^ Puy de Dome, 

 I Canlal. 

 J Rhone, 

 ( Loire. 

 C Isere, 



< Upper Alps, 

 ^ Drome. 

 rDordoone, 



I Gironde, 



Lot and Garonne, 

 I Lot, 



< Tarn and Garonne, 

 I Aveyron, 



I Gers, 

 I Landes, 



Upper Pyrenees. 



Lower Pyrenees. 



Arriege. 



Eastern Pyrenees, 

 f Upper Garonne, 

 1 Aude, 



Tarn, 



Herault 



Gard, 



Lozere, 



Upper Loire, 



Ardeche. 

 ' Lower Alps, 



Mouths of the Rhone. 

 *Var. 



I Vaucluse. 

 Corsica. 



