136 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiv. 
This northorti coast of Venezuela is noted for its heat. The tropi- 
cal sun beats upon it without mercy, and where water fails the aspect 
of the country is that of a desert. The littoral plain near La Guaira, 
where not watered by the acequiax^ or irrigation trenches, which bring 
the water from high up on the courses of the mountain streams, is 
parched and dusty, and given over to Agaves, Cacti of various kinds 
[Ojxnitta^ (Jereui<^ Jfelocaefns), and to a sage-brush-like plant (Zr(^;?i«7?r/) 
of characteristic odor. But wherever water can be obtained the plain 
assumes a most fertile and flourishing character. Such is the condi- 
tion at Macuto, three miles east of La Guaira. Still farther to the 
east, some seven miles from La Guaira, a large stream comes down a 
fair-sized valle3\ Before debouching upon the plain, its water is all 
carried ofl" to the right and left by the accqulas, and used to operate 
sugar mills and afterwards to irrigate wide fields of cane. 
1\\ what might he called the delta of these two aceqtuas lies the little 
straggling village of Caraballeda, and a short distance up in the mouth 
of the valley itself are some dozen scattered huts, the group bearing 
the name of San Julian, 
Immediately back of the littoral plain there rises to about 50(> feet a 
first row of red-clay foothills of the same character of vegetation as 
the plain. Behind these foothills, and springing almost from their 
tops, rise the mountains proper, and these latter are more or less well 
wooded, but are too steep and rough to aflford collecting ground. On 
their southern aspect these mountains appear to be wooded only in the 
folds, while the ridges are covered with coarse grasses. 
The western slopes of the San Julian Valley, although precipitous, 
have been cleared where it was possible for the peons to climb, and 
have been planted with coffee; but as the coffee plants require shade, 
fruit trees of several kinds have been set out, so that the hills may 
still be said to be wooded. About three miles up the valle}^ the virgin 
forest is encountered. 
Owing to several causes of uncertainty the trip could not be decided 
upon until the last minute, and less than a week was available for 
preparation. As a consequence there were some deficiencies in the 
outfit, notably in the number of Schuyler rat killers, the trap which 
was found to be b\' far the most useful. 
Sailing from New York on June 21, the writers reached La Guaira 
on the morning of July 1. 
Ten days spent in collecting in the vicinity resulted in but slight 
success, owing partly to a week's delay in getting guns through the 
custom-house, partly to the apparent scarcity of mammalian life, and 
partly to the prevailing drought and to poor luck at trapping. For- 
tunately a portion of the outfit was a cane gun, which escaped the 
notice of the customs officials, and with which a number of bats and 
small birds were secured. 
