24 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 61, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



from the beach. I recall a striking instance where a sloping bank 

 arose from the beach to a height of about 30 feet. Elymus, ex- 

 posed to the sands of the sea, clung to the open face of this 

 slope to the crest. At the exact point where the ground levelled 

 off toward the interior, the other, more inland, grass formation 

 began with a dense growth. The plants of this inner group bor- 

 dering the Elymus association are by no means confined to the 

 vicinity of the beach ; instead, they become diffused among other 

 plants farther inland. 



Farther in the interior, and at higher elevations, we find what 

 Hulten refers to as a "mosaic" of Alpine heath and meadow. 

 Meadow formations have an abundance of Carex (sedge), to- 

 gether with many other species, though sedges occur elsewhere 

 as well. In these meadows are found Artemisia unalaschensis 

 (a herbaceous sage), Epilobium angustifoliuyn (fireweed), 

 Calamagrostis landsdorffi (a brown top), Geranium erianthum 

 (geranium), Anaphalis margaritacea (pearly everlasting), Aconi- 

 tum kamtschaticum (aconite) , Polygonum vivipar-um (viviparous 

 knotweed), Trientalis (star flower), Bromus aleuticus (brome), 

 Castilleja unalaschensis (paint brush), Arnica chamissonis 

 (arnica), and Aster peregrinus (aster). Such a meadow asso- 

 ciation, as defined by Hulten, is more characteristic of the east- 

 ern Aleutians. Prominent patches of the characteristic cotton 

 grass, Eriophorum, and Ranunculus (bitterroot), were found in 

 many wet areas. Here and there, were found Geum (avens), 

 Caltha (marsh marigold), Habenaria (rein orchis), Lupinus 

 (lupine), Geranium (geranium), and a botanical list too long to 

 enumerate. 



In the more exposed situations above the meadows, scattered 

 in accordance with the character of the terrain, are the heaths. 

 Here, are lichens, mosses, crowberry (Empetrum, nigrum), and 

 cranberry, (Vaccinium uliginosum) . Numerous other plants are 

 distributed rather indiscriminately. The showy anemone (Anem- 

 one narcissiflora) , so prominent when in bloom, is very common. 



Mention should be made of Heracleum lanatum (cow parsnip) 

 and Coelopleurum gmelini (seacoast angelica). These robust 

 plants grow throughout the Aleutian district, apparently where 

 soil is rich. They are particularly conspicuous, together with 

 other plants, on old Aleut village sites where the soil has been 

 enriched by refuse from human habitation. Such village sites, 

 seen at a distance, were recognizable by the deep-green, heavy 

 vegetation. 



On some occasions we would note a particularly green high 



