174 Dr. B. Seemann on the Mammoth-tree of Upper Calif oiifiia. 



and looking from its uprooted base, the mind can scarcely con- 

 ceive its prodigious dimensions, while on either hand tower his 

 giant sons and daughters. Passing onward, we meet with the 

 " Husband and Wife,'' leaning affectionately towards one an- 

 other ; they are each 60 feet in circumference, and 250 feet in 

 height. *' Hercules," one of the most gigantic specimens in 

 the forest, stands leaning in our path. This tree, like many 

 others, has been burnt at the base; it is 325 feet high, and 

 97 feet in circumference. The '' Hermit,'' rising solitary and 

 alone, is next observed. This tree, straight and well-proportioned, 

 measures 320 feet high and 60 feet in circumference. Still 

 returning towards the hotel by the lower trail, we pass the 

 " Mother and Son," which together measure 93 feet in circum- 

 ference; the "Mother" is 320, the "Son" a hopeful youth of 

 300 feet. The " Siamese Twins and their Guardian " form the 

 next group : the " Twins" have one trunk at the base, separating 

 at the height of 40 feet, each measuring 300 feet high ; the 

 "Guardian" is 80 feet in circumference, and 325 feet high. 

 Beyond stands the " Old Maid," slightly bowing in her lonely 

 grief; she measures 60 feet in circumference, and is 260 feet 

 high. Two beautiful trees, called " Addie and Mary," are the 

 next to arrest our attention, measuring each 65 feet in circum- 

 ference and nearly 300 feet high. We next reach the " Horse- 

 back Ride," an old fallen trunk of 150 feet in length, hollowed out 

 by the fires which have, in days gone by, raged through the forest. 

 The cavity is 12 feet in the clear in the narrowest place; and a 

 person can ride through on horseback a distance of 75 feet. 

 " Uncle Tom's Cabin " next claims our admiration, being 300 

 feet high and 75 feet in circumference. The "Cabin" has a 

 burnt entrance of 2 J feet in diameter ; inside, the cavity is large 

 enough to seat fifteen persons. Two other trees we must note ; 

 one of which, named the " Pride of the Forest*," remarkable for 

 the smoothness of its bark, measures 280 feet in height and 

 60 feet in circumference. The " Burnt Cave" is also remark- 

 able ; it measures 40 feet 9 inches across its roots, while the 

 cavity extends to the distance of 40 feet, — large enough for a 

 horseman to ride in, and, turning round, return. We now reach 

 the "Beauty of the Forest," a tree 65 feet in circumference, 

 fully 300 feet high, symmetrical in form, and adorned with a 

 magnificent crest of foliage. Beaching the road, and returning 

 to the house, we pass the " Two Guardsmen," which tower to 

 the height of 300 feet, and are 65 and 70 feet in circumference, 

 forming an appropriate gateway to this wonderful forest. 



The trunk of the Mammoth-tree is very straight, and covered 



* In some accounts, "Bride of the Forest." I hold "Pride" to be 

 correct. — B. S. 



