1868) OPEN LETTERS 365 
leside streams. It is upon the fruit of this and other wild figs that pigs, peccaries, 
ami monkeys, largely subsist. The most common oak here is Quercus Germana, 
which bears acorns twoinches long. Dendropanax arboreus, symmetrical in form, and 
tearing attractive foliage and fruits, is one of the most interesting trees here; and 
Benar } i i m 
_ fapsof the thickets covering the river banks, and here we first see clumps of a giant 
, in each clump five to ten stalks, every stalk four to six inches thick, a grace- 
- filly spreading plume twenty to forty feet high. Scattered palm trees soon appear, 
aSwe near Rascon we are running through a forest of palms, straight, slender 
- shafts, thirty feet high, bearing heads of broad leaves. Beyond Rascon, as far as 
Micos, are more palm forests and bamboos, and rivers and swamps and jungles, alter- 
tating with open meadows, which lead back between hills whose sides are covere 
_ Mthoaks. Meadows and glades and mountain tops—all are deer parks; and the 
Metican tiger, the puma, prowls through the less frequented wilds of ail this region. 
e On every hand is rich and inviting botanizing ground in an unbroken 
virgin forest, 
__ lasCanoas is reached from Tampico on the Gulf coast. Tampico is 
: ached by line of steamers from Galveston, New Orleans, New York, and 
pean ports. Leaving Tampico at 6:00 A.M., Rascon (116 miles dis- 
ant) is reached at 11:20 A.M.; Las Canoas, 144 miles distant from Tampico, 
41:35 P.M; and Cardenas, where the mountain engines are taken off, at 
i “elevation of 4500 feet, 158 miles distant, at 2:20 P.M. From Rascon to 
ky 8 (42 miles) an ascent is made of 3500 feet. The Tampico branch of 
se ‘xiean Central railroad, passing through San Luis Potosi, makes con: 
ction with the main line at Chicalote. The region tributary to cima 
: ie to San Luis Potosi has been visited by Mr. C. G. Pringle, so 
~erican and European herbaria are well supplied with the representa- 
Plants of the region, : 
4 More inviting district is within easy access of the American botant 
‘tad, ne, tributary to the Tampico branch of the Mexican Central rai 
egg temporary station could be established here at very little expense 
“irgin forest would supply enough botanical material for years to 
Joun W, HARSHBERGER, University of Pennsylvania. 
st 
le 
