251 
99 
Derby an Mountain-Pheasant. 
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 Yolcan de Puego, the “volcano of 
fire/ 1 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 llano 
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, oi 
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 99 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, 
however, by no means common. Its fruit is about the size of 
