REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 25 



and their branches frequently lie prostrate upon the ground. Above this belt, 

 and occupying the highest exposed slopes, lies the Arctic-Alpine zone, whose 

 vegetation is composed chiefly of small herbaceous plants, with a few dwarfed 

 shrubs, mostly willows. Many of the species of this zone are widely distributed 

 in alpine or arctic regions of North America, and some of tliem occur also in 

 similar situations in Europe and Asia. 



BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN JAMAICA. 



Mr. William E. Maxon, associate curator in the Division of Plants. 

 United States National Museum, accompanied by Mr. E. P. Killip, 

 aid, was detailed to field work in Jamaica in February last for the 

 purpose of making botanical collections in general and of securing 

 fern material for use in connection with a projected volume upon 

 the ferns of Jamaica. Over two months were spent in the island, in- 

 cluding a period of three weeks in the Blue Mountain region, with 

 the Cinchona Botanical Station as base. Other regions covered in- 

 clude Mount Diablo, Montego Bay. Mill Bank, and Seamens Valley, 

 and the southern border of the peculiar " cockpit country " above 

 Ipswich, a wooded area of limestone " sinks." Upward of 10,000 

 specimens were collected, representing about 1,700 collection num- 

 bers. In addition to the series to be retained by the National Museum, 

 nearly uniform sets of the ferns and flowering plants have been 

 distributed to the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University, the New 

 York Botanical Garden, the Field Museum of Natural History, and 

 the University of Illinois, all of which contributed equally to the field 

 expenses of the work. Sets of the woody plants and orchids have 

 been sent also to the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, and 

 to Mr. Oakes Ames, respectively, in return for similar assistance. 

 The lower cryptogams of the collection are in process of identifica- 

 tion and wiH be distributed shortly. 



EXPLORATIONS IN SANTO DOMINGO. 



During the first three months of the fiscal year Dr. W. L. Abbott 

 continued his scientific investigations in Santo Domingo, stopping 

 at Sosua, on the north side of the island, where a search was made 

 for certain birds needed to fill gaps in the series already collected. 

 The Samana Peninsula was then explored, after which Dr. Abbott 

 visited the islets of Saona and Catalina, off the southeastern corner 

 of Santo Domingo, and concluded his investigations with a few days' 

 work at Lake Enriquillo. 



The material collected on this trip and the previous trip ending 

 just before the beginning of the fiscal year was varied in character, 

 embracing the several groups of vertebrates as well as mollusks, in- 

 sects, and plants, with a plentiful series of archeological objects from 

 caves in the Samana district. Of birds alone, 278 study skins, 87 



