magnified ), often attaining 250 to 300 feet, 
with a diameter of 8 to 12 feet, by far the 
largest fir in the world, and the cones, cylim 
drical and erect, like green parrots perched 
upon the limbs, are six to eight inches high, 
the largest fir cones known. Extending from 
end to end of the Sierra, and mingling with 
the Giant Sequoia, the Douglas Spruce, and 
the four kingly pines described, they dominate 
certain regions of the middle altitudes of the 
Sierra by sheer force of numbers, giving a 
fir character to the forest unexcelled for 
grandeur, enlisting the profound admiration 
of foreign visitors to the Sierra. The bark of 
the Red Fir becomes very thick, and, although 
black outside, it is madder-red within, readily 
detected when broken, suggesting the name 
of the tree. The lumber is valued for vari¬ 
ous purposes. 
A closely related species is the Shasta Fir 
(A. Shastensis ), large trees clothing the 
flanks of Mount Shasta and some of the high¬ 
est peaks on the other end of the Sierra. This 
tree is particularly distinguished by its higher 
locality and smaller cones, with broad, feather¬ 
like bracts, protruding a half inch or more 
from between the scales. Soon becoming de¬ 
clined, they nearly conceal the dark green 
cone with their lighter drapery. 
A big brother of these two is the White 
Fir (A. Lowiana), found at lower altitudes, 
and with small, narrow, naked cones, three to 
four inches long; bark dark outside, but 
greenish white within. 
A third species is the Lowland Fir (A. 
rrandis), a noble tree, abundant in the Puget 
Sound region, and reaching our coast in the 
northern counties; cones two and one-half to 
three inches long; the leaves dark green, and 
shining above, white lined with minute breath 
ing pores below. 
