LYCKSELE LAPLAND. 121 



annual shoots, twelve years old. It seemed 

 to have no particle of earth to nourish it; 

 but perceiving some cracks in the rock, I 

 was persuaded that its roots must through 

 them find access to the water. 



Towards evening I heard the note of the 

 Red-wing (Turdiis iliacus). On the north 

 side of the forest large pieces of ice still re- 

 mained unmelted near the shore. 



The bark of the birch is extremely use- 

 ful to the inhabitants of Lapland. Of it 

 they make their plates or trenchers, boat- 

 scoops, shoes, tubs to salt fish in, and 

 baskets. 



Near the shore grew the Naked Horse- 

 tail (Equisetum hyemale), having a shoot 

 springing from its root on each side. The 

 sheathing cups of its stem are white, with 

 both their upper and lower margins black. 

 A more remarkable circumstance is, that 

 the whole plant is perennial, not merely 

 the root. 



In tlie neighbouring marsh or moss 

 the greater part of the herbage consisted 



