SPRING IN THE ALPS 17 



seemly, if not impossible, amid such surroundings — 

 we arrive at a stretch of flatter ground, marshy, and 

 intersected by several shallow streamlets. Here is 

 a, wealth of Primula jarinosa, its fresh, rosy hue 

 enhanced by the dark purple-brown of Bartsia 

 alpina, lavishly mingled with the bright blue stars 

 of that tiniest of Gentians, Gentiana nivalis, while 

 standing over this sea of pink and blue are 

 regiments of the clear yellow Trollius europceus, or 

 Globe-flower. Nestling on the spongy Sphagnum 

 moss are colonies of Sundew {Drosera rotuiidifoUa) 

 and Butterwort {Pingiiicida vulgaris), among 

 which creeps the tiny, fragile Vaccinium oxycoccus, 

 with small pink blossoms, whose petals, turned 

 back, give it something of the appearance of a 

 diminutive Cyclamen. 



Continuing our way, the nature of the ground 

 once more alters, and we come to steep and verdant 

 sun-bathed slopes ascending to the cliffs and snows 

 of the mighty peak above. And although the 

 details of the scene may change, the seemingly 

 unending panorama of varied colour continues. 

 Here the many-flowered, apple-blossom-tinted heads 

 of Anemone narcissiftora replace the large white 

 flowers of Anemone alpina, and the carpet from 

 Avhich they are springing, though still retaining a- 



3 



