Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - First part - I. Physical Geography - 5. Fauna. By Prof. T. Tullberg, Ph. D., Uppsala
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
FAUNA.
61
It is thus evident that, on our peninsula, ancient forms cannot be found
which differ widely from those of other countries. But, on the other hand, on
account of climatic conditions and the still extensive forests, a number of forms
have been able to survive here which have long since disappeared from southern
and central Europe. Another consequence of climatic conditions is the great
difference displayed in animal life, especially by the insects and birds, during
summer and winter. As for the birds, this difference depends, to a great extent,
upon the number of migrants, which come in spring to breed, enlivening the
landscape from the high mountains and great mountain lakes down to the lowland
and sea-coast, and which then fly away in autumn to warmer climates, leaving
mountain, field, and forest silent and deserted. A number of species, too, rest here
during their journey, in certain places which then sometimes display, for several
weeks, pictures of changeful and noisy bird life. Such resting places are southern
Öland and Skelderviken, others are more to the north on the eastern coast of
Sweden and on the coast of Halland, bnt also in Skåne as well as several
places in the interior of the country, where some of our migratory birds stay
for a longer or shorter period of their migrations. Another remarkable feature
of the Swedish fauna, also dependent upon the long, snowy winters, is the
white winter-dress of certain birds and mammals, by means of which some of
them, such as the hare and ptarmigan, obtain protection from their enemies; while
others, such as the arctic fox and the weasel, are enabled to steal unnoticed upon
their prey. It may also be remarked that the fauna of Sweden, like that of all
other northern countries, is marked by its poverty in reptiles and bqtrachians.
Thus, there are found here bnt three kinds of snakes, of which only one — the
riper — is poisonous, three lizards and some ten amphibians, of which latter
the greater number is confined to the most southern part of the country.
Concerning the invertebrate terrestrial animals, whose distribution cannot, of
course, be treated of here, it may be briefly mentioned that the mollusc fauna
is fairly rich in species, and that insect life is rich, even in the most northern
parts of the country, where especially some very rare and brilliant species of
butterflies are found.
It is clear that’\in a country of such great extent from north to
south, and with such varying natural conditions as Sweden possesses,
both the land fauna and the flora must present themselves very
differently in different districts. Such defined limits as those of the flora cannot,
however, be marked out for the various districts of the fauna, animals
not being bo dependent upon the nature of the soil, and upon climatic
conditions as plants are, besides which they also perform extensive
wanderings to tracts where they do not properly belong. This, however,
does not prevent certain forms being said to characterize a certain
district, and another, some other tract, while, again, some are spread
in suitable localities over the greater part of the country, and some
over the whole land, from the northernmost fells to the level fields of
Skåne.
Only some few vertebrate animals are spread over the whole country,
ag, among the mammalia: the common hare (Lepus timidus), the common
field-vole (Arvicola agrestis), the ermine, and the common weasel
(Mustela erminea and nivalis), of which the latter species is, however,
less common; and amongst the birds: the teal (Anas crecca), the red-
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
