BIRD LIFE IN THE UEUBAMBA VALLEY OF PERU. 19 



Well down in the Occobamba Valley, at a point where the forested country meets 

 the grassy uplands, we established our camp, at a spot called Tocopoqueyu The 

 camp was pitched in one of the terraced fields on the west bank of the creek, at an 

 altitude of 9,100 feet. During our sojourn here in July the weather v/as bright and 

 warm during the day and cool at night, but seldom bitter or windy. The country has 

 a peculiar pliysical aspect, owing to one side of the valley, the eastern, being clothed 

 by a dense forest, and the opposite, or western, being the very antithesis; that is, 

 grass-covered and dry in character. The forest edge ia definitely bound by the stream 

 margin, which is lined by a growth of alder and willow trees. The alders here form 

 a considerable part of the forest, and such as are found growing at a distance from the 

 stream have widespread crowns and a grayish appearance seldom seen in riverside 

 trees. Other forest trees are Eugenias, or cloves, Escallonias, and a large bay tree of 

 the genus Alyrica. Bamboo, as usual, forms a dense undergrowth in the forest. 



The direction and constancy of the prevailing winds here seem to offer an explana- 

 tion for the extraordinary difference in vegetation on opposite sides of the valley. 

 The moist breezes coming up the valley from the hot lower montana country are mist- 

 laden and confined to the eastern side, along which the mist hangs, leaving the western 

 side open, sunny, and dry. The fauna partakes of this divided character also, the 

 forested side being the haunts of such marsupials as Griolestes, Peramys, the pygmy 

 opossum, DidelpJm, and many species of forest rodents. On the west side we find 

 white-tailed deer, coyotes, skunks, and rodents peculiar to the grassy Andean Zone. 

 The country rock is granite, cliffs of which are exposed for several miles on the western 

 side. (PI. 2.) 



Heller Expodition, July 23-Aug. 2, 1915. 



Toronto!/ (altitude 8,000 feet, Subtropical Zone). — In descending 

 the Urubamba Canyon the upper limit of the Subtropical Zone is 

 encountered at Torontoy where the first evidences of forest are seen. 

 Cactus, acacia, and other xerophytic forms are replaced by begonias 

 and bananas and plantains, and such typical subtropical birds as 

 TJiamnopMIus melanochrous , HenicorJiina I. leucopJirys and Myiohorus 

 m. melanocepJialus soon became common. The Chapman Expedition 

 camped at Astillero a short distance below the settlement of Torontoy 

 where the growth is more luxuriant than at Torontoy. (Pi. 5.) 

 Heller's observations are appended: 



At the entrance to the canyon of the Urubamba stands Torontoy, once an important 

 Inca stronghold. To-day we find a collection of Quichua huts set in the unlovely 

 en\ironment of pig wallows, and the aliiding places of mules, goats, chickens, dogs, and 

 other domestic creatures. Fields of maize cling to the steep sidehills on both sides of 

 the valley, and above these extend the grass-covered slopes on which the herds graze. 

 The altitude at Torontoy is approximately 8,000 feet, and the climate is mild and 

 pleasant. Part of the year, December to May, is rainy, but much of the time there is 

 fine, dry weather, without the fog conditions which prevail on the higher forested 

 ranges guarding the valley. The rock formation is largely granite of a light grajdsh 

 color. Cliffs of this material are seen bordering the river at various places, but the 

 greater part of the country is grass-covered or else forested. 



The Urubamba Valley at Torontoy is a deep V-shaped gorge some 3,000 or 4,000 

 feet deep, narrowing into a canyon immediately below this point. The scenery 

 throughout the district is bold and carried out on a grand scale. Beyond the confining 

 ridges of the valley occasional glimpses of snowy peaks, which mark the main Cordil- 

 leras of the Andes, may be obtained. 



