LIST OF TREES AND SHRUBS. 301 



a finer quality than in more southern localities. It then affords 

 food to the bears and large flocks of geese, which fatten on it, 

 and acquire a fine flavour. The berries, when frozen by the 

 autumnal frosts, remain hanging on the bushes until the snow 

 melts in the following June, and may then be gathered in a 

 very juicy but tender condition. V. salicinum, willow-leaved 

 bilberry, is an inhabitant of Unalashka. V. myrtillus, myrtle- 

 leaved bilberry, was gathered by Mr. Drummond on the 

 summit of the pass between the head waters of the Saskatche- 

 wan and Columbia, but has not been detected further to the east, 

 though it is a European plant. Chamisso found a Vaccinium on 

 Unalashka, which he was inclined to refer to this species ; but 

 his specimens were imperfect. Bongard, however, enumerates 

 it as existing among the plants gathered by Mertens on Sitka. 

 V. myrtilloides vel angtistifolium is found in Canada, and 

 from Hudson's Bay to the woody declivities of the Rocky 

 Mountains, between the 52nd and 54th parallels. It crosses the 

 dividing ridge also to the alpine valleys of Oregon, and to the 

 sea-coast further north, where the purplish-brown fruit is 

 eaten with relish by the natives. V. ccespitosum, dwarf bil- 

 berry, grows on the alps of New Hampshire, the shores of 

 Lake Superior near James' Bay, and northward to the valley 

 of the Saskatchewan and the Rocky Mountains, between 

 52° and 57° north ; also in the Oregon valley. V. ovali- 

 felium grows in Oregon from the mouth of the Columbia 

 up to the Portage River, near the crest of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, on the 50th parallel, and also on the island of Sitka 

 at lat. 57° north. V. vitis-idcea, cow-berry, or alpine cran- 

 berry, is the Wi-sa-gu-mtna of the Crees, and the cranberry 

 most plentiful and most used throughout Rupert's Land. This 

 berry is excellent for every purpose to which a cranberry can 

 be applied ; and though inferior to the V. oxycoccus in flavour 

 in autumn, is far superior to it after the frosts ; and, as it may 

 be gathered in abundance in a most juicy condition when the 

 snow melts in June, it is then a great resource to the Dog-ribs 

 and Hare Indians, as well as to the immense flocks of water- 

 fowl that are migrating to their breeding places at that date. It 



