28 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM VOL. 95. 
Five miles to the northwest the Rio Colorado (pl. 3, fig. 2) joined 
with the Rio Blanco to form a larger stream than the Liberia that 
dropped rapidly over a stony bed, with quieter stretches at intervals 
in which we swam to refresh our bodies from the heat. Here there 
were forested areas and pastures as at Liberia (pl. 4, fig. 1). 
The elevation at the airport was 96 meters above sea level. The 
end of the rainy season was near and many days were continuously 
clear. Storms came mainly in afternoon and at night, and only 
occasionally was the morning cloudy. In early morning as the sun 
rose the air was delightfully cool, but on most days before noon heat 
drove the birds to cover. Usually there was a breeze in the after- 
noon, but at this season the frequent rains kept down the dust that 
later I was told blew in clouds across the land. 
On November 4, by invitation of Bert De Langton, Aguilar and I 
rode inland to the Hacienda Santa Maria located on the southern 
and southwestern slopes of the Volcan Rincén de la Vieja (pl. 4, fig. 2). 
The trail, after crossing the Rio Liberia, led over dry-soiled, rolling 
ridges covered with low, scrubby trees. Deeper valleys carried 
branches of the river bordered by forest. The region was one without 
human habitation. Presently, as the elevation increased, some of 
the ridges carried more vegetation, and beyond the land was covered 
with grass, in places 2 or 3 feet high, interspersed with thickets and 
groves of good-sized trees. We continued past a deserted estancia 
house called Las Delicias and found at this increased elevation that 
the air had become cool and invigorating. Finally we reached a 
high, open slope and saw the hacienda house located a mile away 
across rolling pastures at the edge of the mountain forest (pl. 6, fig.2). 
The property had been acquired only recently by Mr. De Langton, 
and for several years no stock had been run here except for the few 
head used by the caretaker. In consequence grass grew waist high 
in places, and there were few open trails away from the house. Deer, 
peccaries, and other game abounded; we saw fresh jaguar tracks 
daily; there were occasional signs of mountain lions; and tapirs and — 
interesting birds were common. 
The main cone of Rincén de la Vieja appeared bare in the main, — 
and I was told that there were openings where gases and steam — 
escaped. From the main mountain there extended to the southeast — 
the Cerro Santa Maria (pl. 4, fig. 2; pl. 6, fig. 1) covered with heavy 
forest that grew down to the hacienda house at an elevation of 750 
meters. Above a small coffee plantation back of the house there 
was a steep pitch over a shoulder of the mountain that led to a high 
heavily wooded flat known as Papal at 900 meters. Beyond this a | 
series of ridges led up the mountain to the summit of the Cerro, 
which I estimated to be about 975 meters in elevation. The entire 
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