264 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Sept. 



NOTES ON TADOUSAC PLANTS. 



By A. T. Drummond, B.A., L.L.B. 



The hilly environs of Tadousac, and its position on the high 

 northern coasts of the Lower St. Lawrence, along which sweeps 

 the cold current which flows through the Straits of Belle Isle, are 

 very favourable to the existence of a boreal flora. The hills on 

 either side of the Saguenay here vary in elevation, but in some 

 cases rise to heights of about one thousand feet. Their summits 

 were some years since almost denuded of vegetation by destructive 

 fires. Standing upon the top of the highest hill in the rear of 

 Tadousac, and looking northwards, the nearly treeless surface of 

 the Laurentian rocks extending, hill beyond hill, as far as the eye 

 can reach, convey an idea of the desolation caused by the ravages 

 of the fires. Still, even here, the botanist is delighted to find a 

 few semi-alpine and boreal forms. The rocks are beautifully 

 time-staiued by BuclUa geographica, Schaer, and FarmeUa 

 centri/uga, Ach. ; by F. stygia, Ach., and P. FaJilunensis, 

 Ach., the yellow hues of the former two presenting a striking 

 contrast to the black appearance of the latter. Other boreal, but 

 less conspicuous Lichens here, are Cttrutia pinaslri, Sommerf. a 

 beautiful species sometimes found in a dwarfed condition in 

 milder localities in Canada, FelUgcra malacea, Ach. and Stereo- 

 caulon paschale, Laur. 



On the bared surface of the gneiss are the blackish leathery 

 Tripe de Jioche (JJnihilicarla hi/pcrhorea, Hofl'm., U. crum, 

 Hofi'm. and Z7. 3Iuhlenhergii Ach.,) which, from the exposure to 

 the rays of the sun, are very brittle to the touch. Among the 

 higher forms of plant life here, as well as in the mossy depressions 

 of the rocks near the sea shore, the Crowberry, (^Empatrum nigrum, 

 Linn.,) and the Cowberry, {Vaccinium Vitis-Idcece, Linn.,) thrive 

 in great abundance. On the precipitous sides of these hills, and 

 in the deep gorges between, the little Scrub Pine (^Finus Banksiana, 

 Lambert ) is sometimes met with, but the prominent feature which 

 fixes the attention of the rambler on these and other hills of the 

 Saguenay district, is the vast abundance of bunchberries and 

 blueberries. The latter, during August, form an important item 

 in the exports from the river. 



