124 TRANS. OF THE ACAD. OF SCIENCE. 



metric measurement, this line, at the point observed, having 

 a north-east exposure, shows an elevation of 12,043 feet above 

 the sea level. The last trees to maintain their position in 

 this exposed locality, are Abies PJngelmanni, and Pinus ai'is- 

 tata, both of them dwarfed and stunted in their struggle with 

 the elements, and exhibiting marks of decrepid age, in blast- 

 ed trunks and prostrate branches. From some of these alpine 

 centennarians we made huge fires to keep off the chilly night 

 air, while spruce boughs supplied us with spring matresses. 



As the setting sun passed over the western slope, the 

 gigantic outline of Pike's Peak was projected on the plain 

 below with wonderful distinctness, and in massive proportions. 



Astir by daylight, to watch, from our mountain eyrie, the 

 glories of an unclouded dawn, we were surprised and gratified 

 by the faint chirp of birds, strangely contrasting with the 

 bleak scenery by which we were surrounded. This morning 

 carol we afterwards found to proceed from a species of moun- 

 tain swallow, the nest of which we discovered still higher up 

 on the alpine slope, at an elevation of not less than 13,000 

 feet above the sea. We could not but admire the taste with 

 which the selection was made; a snug recess, scooped out 

 amid the matted foliage of Silene acaulis, concealed from 

 view by an overhanging tuft of Dryas octopetata, crowded 

 with its pure white blossoms ; while, in close vicinity, bloomed 

 the beautiful Primula angtistifolia, and fragrant Eritrichium 

 aretioides. Under such circumstances, natural feelings over- 

 came the scientific taste for collecting, and we left undis- 

 turbed the nest with its contents, consisting of five mottled, 

 granite-colored eggs. 



As the sun rose majestically above the well defined horizon 

 of the plains, the resemblance to a wide open sea was stri- 

 kingly manifested. A slight haze served to heighten the 

 pleasant illusion, the inconsiderable elevations appearing only 

 as ripples, or low islands, on its surface. To carry out the 

 resemblance still farther, the rounded grassy swells, and reef- 

 like ledges of tilted rock, at the foot of the mountains, could 

 be readily taken for surges and breakers on this once well 

 defined coast. 



Setting our faces once more towards the gigantic peak, 

 still towering 2,000 feet above us, we commenced the final 

 ascent, slowly mounting over a varied surface composed of 

 disintegrating rock, interspersed with patches of alpine sward. 

 Conspicuous among the plants decorating this mountain sod, 

 were the bright azure flowers of Mertensia panictdatu, and 

 Mritrichium aretioides, the latter, as one of the party signifi- 

 cantly suggested, resembling "a piece of the sky just fallen 

 down." Though as late in the season as the 1st of July, all 

 the indications of vegetation were those of early spring. I 

 looked in vain, at the foot of the snow drifts, to discover the 



