40 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



more open. In such a region grasses are not found in such great abun- 

 dance, since only a few grow under these conditions. The most com- 

 mon grass is Ichnanthus lanceolatus Scribn. & Smith, which occurs 

 nearly everywhere and is in some places the only grass to be found. 

 In the very dense brush toward the central part of Cozumel Island 

 even this is wanting — there is almost no ground covering of any 

 kind. As if to make up for this lack, the trees are covered with lichens, 

 liverworts, and mosses. Most of the grasses are therefore to be found 

 along the roads and trails, in cultivated ground, in the few open 

 places in the brush, and along the coast. 



Henequin and corn are the principal products of Yucatan. The 

 former is grown on large plantations in the western part of the state. 

 The fiber is the chief export and largest source of income. In contrast 

 to the henequin plantations are the " milpas " or cornfields of the Maya 

 people. These are located far from villages and commonly traveled 

 trails to avoid the ravages of live stock. The method of cultivation is 

 very simple. The brush is first cut down and allowed to dry. Toward 

 the end of the dry season it is fired and the ashes used for fertilizer. 

 At the beginning of the wet season the corn is planted in small holes 

 made with a stick. Nothing else is done except to cut the weeds off 

 once during the season. In many places no other cultivation would be 

 possible as the soil forms only a thin layer over the rocks. What soil 

 there is, however, is of good quality and the corn grows very well. 

 Beans are usually planted with the corn. 



The flame tree or flamboyant, Delonix regia (Boj.) Raf. (Poinci- 

 ana regia), early introduced into the American Tropics from Mada- 

 gascar, is found in many of the towns and villages. Its scarlet or 

 flame-colored flowers in large clusters are very striking. 



A small native tree frequently found is Byrsonima crassi folia (L.) 

 DC, the fruits of which are very much relished by the Mayas. They 

 have a very pungent odor and were not at all to my liking, tasting to 

 me very much like sour milk. 



The insects which one usually expects to find in the Tropics were 

 very few. For the most part mosquito nets were not necessary and 

 were seldom used at night. The one exception was at Tancah, where 

 numerous tiny insects continually flew around our faces but did not 

 cause very much discomfort. 



Collections were made at Chichen Itza, Tizimin, Uxmal, Muna, 

 Peto, and Progreso in the state of Yucatan, and at Lake Chichen- 

 canab, called Chancabnab by the natives, Cozumel Island, and Tancah 

 in the state of Quintana Roo. A collection of more than 2.000 speci- 

 mens was made on the two trips. 



