ANTICOSTI.—This is a desert island, containing an area of about 2600 square miles, situated at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, dividing the river into two channels, from twenty to forty miles in width. On the south-western point of the island stands a lofty and magnificent lighthouse, which is visible for a distance of 25 miles. The island belongs to Canada East.

MAGDALEN ISLES.-These consist of a chain of islands, situated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, about 70 miles west of Newfoundland. They are inhabited by about 2000 persons, chiefly French Acadians, whose principal dependence is upon the cod and mackerel fishing on the banks in the vicinity of the group.

BERMUDA, or SOMERS ISLES.*-This group, consisting of about 300 small islands, embracing an area of 20 square miles, is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, about 600 miles east of South Carolina. Many of these isles are so small and barren that they have neither inhabitants nor name. The largest of the group is 20 miles long, and 2 in breadth. On the inhabited isles fruits of both temperate and tropical regions are raised. The group belongs to Great Britain.

A regular steam communication is maintained between Bermuda and New York, and Bermuda and the West India Islands.

VANCOUVER ISLAND.*—This large island, containing an estimated area of 16,000 square miles, lies west of British America, and north-west of Washington Territory.

The native inhabitants subsist chiefly by hunting and fishing. The island has been made over by the British government to the Hudson Bay Company.

LESSON XVII.

DANISH AMERICA.*

Total area in square miles, 838,000. Total population, 69,000.

DANISH AMERICA comprises Greenland and Iceland, together with some lesser islands, lying near their coasts.

GREENLAND.

Estimated area, 800,000 square miles. Population, 9,000.

Geographical Position. This immense region (generally supposed to be an island, though its northern extremity is unknown) lies be

*See Map of North America.

tween the waters of Baffins Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It extends from Cape Farewell, in latitude 59° 40′ south, to an unknown distance north.

Surface. But little is known respecting this vast region, as it has never been fully explored. A chain of mountains is supposed to extend the entire length of the island. Along the coast the surface is generally rocky and barren. Numerous small islands lie along the western coast, upon which some of the Greenlanders reside.

Soil, etc.-The soil is generally barren, and the climate is very severe; July being the only month in which there is no snow. Small quantities of kitchen vegetables are produced in the southern part of the island. Various species of seals inhabit the surrounding seas, and are of great importance to the Greenlanders, in supplying them with food and clothing, as well as with various articles useful in their simple arts and domestic economy.

Inhabitants, etc.-The inhabitants are chiefly Esquimaux. Their leading industrial pursuits are seal-hunting and fishing. Greenland belongs to Denmark.

Exports. The exports (sent chiefly to Denmark) consist of eiderdown, skins of seals and other animals, whalebone, and fish oil; for which the Greenlander receives in return various manufactured articles.

ICELAND.

Area in square miles, 87,500. Population, 60,000.

Geographical Position.-This island lies in the Atlantic about 700 miles west of Norway, and 200 miles east of Greenland.

The highest

Surface. The surface is generally mountainous. mountains are on the east and west coasts. They are in groups, and those called jokuls are covered with snow, and are chiefly volcanic. About 30 volcanoes have been discovered on this island, the chief of which are Skaptar, Jokul and Hecla.

Soil, etc.-The soil is generally barren, and the climate is very variable. The general temperature is higher than in any other country in the same latitude. Storms of extreme violence are frequent. The longest day of summer and the longest night of winter last each of them about a week. The aurora borealis is seen in Iceland in all its brilliancy and grandeur.

No trees grow on the island, only a few stinted shrubs and mosses;

nor do any reptiles here exist. The want of fuel is severely felt, although the gulf stream and the polar currents occasionally float driftwood to the shores. A kind of white turf is used as a substitute,

and coal is im-
ported from Eu-
rope in considera-
ble quantities.
All the grain,
and a great part
of the vegetable
food, are imported.
Domestic animals
are numerous, and
fish can be had
in any quantity.
Birds are plenti-
ful, the most val-
uable of which is
the eider-duck.

Natural Curiosities. The most in

teresting are the

celebrated

Gey

sers, or boiling

springs, which are

situated in the western part of the island, about 35 miles north of the village of Skalholt.

Inhabitants, etc.—The inhabitants are of the Scandinavian race. The supreme authority of the island is intrusted to an officer, who is appointed by the king of Denmark, with the title of Stiftsamtman.

