thus includes every climate of the globe, and all varieties of soil and production. The coast is deeply indented on every side. On the west it is cut into by the Mediterranean and the Black sea; on the north by numerous bays and gulfs of the Arctic ocean; on the east by the Okhotsk sea, the sea of Japan, the Yellow sea, and the gulf of Tonquin; on the south by the gulfs of Tonquin and Siam, the bay of Bengal, and the Arabian sea, and its prolongation, the Persian gulf. Its entire coast line is somewhat more than 33,000 m.; Reclus puts it at 35,886 m.-The great mountain ranges, which contain many of the loftiest summits on the globe, are arranged in the form of knots, from the central point of which ranges radiate in various directions. There are four grand systems, the Altai, the Hindoo Koosh, the Himalaya, and the Armenian, which divide the whole continent into a series of plains and plateaus of greater or less elevation. The central point of the Altai group is in the geographical centre of the continent, about lat. 50° N., lon. 90° E. Half way across the continent its median line runs E. and W. upon the parallel of 50° N., splitting into various folds. It sends a branch S. W., which unites with the Belur Tagh and the Hindoo Koosh; and one N. E., which under the names of the Yablonnoi and Stanovoi runs to the Arctic ocean. The Altai range separates the great northern plain of Siberia from the steppes of Mongolia and Mantchooria. The centre of the Hindoo Koosh range lies in about lat. 35° N., lon. 73° E. It branches eastward, under the names of the Kuen-lun and Karakorum, into Chinese Tartary, and westward to the S. shore of the Caspian, where the range receives the name of Elburz and approaches the Armenian group. The Hindoo Koosh, with its prolongations, separates the great desert of Gobi from China and Thibet, and divides the steppes of Turkistan from the plateau of Iran. The Himalaya, from the extreme western point, where the Indus cuts through it, to the eastern extremity, where the hills fail altogether on the right bank of the Brahmapootra, measures 2,000 m. in length, with an average breadth of 180 m. The western Himalaya, around the valley of Cashmere, has no peaks exceeding 16,000 or 18,000 ft. in height. In the middle of the range rise the stupendous peaks of Gaurisankar or Mt. Everest, 29,002 ft. above the level of the sea, Dhawalagiri, 26,826 ft., and Kinchinjunga, 28,156 ft. Aconcagua in Chili, now held to be the highest peak of the Andes, is 22,422 ft.; its head is therefore a mile and a quarter below that of Mt. Everest. Northward, under the name of Belur Tagh, the Himalaya range is continued between Independent and Chinese Tartary, where it is joined by the Thianshan mountains, which stretch into the desert of Gobi and the upland plains of Mongolia, and here and there connect with the Altai system. The eastern extremity of the Himalaya is connected with at least five chains, which radiate fanwise, traversing parts of China and Further India. The Armenian group, of which Ararat is the culminating point, lies in parallel folds at the head of the peninsula of Asia Minor, between the Caspian, the Black sea, and the Mediterranean. It connects N. with the Caucasus, a somewhat isolated chain between the Caspian and Black seas, and in the west forms the Taurus; of its southern branches, the one, Libanus, follows the course of the Mediterranean; the other, running southeastwardly, forms the eastern boundary of the Mesopotamian plain. Besides these main groups are many ranges which claim mention. Among these are the Chang-pe Shan, a coast chain of Mantchooria; the Khingan Oola, on the E. border of the desert of Gobi; the Peling, Nan-ling, Yun-ling, and Yun-nan in China proper; and the Vindhya and Eastern and Western Ghauts in Hindostan. In S. W. Asia there is the chain of the Arabian peninsula, joining on to Libanus. A notable chain branches off in the far northeast, near the arctic circle, traverses the coast of the peninsula of Kamtchatka, and disappears under the ocean, its summits appearing in the Kurile, Japanese, and Loo Choo islands. It forms the ocean rampart of the continent, enclosing between it and the mainland the seas of Okhotsk and Japan.