Africa is united to Asia at its N

E. extremity by the Isthmus of Suez, now cro ed by a great ship canal. From this point the coast runs in a W. and somewhat N. direction to the Strait of Gibraltar, the point of greatest proximity to Europe. This N. coast forms the S. shore of the Mediterranean Sea, and brings all the N. countries of Africa into close proximity with the European and Asiatic countries lying contiguous to that great ocean highway, which formed the chief medium of communication between the principal divisions of the ancient world. The center of Africa po e es an exuberant tropical vegetation. The open pastoral belt at the extremities of the tropics is distinguished i a rich and varied flora. A special characteristic of the vegetation of the S. extremity of Africa is the remarkable variety, size, and beauty of the heaths, some of which grow to 12 or 15 feet, in the fertile parts of Nubia. The fauna of Africa is extensive and varied, and numerous species of mammals are peculiar to the continent. According to a common view of the geographical distribution of animals, the N. of Africa belongs to the Mediterranean sub-region, while the rest of the continent forms the Ethiopian region. Africa po e es numerous species of the order quadruman a (apes and monkeys), most of which pre peculiar to it. They abound especially in the tropics. The most remarkable are the chimpanzee and the gorilla. The lion is the typical carnivore of Ata. Latterly he has been driven from the coast settlements to the interior, where he still reigns king of the forest. ‘There are three varieties, the Barbary, Senegal, and Cape lions. The leopard and panther rank next to the lion among carnivora.