120 
much larger number, on the other hand, seemed to be localized 
to a remarkable degree. In order to find a second time a certain 
species of fungus, we might have to return, for instance, to one 
spot on the island. 
During practically the whole of our sojourn, we had the ser- 
vices of a young graduate of the Agricultural College at Maya- 
guez, Mr. I. Oliver, who rendered us indispensable service as in- 
terpreter, guide, and general assistant. Both in Mayagtiez and 
in Martin Pefia, we fitted up a laboratory for pressing our speci- 
mens and for preliminary study with the compound microscope. 
We examined critically with the microscope nearly every collec- 
tion, only those in good condition being retained. Of the total 
of 700 numbers of parasitic fungi collected altogether, about 500 
were rust fungi. Professor Arthur, the eminent rust specialist, 
who came to New York for a preliminary examination of our col- 
lections, has pronounced several of these undoubtedly new to 
science. Of the 200 or so other sorts of fungi collected, the great 
majority are members of the Ascomycetes, or sac-fungi, a group 
in which Professor Whetzel takes special interest. We also 
brought back many bottles of material designed for further 
microscopic examination, which will require prolonged studies 
finally to solve the various scientific problems connected with 
them. 
Such a trip as this has proved exceedingly stimulating. It fur- 
nished for us both our first sight of the tropics. Barring a couple 
of cases of very disagreeable poisoning by a plant, Comocladia, 
which belongs to the same family to which our poison ivy belongs, 
and some digestive troubles induced, in all probability, by bad 
drinking water or poor food, we kept in splendid physical condi- 
tion for the strenuous work. Again and again we proved the 
wisdom of scientific men working thus in groups, for besides 
thus being able to cover much more ground, we found that our 
knowledge of forms often needed to be supplemented by points 
which the other member of the party had to offer. Our work 
would have been still further simplified if a specialist in flower- 
ing plants had been along. 
After our return to New York on the steamer Brazos, on May 
I, we spent ten days or so at the herbarium of the New York 
