Ofen, than in London, or in Sicily, at a height where the mean yearly temperature is greater. It is, indeed, easily comprehensible, that the temperature of that period at which the grapes ripen, must be the most important. Herein lies the cause why the northern limit in Europe does not recede from the pole in our progress eastward, but, on the contrary, is found in a lower latitude in the western than in the middle parts; for, although the mean yearly temperature decreases considerably from west to east, the temperature of summer, on the contrary, increases even on the same parallel, and much more on the same isothermal line. On that account, the upper limit in Italy, Sicily, and Teneriffe, is proportionally much lower; for, towards the equator, the heat of summer does not increase nearly in an equal degree with the medium temperature. A high summer temperature, combined with a low annual temperature, can, however, only to a certain extent, make a country adapted to the culture of the vine. Thus, the isothermal summer heat of Moscow is 1905, which is higher than in Paris, Zurich, or Geneva, and yet grapes at the former only ripen under glass. It may, indeed, at once be affirmed, that a severe cold, especially a cold spring and autumn, must prevent the culture of the vine, however high the summer temperature may be. Frequent night frosts, at the time when the leaves are unfolding, or when the blossom shews itself, and a low temperature in the autumnal months, in which the grapes come to their full maturity, must act injuriously on the vine. Perhaps there is here a concomitant reason why, in North America, the vine does not ascend farther to the north, although the summer temperature is high in proportion to the mean throughout the year.

As the northern limit is chiefly determined by the medium temperature of summer, it is equally so with the southern. In Madeira and the Canary Islands, the mean temperature is not much lower than in Algiers or Cairo, and yet the culture of the vine is very considerable in these islands; whereas in Algiers the temperature is already too high; and in Cairo it is only planted for the sake of its shade. In islands, however, the summer heat is lower than in continents.

It is still more difficult to determine the natural than the artificial distribution of the vine, or, what is the same, the countries where it is a native. Every cultivated plant easily becomes wild, and it is therefore often difficult to decide whether at any given place it may have been native. It is easy to shew, however, that the vine is not originally wild in

the New Continent, on the Canary Islands, Madeira, or the Cape. It is farther probable, that this also applies to all the countries of Europe, on this side of the great Alpine range. In Caucasus and the Levant it frequently occurs wild, and every thing concurs to point out this as its original home. In the south of Europe this is more doubtful. It is indeed found. in Italy, particularly in the southern parts, in woods, and in such circumstances that there one might be inclined to regard it as originally wild. I cannot, however, affirm this to be altogether ascertained. Historical accounts, and popular traditions, might, perhaps, throw light upon the migrations of this plant. This investigation, however, does not properly belong to our subject.

Within the limits of the vine, wine is the customary drink. In higher latitudes, beer and cider supply its place, and, as a spirituous drink, ardent spirits from grain. In the torrid zone, various plants afford substitutes for wine: thus, in Mexico, the Agave Americana is cultivated, and yields a kind of wine; Raphia (Sagus) vinifera gives a beverage resembling wine, in Guinea and other places; Rice and the Sugar-cane furnish both Indies with spirituous liquors.

ART. XXXII.-Remarks illustrative of the Influence of Society on the Distribution of British Animals. By the Rev. JOHN FLEMING, D. D. F. R. S. E. M. W. S. &c.

[Edin. Philos. Jour.]

It is customary with antiquaries in general, to delight to dwell on scenes which exhibit to their imagination the memorials of events nearly forgotten, or the transactions or customs of distant ages. Events of a more recent kind, or transactions which may be considered only in progress, do not arrest their attention, or at least fail to excite in their minds that deep interest which remoter subjects readily awaken. The public likewise feel and act much in the same manner. There is an importance attached to remote events, depending solely on their antiquity; while there is a vulgarity inseparable from recent events, founded on the supposition of their being well known.

Geologists have long acted, and we fear still act, in a similar manner to antiquaries. The study of the charac

ters of the older strata (their position, structure, and ingredients), has been pursued with greater ardour than any researches which have been entered upon with the view of illustrating the connexions of the newer deposits. Coal, sandstone and limestone, have been examined with zeal, while few have bestowed their attention on peat, sand, or marl. Similar practices have prevailed with regard to organic remains. Many have speculated concerning the structure and habits of those relics which occur in the solid strata, who have not deemed the study of the laws which regulate the living races an object of much consequence.

We are not disposed to refer these well known habits of the antiquary and the geologist to any natural preference of the obscure to the distinct,-of subjects, the nature of which may be illustrated with certainty, to those, the relations of which circumstances have rendered us incapable of determining. We are aware that antiquarian and geological speculations are usually engaged in from motives of amusement, and, when conducted in the usual manner, seldom fail to gratify their votaries. Were they to commence their investigations, with a knowledge of recent events, and proceed by degrees to those of remoter times, their conclusions would assume a' more imposing character, but the accompanying labour would be greatly increased. In speculating on the affinities of recent events, the understanding is ever occupied with facts; and the imagination, thus in trammels, dare not indulge in its licentious wanderings. But when remote events are the subjects of our contemplation, fancy becomes a valuable assistant, by reuniting disjointed links, supplying that which is wanting, and enabling the mind to arrive at conclusions, which, without the labour of investigation, had probably been long anticipated.

