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NATURALIST'S GUIDE TO THE AMERICAS 



extensive fringes of Heliconias, with 

 areas of large-plumed grasses (Gyne- 

 rium) and clumps of bamboo. 



Near the chief rivers are large areas 

 of swamps and lagoons, from which 

 during seasons of high water are derived 

 the large "rafts" of Pistia (water let- 

 tuce) and Piaropus (water hyacinth) 

 which become so conspicuous on the 

 Magdalena itself. 



There are 24 kinds of birds known to 

 be restricted to the Magdalena-Sinu 

 Forest, the bird-life of which is mostly 

 shared with the Choc6 Forest to the west 

 and the Maracaibo and other forests 

 to the east. 



"The mammals are much as in the 

 Choc6 Forest, being those of general 

 distribution in tropical rain forests of 

 all South America. Practically all are 

 derived from the eastward, but some 

 important Amazonian forms are absent, 

 especially among the monkeys." 



This region is one of heavy to moder- 

 ate rainfall, occurring mostly in a rainy 

 season lasting from April to December 

 or with a break in August. From 

 December to May may occur periods of 

 showers or periods without rain. 



Only near the chief towns has this 

 forest been cleared. 



The Magdalena portion of the Magda- 

 lena-Sinii Forest may be readily studied 

 from Puerto Berrio, the most important 

 port of the middle Magdalena, the 

 transfer-point from the steamer to the 

 railroad westward to Medellin. Al- 

 though in malarial country Puerto 

 Berrio has one of the safest and best 

 hotels in Colombia, being thoroughly 

 screened. Caceres on the Rio Cauca 

 and Ayapel on the Rio San Jorge may 

 be reached by steamers from the Magda- 

 lena river-port of Magangue". The Sinu 

 portion of this forest may be reached 

 by steamer from Cartagena, the boat 

 running to the town of Monteria (except 

 in the low water of March and April 

 when it stops at Lorica), and from Mon- 

 teria launch or dug-out canoes may be 

 arranged for transportation upstream 

 into the forest. 



3. Maracaibo Forest. "Heavy tropi- 



cal forest" exists in the southern part 

 of the Maracaibo Basin, including the 

 lower valley of the Rio Catatumbo in 

 northeastern Colombia. Beside the 

 statement of Vergara y Velasco that the 

 vegetation is profuse and gigantic, I 

 have seen no description of the Colom- 

 bian portion of this forest. The region 

 is especially humid. 



Rainfall here occurs throughout the 

 year, although most severely from May 

 to October. 



The Colombian portion of this forest 

 may be visited from Ciicuta, to be 

 reached by boat from Maracaibo, 

 Venezuela, up the Rio Catatumbo and 

 Rio Zulia to Puerto Villamizar, Vene- 

 zuela, thence by railroad to Cucuta, 

 Colombia. 



4. Caquetd Forest. The great eastern 

 lowland of Colombia from about the 

 course of the Rio Guaviare southward, 

 thus embracing the whole of the Amazo- 

 nian drainage-area, is covered with a 

 dense "sea" of forest. This is the 

 northwestern portion of the vast Amazo- 

 nian forest, which, judging by luxuriance 

 as well as extent, may be counted the 

 greatest forest-area of the world. The 

 Colombian portion has been described 

 by Rice and by Miller. 



The Caqueta Forest is a heavy rain- 

 forest, although the climate is scarcely 

 so humid as that of the Choc6 Forest 

 of the Pacific coast. The essential 

 composition and aspect of the Caquetd, 

 Forest doubtless accords with that of 

 the Choco, but this immense area should 

 be found to be richer throughout in the 

 variety of its forms of life. In looking 

 from any elevation one is impressed 

 with the seemingly infinite variety of 

 tree-outlines and of shades of green. 

 Huge ceibas and other trees raise pyra- 

 midal or dome-like crowns above their 

 fellows. Of lesser size trees of the 

 Rubiaceae, Leguminosae and Melasto- 

 maceae are common. Palms occur in 

 variety, but chiefly along water-courses. 

 Within the dense forest-shade is an 

 undergrowth of low palms, Carludovicas 

 and other leafy plants. Lianas abound, 

 with numerous Araceae, Sapindaceae 



