chum) is peculiar to the southern swamps, where it attains a height of 120 feet; the wood is light, durable, and strong, and is much esteemed for several economical purposes. The red cedar (Juniperus Virginiana) is also a southern tree, and the wood possesses a high character for durability, compactness, and lightness. The catalpa (Catalpa cordifolia), a beautiful ornamental tree, with its showy white flowers spotted with violet, is most abundant in the southern sections of the United States. The alder (Alnus serrulata) is common in all parts of the country. The hornbeam (Carpinus Americana) is common in all parts of the United States. The big laurel (Magnolia grandiflora) is one of the most remarkable of American trees for the majesty of its form, the mag

nificence of its foliage, and the beauty of its flowers. It abounds in the southern States. The cucumber tree (M. acuminata), which is found in the Alleghanies, is scarcely inferior to the big laurel in beauty and dimensions. The long-leaved cucumber tree (M. auriculata) is confined to the southern Alleghanies, and is distinguished for the size of its flowers. The umbrella trees also belong to this genus. The devil wood (Olea Americana) is common in the south; the wild cherry (Prunus Virginiana) attains to gigantic dimensions in the west, but is smaller in the east. Among the various medicinal plants of North America, may be mentioned the pippsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata), as a diuretic; the blood-root or puccoon (Sanguinaria Canadensis), as an emetic and purgative, and also as affording a fine orange-colored dye; the dogwood, which is a good substitute for the Peruvian bark; the fever-wort; the gillenias, with emetic properties; the glaucous magnolia and tulip tree; the American senna (Cassia Marylandica), an excellent cathartic; the spotted crane's bill (Geranium maculatum), as an astringent; the partridge-berry or mountain-tea (Gaultheria procumbens); the Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata), a powerful emetic; the blue cardinal flower (Lobelia siphilitica)

馬味

Cucumber Tree.

Wild Cherry.

has now lost its repute in medicine; the thorough-wort or boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum); the centaury (Sabbatia angularis), a valuable tonic bitter; the May apple (Podophyllum peltatum), whose root is a safe and active cathartic; the Virginia snake-root (Aristolochia serpentaria), extensively employed in medicine; the poke-root (Veratrum viride); the wild ginger (Asarum Canadense), having the properties of the snake-root, and the sweet-scented asarabacca (A. Virginicum); the sassafras and spice-wood (Laurus benzoin); the gold-thread (Coptis trifolia), a powerful bitter; the Seneca snake-root (Polygala Senega), much used for various purposes; the American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), exported to China; the ground ivy or alehoof (Glechoma hederacea); St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum); elecampane (Inula Melenium); marsh-trefoil (Menyanthes trifoliata); bitter sweet (Solanum dulcamara); the marsh rosemary (Statice Caroliniana).

Among the wild fruits beside those already mentioned, are the Florida orange; numerous species of wild grape; the wild crab-apple (Malus coronaria), and Chickasaw plum; the American raspberry, blackberries, and strawberries, various whortleberries, fruits of the vacciniums (V. Resinosum); the cranberry; the wild gooseberry and swamp gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati); the American elder (Sambucus Canadensis); the common barberry (Berberis vulgaris).

******

Elecampane.

Marsh Trefoil.

Some species of the herbaceous and smaller plants in the vicinity of the Arctic circle are common to Europe and Siberia, but without that region there is none that is indigenous in both continents. In the central latitues are three avens (Geums), the Canadian lily (Lilium Canadense), several cinquefoils (Potentilla), the lumbine (Aquilegia Canadensis), several lycopodiums, the Parnassus grass (Parnassia Caroliniana), various saxifrages, &c. Among the gramineous plants the carices predominate in exposed marshes. As we proceed south (between 450 and 35° of lat.), we find the Cercis Canadensis conspicuous for its purple blossoms, the wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), the Jersey tea (Ceanothus Americanus), several species of sumach (Rhus), and andromeda, the leather-wood (Dirca palustris), the divining-rod or witch-hazel (Hamamelis Virginica), noted for its pretended uses in discovering springs and mineral veins, and which puts forth its flowers at the very close of the season, &c. forming the underwood, and various climbing plants now make their appearance, as grapes, clematis, various species of Smilax (brier), &c. Among the herbaceous plants may be mentioned, the groundsels (Senecio), epigea, the violet sorrel (Oxalis violacea), the dragon-root or wild-turnip (Avum triphyllum), the wild-indigo (Baptisia tinctoria), the asclepias, or butterfly-weed and milk

weed, the purple and yellow gerardias, the beautiful blue and purple gentians, the Philadelphia lily, the catch-flies (Silene); the side-saddle plant (Sarracenia purpurea), with its hairy, pitcher-like leaves, in which many an unwary insect finds a watery grave, a profusion of asters and golden-rods (Solidago), various cleavers (Gelium), the loose-strife (Lysimachias), the monkey-flower (Mimulus ringens), the nettles (Urtica), &c.

