﻿NO. 7 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I926 



loS 



often in abundance, of a considerable number of ferns known 

 ])reviously only from the higher ])eaks to the westward at nearly 

 twice the altitude. One day was given also to collecting in the isolated 

 John Crow range, at a point opposite Mill Rank. The period of three 

 weeks spent in exploring from House Hill was exceedingly produc- 

 tive, and thanks are gratefully tendered to the owner, Mr. C. E. 

 Randall, and his family, for much cordial assistance, without which 

 the work could scarcely have been carried out. 



In the latter part of June Dr. Maxon joined a party of botanists 

 at Abbey Green, a famous coffee property at about 4,000 feet, which 



Fic. 113. — A "close-up interior" of tropical rain forest Portland Gap. The 

 ferns shown (Ela/^ho(/li>ssuin) have simple stiff leaves, in strong contra t to 

 the more usual lacy kinds. 



had been leased by Prof. Duncan S. Johnson, of The Johns Hopkins 

 University, and from this point, which lies 1,500 feet below Portland 

 Gap, carried out intensive exploration of the higher peaks and ridges. 

 Of especial interest was the ascent of Mossman's Peak (about 6,400 

 feet), lying just west of Portland Gap and hitherto unexplored, and 

 the collection of large series of specimens upon the eastern and 

 southwestern slopes of the mountain and at a high pass to the 

 westward, known locally as " Main Ridge Gap."' This whole upper 

 region is densely forested and extremely humid. Fortunately a 

 comparative drought prevailed at the time, allowing almost continuous 

 work, and many rare and little known ferns were collected in quantity. 

 In a deep pocket on the northeastern slope of Mossman's, filmy ferns 