-Apart from the mountain ranges Asia may be considered as consisting of two vast upland plateaus and six great lowland plains. The eastern plateau is a tract nearly as large as the whole of Europe, including the table land of Thibet and the desert of Gobi, extending N. to the Altai, and S. E. to the gulf of Tonquin. It is separated from Hindostan by the Himalaya range, some of the passes through which are higher than the loftiest peaks of the Alps. Cultivation is here carried on as high as 10,000 ft., and pasturage is found 2,000 ft. higher. On the southeast this table land is bounded by the Yun-nan and other almost unknown alpine ranges of China. On the north it is separated by the Altai mountains from the great plain of Siberia. The western plateau, or Iranian table land, has a general elevation of about 5,000 ft., rising sometimes to 7,000, or sinking to 2,000 or 1,200. It may be divided into three parts: Iran proper or Persia, Armenia, with Azerbijan and Kurdistan, and Asia Minor. Persia has a mean elevation of 3,000 ft. A large part of its surface consists of salt plains covered with sand and gravel. In the Armenian division, the table land is compressed to half its more eastern width. Asia Minor, the western division, is bounded along the shores of the Black sea by wooded mountains which rise to the height of 6,000 or 7,000 ft. These sections present many diversities of soil and scenery. A considerable part of Persia is barren and arid, but interspersed with beautiful valleys. The coasts of the Persian gulf are generally sandy and sterile. A large portion of Khorasan and the adjoining regions is a desert of clayey soil, impregnated with salt and nitre, rising in the Altai range. In lat. 61°, a little varied here and there with patches of verdure. N. of the parallel of St. Petersburg, it receives Beloochistan is mostly an arid plain covered its great affluent the Irtish, and the stream with coarse red sand. The mountainous re- falls into the Arctic ocean in lat. 67°. The gion of Armenia, extending toward the Black double basin of the Obi occupies a third of the sea, abounds in fertile valleys set among rugged area of Siberia. The Yenisei drains an area hills. There are several smaller and detached of about 800,000 sq. m., receiving in its course plateaus. Imbedded in the Ural mountains is many large branches. It debouches in lat. 72° a large plain rich in minerals. The highlands into the gulf of Yenisei. The Lena, draining of Syria rise gradually from the neighboring about 700,000 sq. m., rises in the mountains deserts to an elevation of above 10,000 ft., N. of Lake Baikal, runs N. E. for half its course and slope by a succession of terraces down to Yakutsk, receives in lat. 63° the Aldan, its to the narrow coast plain of Palestine, with greatest tributary, and thence runs between a deep depression, the valley of the Dead masses of frozen mud, in which are found the sea, 1,300 ft. below the level of the ocean. remains of extinct species of the elephant In India the plateau of the Deccan rises to and rhinoceros, falling into the ocean near the height of 1,500 or 2,000 ft., shut off by lat. 73°, nearer to the pole than the mouth the Western Ghauts from the level coast of of any other great river. The Obi is the Malabar, by the Eastern Ghauts from that only Siberian river navigable for any disof Coromandel, and by the Vindhya and tance; but, like all the others, it is frozen over Malwa mountains from the low plains of for a great part of the year. 2. The Chinese Hindostan. There are six great Asian low- river system comprises four minor divisions. lands: 1. That of Siberia on the north, which The Hong-kiang or Si-kiang, rising in the stretches from the northern declivities of the province of Yun-nan, after an E. S. E. course of Altai mountains to the shores of the Arc- 1,000 m., falls into the bay of Canton. The tic ocean. It is mostly cold, barren, and Yang-tse-kiang descends in several streams gloomy, hardly fitted for the abode of man. from the Pe-ling mountains, which divide China 2. The lowland near the Caspian sea and the proper from Tartary. Its length is nearly 3,000 Aral, a sterile waste, much of it lying below in., a fifth part of which is navigable for large the level of the ocean. 3. The Syro-Arabian ships. In volume of water it is exceeded only lowland, the southern and western parts a by the Amazon and the Mississippi. It divides desert, with few green spots. But wherever China proper into two nearly equal parts, there is water this lowland is wonderfully passing through the most populous provinces. productive. Its N. E. section, lying between Its course is very winding, the general direction the Euphrates and the Tigris, known formerly being first southeasterly and then northeasterly. as Mesopotamia and Babylonia, once support- It falls into the Yellow sea in lat. 32° N. The ed powerful nations. Though now sterile Hoang-ho or Yellow river, 2,500 m. long, has and almost uninhabited, it needs only the res- its source near that of the Yang-tse-kiang, but toration of the ancient system of irrigation for a long distance the rivers are separated from the two great rivers to render it one by mountain chains which border the table of the most productive regions of the earth. land. They then approach, and in 1851 their 4. The lowlands of Hindostan, comprising mouths were only 100 m. apart. In that year the great Indian desert, in the northwest, the Hoang-ho burst through its northern together with the fertile plains of Bengal, a banks, and in 1853 its lower course had wholly region not exceeded even by China for capacity changed, its present mouth in the gulf of Peto support a dense population. 