188 



On East Indian Isinglass. 



merson, upon which M. de Lacepede established his Polynemus lineatus 

 is in fact drawn from a dry specimen, and we are certain, that it is the 

 same species with that which we have received from Pondicherry, since 

 we are in possession of the original specimen as well as the original 

 drawing, and have made a comparison with this and other individuals. 



According to our observations, the Polynemus has a very large 

 swimming bladder, thin and without appendages ; its stomach is a cul~ 

 de-sac, and its pyloris is furnished with innumerable small coecums. — 

 Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, t. 3me } p. 281, Paris, 1829. 



J. M. 



Europe : — A popular Physical Sketch. By Professor 

 Schouw, communicated to the Calcutta Journal of Na- 

 tural History \ by Dr. T. E. Cantor. 



(Continued from vol. ii, p. 16.) 



In consequence of the considerable height of the South 

 European Mountains, the South European on ascending them 

 arrives at climates and vegetations similar to those of the 

 North of Europe, whereas the North European in his own 

 country, remains ignorant of the nature of the South of 

 Europe. Thus the Italian or the Spaniard on ascending his 

 mountains, may see beech-forests, hazel-bushes, rye-fields, 

 and luxuriant meadows; ascending still higher, he meets 

 with plants of Lapland and snow at midsummer, while the 

 North European in his own country, never knows the mild 

 winter or the clear sky, nor sees the laurel, myrtle, nor the 

 evergreen forests, olives, nor oranges. 



The smaller extent of surface of the south of Europe, and 

 the greater encroachment of the sea, are the causes that no 

 rivers can equal in size those of the great plains of the 

 north. The largest rivers in Europe, Wolga, Danube, 

 Dnieper, and Don, appear all to the north of the great moun- 

 tains, where also the lakes in extent and number surpass 

 those of the south, particularly so in the countries surround- 

 ing the Baltic. The structure of the mountains is not very 

 different in the north and the south. Mines are particu- 