Many fine flowering aquatic plants are also found in this region, among which are the hydropeltis, the orontium, various singular sagittarias (arrow-heads), the white water-lily (Nymphæa Alba), and

yellow water-lily (Nuphar advena), the vallisneria Americana, famous as the food of the canvassback ducks, the pickerel-weed (Pontederia cordata), &c.

Several grasses of peculiar forms, numerous rushes (junci), the large and beautiful wild-rice (Zizania aquatica), some carices, &c. are among the gramineous plants. The numerous ferns are all different from those of the eastern continent.

In the more southern regions (35° lat. to 25°) the number of species increases, and the vegetation becomes more peculiar; most of the plants of the last-described section being found here, with many that are confined to the warmer skies. The climbing plants are numerous, including numerous clematis, vines, passifloras, tillandsias (long moss), &c. Among the herbaceous and smaller plants are several lupines, sarracenias, gentians, the fly-trap (Diomaa muscipula), which takes its name from its curious apparatus for catching insects, the sun-dews (drosera), asarums, amaryllis, the superb yuccas, the beautiful gerardias, parietarias, and numerous others. Aquatic plants abound, such as the magnificent nelumbium, nuphar, lobelias, &c., and the cane, a gigantic grass (Miegia macrosperma), occupies extensive tracts.

The prairies have a vegetation in many respects peculiar, and various grasses hold sway over these broad fields; it would be impossible here to enumerate these, and the numerous flowering plants West of the Rocky Mountains we enter a new botanical region, distinguished by its characteristic trees, shrubs, and smaller plants, but having some species common with the eastern part of the con tinent, and others with the opposite shores of Asia.

The approach to a tropical climate is first indicated by fields of cotton and rice. These southern countries, the climate of which is increased in heat and humidity far beyond that of corresponding latitudes in other parts of the world, present a complete mixture of the vegetable productions of Mexico and the northern States. Along with the principal part of the plants of Virginia and Kentucky, we have not only the cotton, the indigo, and the sugar-cane, as articles of cultivation, but the planes and the deciduous cypress acquire gigantic dimensions.

A solitary epidendron inhabits the branches of the magnolia near Savanna. In the same neighborhood is found the Pinckneya, a plant closely allied to the jesuit's bark of Peru; and the woods are filled throughout the Carolinas, Florida, Alabama, &c., with dense masses of the gigantic long-moss (Tillandsia usneoides), which hangs from the branches of the trees.

In southern Mexico we enter the tropics, and in all the valleys and plains, where the temperature is not lowered by accidental causes, the usual vegetation of such latitudes occurs. Palms, bananas (Musa paradisiaca), plantains (Musa sapientum), and yams, yield the natives an abundant supply of food. Besides these and the other common articles of cultivation by the inhabitants of tropical countries, such as coffee, indigo, sugar-cane, and maize (which here finds its native home), the cacao-tree (Theobroma cacao), from whose seeds chocolate is prepared, is a most important species; pine-apples are wild in the woods; the American aloe (Agave Americana), yields an intoxicating drink, and great numbers of cactuses occupy the dry situations, where little else will grow. In the low woods of Honduras are found enormous forests, containing an abundance of mahogany (Swietenia Mahogani) and logwood trees. It is here also that the tamarind and the lignum vitæ (Guiacum officinale) are found; the vanilla (Epidendron vanilla) and the jalap (Convolvulus Jalapa), which derives its name from the city of Xalapa, near which it principally

Agave Americana.

abounds.

But in the highlands of Mexico this vegetation disappears; the eatable nasturtium (Tropæolum esculentum), and the wood-sorrel (Oxalis tuberosa) supply the place of the yam; mahogany trees give way to oaks, and the singular hand tree (Cheirostemon); while the pine tribe finds its most southern limits, and the herbage is composed of genera either resembling or identical with those of more northern regions.

10. Animals. Most of the American quadrupeds are of a distinct species, even when they bear the same name with those of the eastern continent.

The bison (Bos Americanus) is a species of ox found only in North America, and is distin

American Bison.

guished by the hump on its shoulders, and the length and fineness of its hair, which is sometimes manufactured into hats and coarse cloth. It was formerly found over a great part of the continent from 30° to 60° N., but is now never seen to the east of the river Mississippi. The flesh is tender and well-flavored, and the tongue and hump are considered great delicacies. The skins, dressed with the hair on, are familiarly known as buffalo robes, the animal being generally though improperly called buffalo. The bison has been domesticated, and in a wild state does not attack man, unless when wounded