1888-89.] Rarer Plants found on the Dovrefj eld, Norway. 411 



having a rich alpine flora. It can be reached in a week from 

 Leith, and this without any fatigue beyond constant travelling 

 by steamer, railway, and posting ; but when the journey can 

 be done more leisurely the interest is much enhanced. 



I proceeded by steamer to Christiania, spending a day at 

 Christiansand on the way. The sail from Christiansand was 

 most enjoyable, and the weather being fine, we were able to 

 see a large extent of country as we steamed up the fjord to 

 Christiania. 



We devoted two days to the Norwegian capital, visiting 

 the public institutions and parks, including a morning at the 

 Botanic Gardens, where a good collection of native alpine 

 plants is under cultivation, and including many of those we 

 were afterwards to find in their native habitats. 



Taking an early train from Christiania, we continued our 

 journey, reaching Lille-elvedal late the same evening. Lille- 

 elvedal is the point where the road is joined to reach the 

 Dovrefjeld, and the distance, some 60 miles, is accomplished 

 by driving, and generally occupies very pleasantly a whole 

 day. There are stages in this drive where one could break 

 the journey, but it is usual to push on until you are well in 

 the heart of the Dovrefjeld. The road for many miles takes 

 you through a wild and picturesque country, diversified by 

 river, rocky scenery, woodland, and mountain. The valley 

 on either ■ side is bounded by mountains ; and as the road 

 has a steady upward incline almost the whole way, the eleva- 

 tion is not so much observed, but you gradually find that a 

 very considerable ascent has been made, and the surroundings 

 become more alpine in their character. The Dovrefjeld 

 comprehends in its area some of the loftiest mountains in 

 Norway, many of which, including the Snehettan, 7770 feet, 

 have their summits and slopes whitened with eternal snow. 

 The scenery has a great resemblance to many of the wilder 

 parts of our Scottish Highlands, and consists of undulating 

 table-lands of great extent, with lofty mountains rising from 

 them. This immense plateau has an average elevation of 

 about 3000 feet above sea-level, the mountains being from 

 5000 to 7000 feet. 



Though the Dovrefjeld is usually described as tame and 

 uninteresting, we did not find it so. It is not wanting in 

 much that is grand and impressive, and in the traveller it 



