MOUNTAINS AND FJELDS, ii? 
Humbolt found that on all mountains there occurs such a 
representation of different floras, and that particular alpine 
forms are found almost over the whole world at a particular 
elevation. In describing the South American alpine flora 
he says:—“In the burning plains, scarce raised above the 
level of the Southern Ocean, we find musacez, cycadacem, 
and. palma, in the greatest luxuriance; after them, shaded 
by the lofty sides of the valleys in the Andes, arborescent 
ferns; next in succession, bedewed by cool misty clouds, 
cinchonas appear. When lofty trees cease, we come to 
aralias, thibaudias, and myrtle-leaved andromedas ; these, 
are succeeded by bejarias abounding in resin, and forming 
a purple belt around the mountains. In the stony region 
of the paramos, the more lofty plants and showy flowering 
herbs disappear, and are succeded by large meadows cov- 
ered with grasses on which the llama feeds. We now reach 
the bare trachytic rocks, on which the lowest tribes of 
plants flourish. Parmelias, lecideas, and leprarias, with 
their many coloured thalli and fructification, form the 
flora of this inhospitable zone. Patches of recently fallen 
snow now begin to cover the last efforts of vegetable life, 
and then the line of eternal snow begins.’ 
Madden and Strachy give the following account of the 
Himalayan vegetation, proceeding from the plains of India 
through Kemaon to Tibet :—‘ Ascending, we find forms 
of temperate climates gradually introduced above 3000 
feet, as seen in species of pinus, rosa, rubus, quercus, 
berberis, primula, &c. At 5000 feet the arboreous vege- 
tation of the plains is altogether superseded by such trees 
as oaks, rhododendron, andromeda, cypress, and pine. The 
first ridge crossed ascends to a height of 8700 feet ina 
distance of not more than 10 or 12 miles from the termi- 
nation of the plains. The European character of the 
vegetation is here thoroughly established, and although 
specific identities are comparatively rare, the representa- 
tive forms are most abundant. From 7000 to 11,000 feet, 
the region of the alpine forest, the trees most commoyg 
