CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN PLANTS. 473 



It does not extend into the mountainous and comparatively humid 

 region of Cariboo, and is probably absent from the higher portions of 

 the Selkirk and Gold ranges generally. Its northern line is singularly 

 irregular. It is found about Fort George, and north-eastward as far as 

 McLeod's Lake, but does not occur on the Parsnip. It extends about 

 halfway up Tacla Lake, and on Babine Lake to the bend or knee. A 

 few specimens occur on the Skeena Eiver. It is common about 

 Prangois and Fraser lakes. It is found from the Praser to the Coast 

 Eange on the line of the Chilcotiu and its tributaries, and occurs 

 on the Nazco and wp the Blackwater to the mouth of the Iscultaesli, 

 but is absent fi'om an extensive tract of country bounded by the last 

 named localities to the south and east, and extending northv^ard to 

 Prangois Lake. It occui's abundantly on the coast of the mainland as 

 far north as the north end of Vancouver Island, but beyond that point 

 is found only on the shores of the inlets at some distance from the sea. 

 It is found on the upper part of Dean Inlet and on the Salmon Eiver 

 which runs into this inlet, but at about forty-five miles from the salt- 

 water becomes small and stunted, and, as above stated, is not seen in 

 that part of the interior lying to the eastward. Its north-eastern limit 

 in the Eocky Mountain range is still somewhat uncertain. The best 

 grown specimens are found near the coast, in proximity to the waters 

 of the many bays and inlets which indent it. Here the ti-ee frequently 

 surpasses eight feet in diameter, at a considerable height above the 

 ground, and reaches a height of 200 to 300 feet, forming prodigious 

 and dark forests. (^Dawson.) 



569. ABIES, Juss. (BALSAM.) 



(2090.) A. balsamea, Miller. Canada Balsam Pir. 



Pinus balsamea, Linn. Hook. Fl. II., 163. 

 A. balsamifera, Michx. Fl. II., 207, in part. 



Abundant in swamps throughout the eastei-n provinces, and a com- 

 mon tree in every part of Quebec and Ontario. It seems to need a 

 constant supply of water at its roots, as many die in exceptionally dry 

 seasons, while white spruce in the same localities remains uninjured. 

 Canada and Nova Scotia to the Saskatchewan. (Richardson.) In the 

 country around Lake Mistassini it grows mixed with aspen, birch and 

 white spruce, and on the lower part of the Eupert Eiver it is found 

 growing with the same trees all tte way to James Bay. (J. M. Macoun.) 

 It occurs around James Bay, but its northern limit keeps to the south- 

 west of Hudson Bay, where it passes between Port Severn and Trout 



