Derby an Mountain- Pheasant. 251 



ernmost of the three peaks into which the whole mountain is 

 divided, seems to be, geologically, the most ancient. When this 

 attained its present elevation (nearly 14,000 feet above the level 

 of the sea), the fires broke out on its southern side, raising 

 another peak equal in height to the original one. Again a 

 fresh crater has opened on the southern side of the second peak, 

 more nearly at its base, heaping up the vast conical mass, from 

 the point of which still issues a thin but constant curl of white 

 smoke. This last is the true Volcan de Fuego, the " volcano of 

 fii-e," though the term is applied to the whole group. All these 

 three mountains are united up to a high elevation, the fire-peak 

 ■being connected with the other two by a horizontal ridge, which 

 probably indicates a third outbreak on the southern slope, of less 

 magnitude, and antecedent to the existence of the present crater. 

 All traces of craters have disappeared from the original peaks, 

 they having been, doubtless, filled up by ashes from subsequent 

 eruptions. The sides of these mountains, or rather mountain 

 (as, except very near their summit, they are actually one), are cut 

 from top to bottom by deep ravines or barrancos. The lower 

 part of the base, to a height of some 2000 feet above the lloiw 

 of Duenas, has been cleared of its forests by the Indians for their 

 fields of maize and frijoles ; but these cleared lands have been 

 since abandoned, and a thick brushwood has sprung up. The 

 forest region commences at about 2000 feet above the plain, or 

 about 7000 feet above the level of the sea. It extends upwards 

 until its component trees become scattered Pines, which diminish 

 in number as the elevation increases to the summit. The lower 

 part of this forest region consists principally of evergreen Oaks ; 

 these in their turn give way, on ascending, to the Hand Plant 

 {Chirostemon platanoides) , the " Khanak " of the Indians, with 

 here and there a patch of Alder. These trees again are succeeded 

 by Pines and coarse grass in the northernmost peaks, and by loose 

 ashes and rocky precipices in the fire-peak. A tree called the 

 " Palo careta," the " Khakhachay " of the Kachiquel Indians, 

 grows between the line of junction of the Oaks and Khanak, the 

 fruit of which is sought by the Oreophasis. It is a fine forest-tree, 

 and usually grows in or near the bottoms of the ravines. It is, 

 howevei', by no means common. Its fruit is about the size of 



VOL. II. T 



