available for the kernels. This is approximately the 
equivalent of kernel thickness. 
The average dimensions of the seventeen fragments 
are slightly higher than those of the single well preserved 
‘aur but, like it, they are lower than those of modern 
Pollo. 
Although the fragments are quite uniform with re- 
spect to kernel-row number and space per kernel, they 
are rather variable in the shape and hairiness of their cu- 
pules. This indicates that the plant is not a wild corn; 
it may represent acorn inan early stage of domestication. 
The race Pollo, which occurs on the eastern slopes of 
the eastern cordillera in the Departments of Cundina- 
marea and Boyaca in Colombia at elevations of 1600 to 
2160 meters, is regarded by Roberts et a/. as the most 
primitive race of maize in Colombia. It has the smallest 
plants and shortest ears and one of the most limited dis- 
tributions of any of the Colombian races. It has all of 
the aspects of a relict race. These authors also point out 
that Pollo may be related to the primitive popcorn race 
of Peru, Confite Morocho, which is also a maize culti- 
vated at high altitudes (cf) Grobman ct a/., 1961). If so, 
Pollo may represent the earliest introduction of maize 
from Peru into Colombia and from there to Venezuela. 
Grant ef a/. (1963) in “Races of Maize in Venezuela’ 
report the occurrence of Pollo at altitudes of 1800-2400 
meters in the states of Tachira, Merida, and Trujillo. It 
is most abundant in ‘Tachira adjacent to the general re- 
gion where it occurs in Colombia. ‘These authors call 
attention to the resemblance of Pollo to several highland 
races of Guatemala, especially Serrano and Nal-Tel Tierra 
Alta (Wellhausen ef a/., 1957). Nal-Tel in turn is appar- 
ently a direct descendant of the prehistoric wild corn 
found in the caves of Tehuacian (cf. Mangelsdorf ef a/., 
1964). 
[ 108 | 
