362 Rathbun, Birds of Crescent Lake, Wash. [oct. 



too commonly the case, there is a marked sequence in the plants 

 that appear, usually as follows: The first are nearly always the 

 fireweed {EpUohmm syicaium) and the bracken (Pieridium). 

 These are closely followed by the dewberry (Riibiis macropcfalus) 

 which the following year fruits heavily and then gradually dis- 

 appears. The thimbleberry (Ruhus parviflorus) is often abundant 

 also, as is red-flowered currant {Rihcs sanguineum). By this time 

 the Scouler willow is conspicuous, and in wet places the red alder 

 {Ahviis oregana). The two trees dominate the vegetation until 

 the young red firs which spring up in a very dense growth have 

 become large enough to supercede them. The red fir is so com- 

 pletely the dominant tree in the region that as a rule it quickly 

 reforests itself whenever destroyed." ^ 



The climate of the region is mild and equable with no extremes 

 in temperature particularly at and near the lake level. The 

 region has an abundant precipitation occurring chiefly between 

 October and July, and an evidence of these prevailing climatic 

 conditions is reflected in the luxuriant growth of vegetation that 

 everywhere abounds. 



Although reference to the list will show some few species that 

 are fairly representative of the Canadian Zone, the region is mainly 

 Transition, especially when the character of its dominant vegeta- 

 tion is taken into consideration. The red fir {Pseudotsuga vmcro- 

 nata) which forms so large a proportion of the total forest of the 

 region, is a characteristic Transition Zone plant. 



In regard to the list which follows the absence of a larger number 

 of species of the water birds, is due to the fact that, at the season 

 during which our observations were made, very few of these are 

 present in the region, but from late autumn until early spring the 

 lake is more or less a temporary resort for many of the maritime 

 birds, that here find a refuge from the storms prevailing at times 

 along the coast to the northward of the region under consideration. 

 In conclusion we wish to express our thanks to the Bureau of 

 Biological Survey at Washington, D. C, for the identification of 

 specimens forwarded, a courtesy that is much appreciated. 



1 Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum, Contributions from the 

 United States National Herbarium, Volume XI. Flora of the State of Washington by 

 Charles V. Piper, Washington, 1900. 



