THE LAPLAND ALPS. 31 



There are no common flies, bugs, nor 

 snakes, on these Alps. 



The Laplanders however abound with 

 lice, which in winter are allowed to freeze, 

 when they turn red, and are easily killed. 

 In summer they come forth from the clothes, 

 if exposed to the sun, and are then de- 



that so deceives the sight in our Alps during the 

 night, as to render objects far less distinct than in the 

 middle of the day, though the sun shines equally bright. 

 The sun being near the horizon, spreads its rays in 

 such a horizontal direction, that a hat can scarcely 

 protect our eyes : besides, the shadows of plants are 

 so infinitely extended, and so confounded with each 

 other, from the tremulous agitation caused by the 

 blustering wind, that objects very different in them- 

 selves are scarcely to be distinguished from each other. 

 Having gathered one of these plants, I looked about 

 and fotind several niore in the neighbourhood, all on 

 the north side, where they grew in plenty; but I 

 never met with the same in any other place afterwards. 

 As at this time thc-y had lost their flowers, and were 

 ripening seed, it was not till after I had sought for a 

 very long time that I met with a single flower, which 

 was white, shaped like a lily of the valley, but with 

 five sharper divisions." 



