Vol. XXXI 111 



1916 J 



Rathbun, Birds of Crescent Lake, Wash. 



361 



Total stand of timber feet B. M. 



Average stand per acre do 



Depth of humus inches 

 Litter 



Statistics of forest trees. 



876,250,000 



40,000 



3 



Light 



Apparently but little change has taken place in the conditions 

 of the region since the date of the report from which the foregoing 

 was taken; as we have been fairly familiar with the region for the 

 past eighteen years, having made hunting trips therein on various 

 occasions. 



No better general description of the flora of the region, as we 

 found it, can be given than the following, by Mr. Charles V. Piper. 

 "The vegetation of the uplands throughout the Pacific area in 

 Washington is a plant association in which the red fir predominates. 

 The size of this tree and the luxuriance of the associated plants 

 varies with character of the soil, but otherwise the formation is 

 remarkably uniform. In forests in dry or sterile soils the com- 

 monest undershrubs are salal {GauJtheria shallon) and Oregon 

 grape (Berbcris nervosa), while the bracken fern (Ptcridium) is the 

 most conspicuous herb. Shrubs or trees of Scouler willow (Salix 

 scoideriana) are also constantly associated. 



In better soils the same shrubs remain, but the salal especially 

 becomes much more luxuriant, often forming almost impenetrable 

 thickets. When, however, the red fir is at its best, forming dense 

 forests into which the sun scarcely penetrates the salal and Oregon 

 grape are usually much less conspicuous. Under such circum- 

 stances the ground is covered with a thick layer of mosses and 

 scattered crowns of Chamisso's shield fern {Polystichuni munitum). 

 Among the few shrubs which thrive in such dense shade is the red 

 huckleberry (Vacmiium parvlfoUum). Following the destruction 

 of a red fir forest by logging and subsequent burning, as has been 



