112 Dr Barry's Ascent to the Summit of Mont Blanc. 



if it be this, the vicinity of Mont Blanc is a new station for it, 

 as, according to Meigen's monograph, it had previously been 

 found in Sweden only. On the day after my return from the 

 mountains, I saw two or three of what appeared to be the same 

 insects alive near the " Jardin," about 9000 feet above the sea. 

 They were extremely vigilant, and rapid on the wing. I could 

 not catch one. The second, which is very small, is so much in- 

 jured and crushed, that Professor Bronn informs me it would 

 not be possible to determine it, except in a very perfect collec- 

 tion. 



Two large birds were seen at a distance passing over the shoul- 

 der of the mountain, from Piedmont to Savoy. 



Our progress after leaving the Grand Plateau, at first ob- 

 structed by the passage of some very formidable cliffs of ice, had 

 latterly been impeded only by the depth of the soft snow ; but 

 now we reached the foot of a declivity of 35° to 40° with the 

 horizon, and many hundred feet in length. It was the " epaule 

 droite" of the summit. The snow here had hardened sufficient- 

 ly to prevent our advancing a single step, without holes being 

 first cut with the hatchet ; yet it had not become so hard as to 

 render firm the footing thus obtained. It was found continual- 

 ly giving way ; and when we liad reached a tolerable height, 

 this became exceedingly dangerous. In no part of the ascent 

 were the cords, by which I was attached to the guides, more ser- 

 viceable than here. Our progress, too, was so slow, that I suf- 

 fered not a little from the cold ; a keen breeze prevailing at the 

 lime. My feet felt as if all but frozen, on vvhich account the 

 footing became doubly insecure. This ascent brought us above 

 the Rochers Rouges ; the next, a slope of 28° to 30°, apparent- 

 ly not very difficult, was to take us to the summit. 



But we had now reached an elevation, where I had to verify 

 the testimony of preceding travellers, by experiencing the ex- 

 haustion, consequent on very slight exertion, in an atmosphere 

 whose density is so exceedingly reduced. This inconvenience 

 had not been felt, by me at least, before arriving at this point 

 (about 14,700 feet above the sea), and I had not observed it in 

 any of the guides. Only a few steps could now be taken at a 

 time ; and these became both fewer and slower. Two or three 

 deep inspirations appeared sufficient at each pause to enable me 



