164 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 



tains rise to an altitude of 4000 meters (12,000 ft.) so that a traveler 

 in {)assing from the Lake up to the mountains traverses the lowland 

 forests, the higher and barren hills, the rich valleys, the forested 

 mountain sides and gorges, to the treeless summits, some of which 

 are cajiped with snow. 



In this short range occur all variations from the swampy seashore 

 and the barren hills to the luxuriant valleys, and the alpine regions. 

 On the mountain sides occur furthermore at various altitudes not only 

 quiet gorges in which the woods are dripping with moisture but also 

 knolls exposed to the fierce winds, often accompanied by great changes 

 in temperature. A greater variety of vegetative conditions is difficult 

 to find within so small an area in any other country. 



Venezuela may well be considered as consisting of three different 

 regions: the Andean extending from Lake Maracaibo southwest 

 over the mountain ranges to Colombia ; the coastal region from Lake 

 Maracaibo eastward to the Gulf of Paria at Trinidad, including all 

 the coastal islands and extending inland to the llanos by the Orinoco; 

 and the third region consisting of the Orinoco district and all of the 

 extensive and little known forests to the south. While each of these 

 three divisions shows some of the characteristics of the others, each 

 has features of interest peculiar to itself, the first region being alpine, 

 the second consisting of the barren or desert hills of the coast and of 

 the islands, and the third being characterized by the grassy plains and 

 forest areas of the llanos and selvas. 



Such a variety of conditions as is presented in this country leads 

 one to expect much of botanical interest. There must be both a 

 remarkable variety of plants and many interesting adaptations of 

 the plants to their environments. A number of collections have been 

 made, but not nearly so many as the conditions warrant, and un- 

 fortunately the reports of these collections are scattered and incom- 

 plete. The need for more work on the flora of Venezuela is strongly 

 felt. Brazil has the elaborate work of Martins ('40-'06) ; the Guianas 

 those of Schomburgk ('47-'48) and Pulle ('06); Colombia that of 

 Karsten ('58-'69) and also the recent collections of Smith and Pittier. 

 The West Indies as a whole have Grisebach's ('64) well known Flora, 

 and the recent Symbolae Antillanae of Professor Urban ('03). But 

 in Venezuela, IWng between these lands, no botanical work at all com- 

 plete has been done. 



The first recorded visit of a naturalist to Venezuela is that of Peter 



