42 Rhodora [FEBRUARY 
cially in relation to true alpine conditions and climatic and edaphic 
timber lines. Much interesting data was obtained upon these points 
and will form the basis of an ecological discussion of the mountain 
to appear later. 
Although the energies of the party were almost wholly devoted to 
a comprehensive ecological study rather than to purely floristic work, 
yet many noteworthy plants were recorded and the range of several 
species widely extended. These will be discussed below. 
Composed as our party was of so many botanists, nearly all the 
great groups of plants had their devotees. So a division of labor 
was easily adjusted. To Dr. Davis and Miss Smith fell the Algae 
and Liverworts; Dr. Cowles became responsible for the crustaceous 
lichens, and Mr. Blakeslee and Miss Stearns for the foliaceous and 
fruticose forms. Mr. Coulter and Miss Bates devoted their energies 
to the mosses, while the writer gave his attention to the vascular 
plants. Reports on all these collections are to be expected. 
Entomology was not without its enthusiasts for Mr. Britcher in the 
Arachnids and Mr. Barber in the Hemiptera are both specialists in 
their respective groups. Some very important and pioneer contribu- 
tions along these lines may be expected. 
Tue NortH WEsT BASIN. 
The unique feature of our visit to Ktaadn was perhaps the 
exploration of the North West Basin, as we have called it, by four 
of the party! in a three days’ side trip. We are, it is believed, the 
first scientific party to make a descent into this basin and though 
it is not the purpose of this article to describe the topography of the 
mountain, for this has been well done by Hamlin’, Tarr, and 
others, yet a detailed description of this basin may be of interest, as it 
seems to be the least known of any part of the mountain. Williams‘ 
in a footnote speaks of its inaccessibility and the lack of knowledge 
1 Drs. Cowles and Davis, Mr. Blakeslee, and the writer. 
? Hamlin, C. E. Observations upon the Physical Geography and Geology of 
Mount Ktaadn. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard 7: 206-223. 1881. 
3Tarr, R. S. Glaciation of Mt. Ktaadn, Maine. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. rr: 
433-448. 1900. 
4 Williams, E. F. Comparison of the Floras of Mt. Washington and Mt. 
Katahdin. RHODORA 3: 163. 1901. 
