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mense park, the innumerable rivulets and brooks defined by the deeper 

 green of the grass that grew along them, appearing to be so many inter- 

 secting paths and heightening the effect of artificiality. 



There seemed to be a great many species of flowers growing on 

 this prairie, but a closer examination the next day showed that after all 

 there were but three conspicuous species, the red blue and yellow blos- 

 soms of which blended in so many different ways and formed such 

 novel combinations that it seemed incredible that there should not be 

 at least a dozen species represented. Others indeed there were, but 

 not such as formed noticeable patches of color, but the three colors 

 in some form or other were everywhere. In one place could be seen 

 many yards covered with Lupinus Nootkatensis, a common British 

 Columbia lupine, but one could never tire of its spikes of beautiful blue 

 flowers, which exhibit all the varying shades between the lightest 

 caerulean and the deepest smalt blue. Again, it would be mixed with 

 the bright scarlet flowers of Castilleia miniata, or those of the yellow 

 Arnica. As a rule, however, while all three flowers were present one 

 was generally sufficiently in excess of the others to give the impression 

 that it alone was to be seen, but on turning the eyes a little to one 

 side some other color filled them. As we tinned to descend the hill a 

 porcupine was seen walking slowly towards us along its crest, and my 

 companion could not refrain from picking up a stick and giving chase. 

 Beyond a slight increase in his speed, as he turned away, the animal 

 gave no evidence of being in the least frightened or even aware of our 

 presence. A blow from the stick ruffled his equanimity a little, but 

 before he could show fight a second had fractured his skull and he was 

 hauled in triumph down the hill to camp, for we had decided to camp 

 just where we had left our packs, and at once set about making ourselves 

 comfortable. A level spot was soon found ; Bryan thus ernpetriformis, 

 the nearest approach to heather we have in Canada, grew everywhere, 

 and enough of it was soon pulled to make a bed. There was dry 

 wood in abundance ; the pot was soon boiling, and after a cup of tea 

 we felt quite at home. We did not ascend to the summit again that 

 night, but in the immediate vicinity of the camp forty species of plants 

 were collected before dark ; many of them were small and of little 

 nterest to any but a botanist, but there were among them flowers that 