5. The Indo- chi-li being 260 m. N. of the former one. Nine Chinese lowlands, comprising the long levels similar changes are recorded within 2,500 years, of Burmah, watered by the Irrawaddy, and the various mouths ranging over a coast line the low alluvial regions of Cambodia and Siam. of nearly 350 m. Nearly all of the Chinese 6. The immense Chinese lowlands, commencing rivers are tributaries of these two great streams, in lat. 40° N., and spreading southward to the the principal exceptions being the Hong-kiang tropic of Cancer. This plain, containing an and the Pei-ho or White river, which have area of about 200,000 sq. m., nearly that of their own basins. The Pei-ho, rising near France, supports a population of more than the great wall, becomes navigable a few miles 100,000,000, in proportion double that of Eng- E. of Peking, and is an important channel for land, more by half than that of Belgium, and trade. It is also connected with the great much more than twice that of any other coun- canal. The Amoor, having its source in Montry in the world, except a portion of India.-golia, for a great part of its course separates The hydrography of Asia is regulated by its mountain ranges. There are six main river systems: 1. That of Siberia comprises the Obi, the Yenisei, and the Lena, each, roughly speaking, about 2,500 m. long. These carry off the waters of the Altai chain into the Arctic ocean. The Obi, the most western of the great Siberian rivers, is formed by two rivers Chinese Mantchooria from the Russian Amoor Country. Its lower course is wholly within the Russian dominions. Its length measured along its windings is nearly 2,400 m., or about 1,600 in a direct line. It falls into the sea of Okhotsk, in lat. 53°. 3. Of the Indo-Chinese system, the principal rivers are the Irrawaddy and the Salwen, which water Burmah; the Menam, which traverses Siam; and the Me- | is the great salt lake of Van. In Persia are kong, or Cambodia, which flows through the large salt lake of Urumiah, the small Anam. These rivers traverse regions little fresh-water lake of Hamun, and the little salt known. 4. The Brahmapootra and the Gan- lake of Bakhtegan. Lake Asphaltites, or the ges form a double system. The Brahmapoo- Dead sea, in Palestine, is notable for its great tra, according to the still doubtful assumption depression and the exceeding saltness of its wawhich makes the Dzang-botziu its upper ters.-The proportion of Asia practically unincourse, rises in the lofty table land of Thibet, habitable, either on account of extreme cold or its head waters being not far from those of the the absence of water, is very great. A considIndus. After watering the long valley of erable part of Siberia lies north of the zone of Thibet, it makes a sudden bend to the south, cultivation. The great sand plain of Gobi, cuts through the Himalaya chain near its E. larger than France and England, is practically end, and falls into the bay of Bengal, its waters a desert. E. of the Caspian lies the large near the mouth sometimes interlocking with sandy desert of Khiva in Turkistan; and a still those of the Ganges. The latter rises on the larger one occupies the centre of Iran. The southern side of the Himalaya, and after run- great peninsula of Arabia is mainly a desert, ning S. E. through the plains of Bengal, and which stretches northward and includes a conreceiving in its course 12 large rivers, falls into siderable part of the plain of the Euphrates, the bay of Bengal. The Brahmapootra and the having altogether an area of nearly 1,000,000 Ganges drain an area of about 500,000 sq. m., sq. m. Between the plains of Hindostan and and there is scarcely a spot in Bengal more the left bank of the Indus lies the Indian desthan 20 m. distant from one of their tributary ert, 400 m. broad. Probably fully a quarter streams, navigable even in the dry season. 5. of Asia may be considered a desert region.The Indus rises near the head waters of the The climate of Asia embraces every general Dzang-botziu, but breaks through the Hima- variety and every local incident: the rainless layan chain toward the N. W. end, and after and riverless plains of Gobi, and the supera course of 1,800 m. falls into the Arabian sea, abundant moisture of the Indian seacoast; the on the opposite side of the peninsula of Hin- extremes of heat and cold in Siberia and the dostan. It drains about 350,000 sq. m. 6. steppes; the more equable and agreeable cliThe Euphrates and the Tigris, rising in the mate of Asia Minor; gradations of temperature mountains of Armenia, flow for some distance indicated both by a latitude ranging from the close to each other, but after descending into equator almost to the pole, and by a range of the plain diverge to a distance of more than elevation from several hundred feet below the 100 m., again approach, and finally unite, falling level of the sea to 29,000 feet above it. In no into the Persian gulf under the name of the part of the earth's surface are the modifications Shat-el-Arab. The region between them is of temperature, and consequently of products, the Mesopotamia of the ancients. The length more strongly marked; while in some spots of the Euphrates is about 1,800 m.; that of the the inhabitants behold at one view in their Tigris, which pursues a more direct course, valleys and hillsides the animal and vegetable about 1,150. The basin of the Euphrates and life of the tropics, of the temperate, and of Tigris occupies about 250,000 sq. m.