1906] GANONG—NASCENT FOREST OF MISCOU BEACH 95 
more typical. Again, the transition from the broad swales to the 
beaches of the sandy woods is most abrupt, for the latter are regular, 
narrow, close together with scarcely any hollows between, and 
also exhibit a curious barrenness on their summits in marked con- 
trast to the better-clothed summits farther out (compare jigs. 
and 13). Unfortunately the full importance of these features did 
not strike me in time for a study of them on the ground, but such 
data as I possess in notes and maps lead me to believe that the swales 
are much newer in origin than the beaches immediately inside them, 
and that they mark the transition from an older series of beaches 
which formed part of the original Grande Plaine extending far to 
Fic. 8.—Typical transition zone, looking north; showing a swale on the right, 
with its sharp line of transition to the woods; the trees are all white spruce. 
the north of the present island, and a newer series formed by the 
rolling of the plain down the coast, as described earlier in this paper. 
All the facts I possess both as to geography and vegetation are con- 
sistent with this view.” 
Aside from the question of age, the swale zone differs physically 
from the grass plain by its greater shelter from the west winds, its 
lower level and greater nearness to the water-table, a probable 
increase of mineral nutrients derived from decaying driftwood and 
diffusion from the upland, and some slight accumulation of humus. 
ee ede Fay ee ee 
7 And it is sustained by the tradition of the residents who say that the plain has 
been built out from the edge of the woods almost within the memory i. men still 
living. I have discussed’ the subject more fully in Bull. Nat. Hist. Soc. N. B. No. 
24:456. 1906 
