In approaching the next large mountain, called Brunaesberget, I turned towards the left, and found a cave, formed by Nature in the mountain itself, resembling an artificial dwelling. The sides, end and roof were all of stone. The front was open, but much narrower and lower than the inside, which was so lofty that I could not reach the roof. The entrance was concealed on the outside by two large trees, a fir and a birch, and the descent was pretty steep. On the floor lay some burnt stumps of trees. The neighbouring people informed me that a criminal had concealed himself for two years in this cavern, its situation being so retired, and the approach from the road so well fortified by stones piled on stones, that he remained entirely undiscovered.
On the roof and sides of this cave, near the entrance, the stones were clothed with a fungous substance, like a sponge in texture, without any regular form; or rather like the internal medullary part of the Agaric of the Birch, when dressed for making tinder. It appeared to me quite distinct from all plants hitherto described. (This is the _Byssus cryptarum_; _Linn. Fl. Lapp. n. 527_, and _Fl. Suec. n. 1181_. Succeeding travellers have gathered it here.)
Every where near the road lay spar full of talc, or Muscovy glass, glittering in the sun.
Now we take leave of Medelpad and its sandy roads, as well as its Yellow Aconite (_Aconitum lycoctonum_), both which it affords in common with Helsingland.
About a quarter of a mile from the next post-house is a small bridge, over a rivulet which joins two little lakes. This water separates Medelpad from Angermanland. We no sooner enter this district, than we meet with lofty and very steep hills, scarcely to be descended with safety on horseback.
Very near Hernosand, in the territories of the bishopric, I picked up a number of Chrysomelas of a blueish green and gold. (These were the beautiful _Chrysomela graminis_. See _Faun. Suec. n. 509_.)
The city of Hernosand is situated about half or three quarters of a mile within the borders of the province, standing on an island, accessible to ships on every side, except at Vaerbryggan, where they can scarcely pass.
In the heart of the Angermannian forests trees with deciduous leaves, _Betula alba_ and the hoary-leaved Alder (_Betula incana_), abound equally with the Common and Spruce Firs (_Pinus sylvestris_ and _Abies_), while among the humble shrubs the Heath (_Erica_) and the Bilberry (_Vaccinium Myrtillus_) alternately predominate; the former chiefly on the hills, the latter in the closer parts of the forest.