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Show 1869.] MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON PERUVIAN BIRDS. 597 first of these was formed in the Cosnipata valley, the second in his former collecting-grounds round Tinta. The valley of Cosnipata, which is well shown in the m a p attached to M r . Markham's ' Travels in Peru and India,' is situated on the eastern slope of the Andes of Caravaya, and is drained by the river of the same name, which is an affluent of the Madre di Dios, until recently supposed to flow into the Purus, but now believed to pour its waters into the Benif. Mr. Whitely has written a letter to General Lefroy concerning his expedition into this valley, from which, by the kindness of that gentleman, we have been enabled to extract the following particulars. Mr. Whitely left Tinta on the 12th of August, 1868, and arrived at Cusco on the 17th. From Cusco he proceeded, after a short stay, to Paucartambo on the river of that name (elevation 9400 feet). Leaving Paucartambo on the 31st with an arriero and one Indian he ascended the bare ridge of the Andes, and after various adventures reached Tres Cruces, at the summit of the pass (elevation 11,900 feet), on the 2nd September. Next day he commenced the descent into the valley of Cosnipata, finding the road so bad and stony that he was compelled to walk the whole eighteen miles down to San Pedro, a recent settlement consisting of two new wooden huts. On the 4th he descended the valley five leagues further, to the hacienda of Cosnipata. This is described as a clearing about a mile long by a mile broad, and consisting of some twelve wooden huts, with about thirty workpeople, more than two-thirds women. The principal products are coca, coffee, and cocoa. The houses are in a wretched condition of decay, and, if not better looked after, must in the course of a few years inevitably fall into the hands of the Chunchos. Mr. Whitely computes the height of Cosnipata as 2350 feet above the sea-level, but descended the valley to some huts of Chuncho Indians which are only 1650 feet above the sea-level. After remaining in the valley three months, as the rainy season had set in, M r . Whitely set out to return to Paucartambo. The journey back was frightful, as the rain was pouring down in torrents, and he had to ascend the mountain for eighteen miles on foot. He accomplished the ascent in two days, and reached Paucartambo on the 30th of November, 1868, in safety. The Cosnipata collection contains about 80 skins, amongst which are examples of the following species, namely :- 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. I. PASSERES. Hirundo erythrogastra. leucorrhoa. Neochelidon tibialis. Procnias occidentalis. Calliste cyaneicollis. Tanagra coelestis. striata. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Ramphoccelus jacapa. Saltator azaree. Orchesticus ater. Spermophila luctuosa. castaneiventris. Volatinia jacarina. Coturniculus peruanus. Chrysomitris capitalis, Cab t Cf. Chandlers, J. E. G. S. ixxvi. p. 114. |
