1817.] Wahlenberg on the Carpathian Mountains. 148 
bucus racemosa, &c. But as we ascend, a striking difference takes 
place. The gloomy and useless pinws mughus begins to cover the 
earth at an elevation of 4476 feet, and the termination of the pinus 
abies may be placed at 4902 feet above the level of the sea. In this 
respect there is a striking difference between the Carpathian moun- 
tains and the Alps of Switzerland. In these last the pinus abies 
vegetates to the height of 5862 feet above the level of the sea, or 
960 feet higher than on the Carpathian mountains. 
The lower alpine region, or the region of the pinus mughus, 
extends from the termination of the pinus abies to where the 
mughus reaches only the height of two feet in open places. This 
region is very natural in the Carpathian mountains, and much more 
easily determined than in Switzerland or Lapland, in the former of 
which indeed the alnus viridis, and in the latter the salix glaucus, 
exist; but they are too thinly scattered to point out the exact boun- 
dary with precision. On that account Wahlenberg was obliged to 
make use of the lower snow line to mark the limit of the lower 
alpine region in these mountains. But the great abundance of 
mughi on the Carpathian mountains furnishes an excellent means of 
determining that limit. It abounds in large and fine plants, which 
vegetate under the protection of the mughus; such as the doronicum 
austriacum, cortusa matthioli, cineraria crispa, hypocheris hel- 
vetica, swertia perennis, polygonum bistorta, &e. which ascend to 
a greater height under the cover of the mughus than they do in the 
Alps of Switzerland. In places destitute of mughus the earth is 
barren, being covered with poa disticha, with plants of campanula 
alpina, senecio abrotanifolius, &c. exhibiting in a remarkable degree 
the nature of the Carpathian mountains. The upper boundary of 
the mughus is 5968 feet above the level of the sea. Below this 
level almost tie whole soil is covered with this dismal shrub. Above 
it the plant is observed here and there creeping among the stones to 
the height of 6394 feet above the level of the sea. But these plants 
are of little consequence, and far from conspicuous. 
The superior alpine region commences where the boundary of 
the mughus is placed, or 5968 feet above the level of the sea, and 
continues to the highest peak of the Carpathians. It can be ob- 
served only in perfection on the Tatra. All large vegetables dis- 
appear when we come to this region. The Tatra exhibits a dry and 
barren aspect, which reminds one of the dry appearance of some 
parts of Lapland. But upon a nearer inspection the resemblance 
does not hold, In Lapland it is the subalpine region which hurts 
the eye on account of its barrenness, owing to the heathy and 
similar plants with which the whole soil is covered; while in the 
Carpathian mountains these plants are wanting. The alpine region 
in these mountains has a most barrent aspect, being in great part 
covered with naked stones. ‘The little soil that exists produces poa 
disticha and senecio abrotanifolius, scattered among which we per- 
ceive short plants bearing large flowers, such as arnica doronicum, 
