FERN-HUNTING IN PANAMA il 
water, kept at approximately the same level throughout 
the year, makes this region independent of the fluctua- — 
tion of rainfall and results in a most luxuriant vegeta- 
tion. The railroad swings around the eastern shore 
of the lake, crossing the many bays on long causeways. 
As one walks along the track, one comes at frequent 
intervals upon deep pools of water with gullies extend- 
ing back from them into the hills. Floating in these 
pools are logs covered with the coarse fronds of Acros- 
tichum aureum and Dryopteris serrata, with Nephrolepis 
pectinata and various grasses and sedges intermingled 
with them. The water in the pools is from fifteen to 
twenty feet deep, so one must hack one’s way by machete 
through the dense undergrowth around the pool to 
the valley in the rear. Here ferns of all sizes and shapes 
are to be found in great profusion. Giant specimens of 
Hemitelia, Cyathea, and Dennstaedtia, slightly smaller 
examples of Tectaria, Alsophila, Diplazium, Dryop- 
teris, aes and Asplenium, tiny Polypodiums 
and “‘filmies,”’ all are there. In addition to this luxuri- 
a tropical vegetation, a series of rapids and waterfalls 
serves to make this a most picturesque and interesting 
region. At present it is at its best; the waters of the 
lake have been at their present level sufficiently long 
to produce a wonderful vegetation, while the hand of 
man, which has been clearing away the jungle on both 
sides of this region to make room for pastures, in order 
that the Canal Zone may be self-sustaining, has not 
yet touched this spot. The western side of Gatun 
Lake is undoubtedly of a similar character and will 
probably remain in its native wild state long after the 
eastern shore has felt the effect of American energy. 
Tue Paciric Enp or THE CANAL ZONE 
The small amount of rainfall at the Pacific end of 
the Zone, as compared with other parts of the Isthmus, 