REYKJAVIK, the capital of Iceland, is a small town on the southwest coast. The resident population does not probably exceed 500, but this is greatly increased during the summer fairs. To these fairs the natives bring butter, skins, live-stock, dried fish, knitted stockings, wool, &c., and receive in exchange various articles from Europe, such as coffee, sugar, tobacco, brandy, flour, salt and soap.

THE UNITED STATES.

LESSON XVIII.

GENERAL QUESTIONS ON THE MAP OF THE UNITED STATES.

1. How many States are there in the United States? Thirty-three. How many Territories? Eight. How many Districts? One. Into how many sections are the States divided? Four. Which are they? Eastern, or New England; Northern, or Middle; Southern and Western.

2. What States form the Eastern, or New England section ?

VERMONT,

NEW HAMPSHIRE,

MAINE,

RHODE ISLAND, and
MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT.

3. Which of these States border on the Atlantic Ocean? Which do not? Which three are bounded west by New York? Which three are bounded north by Canada? Which one borders on Long Island Sound? Which one has the greatest extent of sea-coast? Which one has the least? Which one has no sea-coast?

4. What two States are separated by Connecticut River? What two are crossed by that river? Which of the New England States lies furthest north? Which two furthest south? Which one borders on Lake Champlain? What Province bounds Maine on the east?

5. Which is the largest of the New England States? Which one the smallest? Which are the Northern, or Middle States ?

6. Of these States, which border on the Atlantic ? Which two border on Maryland? Which one on Ohio? To which one does Long Island belong? New York. Which two border on Lake Erie? Which one lies nearest Canada? What bodies of water separate New York from Canada? Pennsylvania from New Jersey?

What river separates

7. Which of the Middle States is the largest? P. Which the smallest ? Is there much difference between the area of New York and that of Pennsylvania? What two States are separated by Delaware Bay and River? Which of the Middle States lies furthest north? Which furthest south? Which two furthest east? Which one furthest west? Which one borders on the New England States ?

8. What river crosses Pennsylvania from north to south? Does it find its source in Pennsylvania? Into what bay does it empty? What States comprise the Southern section of the Union?

MARYLAND,
VIRGINIA,

N. CAROLINA,

S. CAROLINA,

GEORGIA,
FLORIDA,

ALABAMA, LOUISIANA, and
MISSISSIPPI, TEXAS.

9. Which two of the Southern States border on the Middle States? Which

Which one borders on Which two are separated by the

five have a coast bordering on the Gulf of Mexico? Kentucky? Which one on the Ohio River? Potomac River? Which have a sea-coast on the Atlantic? Which one borders both on the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico?

10. What two Southern States are separated by Savannah River? What two are partly separated by Chattahooche River? What two by the Mississippi? What two by the Sabine? What two rivers form nearly all the western boundary of Virginia ?

11. Which three of the Southern States are bounded north by Tennessee? Which two south by Florida? Which one borders on the Rio Grande? Which two extend furthest north? Which one furthest south? Which one furthest

west? Which one furthest east? Which one is the largest? Which one the smallest? Which one is a peninsula? Are any of the Southern States situated inland ?

LESSON XIX.

MAP QUESTIONS CONTINUED.

1. What States comprise the Western section of the Union?

2. On which side of the Mississippi is Wisconsin? On which side Iowa? Missouri? What Western States are separated from each other by the Mississippi? What ones are separated by the Ohio? Which of the Western States east of the Mississippi, lie north of the Ohio? Which south?

Which lie west Which of the West

3. Which border on the great lakes? Which do not? of the Mississippi? Which border on the Pacific Ocean? ern States border on the Southern States? Do any of the Western States border on New York? Any on Pennsylvania? bounds Ohio on the west? Kentucky on the south? What bound California

Which one?

4. What State Indiana on the west? Wisconsin on the south? Missouri on the north? Arkansas on the south? on the east? On the south? What river crosses Missouri from west to east? What one Arkansas?

What lakes separate

What division

5. What lake separates Wisconsin from Michigan? Michigan from British America? Ohio from British America? of British America? How many States compose the New England section ? How many the Southern? How many the Western ?

6. Do any of the Western States border on the Atlantic? Any on the Gulf of Mexico? Any on the Pacific? What ones? I find all the Western States except five border on the great Mississippi, which are they? Four of