f 10 ] 
1766, which has deftroyed above four miles fquare 
of the beautiful wood abovementioned. The moun- 
tain railed by this eruption abounds with fulphur and 
ialts, exaftly refembling thofe of Vefuvius, fpecimens 
of which I fent fome time ago to the late lord 
Morton. 
In about five hours from the time we had left the 
convent of St. Nicolo dell’ Arena, we arrived at the 
borders of the third region, called La Netta, or Sco- 
perta, clean or uncovered, where we found a very 
fharp air indeed ; fo that in the fame day, the four 
feafons of the year were fenfibly felt by us, on this 
mountain ; exceflive fummer heats in the Piemontefe, 
fpring and autumn temperature in the middle, and 
extreme cold of winter in the upper region. I could 
perceive, as we approached the latter, a gradual 
decreafe of vegetation, and from large timber trees 
we came to the fmnller Ihrubs and plants of the 
northern climates ; I obferved quantities of juniper 
and tanzey ; our guide told us, that later in the feafon. 
there are numberlefs curious plants here, and that 
in fome parts there are rhubarb and farfion in plenty. 
In Carrera’s hiflory of Catania, there is a lift of all 
the plants and herbs of Etna, in alphabetical order. 
Night coming on, vve here pitched a tent and 
made a good fire, which was very necefiary, for 
without it; and very warm cloathing, we fhould 
furely have perifhed with cold j and at one of the 
clock in the morning of the 26th, we purfued our 
journey towards the great crater. We ptffed over 
valleys of Inovv that never melts, except there is 
an eruption of lava from the upper crater, which 
icarceiy .ever happens the great eruptions are ufually 
from 
