1917.] Chapman, Distribution of Bird-life in Colombia. 33 



forest until December 2, when again they went to Cartago to make prepara- 

 tions for the crossing of the Western Andes, the most difficult journey thus 

 far undertaken. 



Cartago was left December 7, and, through a misunderstanding, the 

 journey to the San Juan Valley was made as rapidly as possible without 

 pause for collecting. The few specimens secured en route indicate that the 

 fauna differs in some respects from that of a section through the same chain 

 from Cali to Buenaventura, and we cannot but regret the absence of speci- 

 mens from this region. 



Juntas de Tamana was reached December 14 and left December 20; 

 and collections were also made at Novita from December 21 to 27. During 

 these two weeks 277 birds and 39 mammals were collected under the unfav- 

 orable conditions of the rainy season. Doubtless this over-exertion made 

 both men more than usually susceptible to the pernicious type of malaria 

 which prevails in this unhealthful region. Both contracted severe attacks 

 of fever, and on returning to Cali, January 7, were under a physician's care 

 for several weeks. 



Description of Route and Collecting Stations. — A general account of the 

 route between Cali and Cartago and Giradot, based on the reconnaissance 

 made by Chapman and Fuertes in May, 1911, will be found under 'Expedi- 

 tion No. 1.' The following detailed descriptions of the stations on the 

 route at which collections were made were prepared by Allen, who also 

 writes the report on the ascent to the Paramo of Santa Isabel and on the 

 journey from Cartago to the San Juan region. 



Rio Frio. — "Most of our collecting here was done in the forest on the 

 east bank of the river except for two trips to a rather extensive marsh some- 

 what south of the Rio Frio, and about an eighth of a mile back from the 

 Cauca. Some collecting was also done along the northerly edge of the 

 forest, the country becoming more open in this direction, the forest extend- 

 ing to a much greater distance south from the port. 



" The forest reminds one considerably of our northern deciduous forests 

 in which the giant oaks are replaced by ceibas and the maples by cecropias. 

 There are comparatively few ferns, orchids or epiphytes of any kind except 

 a few "pines" (bromelias) and very little moss. The forest floor is covered 

 with dead leaves and with little undergrowth except about clearings and 

 more open spots in the forest where it is very dense. But it was in such 

 places that the birds were most abundant, as we found here a greater abun- 

 dance of individuals than anywhere else, though the number of species was 

 perhaps more limited than in the ' cloud' forest.' 



1 That is, forest of the Subtropical Zone. — F. M. 0. 



