1917.] Chapman, Distribution of Bird-life in Colombia. 41 



'Transition.' It is probably the lower edge of the transition, however, as 

 along the streams the large bamboo is prevalent and several of the bamboo 

 zone birds noted. Eight miles (approximately) to the south the town of 

 Timbio is reached, situated on a small river of the same name. We are 

 now on the headwaters of the Patia and the streams lie in very deep valleys 

 in places with almost perpendicular sides, averaging a thousand feet in 

 depth. Were it not for these valleys the country would be fairly level, but 

 the steep descents and ascents in crossing these streams makes the travelling 

 slow and difficult. A day and a half journey from Timbio lies the town of 

 La Sierra situated op a saddle-back ridge just before the trail drops into 

 the canon of the Patia proper. Just before coming to the town small 

 groves of rather open forest occur and here we stopped for three days to 

 collect, securing sixty-six birds and ten mammals. To the east a trail 

 follows the ridge up the sides of Sotara, which is not visible from the trail 

 but which shows considerable forest growth, commencing at what I should 

 judge to be between 8000 and 9000 feet. We camped at 6800 feet; having 

 been told there was no water higher up nor pasturage for the mules. The 

 forest in which we collected at La Sierra was comparatively dry and open, 

 and very limited in extent. Birds were scarce both as to numbers and 

 species, and but a very few new to our former collections were taken. 

 Here was seen the only Condor of the expedition, and it was flying rather 

 high over the ridge toward Sotara. 



"Leaving La Sierra (where very few supplies can be secured) the trail 

 is very poor and probably nearly impassable in the wet season, descending 

 steeply to the Patia which here flows at 4700 feet, a rushing, rocky torrent 

 similar to the Toche in size, but crossed by a strong brick bridge which leads 

 one to believe the trail has degenerated. Along the river is a jungle of low 

 trees, but elsewhere the country is covered by coarse grasses and sedges 

 with no higher vegetation. A steep and then gradual ascent brings one to 

 the town of San Miguel, a row of some forty houses straddling the ridge. 

 It is supposed to be but four hours from La Sierra, but our pack mules re- 

 quired a full day. Here we learned for the first time the truth concerning 

 the trail from Almaguer to San Agustin, and the one that continued on to 

 Pasto, and had to alter our plans accordingly. The trail next soon strikes 

 into the valley of the Rio La Vega which is, I believe, another tributary of 

 the Patia and quite similar to it in its precipitous sides. The trail follows 

 a niche in its side for the rest of the day until the town of La Vega is reached 

 at an altitude of 7500 feet. Hereabouts are greater signs of industry than 

 noted elsewhere in most parts of the country, the precipitous mountain 

 sides being covered with corn-flelds or wheat, and neatly marked off with 

 beautiful hedges; no forest as yet, however, and the fauna still "transition." 



"Leaving La Vega, the trail continues up the river for about thirty 



