208 The Ohio Journal of Science [Vol. XIX, No. 3, 



what the temperatures may have been; what chemicals may 

 have been associated with its action; whether deadly fumes 

 were given off along with the high temperatures; why charring 

 was for the most part subterranean; why the destructive 

 agencies were apparently more intense toward the head of the 

 Valley; and a number of other similar problems. But these 

 questions more properly belong to the geological discussion of 

 the events of the eruption. They will, therefore, be passed 

 over here and left for later discussion in their proper place. 



The area included in this ultimate zone of complete 

 annihilation is that of the basins in which fissure eruptions have 

 occurred, namely, all of the valleys now occupied by volcanic 

 vents and the upper part of Mageik Valley down to Observation 

 Mountain, which is occupied by a mud flow similar to that of 

 the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, and gives clear evidence 

 of having been formerly the seat of fumarole action. Altogether 

 this area of annihilation covers some 100 square miles. 



Before concluding, it may be desirable to add a few state- 

 ments concerning animal life, for in the zones of greater destruc- 

 tion the whole story may be told in a few sentences. In the last 

 zone, all animal life was of course annihilated. In the district 

 of deep deposits all animals were destroyed except for a few 

 wood boring insects, which not only were protected by their 

 habitats, but were furnished with an abundant supply of food 

 in the trees killed by the eruption. Within the area of destruc- 

 tive blasts (Zone 4) the same condition prevails, but here one 

 finds an increasing number of survivals favored by some 

 special circumstance of habitat or situation. 



SUMMARY. 



The effect on the observer of a study of this stupendous 

 eruption, as revealed by its effects on vegetation, is like that 

 of any other consideration of its phenomena and serves greatly 

 to augment his conception of its surpassing magnitude. Passing 

 our results briefly in review will aid in giving a single concrete 

 picture of this tremendous cataclysm, susceptible of comparison 

 with other great eruptions. 



1. Rains bearing sulphuric acid in such concentration as to 

 destroy gardens occurred as much as 300 miles from the volcano. 



