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of the Hiftory of Plants has already appeared, under 
the Title of Flora Sibirica, five Hiftoria Tlantarum 
Si birise , Tom. I. continens Tabulas <^/Eri incifas L. 
AufforeT). Joh. Geo.Gmelin. Chem . et Hift. Natur. 
Prof. Petropoli Typis Academia Regia Scientiarum 
1747. This is intended to be followed by icveral 
others, containing a not only a Defcription of the 
Plants, their Locus natalis , &c. but their Ufes amongft 
the Inhabitants, fo far as the Profcffor could get In- 
formation concerning them. 
In a large Preface to this firft Volume, the inge- 
nious and indefatigable Author has given us a con- 
cife Account of Stbiria in general, its Rivers, Lakes, 
Mountains, Mines, the Nature of the Soil, Fertility, 
&c. with feveral judicious Experiments and Re- 
marks on the Altitude of the Earth above the Level 
of the Sea ; but efpecially on the Qualities of the 
Air in that Climate 5 an Abftrad whereof, at firft: 
drawn up for private Entertainment, was thought 
not unworthy of more public Notice, and is there- 
fore addrefled to the Royal Society. 
The Country, whofe Natural Hiftory D. Gmelin 
has collected, is of vaft Extent : It is bounded 
by a Chain of Mountains called the Werchoturiari 
and Vralian on the Weft; by the Sea of Kamt- 
fchatka on the Eaft ; and comprehends all thofe 
Countries that lie betwixt the Mare glacial e, and 
the Borders of the Kalmucks and Mongales , to the 
very Confines of China. 
The Rivers which water this Trad are numerous; 
fome of them large, and even receiving Streams in 
their Courfe, which in other Countries would be 
looked 
