THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 3 



On approach from the sea the general appearance of the island is 

 rough and mountainous, broken hills bulking high on the horizon, 

 and though there are extensive coastal and interior plains in travel 

 by land one is continually climbing over ranges of hills, often by 

 trails that are steep and difficult. 



Beginning at the north, the Cordillera Septentrional, or northern 

 mountain system, arises in low, arid, rocky hills near Monte Cristi, 

 and extends southeastward about 200 kilometers roughly parallel 

 to the northern coast to terminate finally at the marshy area known 

 as El Gran Estero between Matanzas and Rivas at the head of 

 Samana Bay. The highest points in this range are north of San- 

 tiago where some of the peaks are reported to rise from 1,000 to 

 1,400 meters above sea level. Toward the east these hills become pro- 

 gressively better watered until on Loma Quita Espuela, northeast 

 of San Francisco de Macoris, the rainfall is extremely heavy and 

 there is abundant forest. 



The estero just mentioned is low and marshy and has evidently 

 at one time cut off what is now the Samana Peninsula as a separate 

 island. It has been filled in by silt borne by the Rio Yuna, and 

 it is said that channels communicate through its marshy expanse 

 between the lower Yuna, which flows into Samana Bay, and the 

 Atlantic Ocean. The Samana Peninsula which is about 50 kilometers 

 long by 11 or 12 kilometers broad is traversed by a range of hills 

 that rise to an average elevation of about 500 meters, the summit 

 of Loma Las Cafiitas at Sanchez being 514 meters above sea level. 

 The hills, heavily forested with trees 15 to 25 meters high, are dis- 

 posed in three parallel ridges with low depressions between, in 

 which there are occasional small lakes, the Laguna de Rancho 

 Fabian on the trail between Sanchez and Las Terrenas being 100 

 meters long by 75 meters wide. 



To the south of the Cordillera Septentrional lies the great Cibao 

 Valley that extends across from Manzanillo Bay near Monte Cristi 

 to Samana Bay. The western portion is traversed by the Rio Yaque 

 del Norte which heads finally in the great mountain system of the 

 interior of the Dominican Republic beyond Jarabacoa. In its west- 

 ern portion the Cibao Valley is dry and arid and has great stretches 

 grown with cacti that form veritable jungles. Near Monte Cristi 

 considerable areas are cultivated under irrigation. Toward the east 

 the valley becomes progressively better watered until beyond San- 

 tiago it is known as the Vega Real, where rainfall is abundant and 

 rich and valuable crops are grown. This area is traversed by the Rio 

 Yuna and its principal tributary the Camii which carry waters from 

 the central mountains as well as those that come to them in the 

 valley. To the eastward the Vega Real becomes lower, until at 



