94 [October, 



fields of sugar cane, corn, &c., dotted with the straw-thatched cottages of the 

 Indians, and presenting a most perfect panorama or picture of nature's own paint- 

 ing, enclosed, as it were, in a frame of black and jagged rocks, which form its 

 perpendicular sides, without a vestige of vegetation growing upon them. F'ar 

 ofT below, lays stretched out the tierra caliente, having the appearance of an 

 immense park, bounded on the horizon by the Gulf; and yet, elevated as your 

 position seems to be, on turning to look m the opposite direction, Orizaba, with 

 its silvery cap of eternal snow, and the base and rocky peak of Perote, still 

 stand above you eight or nine thousand feet. 



In addition to the animals on the tierra caliente, I noticed the raccoon, the 

 opossum, the bassaris astuta, or ring-tailed weasel, as it is called by the Mexi- 

 cans, and several species of deer. I noticed also a porcupine, which struck me 

 as difTerent from the common species. 'J'he puma and jaguar are also met with 

 in the mountains. 



The mammalia of this part of Mexico seem lo be identical with, or nearly allied 

 to, more northern species, while the birds for the greater part are found also much 

 farther south. Lizards are less numerous, but snakes more so than on the tierra 

 caliente. The plants I should think more characteristic than either mammalia 

 or birds, and present a rich field for investigation. 



The two species of Jalapa root are collected in small quantities, only on the 

 sides of the mountains by the Indians, the greater jiart exported, being brought 

 from the north and west of the city of Mexico. 



In the neighbourhood of Jalapa, and on the road passing over the mountains, 

 I noticed several beds and hills of sand, in some of which are deposits of the 

 sulphate of lime, finely crystallized in the form of sand. I was told by the 

 Mexicans that they had dug up here young clams, perhaps cyclas. I mention 

 this fact in confirmation of my opinion that the plains of Anahuac above, or of 

 Perote and Puebla, as they may be called, have been drained by one of the many 

 revolutions (geological, not political,) which this countrj' has passed through. 



The eastern part of the plains above, for the distance of twelve or fifteen miles, 

 is sandy; beyond are salt beds and soda. In many localities, at the depth of ten 

 or twelve feet, I saw fossil fresh water shells of the genera planorbis, lymnea, 

 physa, and others, which it is reasonable to suppose once lived at the bottom 

 of lakes which covered these plains, as well as that of the valley of Mexico. 



The volcanic mountains which form the boundaries to the plains, are flanked 

 by ranges of limestone hills, similar in character to those below on the tierra 

 templada. Undoubtedly the range which bounds the plains of Anahuac to the east, 

 is very rich in mineral treasure, as specimens of silver ore are frequently brought 

 in by the Indians, but they, like those of Peru, conceal their knowledge of the 

 localities with the utmost care. About three leagues from Perote I saw a vein 

 of sulphuret of silver three feel in width, associated with blende and sulphate of 

 copper. 



