288 A NATURALIST IN HIMALAYA 



that the rush of stones pouring down one of these steep 

 ravines had more effect in grinding into the solid rock 

 than had the waters that dislodged them. 



Magnificent trees clothe these limestone hills. The 



conifers first appear at an altitude of about 5000 feet. 



They commence as weak and stunted trees scattered 



thinly over the slope, then rapidly increasing in 



strength and numbers they become the finest in the 



forest. It is marvellous to see the way these pines 



and firs cling to the limestone cliffs, entwining their 



roots around the spurs or striking down into the 



crevices of the rocks. They struggle hard to exist in 



so barren a soil, and, in places, the withered trunks 



tell how many have failed in the contest. Evergreen 



and deciduous trees both add their beauty to the 



Eocene rocks. The pines and firs are mingled with 



the chestnut, ilex, cherry and sycamore. On 



opposite sides of the same valley we see a marked 



contrast in the vegetation. For on the northern 



slopes of the hills the silver fir, Abies luebbiana, 



grows in full luxuriance, while the southern slopes it 



abandons to the blue pine, Pinus excelsa. Standing 



in the valley, we see the decided contrast. On the one 



side are the thick, dark, gloomy pines, on the other 



the equally dark, but taller and more stately firs, while 



intermingled with both are the lighter tints of the 



deciduous trees softening the general hue of the 



vegetation with varied shades of green. And as we 



look up the pine-clad cliffs to the summit of the hill, 



we see a row of silver firs, that thrive on the opposite 



side of the slope, raising their tall straight trunks above 



the ridge and standing firm against the clear sky like 



a line of sentinels upon the mountain. Such is the 



