Porto Rico, 1911 - 1912, field diaries, 13 December 1911 - 15 September 1912 : volume 3, May 17, 1912 - July 17, 1912

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Abstract

Comprises the third of four field notebooks compiling Wetmore's observations and collecting efforts in Porto Rico [Puerto Rico] for the United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Biological Survey, May 17, 1912 - July 17, 1912. The entries are chronological, with journal style entries. Wetmore observes and collects in caves, shorelines, plantations, valleys, and ridges. He records descriptions of terrain, flora and fauna observed with attention to appearance and behaviors, weather, effect of recent rainfall, collecting and preparation of specimens and some daily events (collecting mail, changes in lodging, reports written, some daily interactions). Observations cover insects, mammals and birds (several observations of bats), with particular discussion of coffee plantations on the island. These include observations of local understanding of what species eat coffee plants versus observed behavior and how the coffee plantations affect the environment. Collecting sites include the vicinity of Yanco, Mayagüez, Añasco, Aguadilla, Desecheo Island, Lares, Quebradillas, Manati, Ponce, Culebra, and Vieques.|Within the journal entries, he includes: observed species list (May 24, June 28, July 10) and observations of insects damaging local crops (coffee, coconut, cotton, fruit, tobacco) including Leucoptera Coffeella damaging coffee plants and bibliography of related recommended texts (June 6). From the back of the notebook, lists bird list for (Yanco, Mayagüez, Añasco, Aguadilla, Desecheo Island , Lares, Quebradillas, Manati) film and packages of specimens sent (listed by date),

Date Range

1912

Start Date

May 17, 1912

End Date

Jul 17, 1912

Access Information

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Topic

  • Bats
  • Animals
  • Entomology
  • Birds
  • Mammalogy
  • Coffee leafminer
  • Ornithology

Place

  • Aguadilla
  • Puerto Rico
  • Añasco
  • Vieques, Isla de
  • Guanica
  • Lares
  • Culebra, Isla de
  • Ponce
  • Quebradillas

Form/Genre

  • Fieldbook record
  • Field notes

Accession #

SIA RU007006

Collection name

Alexander Wetmore Papers, circa 1848-1979 and undated

Physical Description

1 notebook

Physical Location

Smithsonian Institution Archives

Sublocation

Box 137 Folder 4