Palm-Trees Grow In Lat 37 Degs.; An
Arborescent Grass, Very Like A Bamboo, In 40 Degs.; And
Another Closely Allied Kind, Of Great Length, But Not Erect,
Flourishes Even As Far South As 45 Degs.
S.
An equable climate, evidently due to the large area of sea
compared with the land, seems to extend over the greater
part of the southern hemisphere; and, as a consequence, the
vegetation partakes of a semi-tropical character. Tree-ferns
thrive luxuriantly in Van Diemen's Land (lat. 45 degs.), and I
measured one trunk no less than six feet in circumference.
An arborescent fern was found by Forster in New Zealand
in 46 degs., where orchideous plants are parasitical on the
trees. In the Auckland Islands, ferns, according to Dr.
Dieffenbach [10] have trunks so thick and high that they may
be almost called tree-ferns; and in these islands, and even
as far south as lat. 55 degs. in the Macquarrie Islands,
parrots abound.
On the Height of the Snow-line, and on the Descent of
the Glaciers in South America. - For the detailed authorities
for the following table, I must refer to the former edition: -
Height in feet
Latitude of Snow-line Observer
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Equatorial region; mean result 15,748 Humboldt.
Bolivia, lat. 16 to 18 degs. S. 17,000 Pentland.
Central Chile, lat. 33 degs. S. 14,500 - 15,000 Gillies, and
the Author.
Chiloe, lat. 41 to 43 degs. S. 6,000 Officers of the
Beagle and the
Author.
Tierra del Fuego, 54 degs.
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