20 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOÖLOGY. 
so far below that no horizon can be distinguished where the gray of the 
sea meets that of the sky. Still higher, the forest covered summits of 
the limestone plateau, with its rugged back coast border, appear below 
as an unbroken meadow. 
Each step of the way is marked by wonders of the vegetal kingdom. 
At the foot is the semi-arid south coast chapparal with exogenous 
banana plants, cocoanut trees, native cactus, and acacias. Ascending 
Hope River Canyon the delicate deciduous flora of the island begins, 
while the cliffs are burdened with ferns — golden, silver, and delicate 
maidenhair— besides numerous little flowers which find foothold in 
the rocks, From 1,000 to 4,000 feet, plantations of coflee are numerous, 
finding congenial temperature and moisture. At 4,000 fect the gov- 
ernment has found environment for its cinchona farm. Above 6,000 
feet, in an atmosphere of perpetual humidity, tree ferns set in. In 
this tropical climate such alpine heights offer no obstacle to human 
environment, and to an altitude of 4,000 fect the slopes are well 
populated. 
There are many other conspicuous peaks of the Blue Mountain 
Ridge, but few of them have received local names. Sugar Loaf Peak, 
which lies just east of Blue Mountain Peak, is a part of the latter. To 
the west are Sir John's Peak, John Crow Hill, Silver Hill, and St. 
Catherine Peak (alt. 5,036 feet). These high summits are situated 
near the central portion of the main ridge, which is crossed by five 
passes with altitudes varying between 3,000 and 4,000 feet. 
Fast of Kingston there are few practigal openings through the Blue 
Mountain ridges which are passable on hórseback. One of these is that 
of Cuna Cuna, between Port Antonio and Bowden, and traverses some 
of the most rugged and beautiful scenery on the island. Its altitude is 
2,698 feet. A good highway crosses the island through a pass in tho 
ridge cut by the waters of the Agua Alta (Wag Water) between Kings- 
ton and Port Maria. 
Wostward from St. Catherine Peak, almost due northeast of Kings- 
ton, the main ridge bifurcates ; the southern and larger branch continues 
in a sinuous but generally northwestern course through St. Andrew, 
where it is known as the Ram's Horn Ridge, and “Above Rocks,” 
and on between St. Mary and St. Andrew as Goddard Ridge, to the 
drainage divide of Rio Doro and Trumbell’s River, near the line of the 
Port Antonio Railway. Several other ridges radiate from St. Catherine 
Peak to the northwest in palmate arrangement. All these branches, 
1 Not to be confused with the John Crow Mountain of the northeast coast. 
