290 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



lands prevail, and it is the climate, fauna, and flora 

 of Maine or New Hampshire that distinguishes 

 the summit of the Blue Ridge at the point under 

 discussion. Not every feature is present, and some 

 details are added, but considered from a large 

 point of view no other conclusion can be drawn. 

 This is an Alpine island, possessing sufficiently 

 definite characters to warrant its inclusion in the 

 Canadian faunal zone. 



And the same is true in regard to elevation at 

 any point. It need only attain to sufficient height, 

 and the conditions that prevail there (average 

 temperature and precipitation are perhaps chief 

 among them) produce a fauna and flora similar to 

 that found in adjacent land areas to the north 

 and at sea level. One has only to look at a high 

 peak with its perpetual cap of ice and snow to 

 see an arctic island, and on its slopes wall be found 

 the parallel of a journey to the arctic zone. 



Mountain Lake, in Giles County, Virginia, is 

 the " Canadian Island " I have pictured. There 

 are similar res^ions extending: down into the 

 Carolinas and almost overlooking Florida from 

 Georgia. 



