CHAP V.] VEGETATION. DWARF FIRS. 67 



rose (Viburnum lantanoides], the Mexican laurustinus, and the 

 service-tree (Sorbus americana), with Acer montanum and Acer 

 sPriatwn. On the ground we saw the beautiful dwarf dogwood 

 (Cornus canadensis), still in flower, also the fruit of the averin, 

 or cloud-berry, here called mulberry (Rubits chamcemorus), well 

 known on the Grampians, and the wood-sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), 

 in great quantity, with Gaultheria hispidula. There were 

 many large prostrate trees in various stages of decay, and out of 

 their trunks young fir-saplings, which had taken root on the bark, 

 were seen growing erect. 



We put up very few birds as we rode along, for the woods 

 are much deserted at this season. A small lapwing, with a 

 note resembling the English species, flew up from some marshy 

 ground ; and we saw a blue jay and a brown woodpecker among 

 the trees, and occasionally a small bird like a tomtit (Pants 

 atrocapillus). I picked up one land-shell only (Helix tliyoides), 

 and was surprised at the scarcity of air-breathing testacea here 

 and elsewhere in New England, where there is so vigorous a 

 vegetation and so much summer heat. The absence of lime in 

 the granitic rocks is the chief cause ; but even in the calcareous 

 districts these shells are by no means as plentiful as in correspond 

 ing latitudes in Europe. 



When we had passed through this lowest belt of wood the 

 clouds cleared away, so that, on looking back to the westward, 

 we had a fine view of the mountains of Vermont and the Camel s 

 Hump, and were the more struck with the magnificent extent of 

 the prospect, as it had not opened upon us gradually during our 

 ascent. We then began to enter the second region, or zone of 

 evergreens, consisting of the black spruce and the Pinus balsa- 

 mea, which were at first mixed with other forest trees, all 

 dwarfed in height, till at length, after we had ascended a few 

 hundred feet, these two kinds of firs monopolized the entire 

 ground. They are extremely dense, rising to about the height 

 of a man s head, having evidently been prevented by the cold 

 winds from continuing their upward growth beyond the level at 

 which they are protected by the snow. All their vigor seems 

 to have been exerted in throwing out numerous strong horizontal 



