16 SECOND LETTER FROM M. E. BOURGEAU. — 
List of some species gathered close to the perpetual snow :— 
Silene acaulis. Draba. 
Silene ——? Androsace. 
Arnica. ^ Vaccinium. 
Menziesia? Salix herbacea. 
Pedicularis. Poa alpina. 
Gnaphalium. Aspidium. 
Erigeron. Valeriana. 
Artemisia. Aquilegia. 
Saussurea. Dryas octopetala. 
Luzula. Epilobium. 
Saxifraga. &c. &c. 
The nearest tree to the snow is Abies alba, which assumes the 
appearance of Juniperus communis, with which it grows; that is 
to say, it trails along the ground. The alpine region is from 
6500 to 8600 feet in elevation. 
The vegetation is not rich in species ; the mountains are barren, 
with few streams and little humidity, and no pastures like those 
of the Alps. In the Rocky Mountains, streams are scarce on the 
southern slopes; on the northern, water is more abundant, owing 
to the snow; but they are only little torrents sunk deep in the 
rocks. This is the character of all the ravines which I have visited. 
The plants in the forests are for the most part common in the 
woods of the Saskatchewan plains. The number of species is 
about in the same proportion on the mountains as in the other 
parts of the country. They are few in number; but each species 
is abundant; and each mountain at the same elevation bears the 
same species, both on the north and on the south. All the col- 
lections made this .season, and which are tolerably extensive and 
in a good state of preservation, are here at the Fort. Thanks to 
Captain Palliser, who has taken much interest in the success of 
my labours, and who has greatly assisted me in preserving the 
specimens from damp during the journey, I have about twenty- 
two packets of dried plants, and 110 of different sorts of seeds. 
The herbarium contains about 460 species, and about 60,000 spe- 
cimens. I am now busy with the arrangement and packing of the 
collections, to be ready against the spring, the period fixed for my 
return to Europe. 
I am, sir, &c. &c., 
E. BOURGEAVU. 
