Vestiges of the natural history of creation / [Anon].

  • Robert Chambers
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Vestiges of the natural history of creation / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of Asia, “and perhaps in a greater degree,” adds Dr. Prichard, “from that of Africa.” A much greater recession is, however, observed in both the botany and zoology of Australia. There, “we do not find, in the great masses of vegetation, either the majesty of the virgin forests of America, or the variety and elegance of those of Asia, or the delicacy and freshness of the woods of our temperate countries of Europe. The vege- tation is generally gloomy and sad; it has the aspect of our evergreens or heaths; the plants are. for the most part woody; the leaves of nearly all the plants are linear, lanceolated, small, coria~ ceous, and spinescent. The grasses, which else- where are generally soft and flexible, participate in the stiffness of the other vegetables. The greater part of the plants of New Holland belong to new genera; and those included in the genera already known are of new species. The natural families which prevail are those of the heaths, the protes, composite, leguminosze, and myrtacee ; the larger trees all belong to the last family.”* The prevalent animals of Australia are not less peculiar. It is well known that none above the | marsupialia, or pouched animals, are native to it. * Prichard.
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