138 
Journal of Mycology 
[Vol. 12 
ico. The entire country is of volcanic origin, a large portion 
being mountainous. The Cordilleras, considered a continuation 
and connecting range of the Rocky Mountains and of the Andes, 
traverse the region in a northwesterly and southeasterly direc¬ 
tion, the crest being 50 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The alti¬ 
tude is about 8,000 feet in the West or Northwest to about 5,000 
or 4,000 at the Southern boundary line of the Republic. The 
numerous volcanoes are of course much higher, reaching in many 
cases an altitude of 11,000 to 12,000 feet. From this range of 
the Cordilleras there is a very considerable extension of the 
mountain chain eastward to the Bay of Honduras; the height is 
about 3,000 feet, but considerably less as it approaches the east¬ 
ern coast of the country. Here it is conspicuous by reason of a 
comparatively lofty peak (called San Gil), probably an extinct 
volcano (but as yet unexplored) that rises to a height of at least 
1,500 feet. The chain just mentioned is called the Sierra de las 
Minas; the extreme eastern portion however is called Sierra del 
Mico. The portion of the country bordering on Honduras is 
also mountainous, but no considerable altitude is anywhere at¬ 
tained ; several extinct small volcanoes occur here. 
The land near the coast is low — the low area on the Pacific 
side being rather narrow, then gradually ascending so that at 
a distance of 30 or 40 miles the altitude is 1,000 feet. From that 
line the slope is very steep to the general crest of the Cordilleras. 
On the Atlantic side the low land is much more extensive. A 
great tropical swamp lies back to Puerto Barrios. An altitude of 
500 feet would not be reached up the valley of the Motagua, or 
Rio Grande, short of 1000 miles from the coast. Following 
westward from the mouth of the Rio Dulce an altitude of 500 
feet would be attained when Lake Izabal was passed — and a 
point reached perhaps 80 miles from the Bay of Honduras. 
Then the country (in the Department of Alta Verapaz) becomes 
mountainous. An exceedingly interesting topographical region 
is the extreme northern section, this Department being called 
El Peten. It is not mountainous; it has the general character 
of Yucatan. But there are great rivers and many lakes in Peten. 
The country has not been thoroughly traversed by explorers and 
is practically a terra incognita. The itinerary neither year in¬ 
cluded this enticing region though it is hoped that in the near 
future its mycological flora may be subjected to some scrutiny. 
Before passing in review the particular places visited, and sketch T 
ing their general features in order to elucidate to some extent 
the character and distribution of the fungi that subsequent notes 
may disclose, a few words on the climatology and hydrography 
will be given — these being supreme factors determining the 
character and distribution of the vegetation. 
