322 



ECOLOG Y. 



ern hill is still covered by forest, and large spruce trees of the 

 marginal zone are still standing, though several were up-rooted 

 September, 1896, during a fierce southeastern gale, the wind 

 from this direction having full play upon them. 



487. Dying of the spruce of the central area. — This removal 

 of the forests from the surrounding hills very likely had its 

 influence in hastening the melting of the winter snows on the 

 hills, so that excessive quantities of water from this source 



Fig. 266. 

 Dying black spruce in moor. (Photograph by the author.) 



rushed quickly down into the swamp, flooding it at certain 

 seasons much higher than the normal high-water mark during 

 former times, when the hills were forest-covered. Also during 

 rains the water would now rush quickly down into the swamp, 

 flooding it at these times. This greater quantity of water has 

 had its effect, probably, in causing many of the young spruces 

 over the centre of the formation to die off. 



