TF ERN-HUNTING IN PANAMA 9 
April and May three or four hard showers occurred 
each week. The ferns were naturally affected to a 
certain extent. Between September and December the - 
epiphytic species of Polypodium, Elaphoglossum, Dry- 
opteris, Asplenium, and Trichomanes were at their 
best, December being the month of their maximum 
fertility. During the dry season these shriveled up 
completely, and by the middle of March scarcely one 
could be seen. Of terrestrial ferns the more delicate 
species of Adiantum and Anemia followed a similar 
course. Hardier Adiantums and the bulk of the other 
ferns seemed to be in good condition throughout the 
eight months, new fronds continually unfolding to take 
the place of the dying ones. A number of species 
seemed to attain a certain development toward the 
close of the rainy season, remain “‘passive’’ during the 
dry season, and rebegin their growth with the first 
rains of April. 
THE CHAGRES RIVER 
The Chagres is the most important river in Panama, 
rising in the eastern part of the Republic (the Darien 
country), running west through the center of the Isth- 
mus, bending to the north in the Canal Zone and enter- 
ing the Atlantic to the west of the Canal entrance. 
The building of the dam at Gatun caused this river 
to overflow, forming Gatun Lake, the flooded area 
reaching Gatuncillo some ten miles up the original 
valley above the channel of the Canal. Above this 
point the river resumes its natural size, and its course 
lies through dense tropical jungles from the upper 
regions which man has seldom visite 
Through the kindness of Giisials of the Panama 
Canal, a party of us (all botanists, two being members 
of the American Fern Society) had placed at our dis- 
posal the Hydrographic Station at Ahlajuela, some ten 
miles above Gatuncillo. In the two days spent here 
