Supplement. 



During- the summer of 1920 the junior author, in company with 

 Prof. Alexander G. Ruthven of the University of Michigan, was able 

 to make a reconnoissance of the valley region east and south of the 

 Sierra Nevada, heretofore unworked by any other collector save 

 Simons. Although birds were not the main object of this expedition, 

 one hundred and one specimens were actually collected between July 

 I4'and August 8, all of which are duly listed under the head of the 

 various species represented. Many others were, shot for identification, 

 but not preserved, while the list of species observed at the several lo- 

 calities visited has added many new records of value in working out 

 the distribution of certain species. Mr. Carriker's account of this 

 trip, although arriving too late to be incorporated in the introduction, 

 but containing as it does so much of importance on the physical and 

 faunal aspects of the country, is of such interest that we propose to 

 quote it at some length. It is entitled " Description of the Route from 

 Rio Hacha to Fundacion, skirting the south side of the Sierra Nevada." 



" After leaving Rio Hacha the road continues over dry sandy wastes, 

 either level or very slightly rolling, the vegetation consisting of 

 thorny scrub and cacti, with scattering trees of medium size and of 

 wide-branching character, nearly all of which are of acacia-like types^ 

 or else deciduous varieties, such as characterize the ' dry forest ' of 

 the semi-arid coast lands around Santa Marta. This type of vegeta- 

 tion continues unbroken until the Rio Camarones is reached at Barba- 

 coas, which is merely a collection of a half-dozen miserable huts. 

 Before reaching this point, and just at the edge of the flood-plain of 

 the river, is a cattle-ranch and travellers' station called Arroya de 

 Arenas, where the first stop was made, some collecting done, and many 

 observations taken. An accident to one of my hands prevented the 

 preparation of many skins here, but a complete record was made of all 

 species observed. There is little change in the avifauna here from 

 that of Rio Hacha, except for the presence of certain species found 

 in the forest of the flood-plain, and in the heavier woodland of the 

 hills to the westward. From the coast to this point there is a gradual 



577 