-The the frigid zone. The vast plains of Siberia are lakes of Asia are of less importance than those exposed to the extremes of temperature. In of America or Africa. The Caspian and the Tobolsk the thermometer for weeks during Aral, however, commonly called seas, may the summer remains at from 80° to 90°, while more properly be regarded as lakes. The for- the mean winter temperature is below zero. mer, 700 m. long and 200 broad, lies 833 ft. At Yakutsk the mean annual temperature is below the level of the Black sea. Although 13:43°, while in the summer it rises to 80°. The it receives the waters of the Volga, the largest reason for this extreme variation is the distance river of Europe, it has no outlet, and its wa- of these plains from the ocean. The veil of ters are salt. The Aral, 300 m. long and at mist which in more equable climates moderates its centre 150 broad, lies about 40 ft. above the intensity of the rays of the summer sun is the same level; its waters are salt, but less so wanting; while in the winter no breeze laden than those of the Caspian. It is probable that with moisture is present to temper the extreme these two lakes were once united. Lake Bai- cold natural to the high latitude. The prevalent kal, in S. Siberia, has an area of about 13,000 sq. winds are from the southwest. These reach m., being, next after Superior, Michigan, and eastern Siberia after having traversed wide Huron, the largest body of fresh water on the stretches of land covered with ice and snow, globe, and lies about 1,400 ft. above the ocean and being thus deprived of their caloric and level. Lake Balkash, or Tenghiz, 250 m. long moisture, they become cold land winds. This and 70 broad, has an area of upward of 8,000 applies to the whole of Asia N. of lat. 35°. sq. m., approaching that of Erie. China Compared with the maritime portions of Euhas six considerable lakes, of which the two rope, the difference is striking. In Peking, largest, Po-yang and Thung-thing, have each lat. 39° 54', the mean annual temperature is an area of about 3,000 sq. m., a third of that 9° lower than at Naples, which lies a little to of Erie. The Tengrinoor in Thibet is of about the north; and 4.5° lower than at Copenhathe same dimensions. In Turkish Armenia gen, which is 17° nearer the pole. The rain less plain of Gobi, just N. of and considerably | there trees are found as high as 70°; but for less elevated than Thibet, is exposed to such the most part the soil is covered with snow extremes of temperature that only the hardiest and ice for nine or ten months of the year. shrubs can exist. The western plateau is also When this melts the plains are clothed with excessively cold in winter and excessively hot mosses and lichens, mixed with dwarf willows, in summer. In northern India the great dif- and the swamps and morasses with coarse ferences in elevation occasion great variations grass, sedges, and rushes. In the far north the of climate within very moderate distances. plants live between the air and the earth, their Over an immense region one may pass in a tops scarcely rising above the soil, while their single day through all the range of climates; roots creep upon the very surface. The few torrid at the foot of the mountains, temperate woody plants trail along the ground, rarely on their sides, arctic at the top. In southern rising an inch or two above it. The salix laIndia regular rainy and dry seasons, occasioned | nata, the giant of these miniature forests, never by the monsoons, greatly modify the climate. grows more than 5 inches high, while its stem, The direction of the prevailing winds also affects 10 or 12 feet long, lies hidden among the the temperature. On the southern declivity protecting moss. Somewhat further south, a of the Himalayas, in lat. 30° 45', the snow line beautiful flora makes its appearance in the begins at the elevation of 12,982 ft.; on the brief hot summer. Potentillas, gentians, saxinorthern declivity the warm winds from the frages, ranunculi, artemisias, and many others Thibetan plateau raise the snow line to 16,630 spring up, blossom, ripen their seed, and die ft.