150 LYCKSELE LAPLAND. 



On my return I observed that the basis 

 of all the tufts of grass, which abound in 

 mosses or marshy spots, was the little 

 rushy plant with an entangled root (Scirpus 

 ccEspitosus) of which I have already spoken. 

 The roots of this vegetable rise every year 

 higher and higher above the soil, so that 

 it seems to have a principal share in form- 

 ing meadows out of bogs. It is also the 

 basis of all the most remarkable floating 

 islands*. 



I heard the note of some Ptarmigans 

 (Tetrao Lagopus), which sounded like a 

 kind of laughter. On approaching them I 

 observed that their necks were brown, their 

 bodies white, with three or four brown fea- 

 thers on the shoulders. Their tails were 

 of a darkish hue-j ■. 



* In the Flora Suecica, and Amcen. Acad. v. 1.511, 

 these properties are attributed to the Schoenus Mariscus, 

 which Scheuchzer in his Agrostographia, p. 377» 

 assures us forms the floating islands near Tivoli. 



t These birds had partly acquired their summer 

 plumage. 



