18 



PLATE III. 



SITKA. 



WOODY MOUNTAINS. 



July. / 



A well-known phenomenon is the sudden transition from the mild climate of some 

 coast districts to the more severe one, peculiar to the country on account of its 

 latitude, as soon as the observer leaves the region influenced by tempering sea- 

 breezes. Little as is known about the countries situated on the other side of the 

 protecting chain of mountains, east and north-east of Sitka, there can be no doubt 

 that their climate must be much more severe. This difference becomes evident even 

 where the immediate influence of the sea-breezes just terminates, as is plainly shown 

 in the character of the vegetation of such localities as that here represented. The 

 narrow bays, stretching far inland, so common on this coast, offer a good opportunity 

 to observe this even from the sea, and still better from the equally numerous long 

 and narrow inland lakes, which are completely separated from the ocean by a ridge 

 of mountains. Plants which at the seaside belong to the upper mountain region, 

 are here growing at the sea level ; the growth of woody species is comparatively 

 scanty, and instead of the luxuriant underwood there formed by different kinds of 

 Rubus, &c, we have here a rocky soil covered with mosses. The present illustration 

 refers to such a district, termed 6i Grlubokoje Osero," or " Deep Lake." Its eleva- 

 tion above the level of the ocean probably does not amount to more than fifty feet, 

 but its situation deprives it of the influence of the sea-breezes. The great number 

 of dead, and yet standing trees, impart to the forest, as to all those of the moun- 

 tains of this country, a curiously mixed appearance. It is hardly necessary to add 

 that those trees are principally covered with a dense mass of lichens in general, 

 and Usneas in particular. Here Pinus Canadensis and Pinus Mertensiana grow 

 together, often mingled with the beautiful Thuja excelsa, Bong. ( Cham cecyparis 

 Nutkaensis, Spach)(4 g; 5 | 6 d; 5 | 6 g), which near the sea is only in the higher 



