the vegetation this year is fairly good, and that it rained in December. Rains are quite unpredictable, howerer. It said usually they get their rain at the time of Sierra storms (Dec-Feb), not in sympathy with the coasted page. The flora in the two valleys was quite different. Ours had a forest of ceasts, but none in the valley to the west where the mine building were. No trees in our valley and very few eleewhere. In spite of the 6 hours, growing prefect in our valley was negligible - practically the only flora in Peru about which I can say that. Lots of grasses. Ground cover 50 to 100%. The tomatoes were most spectacular, than an orange flowered spreading "climbing" in large clumps and white over-castings. Tallest ceasts were 14 ft; the usual, 5 to 6 ft. They had 6, 7, 8, or 11 flutes, all with 3" diam blossoms white or crimson. Also a smaller tabular caestus with deep red flowers and a smallish one with almost-spherical fruits. Valley was loaded with large raptors - butoes and tiggers, a falcon slightly larger than sparrow hawks, sparrow hawks; 3 or more Sycostylo (eating insects only), 2 or more barn owls every night; a colt rimulgid, hummingbird nesting, warrens abundant, Phrygillus alaudins singing in air and feeding young, Eufelia plus a "morning dove", a small almost-black peafester, mocking birds, a flock of brown jeterds, Zorotrichis singing with lots of tail on east note. Parakeets, Snuffs - many others. But no early morning bird chorus.