-Asia is rich in minerals. Gold is widely in a few weeks. The Siberian steppes are diffused in the Ural and Altai mountains, Chi- bounded on the south by forests of pine, birch, na, Persia, and Japan; silver in Siberia, Co- and willow. The upper courses of the great chin China, and India; copper and iron in very rivers are bordered with poplars, elms, and many localities; mercury in China, Japan, and maples. The Siberian pine, with edible seeds, India. The island of Banca vies with Corn- reaches the height of 126 feet; the pinus cemwall in the production of tin. Coal has been bra grows around Lake Baikal almost up to found in northern China and Japan; the area the line of perpetual snow. The greater part of its production is not ascertained. Petro- of Thibet is sterile. Frost begins early in Sepleum, in its various forms, is abundant in tember and continues till May. In some parts parts of China and India, in Siam and the val- snow falls every month of the year. There ley of the Euphrates, and on the shores of the are, however, many sheltered spots, heated by Caspian. Salt is common all over the conti- radiation from the bare mountain flanks, where nent. Precious stones are more widely dif- grains and fruits of every kind flourish. Wheat, fused in Asia than in any other part of the barley, buckwheat, and rice are native; maize globe, every variety being found. The mines has been introduced, and is successfully cultiof India have produced nearly all the great vated. There are olives, pears, apples, peachdiamonds discovered. The most valuable es, apricots, grapes, mulberries, and currants; pearls are those found on the coasts of Ceylon the various species of melons are noteworthy and of the Persian gulf.-The geological fea- for their quality and quantity. The Himalayan tures of Asia are considered under the special mountains form a distinct botanical district. heads of the different countries and mountain Immediately below the snow line the vegetation ranges. The continent presents fewer traces is of an arctic character; lower down there than any other of volcanic action. Volcanoes are forests of pine, oak, walnut, and maple; are confined mainly to the peninsula of Kam- the flowers are mainly species of rhododentchatka, many of the mountains of which are dron. At an altitude of about 5,000 feet the only masses of lava. The peninsula of Cutch transition from a temperate to a tropical flora and the delta of the Indus present here and takes place. The transition zone lies between there traces of volcanic action, and are often the 35th and 27th parallels of N. latitude, where agitated by subterranean forces. Mt. Ararat the tropical flora becomes mixed with that of is also a volcanic peak. But the long line of the temperate zone. The prevailing plants on islands forming a prolongation of the Asiatic the Chinese low grounds are glycine, hydrancontinent is the great volcanic region; and the gea, camphor, laurel, the wax tree, clerodenJapanese islands are also volcanic. The bro- dron, rose of China, thuja, and olea fragrans, ken isthmus which connects the Indo-Chinese the flowers of which are used to flavor the peninsula with Australia is a great line of fire. finest teas. The India pride, paper mulberry, From Papua to Sumatra every large island is and other plants cover many of the hills. Of pierced with one or more volcanic outlets. the tea plant there are two main species. The Java has the largest number.-The flora of one, bearing small leaves, furnishes the tea Asia, while in general similar to that of the consumed at home and exported to Europe and other continents in corresponding latitudes, America; the other, with larger leaves, furyet presents some peculiarities. Asia is espe- nishes the brick tea consumed mainly in Thibet cially the land of spices, odoriferous gums, and and N. E. Siberia; as used it is mixed with medicinal plants. North of the 60th parallel, butter, forming a soup rather than a beverage. the ground is perpetually frozen at a very Rice is here the most important cereal. The small depth below the surface. Here and plains of Hindostan are so completely sheltered from the cold northern winds, and heated and watered by the monsoons, that the vegetation early assumes a tropical character. In the jungles among the lower ridges of the Himalaya ferns and orchidaceous plants abound. Trees of the fig tribe are a special characteristic. Some, as the banian, throw off shoots from their branches, which take root on reaching the ground, and become independent trunks, sending off other branches, which also take root, until a forest is formed around the parent stem. Palms of many kinds abound in India; of some species every part is useful to man. Cotton is of spontaneous growth. The native fruits of India are numerous. The orange, the plantain, the banana, the mango, and the date, areca, palmyra, and cocoanut palms, are all of Indian origin. The flowers are notable for their brilliancy of color. The island of Ceylon, which may be regarded as the southern extremity of the Indian peninsula, is the home of those