The temperature of the western and northern parts of E. being raised by the gulf stream and the winds from the great mass of dry and desert land in Africa above what is elsewhere found in similar latitudes, the flora and fauna exhibit a corresponding char acter, affected, however, by the great amount of moisture derived from the Atlantic ocean; and also to a still greater degree by the comparative uniformity of temperature which the proximity of the ocean produces. The effect of the last-mentioned causes is so great, that the northern limit of some plants is sooner reached on the shores of the Atlantic than in the more central parts of E., where the winters are much colder, and the average temperature of the year is lower. Of this the vine and maize are notable examples. Plants which require a mild winter will not grow in the n.—and scarcely even in the center of E.—but they advance along the western coast under the influence of the maritime climate. Thqs thynyrtle—although not indigenous—grows even in the s. of England, Amongst plants, the date palm, and amongst animals a species of ape, are found in the s. of E. (the ape only on the rock of Gibraltar); whilst some strictly African birds are frequent visitants, and many birds—as the cuckoo, swallow, etc.—are common to E. and Africa, inhabitants in summer even of very northern regions, and returninein winter to the warm south.
Of the plants now most commonly associated in our thoughts with the southern countries of E., many have probably been introduced from Africa, or from the east. This has probably been the case even with the myrtle, and certainly has been the case with the vine, the olive, the orange, lemon, etc., the fig, the peach, the almond, the
apricot, etc. Some of the most extensively cultivated fruits are certainly indigenous to E., as the apple, pear, plum, and cherry, although even of these the first improved varieties may have been introduced from the earlier seats of civilization in the east. Among the wild animals of E. at the present day, the aurochs or bison is still reck oned; and the ox existed at no very remote period in a truly wild state. The reindeer.
inhabits the extreme n. of E.; the elk, the stag, the fallow-deer, and the roebuck, are found in more southern nations; the ibex or bouquetin exists on the high central mountains; two species of antelope—the chamois of the Alps, and the saiga of the Russian plains—connect the European fauna with the Asiatic and African. Of car nivorous animals, the most worthy of notice are the bear, the wolf, the fax, and the lynx.
The abundance of lakes and streams in the northern parts of E. is accompanied with a corresponding abundance of water-fowl (anatida) and of fish. Of the latter, the salmonicla are the most valuable, and the eyprinidce next to them. The European seas afford valuable fisheries, particularly of herring and of cod in the n., and of tunny, anchovy, etc., in the Mediterranean.
The common hive bee and the Ligurian bee may probably be regarded as natives of Europe. The silk-worm was introduced from the east. Another valuable insect, the cochineal insect, was introduced from America; but the cantharis, or blistering fly, is truly indigenous to the s. of Europe.