Europe : — a popular Physical Sketch, 7 



in Savoy (particularly in the valley of Chamounix, below 

 Mont Blanc) in Tyrol, in Berner Oberland, and Grau Coin- 

 den. They reach down to within 3200 feet of the sea level, 

 and are occasionally on a level with the corn fields. 



On the north side the forest trees cease at an elevation 

 of about 5866 feet ; on the south side at about 6933 feet. 

 Between the snow line and the forest frontier is situated the 

 zone of Alpine vegetation, which in a great measure affords 

 either the identical species found on the Norwegian moun- 

 tains, or others closely allied to them, consisting of low pe- 

 rennial plants, with proportionally large flowers of beautiful 

 pure colours. In the lower part of this zone the Rhododendron 

 (R. ferrugineum and hirsutum) with its beautiful red flowers 

 (Alprose) forms a prominent feature, instead of which the 

 dwarf-birch and certain kinds of low willows are characteristic 

 of the Norwegian mountains. The zone of Alpine plants 

 present neither poisonous nor thorny plants, nor any densely 

 covered with hairs. Here are no fixed habitations, sum- 

 mer-huts only, (Sennhutten, Satere) occupied for three 

 months, the period during which the sheep and goats graze, 

 (Schaafalpen). From what has been stated already con- 

 cerning the snow line and the woody region, it will be un- 

 derstood that this zone is situated on the north side, between 

 an elevation of 5866 and 8746 feet, on the south side 6933 

 and 9173 feet. 



The next zone is formed by the pines, such as the larch, 

 and the ' zirbel ' tree (a kind of pine, with eatable nuts, Zir- 

 belniisse). The vegetation is almost the same as that which 

 appears in the northern parts of Europe. Some excellent 

 medicinal plants grow here, the pastures are exquisite even 

 for cows, but unavailable for agricultural pursuits. On the 

 south side it is situated at an elevation between 4800 and 

 6933 feet, on the north side between 4266 and 5866 feet. 

 This zone is employed for cutting of wood, and as pasture 

 for cows (Kuhalpen) and smaller cattle, when they are no 



