Nov., 1905 | 
A WINTER WITH THE BIRDS IN COSTA RICA 
159 
temporal (steady and protracted rains) set in and we were forced to depart for San 
Jose. During our very brief stay (of less than 24 hours) at the lecheria on Turri- 
alba some exceedingly rare species, including one new to science, were taken. 
What could have been found during a week’s exploration is, of course, purely a 
matter of conjecture! 
O11 May 20th I started, in company with my friends Zeledon and Alfaro, on 
my last collecting trip in Costa Rica. Going my rail to Cartago we took horses 
and rode to the lecheria “San Juan” on the volcano of Irazu, at an altitude of 
about 8500 or 9000 feet, and from there made two trips, on foot, to the top of the 
volcano (11500) feet). The forest on Irazu (of which, however, but little remains) 
consists chiefly of oaks, and is very different indeed from that on either Poas or 
Turrialba. The remnant of this forest is a narrow belt just below the ash-cone, 
and gives way abruptly to a rather scattered growth of small trees and bushes 
which become more and more sparse and small as the summit of the peak is ap- 
proached, until on the highest point only a scattered growth of stunted shrubs, 
largely ericaceous (Vaccinium-like) exists. It is only in this upper thicket-growth 
that Janco vulcani\s found, but there it was common and we had no difficulty in 
securing the desired number of specimens. Its associates were a high mountain 
form of Brachyspiza capensis and a small wren ( Thry or chilus species"), besides a 
few species, notably Ch/orospingus pilcatus and C. zeledoni and Pezopdes capital is, 
which occur as intruders from lower parts of the mountain. 
There are other matters concerning my experiences in Costa Rica, that might 
be of interest, but to extend this article much further might prove tiresome to the 
reader. Nevertheless I cannot resist the temptation to record some observations 
which may be useful to those who contemplate a first collecting trip to the Tropics 
and would like to know something as to the possible dangers and difficulties to be 
encountered. From my own experience 1 would say that these have been either 
greatly exaggerated or misrepresented, and that of all the alleged terrors of tropical 
collecting those least to be dreaded are the climate (except where excessive rains 
prevail), annoyance from insect pests, and danger from poisonous reptiles. Of 
danger from wild animals there is absolutely none. Even in the tierra caliente 
the heat is not nearly so great nor so oppressive as during the hottest weather in 
our Atlantic States, and the nights are always cool. On the mountains the climate 
is ideal, except where rains and heavy mists are frequent. It is true that there are, 
almost everywhere, some garrapatas(se.e<\ -ticks), coloradillas(rt(\-b\\gs or chiggers), 
fleas, and mosquitoes; but I have on many occasions suffered far more from each of 
them in the States than at any time in Costa Rica. As to venomous creatures, I 
saw during the entire six months spent in Costa Rica only three snakes, two of 
these being harmless kinds, and not a single scorpion or centipede! No doubt there 
are localities where there is more or less danger from this source; but the fact that 
I saw so little evidence of it during an experience of six months, in all sorts of 
places, from sea-level to the highest point of land, is ample proof that as a deter- 
rent to pleasurable collecting the risk is so very slight as to be really not worth 
considering. There is, however, a class of creatures that must be reckoned with — 
the numerous kinds of stinging bees, wasps, and hornets, which in certain districts 
(more especially in the dryer interior and Pacific slope) have their nests, some- 
times several of them, in almost every three, ft is necessary to keep a sharp look- 
out for these, for the sting of some kinds is exceedingly painful and their attacks 
most savage and determined. The fire-ant is another nuisance but can easily be 
a A new form, soon to be described byjMr.iOutram Bangs. 
