24 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



Before entering upon any appreciation of Simons' work as an 

 ornithologist we propose to insert at this point a quotation from his 

 descriptive paper " On the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta and its 

 Watershed," hecause of its interest in this connection. After speak- 

 ing here of the snow conditions in the Sierra Nevada, apparent and 

 actual, he goes on to say : " The most picturesque view of the Nevada 

 is certainly from the sea ; I shall never forget the first glimpse I caught 

 of it, while crossing from Curacao to Rio Hacha in a Dutch schooner. 

 A glorious tropical sunset had tinged the fantastical line of snowy 

 needles a delicate rose colour, while, lower down, the many interesting 

 ramifications stood out distinctly in a fine glow of purple on a dark 

 blue base. From the many points in the interior where the higher 

 portion is visible, the view of the Nevada is decidedly what the Amer- 

 icans would call ' mean,' and I was rather surprised at finding a 

 general belief among the country people that the sprinkling of snow 

 was in reality chalk. 



" After several vain attempts I was enabled last year definitely to 

 determine the exact height of the Sierra Nevada. Provided with a 

 complete set of WoUaston's boiling-water apparatus and aneroids, 

 kindly supplied me by this Society, besides my own instruments, I set 

 out from San Sebastian, accompanied by three Indians and their fam- 

 ilies, on the 1st of August. The four of us were mounted on Indian 

 horses, the women and children following pn foot, and driving bul- 

 locks laden with a fortnight's provisions, as little can be had in the 

 high regions. These horses are wonderful climbers and as sure footed 

 as mules, going up and down the worst places without the least trouble ; 

 wearing no bit, they feed as they go along, and often, if the start 

 is to be early the next morning, are kept tied up without food all 

 night ; they never taste Indian corn nor any other grain. The Indians 

 dislike donkeys, and will have nothing to do with mules, although they 

 breed them sometimes. The Arhuaco Indian is not a good horseman; 

 on a journey he always wears some ten to twelve gaily coloured bags 

 full of dainties, which make mounting a difficult task, for the saddle of 

 course gets its share of bags, too, and the help of a large stone is 

 necessary to assist him up. We travelled very slowly, stopping at 

 every convenient shelf or resting place in the ascent to readjust saddles, 

 and overhaul the contents of these mysterious bags, as the Indians, 

 when they can, indulge in a dozen or so meals in a day. 



