366 Natural History Bulletin. 



tains nowhere approaching the river. Mountainous country 

 may however be reached by following any of the larger tribu- 

 taries of the San Juan, particularly on the Costa Rica side. 



The bed of the San Juan is mostly muddy in its upper 

 course above the Toro Rapids, rocky in the middle portions, 

 and sandy below. The hills and valley are everywhere cov- 

 ered with vegetation of the same character as that at Castillo, 

 though almost no large trees are found along the river below 

 Ochoa, the vegetation in this part forming low tangles. Nu- 

 merous species of palms predominate, particularly on the low- 

 lands, and their great feathery leaves, often 45 feet in length, 

 sometimes line the shore for miles. The same bewildering 

 mass of vegetation however greets the eyes of the naturalist 

 everywhere, and causes him to long for more time and better 

 opportunities to delve more deeply into the matchless riches 

 which Nature has so lavishly bestowed upon this long-known 

 and yet comparatively unexplored region. 



The San Juan valley is rather sparsely settled. Compara- 

 tively few plantations are found along the river, and Castillo 

 is the only village between Greytown and San Carlos. There 

 is consequently but little change in the natural features of the 

 country, and the ambitious naturahst would find it well worth 

 the time and trouble to fully investigate this region which 

 still retains its virgin purity untainted by civilization. 



San Juan del Norte. 



San Juan del Norte, or Greytown, was reached in the even- 

 ing on the 24th of March, after a two days' voyage from 

 Castillo. As no steamer was to leave for Bluefields until the 

 2nd or 3rd of April the party again located at the Canal Con- 

 struction Company's headquarters in America, two niiles 

 north of Greytown. The first two days were spent in mak- 

 ing observations on the great canal, and in studying local 

 plants and collecting Molluscs and Insects. 



Greytown is located at the mouth of the San Juan River on 

 the left bank of the San Juan branch. Its immediate vicinity, 



