INTRODUCTION 



13 



reason, for there is no doubt that the characteristic flora and 

 fauna of the coastal region of southeastern Alaska here attain 

 their most perfect development. 



After traversing the vast stretch of rocky, and in the main 

 inhospitable, coast line between Vancouver Island and Sitka, it 

 is with a sense of deepest pleasure that the naturalist sets foot 

 within the noble forests of Sitka spruce and follows the winding 

 pathways that traverse the great natural park on the banks of 

 Indian River. For three days the members of the Expedition 



FIG. 3. ISLANDS NEAR SITKA. 



had the privilege of delving in this primeval forest in search 

 of biological treasures. To one accustomed to the forests of 

 western Washington, the scenery seemed strangely familiar. 

 The conifers were indeed of different species, but of the same 

 general character, while the underwood was composed of shrubs 

 and flowering plants identical in many cases with those found 

 farther south. There were tangled thickets of salmon-berry 

 (Rubus sfcctabilis) and elder-berry (Sambucus), with here and 

 there clumps of the inhospitable devil's club {Panax horridum). 

 Gloomy spots were lighted up by the broad green leaves and 

 yellow spathes of the skunk cabbage (Lysic/u'ton). At the 

 river's edge grew dense growths of willow and wild currant 

 (Ribcs bracteosuni) . Among the less conspicuous vegetation 

 many familiar plants greet the sojourner from the south, for 

 example, the spring-beauty {Clay Ionia sib/r/ca), mitrewort 



