164 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
tains rise to an altitude of 4000 meters (12,000 ft.) so that a traveler 
in passing from the Lake up to the mountains traverses the lowland 
forests, the higher and barren hills, the rich valleys, the forested 
mountain sides and gorges, to the treeless summits, some of which 
are capped with snow. 
In this short range occur all variations from the swampy seashore 
and the barren hills to the luxuriant valleys, and the alpine regions. 
On the mountain sides occur furthermore at various altitudes not only 
quiet gorges in which the woods are dripping with moisture but also 
knolls exposed to the fierce winds, often accompanied by great changes 
in temperature. A greater variety of vegetative conditions is difficult 
to find within so small an area in any other country. 
Venezuela may well be considered as consisting of three different 
regions: the Andean extending from Lake Maracaibo southwest 
over the mountain ranges to Colombia; the coastal region from Lake 
Maracaibo eastward to the Gulf of Paria at Trinidad, including all 
the coastal islands and extending inland to the llanos by the Orinoco; 
and the third region consisting of the Orinoco district and all of the 
extensive and little known forests to the south. While each of these 
three divisions shows some of the characteristics of the others, each 
has features of interest peculiar to itself, the first region being alpine, 
the second consisting of the barren or desert hills of the coast and of 
the islands, and the third being characterized by the grassy plains and 
forest areas of the llanos and selvas. 
Such a variety of conditions as is presented in this country leads 
one to expect much of botanical interest. There must be both a 
remarkable variety of plants and many interesting adaptations of 
the plants to their environments. A number of collections have been 
made, but not nearly so many as the conditions warrant, and un- 
fortunately the reports of these collections are scattered and incom- 
plete. The need for more work on the flora of Venezuela is strongly 
felt. Brazil has the elaborate work of INIartius ('40-'06) ; the Gujanas 
those of Schomburgk ('47-'48) and PuUe ('06); Colombia that of 
Karsten ('58-'69) and also the recent collections of Smith and Pittier. 
The West Indies as a whole have Grisebach's ('64) well known Flora, 
and the recent Symbolae Antillanae of Professor Urban ('03). But 
in Venezuela, lying between these lands, no botanical work at all com- 
plete has been done. 
The first recorded visit of a naturalist to Venezuela is that of Peter 
