THE 



CANADIAN NATURALIST 



AND 



^uavt^djj f auvnal of ^deuw. 



NOTE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOME OF THE 

 MORE IMPORTANT TREES OF BRITISH 



COLUMBIA. 



(^Printed in advance of the Report of Progress of the Geological Survey 



of Canada for 1879-80.) 



By George M. Dawsox, D.S., A.R.S.M., F.G.S. 



British Columbia forming a portion of the Cordillera region 

 of the west coast of America, with diversified and bold physical 

 features, the lines indicating the geographical range of the various 

 species of plants do not assume in it the broad rounded forms 

 found in less mountainous districts. The peculiarities in distri- 

 bution while adding interest to the study, render an intimate 

 knowledge of the topography of the country an essential pre- 

 requisite to its prosecution. As large tracts of the province are 

 as yet geographically unknown owing to their remoteness and 

 singular impenetrability, we are far from possessing complete in- 

 formation on the distribution of many of even the more important 

 species. The following notes and map are presented as a con- 

 tribution towards our kuowled2;e of the range of some of the trees 

 of British Columbia, based on notes and observations made by 

 myself while engaged in the work of the Geological Survey from 

 1875 to 1879. I am indebted to Mr. H. J. Cambie of the 

 Canadian Pacific Railway for valuable notes on the extension of 

 certain trees from the coast up the valleys of the Homathco and 

 Dean or Salmon Rivers, and in a few cases have availed myself 

 of facts published in Prof. Macoun's reports. I have also to 

 thank Dr. Engelmann for notes furnished in regard to specimens 

 collected in various parts of the province. 

 Vol. IX. u No. 6. 



