14 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 69 



backs. A strictly nocturnal note, apparently the stridulation of a 

 cricket or other orthopterous insect was heard only at this locality. 

 The note, cr-r-r-i-i-ick-it, prolonged tremulously, with a short pause 

 followed by a sharply emphasized terminal syllable was repeated 

 monotonously throughout the night. 



Investigation of the various slopes above 4,000 feet was continued 

 until May 6 when we descended to the mines with a valuable collec- 

 tion, which had been dried and maintained in that condition by a 

 camp-fire kept constantly burning. Collections were packed, and I 

 embarked on the first boat for the Canal Zone in order to insure 

 their prompt shipment to Washington and to secure much needed 

 supplies, returning to the Darien region on the same boat. May 17. 

 On May 18, the Tuyra was again ascended by canoe from Marra- 

 ganti to Boca de Cupe. The river had risen about six feet during 

 the previous night and the strong, dark flood extending from shore 

 to shore contrasted strongly with the clear, shoaly stream up which 

 my men had poled in February. On the following day the journey 

 over the tramroad to Cana was delayed at several points where cuipo 

 trees had fallen across the track. These giants of the forest have 

 comparatively short roots and their hold in the earth is obviously 

 insecure. During storms, especially in the rainy season, numbers of 

 them topple over. The wood is very soft and spongy, and a tree that 

 I chanced to see fall began crumpling in the air and landed in a 

 crushed mass at the bottom of a small canyon. 



Field work, temporarily interrupted, was resumed in the vicinity 

 of Cana, May 20. The fauna of the region, especially the birds to 

 which much attention was devoted, seemed inexhaustable. Impor- 

 tant additions to collections were made almost daily until June 13, 

 when we returned by the railroad to Boca de Cupe. A week was 

 spent at this point, where the altitude is about 250 feet, and a number 

 of lowland species of mammals and birds were secured. On June 20 

 we descended the river to Marraganti. A .few specimens were 

 obtained the next day and preparations made for embarking on the 

 steamer " Cana " for the Canal Zone, June 22. The steamer sailed 

 at 10 a. m. and made the usual stops at Chepigana and La Palma in 

 passing down the estuary. The aspect of the forest along the shores 

 had changed markedly in appearance, having assumed a brighter 

 green since the advent of the rainy season. Shortly before dark the 

 little steamer began to rock unsteadily in the confused currents of 

 San Miguel Bay, and the receding shore line was suddenly blotted 

 out by a torrential downpour of rain. We reached Panama at 



