1917.1 . Chapman, Distribution of Bird-life in Colombia. 29 



At 9000 feet we secured a specimen of Myiohorus chrysops, the first 

 indication of an eastern slope fauna, and the following day it was found to be 

 abundant on the Tochecito. At Laguneta, distant only three hours by 

 mule from Salento, the bird-life had completely changed. The Subtropical 

 species were left behind and in their places such characteristic Temperate 

 Zone birds as Semimerula gigas gigantodes, Atlapetes schistaceus, and Psitto- 

 spiza riefferi were seen commonly by the wayside. 



After crossing the Divide (11,500 ft.) the descent toward Volcancito 

 is through a country from which the forest has been recently cut, but the 

 evidence indicated that it had covered the mountain sides, as at a distance 

 from the trail it still does. 



About 1000 feet below the summit wax palms (discovered on the Quindio 

 Trail by Humboldt and Bonpland in 1801) were first encountered and 

 these stately trees, in scattered groups or densely growing masses, were the 

 most abundant aboreal form, from this point to the Toche River. They 

 attained a height of at least 180 feet and were of especial interest to us as the 

 home of the fine Yellow-eared Parrot {Ogonorhynchus icterotis). In places 

 nearly every palm was occupied by a pair of these birds whose nest-holes 

 opened just below the lowest leaves. 



The trail now descends by steep zig-zags to the Tochecito River (alt. 

 9000 ft.), a rushing mountain stream some ten feet in width with banks 

 bordered by a luxuriant undergrowth and some small parasite-covered 

 trees. Beyond these banks the mountain sides were covered with wax- 

 palms with some bushy lower growth. Birds were not numerous. 



Essentially similar conditions exist to the Toche Valley (7100 ft.) of 

 which a most impressive view is obtained from a point on the trail, at least 

 2000 feet above it. To the right the eye follows the course of the beautiful 

 foaming Rio Toche, here about eighty feet in width, the home of Torrent 

 Ducks (Merganetta columbiana) and Ousels (Cinclus leuconotus); to the left 

 at some distance, the floor of the valley is covered with a heavy forest 

 growth which, unfortunately, we have not explored. Specimens of wide- 

 ranging, plastic species taken at this point are, as might be expected, refer- 

 al)le to the Magdalena Valley, rather than Cauca Valley form. 



We had now returned to the Subtropical Zone. There is a small settle- 

 ment on the Toche and from this point onward to Ibagiie the country border- 

 ing the trail is, or has been, largely under cultivation. Sniall patches of 

 the original forest growth were found at intervals, notably near El Eden, 

 but the work of man near the trail and heavy clouds which often obscured 

 all but the immediate landscape, made it difficult to gain a very clear idea 

 of primitive conditions over this part of the trail, though distant mountain 

 sides generally appeared to be wooded. 