In Britain, there are many individuals, possessed of much zeal and sagacity, who have long been directing their attention to those organic remains which occur in the different regularly stratified rocks, and many important facts in their history have been satisfactorily established. More recently, public attention has been excited, in a remarkable degree, by the accounts which have been communicated of those singular remains of quadrupeds and birds found in many limestone caves, and loose depositions, which have been termed diluvial by several English mineralogists. These quadrupeds are supposed to have been destroyed by the last grand catastrophe that our planet has experienced, and which, in the opin

ion of many, is identical with the deluge of Noah. At this point, the researches of the geologist have terminated; and the truly interesting interval succeeding that period, and extending to the present time, has been neglected as too recent for inquiry or speculation. To us, however, it appears under a different aspect; and we trust that the observations which follow, will, to a certain extent, justify the propriety of our views, and even excite others, who are placed in more favourable circumstances, to contribute to the illustration of a subject, calculated to throw much light on the more ancient revolutions of our globe.

Man, whether we view him as a savage or a citizen, is induced, by various motives, to carry on a destructive warfare against many animals, which he finds to be his fellow residents on the globe. If we consider him as supporting his savage character, we witness the chase of the graminivorous animals, entered upon as a measure of necessity to supply the cravings of his appetite. He observes their habits, their haunts, and their migrations, the hours at which they feed, the periods of their repose, and the season of the year at which they bring forth their young. Guided by his experience, he commences his attack with such effect, that the resources of the antagonist are generally insufficient to provide a defence, or secure a retreat. But he has other wants to provide for besides those connected with his supply of food. The skins of animals, with but little preparation, afford him comfortable clothing, a covering to his tent, or a water-proof casement for his boat; while their fat supplies fuel for his lamp, or an ointment for his skin.

The savage does not, however, confine himself in his hunting parties to the graminivorous animals. The carnivorous kinds are equally the objects of his anxious pursuit. Many of these dare to wage war with himself,-to dispute a track through the forest, or mountain gorge, or fearlessly and successfully rush into personal combat. The extermination of such opponents is pursued as a measure of safety. But the animals that thus readily make their prey of the savage himself, in company with many others, less powerful, pursue the grami nivorous kinds, divide the prize with him, or bear it away. The savage thus carries on a war against the graminivorous animals, chiefly to procure food and raiment; while he no less zealously endeavours to destroy the carnivorous kinds, as endangering his personal safety, or interfering with the objects of his pursuit.

VOL. II. NO. 4.

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When man emerges from his rudest, or merely hunting state, to the pastoral condition of society, his attacks on the graminivorous animals are not less keenly or successfully conducted; while those which he has reclaimed by his sagacity require a great share of his attention. These have their natural provisions against danger greatly reduced by domestication; and consequently require for their safety the protection of their owners. To secure this safety, man is led to carry on a more vigorous war against all those carnivorous kinds which he formerly persecuted, and perhaps others which he now finds disturb or kill the young of his herds. If he rises from the pastoral to the agricultural state of society, he finds that the enemies of his fields are equally numerous with those of his flocks; that the catalogue of his foes has become greatly extended; and that he must assume the character, not merely of the master, but the tyrant of the soil.

The war which man thus carries on against the lower animals, is influenced, in a remarkable degree, by the progress of society. The wants of man increase in kind and variety with his advances in civilization, and his means of supplying them become proportionally numerous. The war carried on by rude tribes is limited in its objects, and uncertain in its results. But with the progress of experience and improvement, the objects of the chase cease to be limited, while the methods of capture, and engines of death, become more numerous, complicated, and effectual. The war is likewise influenced by circumstances of a local nature. In the warmer regions of the earth, the physical obstacles against which animals have to contend, are not so numerous as in the temperate and colder regions. There, too, man is not so intelligent or energetic. But in the higher latitudes, the changes of the season exercise a more powerful influence, and, at intervals, place animals within the reach of capture, which at other times are in comparative safety. Here, too, man, having a more scanty supply yielded him by the vegetable kingdom, is compelled to be more active in the chace, and the climate in which he resides fits him, in a peculiar manner, for hardy enterprize.

In attending to the checks imposed on the increase of many of the lower animals, we must view them, not merely as the objects of the continued persecution of the human race, but as equally exposed with man himself, to experience the depopulating influence of various physical changes,-the volcanic eruption or earthquake,-floods,-droughts,-frosts or