INTRODUCTORY. 9 



or three together, rising on pink stalks from its pretty 

 rounded leaves. 



We were now in the middle of the Alpines. Had there 

 been any doubt, the purple and orange Linaria Alpina, the 

 deep blue Gentiana acaulis, with the smaller, brighter, 

 white-valved G. verna, would have settled the question. 

 We seized on the only specimen that came before us of 

 Primula auricula, and gathered many a root of the thick- 

 leaved, sweet-smelling purple Thlaspi rotundifolium. 



The large trees had long been passed ; and then came 

 snow which was too deep for the horse, or at least for his 

 rider. So, making our way through it as best we could, we 

 pressed on tOAvards the Klimsenhorn and the little church 

 standing near it, and thankfully found ourselves on the 

 bench by the former. The hotel was large, but empty, as 

 we were almost the first visitors of the season ; but so 

 bright was the day, so pleasant the prospect all around, and 

 so tempting the idea of roaming further on the mountain, 

 that we decided we must spend the night up there; and, 

 quickly sending down our messenger to make the necessary 

 arrangements below, we hastened to feast our eyes on the 

 magnificent view, as we rested on the turf carpeted with 

 flowers, the moss-like Silene acaulis covered with its pink 

 blossoms, and the turquoise-like Forget-me-not, being added 

 to some we had already met with in our ascent. 



Our hostess excited us by showing some Narcissus 



