44 



NORTH A^IERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 16. 



Those that grow singly usually sui)i)ort tlieniselvos by luiviug the 

 trunks >>troii<ily curved downward Just above the ground, as shown iu 

 fig. 2(5. 



The alpiue hendock is one of the most ])ictures(iue and attractive 

 trees of our western mountains. Its beauty is due in part to the hand- 

 some trunks and irregular drooping branches, but mainly to the dense 

 and peculiarly tutted foliage which falls in graceful masses iu such 

 manner as to conceal the branches and upper parts of the trunks. The 

 twigs or ultimate branchlets curve upward and the needles stand out 

 on all sides and point outward — away from the body of the tree — pro- 

 ducing a tufted appearance very unlike that of other conifers. This 





KlQ L'li. — 'I 111 II k nl III jiiih In iiiliirK , ^liiiw 111^ t liii Kriiiiig and (■in'\;itui<' 111 



effect is heightened during the latter part of summer by the light green 

 tips of the new growth. 



The hemlock forest is dark, somber, and silent, and its drooping 

 branches are draped with the dangling beards of the black-beard 

 lichen {Alcctorinfrcmonii). The only color that breaks the otherwise 

 uniform darkness is the bright yellow lichen {Evcrnia ridpina) whidi 

 covers the north or northwest sides of the trunks and ui)i)er sides of 

 the branches — a conspicuous feature and one seemingly out of harmony 

 with the general tone of the forest. In all tliese respects tlie hendock 

 forest accentuates the features of the iShasta lir forest of the belt below, 

 with whi(;h it is directly continuous. The tree trunks and bark also 

 reseMd)le those of the Shasta tii's. The bark is in long scales which, as 



