Todd-Carriker : Birds of Santa Marta Region, Colombia. 41 



that a short time was spent working between Mamatoco and Santa 

 Marta, with a couple of trips to Gaira. 



On May 27 a trip was made to the hacienda known as Las Vegas, 

 situated on the east slope of a ridge joining La Horqueta, at the head- 

 waters of the Rio Mendiguaca, between the altitudes of 3,000 and 6,000 

 feet. Two weeks were spent here and very thorough work done, re- 

 sulting in a collection of nearly three hundred specimens. Birds were 

 not abundant, however, while the ground was broken and the forest 

 difficult to penetrate. The terrible snake known as the " fer-de-lance " 

 was far too common here to make it agreeable, and several very nar- 

 row escapes from being bitten by it were had, so that taking it alto- 

 gether collecting was no easy matter. 



After returning from Las Vegas camp was established at Minca for 

 two weeks, and all the slopes between 1,500 and 2,500 feet were worked 

 systematically. Two hundred and fifty specimens were taken here, 

 but the heavy rains coming on interfered with getting the best results. 

 From July 6 to August 3 work was done at Cincinnati, San Lorenzo, 

 and in the vicinity of Mamatoco, nearly three hundred specimens be- 

 ing secured and numerous forms new to the collection added, while 

 many loose ends of distribution were caught up. 



On August 6 a trip was made to Fundacion, in company with Dr. 

 Ruthven, Mr. Gaige, and Professor Pearse of the University of 

 Michigan party. Two weeks were spent here, with splendid results. 

 It proved to be a very rich and interesting field, and many species were 

 secured which had not hitherto been recorded from the region in gen- 

 eral. Four hundred specimens were collected, and birds were found 

 not only numerous in species but also abundant in individuals, while 

 such a diversity of ecological conditions as prevailed here was one 

 seldom encountered. 



Upon returning from Fundacion some time was spent in looking 

 for special forms in the vicinity of Mamatoco, Bonda, and Gaira, aftef 

 which, on September 25, a trip was made to the Cienaga Grande, with 

 the idea of getting as complete a knowledge as possible of its denizens. 

 The party embarked from Pueblo Viejo (near Cienaga) in a big 

 " bonga " or dugout canoe, with a smaller canoe in tow for shooting 

 purposes. The first stop was made at Punto Caiman, where camp was 

 pitched on the narrow strip of sand-beach separating the sea from the 

 Cienasra. All fresh water had to be brought in kegs from a small 



