123 
graceful of plants; of Gesneriads of many kinds; of long- 
tubed Thibaudia and other Vaccinaceae; of high-climbing Oxalis 
and the gorgeous vine Bomarea. Here I saw my first Fagelia 
(or Calceolaria), and also the curious Scrophular. riacea ee 
ink 
saw here. Especially on the eastern slopes are several species 
of Cinchona. uch moss occurs; and on other mountains, 
which because of local onion the fog clouds steadily 
cover, the bloom is much less, a growth of moss and ferns 
covering fae the ground and all tree-limbs. The crest of 
the Cordillera here is under 2,500 meters altitude, so we 
encountered ie forest to the summit. 
“Balsillas”’ proved to be an estate of several square miles 
cleared from the forest on the icp course eo the Ss io eee 
On several maps this stream i 
the Amazonian system, but where we saw Aa it was ec 
northeastward and we were assured that its waters would even- 
tually reach the Orinoco. ‘“‘ Balsillas"’ is at an altitude of only 
PAS 
h the finest 
stock seen in Colombia, and that strangely enough the chief 
pasturage, and that carefully imported, was our common bitter- 
dock, Rumex obtusifolius. 
expedition from “ Balsillas'’ was particularly successful. 
This was toa natural opening in the forest, a veritable sphagnum- 
us 
On the were terrestrial orchids (probably Epidendrum), 
Monnina, Berberis, Juncus, iocaulaceae, Tofieldia 
(?), and a curious Cas: e have from it a large collection 
of specimens as indeed from the whole of the ‘‘ Balsillas"’ trip. 
Ours is the first botanical expedition which has crossed the 
Cordillera here. 
A ride from Neiva down the Magdalena by “balsa” was a most 
enjoyable experience. Our raft, made of light eee had 
arch of banana leaves, all was cool and pleasant. [ takes little 
