The ſpartium ſupra nubium was the laſt ſhrub that I noticed before we arrived at the foot of the cone; but there is an herbaceous plant which, notwithſtanding its apparent delicacy, vegetates even in ſtill higher ſituations. I mean a ſpecies of violet with leaves ſomewhat elongated, and ſlightly indented at the edges; its flowering time was already paſt. We obſerved it to grow quite near to the ſummit of the peak.
The vapours of the atmoſphere not being able to riſe to this height, the ſky preſents itſelf in the pureſt azure, which is more bright and dazzling than what we can ſee in the cleareſt weather of our climates. Though ſome ſcattered clouds hung in the atmoſphere far below our feet, we had ſtill a very perfect view of the neighbouring iſlands.
The cone is terminated by a crater, the greateſt elevation of which is on the north-eaſt ſide. Its ſouth-weſt ſide has a deep depreſſion, which ſeems to have been produced by the ſinking of the ground.
Near to the top are ſeveral orifices about three inches in diameter, from which a very hot vapour iſſues, that made Reaumur's thermometer riſe to 67° above 0, emitting a ſound very like that of the humming of bees. When the ſnow begins to fall on the ſummit of the peak in the latter
