SECOND LETTER FROM M. E. BOURGEAU. 15 



and a violet Geranium ; a Hedysarum ; the three varieties of Hhi- 

 nantJiiis, &c., — forming an ensemble most attractive to a botanist. 



At last, on the 7th of August, we arrived at the foot of the 

 Rocky Mountains, at the place where stood the ancient fort, in 

 lat. 51° 9' N., long. 115° 4' W.,— the shores of the River des Arcs 

 being 4100 feet above the level of the sea. In ascending this 

 river, it is found to flow from a large valley in the interior of the 

 mountains, which I have named the Valley des Arcs, as far as the 

 second lake, there being a first and a second Lake des Arcs. The 

 high peaks of this valley bear the following names : Pic des Pi- 

 geons, Pic de la Grrotte, Pic du Vent — the last being so named 

 from the storms which begin upon its summit. I have explored 

 this valley more than any, and especially the mountains on the 

 northern side of the Pic du Vent, which I have found peculiarly 

 rich in alpine plants. From the river to the limit of the snow, all 

 the chain of peaks, as far as the eye can reach, are wooded, prin- 

 cipally with three species of conifers, Abies nigra ? and alba^ and 

 Pinv^. The latter grows mostly on the southern slopes, and 

 does not much exceed thirty feet high — the largest being about 

 one metre in circumference. The Abies nigral is the largest 

 and tallest of the forest-trees which I have observed in the Valley 

 des Arcs ; one which I measured was 3 metres 23 centimetres 

 in circumference. There are also other forest-trees in greater 

 or less abundance, as Populiis balsamijlua, P. tremuloides, Betula 

 papyracea, and B. pumila. The shrubs are mostly the same as in 

 the plains, except some Saliees of the alpine region. 



There are considerable obstacles to travelling in the mountains. 

 The forests suffer almost every year from fires ; the trees fall in 

 all directions on the ground, and thus form innumerable barricades 

 to the progress of horses, and even of men. To ascend to the 

 summit of a mountain, a very hard day's work is needed to cross 

 the forest region. This description holds good of all the localities 

 which I have visited. 



I am happy to inform you that I have made a good collection 

 during this season. I hope that I have gathered the greater 

 number of the plants inhabiting that portion of the mountains 

 which I have visited, and which I have been able to explore in 

 seventeen days. Por weighty reasons it was not possible for me 

 to remain there longer. 



The month of August is the best period of the year, the plants 

 being in perfect flower, and some few in fruit. I observed but 

 few withered kinds. 



