298 Alexander G. Ruthven, 



It will be Seen from tlie above table tliat tlie summer temperature 

 is not excessively high, and that the daily ränge and Variation from 

 day to day are relatively small. 



There are two well marked seasons — the wet season from 

 July to October inclusive and the dry from November to June. 

 From January to the middle of the year we were informed that it 

 rarely rains at all. The wettest month is September. It rained on 

 twenty seven of the forty daj^s between July 10 and August 18. 

 In this season and ovving partly to the poor drainage, the streams 

 become greatly swollen, and the water accumulates everywhere 

 between the low elevations, so that there are numerous ponds. 



Vegetation. 



The region Supports the savannah tj^pe of forest and grass land 

 described by Schimpee ^) and Schomburgk. Along the streams there 

 is a luxuriant forest growth, characterized by large trees and an 

 abundance of lianes and epiphytes (Figs. 5, 6, 9). On the higher 

 ground this forest is replaced by grassy savannahs dotted witli 

 groves of stunted trees (Figs. 3, 7). These groves vary in size from 

 a few trees or bushes to tracts of woodland or thickets several 

 hectares in extent, the trees when solitary showing the umbrella 

 form described by Schimpee''^) (Fig. 7). 



Most of the Clearing that has been done on the hacienda has 

 been at the expense of the lowland forests (Fig. 6). The iields 

 are planted to cane, — about 3,000 acres in 1910. The fields are, 

 of course, kept free from other Vegetation, but the cane grows rank 

 and high so that the environmental conditions are in some respects 

 similar to those in the woods, at least as far as the grouhd-loving 

 animals are concerned (Fig. 10). They are, however, disturbed by 

 frequent cultivation, which includes cutting and burning. There is 

 evidence that the savannah grassland also represents artiflciälly 

 cleared areas (see page 302). 



The Amphibian-Reptile Fauna. 



It is hardly necessarj^ to say that the reptile-amphibian fauna 

 is South American in its afflnities, and this subject need not be 



1) Schimpee, A. F. W., Plant Geography (English Edition), 

 370—376. 



2) 1. c, p. 347. 



