CHAP. XIX. THE SNOW -LINE. 347 



that should be found permanently upon any mountain to entitle 

 it to be considered within the snow -line cannot be determined, 

 and I see little utility in retaining a phrase which is incapable of 

 definition, and is interpreted so variously. The following informa- 

 tion is given from personal observation. 



Range south of Chimborazo (15-16,000 feet). No permanent snow. 



Chimborazo (20,498 feet). In January, little snow below 16,600 feet 

 on the south side, but at that time it extended nearly one thousand feet 

 lower on the E. and N. sides. In June -July there was deep snow as low 

 as 15,600 feet on all these sides. At the same time, there was little snow 

 below 16,700 feet upon the W. side. 



Carihuairazo (16,515 feet). Very little snow below 15,000 feet in 

 January, and much in June -July as low as 14,300 feet. 



CoRAZON (15,871 feet). Much snow fell almost daily upon this mount- 

 ain down to 14,500 feet, but there were no permanent snow -beds on the E. 

 side, although there were some upon the W. side. 



Atacatzo (14,892 feet). No permanent snow. 



PiCHiNCHA (15,918 feet). The snow-beds were quite trifling in extent. 



CoTOCACHi (16,301 feet). Permanent snow, in large beds, as low as 

 14,500 feet. 



Imbabura (15,033 feet). No permanent snow. 



Cayambe (19,186 feet). Scarcely any snow below 16,000 feet on the 

 west side. Covered with snow at 15,000 feet on the eastern side. 



Sara-urcu (15,502 feet). Snow fell daily upon this mountain lower 

 than 14,000 feet, and was remaining permanently at about that elevation. 



Antisana (19,335 feet). Permanently covered with snow at 16,000 

 feet on the western side. I am not able to speak about the eastern side. 



SiNCHOLAGUA (16,365 feet). Large beds of permanent snow as low as 

 15,300 feet. 



RuMiNAHUi (15,607 feet). There was a small amount of permanent 

 snow on the E., and none on the W. side. 



CoTOPAXi (19,613 feet). Snow fell frequently on Cotopaxi in February 

 quite one thousand feet lower than it fell upon Chimborazo in January. It 

 was remaining permanently on the western side at about 15,500 feet. 



Llanganati group. Much snow below 16,000 feet. 



Altar (17,730 feet). Many large snow-beds below 14,000 feet. 



From examination of the above list, it will be seen that snow 

 is in greater abundance upon the more easterly of the Great Andes 



