[40] BIRDSOFOREGON 



siderable Hudsonian. All other areas of this zone in the State are small 

 bands on the slopes of the highest peaks and a few ill-defined areas on 

 the summits of the Steens. 



The characteristic trees are the white-barked pine (JPinus albicaulis), 

 alpine fir (^Abies lasiocarfa), alpine hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), and creep- 

 ing juniper (^Juniperus communis montana). This is also the land of the 

 little mat-forming willows {Salix) and the false heathers (Phyllodoce 

 empefriformts, P. glandulosa, and Cassiope mertensiana), which sometimes 

 make solid carpets of pink, yellow, or white, acres in extent. 



A list of the herbaceous plants of the Hudsonian Zone form would fill 

 a book, for in this zone are all the great alpine floral displays about which 

 volumes have been written. Avalanche-lilies (JErytbronium montanum) and 

 glacierlilies (. -parviflorum) sometimes grow in such riotous abundance as 

 to cover the ground for long distances, while the profusion of such striking 

 species as the great hairy western anemone (Pulsatilla occidentalis), prickly 

 phlox (Phlox diffusa), mountain mat (Lutkea -pectinata) , and Dasifbora fruti- 

 cosa frequently becomes nationally known to alpine-plant enthusiasts. 

 Along the streams and in the wet meadows great banners of vivid colors 

 indicate the presence of both pink and yellow species of monkeyflowers 

 (Mimulus), and about the shores of the little alpine lakes, such rare 

 beauties as the loveliest American gentian (Gentiana calycosa), the dwarfed 

 little mountain-laurel (Kalmia microphylla), and the striking Dodecatheon 

 (Dodecatheon Jeffrey?) are found in abundance. The total list of species 

 peculiar to this zone or having their greatest abundance here would run 

 into the hundreds, if not thousands, and would be more appropriate in a 

 botanical than in a bird book. 



This zone has no value for agriculture and little for commercial lumber- 

 ing. It is the summer playground not only for many of the inhabitants of 

 the State, but for an increasing number of tourists who come to enjoy the 

 pure mountain air, spectacular scenery, and marvelous floral displays. For 

 this reason, if for no other, it should be zealously guarded as a priceless 

 heritage, the value of which never can be entirely measured in dollars 

 and cents. 



In contrast with the floral richness of the zone no mammals and few 

 birds are confined to it, although various meadow mice (Mtcrotus), pine 

 squirrels (Sciurus\ chipmunks (Eutamias*), and golden-mantled squirrels 

 (Callos-permophilus) extend up into and through the Hudsonian. Deer, 

 bears, coyotes, and foxes, all wide-ranging species, on occasion are to be 

 found in the timber-line parks. 



The timber-line country is the chosen home of Clarke's Crow for most 

 of the year, and Gray and Rocky Mountain Jays, Western Golden- 

 crowned Kinglets, Townsend's Solitaires, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and 

 Alaska Three-toed Woodpeckers are to be found more or less regularly 



