July 1606 ] Mycological Expedition to Guatemala 143 
plateau. It is a beautiful site but no detailed account of the 
vegetation of the region need be given. That of the higher 
mountains is somewhat peculiar. Forests of pines are not un¬ 
common. Intermediate between these but at very high altitudes 
the oaks are very numerous. The Compositae, the herbaceous, 
the half-shrubby, the fruiticose and arborescent forms, are abund¬ 
ant here as throughout the Republic. Labiatae are perhaps more 
abundant than in the very low country. The Leguminosae are 
conspicuous by their abundance and in this respect rival the 
Compositae. The arboreous species are common. Rusts were 
everywhere in evidence, and in fact the parasitic species of all 
groups of fungi were numerously represented. In the rainy 
season the saprophytic forms could doubtless be collected in 
great abundance. 
PACIFIC COAST REGION. 
The Central Railroad leads by a serpentine route 74 miles 
from Guatemala City to San Jose, a Pacific port 40 or 50 miles 
distant, the descent in this short distance being about 5,000 feet. 
Through the thoughtful courtesy of Mr. D. B. Hodgson, (Gen. 
Mgr.), and Mr. W. B. Tisdal, (Asst. Mgr.), facilities were kind¬ 
ly offered for transportation, including scientific paraphernalia, 
along this line and their yet more interesting western branch that 
parallels the coast at a distance of about 40 miles — this being a 
finished portion of the Pan-American Railway — traversing an 
exceedingly rich country at the foot of the Cordilleras, ending at 
present at the large city of Mazatenango. Still another Company 
operates a Railroad from the latter city to Ratalhuleu, thence 
southwrd to the Pacific Port of Champerico and northward to 
San Felipe. This whole region is extremely warm; the vegeta¬ 
tion is dense and tropical, but very much extended areas have 
been cleared and now furnish splendid fields for sugar cane. 
Lagoons border the coast which is fringed as in all tropical 
regions with the Mangrove. The whole country is a paradise 
for the botanist, and fungi are everywhere plentiful enough. 
Large collections for future study were made at Escuintla, Santa 
Lucia, Patalul and Mazatenango. From this region two trips 
were made northward to the crest of the Cordilleras to several 
interesting points as follows. 
QUEZALTENANGO. 
From San Felipe in the northern part of the Department of 
Retalhuleu, altitude 1,050 feet, a trip was made mule-back, be¬ 
tween 20 and 30 miles to Quezaltenango in the Department of 
like name, altitude 8,000 feet. For a large part of the way the 
vegetation was tropical and the region was enchanting. Splen¬ 
did coffee planatations were passed, and higher up vegetation, 
characteristic of mountainous regions, was encountered. Abund- 
