156 



BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 



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races, or mesa-like summits, are seen ; the topog- 

 raphy is sharp and jagged, and the coast line ab- 

 rupt. It was apparent that the study of plains 

 and level surfaces, which are of such aid to the 

 physical geologist, were to be of secondary import 

 in this land. With the exception of the cocoanut 

 palms along the shore line, the thick matted vege- 

 tation reminded one of the green hills of New 

 England. 



Our steamer closely follows the shore, giving us a 

 good view of Puerto Bello Bay (see Fig. 1) and the 

 village of Punta Gordo. The coast line is straight 

 until the indentations of Las Minas and Nava Bay 

 are reached. 



The thousands of steep slopes and drainage val- 

 leys of the adjacent land, together with the enor- 

 mous rainfall (over 150 inches a year), all attest 

 that great erosion is in progress, and that the 

 streams are carrying tons of sediment to the ocean. 

 Yet in passing this coast the absence of deltas or 

 other visible evidence of the accumulation of great 

 sediments from the adjacent land at once strikes 

 the beholder. 



Soon we enter the quadrangular Nava Bay, which 

 is an inlet into the coast line, squarely pointed at 

 the sea by Toro and Manzauilla Points, the latter 

 being the northeast corner of the small island upon 

 which Colon is situated. 



Upon my arrival at the Isthmus I was cordially 

 received and afforded unusual facilities by the offi- 

 cers of the Panama Railway Company for studying 

 the geology of the section along their line and that 

 of the canal. Had it not been for the untiring 

 accommodation of these gentlemen, the work I 

 accomplished would have required many months of 

 hard labor. 



To Colonel A. L. Rives, Superintendent of the 

 Panama Railroad, I am especially indebted for 

 assistance, as well as to all the many employees, 

 especially Mr. G. A. Cunningham, Roadmaster and 

 Civil Engineer of the line. My thanks are also due 



