72 
genus, is low with widely spreading branches, and in many 
respects so different from the true catalpas that it could properly 
be regarded as a distinct genus. Calcyophyllum, a tall tree 
related to Cinchona, is rather abundant in this region and is 
of special interest from the structure of its flowers, one of the 
calyx-lobes being expanded into a large white structure, the 
other four being small and inconspicuous. 
Through the further aid of Mr. Jennings 5. Cox, we were 
enabled to study the vegetation in the vicinity of the mines at 
El Cuero near Nima-Nima, west of Santiago. A schooner was 
chartered for this expedition and we were cordially received 
and hospitably entertained at El Cuero by Mr. S. A. Barratt, 
superintendent. Here we studied the flora of the coastal hills 
and on horses ascended into the mountains, reaching an altitude 
of over 1,500 feet, where we found an extensive area of pine- 
lands with an associated flora of great interest and variety. 
A fine small-flowered Begonia and a striking scarlet-flowered 
Gesneria inhabit rocky stream banks. A shrub of the heath 
family related to our privet-andromeda, profusely covered 
with clusters of white, fragrant, urn-shaped flowers, was an 
object of great interest and beauty on the hillsides. Several 
rare ferns grow in the wet ravines; the boundaries of the pine- 
lands are sharply delimited, the pines occupying certain hills 
to the exclusion of other trees. We found that this region 
would make a favorable camping base for expeditions to much 
higher altitudes of the Sierra Maestra which are as yet little 
known botanically, and I hope that such exploration may be 
accomplished in the future. 
Both going to El Cuero and returning, we stopped at Cabafias 
Bay, a beautiful landlocked harbor, and made collections along 
its shores and along the adjacent seacoast. Here we were 
enabled to study to great advantage one of the most peculiar 
of the Cuban cactuses, the tall prickly-pear (Opuntia macracantha), 
a fine colony of which exists on a rocky bench about a mile east 
of the harbor entrance. This plant has an erect trunk up to 
15 feet high, crowned at the top with numerous nearly hori- 
zontal, jointed, flat branches bearing small yellowish flowers. 