species of laurel of which the bark constitutes cinnamon and cassia. The flora of Arabia is peculiar, being chiefly marked by the number of the plants producing odoriferous and medicinal gums. Oceans of barren sand, dotted here and there, wherever water is found, with oases, like islands, cover a great part of Arabia and the adjacent Syria. The prevalent vegetation consists of grasses growing under the shade of the date palms; while plants of the acacia tribe spring up scantily in the arid sand. Coffee, originally brought from Abyssinia to Arabia, has thence been widely diffused; the production in Arabia is small compared with the whole amount. The chief features of the Asiatic flora, excluding the arctic regions, may be thus summed up: The principal forest trees are aloes, bamboo, birch, chestnut, cypress, ebony, fir, gutta percha, ironwood, larch, mangrove, maple, myrtle, oak, palm, pine, poplar, rosewood, sandalwood, teak, and willow. The fruits are almond, apple, apricot, banana, banian, betel, cashew, citron, cocoa, date, fig, grape, guana, guava, lemon, lime, mangosteen, mulberry, olive, orange, pandanus, peach, pear, plantain, plum, pomegranate, shaddock, tamarind, and walnut. The most important spices and condiments are camphor, cassia, cinnamon, clove, mace, and nutmeg. The tea and coffee plants furnish the bulk of the non-alcoholic beverages of the world. The leguminous plants, such as the bean, pea, and lentil, present a great variety of species. The yam supplies the place of the potato. Cereals are widely diffused in their proper localities. Tobacco has been introduced, and is extensively cultivated. The sugar cane is indigenous. Hemp and flax are produced in large quantities. Among the native drugs are aloes, anise, camphor, datura, jalap, myrrh, opium, and sarsaparilla. The zoology of Asia covers a wide field. It includes the whole class of domesticated animals. The ass, camel, goat, hog, horse, and ox came from Asia. Of the deer tribe there are many species, from the antelope to the reindeer. The Asiatic elephant differs considerably from its African congener. Besides some special anatomical peculiarities, it is distinguished by the smaller size of the ears and tusks, the latter being often entirely wanting. In Africa the elephant has probably never been domesticated; in Asia it has from time immemorial been made the servant of man in peace and war. Of oxen there are at least four distinct species: the Indian ox (bos Indicus), remarkable for its large hump, and held sacred by the Hindoos; the yak (bos grunniens) of central Asia, used as a beast of burden rather than of draught, notable for its silky tail; the buffalo (bos bubalus), often found wild, but capable of domestication; and the gayal (bos gavaus) of Indo-China. Among goats, that of Cashmere is famous for its silky hair, from which the costly shawls improperly styled camel's hair are made. Persia has a peculiar variety of sheep with a fatty tail. Many varieties of dogs exist; among the nobler species are the mastiff of Thibet, used for carrying burdens, and the Persian greyhound. Generally the dog is accounted an unclean animal, but a small species is fattened for food in China, the hams being considered a great delicacy. In India the pariah dog is the principal scavenger. Of the greater carnivora, the lion, leopard, and tiger are the chief. The Asiatic lion is smaller than the African, and lacks the flowing mane which forms the striking feature of the male of the African species. A species of leopard, the cheetah, has been partially tamed, and is used in hunting. The tiger is peculiar to Asia, abounding in the warm plains of the south and east, never crossing the deserts which separate India from Persia, but sometimes straying as far north as Siberia. Wolves and foxes are numerous in the colder, hyænas and jackals in the warmer regions. There are numerous species of bears; those of the cold regions are large and ferocious; those of the warmer parts are small and inoffensive, living mainly upon insects, fruits, and honey. Among about 422 species of quadrupeds found in Asia, 288 are stated to be peculiar to that continent. The tropical portions abound in monkeys, of which the species are numerous; some have long tails, some short ones, others none at all; but none have the prehensile tails of some American species. The birds of Asia include eagles, vultures, and falcons, of the predatory orders, with nearly all the varieties of game and domestic fowls, except the turkey. Lizards and other saurian reptiles are numerous in the rivers of the warmer parts of the continent; the gavial is the largest of its species. Pythons and other large serpents are found in the jungles. Of the larger venomous serpents, the cobra de capello is the most dreaded. Of fishes, the salmonida are abundant in the northern rivers, constituting the chief food of the natives and their train dogs. The |