34 POPULAR GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



the Aspen-tree (Populus tremula], the Service-tree (Pyms 

 torminalis), and the Juniper, there compose the forests. 

 Oaks (Quercns) and Beeches (Vagus] indeed begin to ap- 

 pear towards the southern limit of this zone, but scarcely 

 ever above 60 latitude, and "they show little of the gran- 

 deur and luxuriance they display in the thick forests of 

 Germany and England." 



The plants which grow in the Pine-forests on the west of 

 Norway will be very interesting, from their names and forms 

 being familiar to us at home. Let us only hope that whilst 

 we are engrossed with them, we shall not fall in with any 

 of the fierce brown bears, which no doubt consider them- 

 selves lords of the manor there; they possibly might not 

 approve of people poking about and botanizing, and might 

 hug the breath out of us before we had time to beg pardon. 

 A black bear, if we should chance to meet, we need not run 

 away from ; he will most likely save us the trouble, by run- 

 ning away from us instead ; for these black bears have a 

 great dislike to society, and have no interested motives, like 

 the brown bears, for wishing to cultivate the acquaintance, 

 being for the most part strict vegetarians, living on roots 

 and fruits, acorns, for instance, when they can get them ; 

 the only exception being an occasional feast of ants. 



