A WIND-STORM IN THE FORESTS 251 



and the Carolinas, and Florida, are made up of 

 trees that resemble one another about as nearly as 

 blades of grass, and grow close together in much 

 the same way. Coniferous trees, in general, sel 

 dom possess individual character, such as is mani 

 fest among Oaks and Elms. But the California 

 forests are made up of a greater number of distinct 

 species than any other in the world. And in them 

 we find, not only a marked differentiation into 

 special groups, but also a marked individuality in 

 almost every tree, giving rise to storm effects in 

 describably glorious. 



Toward midday, after a long, tingling scramble 

 through copses of hazel and ceanothus, I gained 

 the summit of the highest ridge in the neighbor 

 hood ; and then it occurred to me that it would be 

 a fine thing to climb one of the trees to obtain a 

 wider outlook and get my ear close to the ^Eolian 

 music of its topmost needles. But under the cir 

 cumstances the choice of a tree was a serious mat 

 ter. One whose instep was not very strong seemed 

 in danger of being blown down, or of being struck 

 by others in case they should fall ; another was 

 branchless to a considerable height above the 

 ground, and at the same time too large to be 

 grasped with arms and legs in climbing; while 

 others were not favorably situated for clear views. 

 After cautiously casting about, I made choice of 

 the tallest of a group of Douglas Spruces that 

 were growing close together like a tuft of grass, no 

 one of which seemed likely to fall unless all the 

 rest fell with it. Though comparatively young, 

 they were about 100 feet high, and their lithe, 



