NATURAL A111<;AS AND RKCIONS 



.M.! 



Jefferson, near Caddo Lake. M. K. Sc 

 T. Ry. to Jefferson.— A. 72. C. 



2. A smaller swamp association that is 

 easily accessible from the City of Palcstinr. 

 (A2.) Lyino; in Freestone and Anderson 

 counties. It has a typical swamp flora 

 and fauna; ideal location for avifauna! 

 studies. Abundant blackbird colonies 

 and very large crow roost. Elevation: 

 about 500 ft. 



L & G. N. to Palestine.— A. 72. C. 



3. Big Thicket Swamp Association. 

 A large area of swamp association. A 

 place of considerable interest as it 

 contains fresh water as well as brackish 

 and salt water associations. Land very 

 low, with abundant plant and animal 

 life. An interesting locality for the 

 study of fishes. A wonderful breeding 

 ground for birds and the winter home of 

 hundreds of thousands of ducks and 

 geese that are now subjected to an 

 unmerciful slaughter. Elevation: very 

 little above sea level. 



Lies in Chambers County and is 

 accessible from either Liberty or Galves- 

 ton. Big Thicket, near Liberty. T. & 

 N. O. Ry. from Houston. 



4-. Another ideal swamp association, 

 quite similar to No. 3, lying in Brazoria 

 County, just north of the mouth of the 

 Brazos River. If the mouth of the 

 Brazos River be included, then all three 

 types of aquatic environments will be 

 found. A fine location for an ecological 

 study of fish and aquatic insects. The 

 preserve should include the mouth of 

 the Brazos River, and extend some S mi. 

 northward along the coast, to a depth 

 of about 3 mi. At this point the Brazos 

 River forms an impassible barrier to 

 many species. Elevation: little above 

 sea level to 30 ft. 



Easily accessible from Freeport at the 

 mouth of the river. 



5 A coastal region, lying in Nueces 

 and Kleberg counties. (B2.) This re- 

 gion should include, Mustang, Bird, 

 and the northern half of Padre Islands, 

 which form a low, natural breakwater 

 about 6 to 8 mi. off the coast. Bird 

 Island, a shell reef, is the breeding 

 ground of hundreds of pairs of bro\yn 

 and white pelicans, thousands of pairs 

 of laughing gulls, great blue herons: 

 royal, Caspian, common and black terns, 

 black skimmers, boat-tailed grack es, 

 cormorants, etc. Mustang is similar. 

 Padre Island is a low sand-dune region, 

 whereon is found desert forms of insects 

 and reptiles, as well as thousands ot 

 shore birds. Nueces Bay is a paradise 

 for ducks and geese of all species, i his 

 region, which is unique, should be pre- 

 served at once as a National Park, ana 

 wild life sanctuary, and placed under the 



control of II Hf>eciiil wjirtlcn. an tho bird 



colonies : 

 fi.shing ct' 



holding tlioir own. A wonderful | 

 for tho study of rIihUow wiiter (...: 

 fishes, as well na tho life histories of bini.s 

 and ecological .•us.socijition.H. I'lidro Is- 

 land, particularly, i.s a mixture of Nfoxi- 

 can :ind semi-tropirul 

 Elevation: from a few inch- ' r.. 



above sea level. 



Accessible from either KinRsvillo or 

 Corpus Christi. St. L. B. M. 11. R. 



0. A typical chaparral fj.s.socjdMVm, 

 which is practicallv unlimited in Hize. 

 (B2.) Might well 'contain 200 8(j. mi. 

 or more. An ideal locality for the study 

 from an ecological standpoint of life of 

 this type of country typical of Tcx.ih. 

 Material for ecological Hucces.sion j.s 

 unlimited. Very little water supply. 

 Elevation: about 7.50 ft. 



Lies in Zavalla, Frio, Dimmit ami La 

 Salle counties, and easily accessible from 

 Hondo, Uvalde and other towns. 



8. A high plateau. This is a mo.st 

 interesting region for ecological siuily, 

 consisting of a very high plateau — 

 Edward's Escarpment (A3), which at 

 places reaches 3000 ft. and more — 

 together with much timbcrland. In- 

 teresting floral zonation. Might well 

 contain .50 sq. mi. or more. Elevation: 

 about 2000 ft. 



Reached from Fredericksburg S. .\. 

 F. & N., and lying in the southeast 

 corner of Gillespie County. 



9. A region of considrrahlc geologic 

 interest lies in Llano and Burnet coun- 

 ties. (A3.) This mark.s tho line of 

 contact between the lime and granite 

 countries. A very rough, ragged 

 country, known as the Granite Moun- 

 tains, through which flows the Colorado 

 River. A wide variety of both plant 

 and animal life. Elevation: averages 

 about 1000 ft. 



Accessible from Kingland and Llano 

 H. T. C. Ry. . . ^^^^ 



10. A sagebru,'<h a.<>soctation. (.\3.) 

 Lies in Wilbarger County, on the Red 

 River. .V very wild and primitive 

 country, with atvpical sagebrush biota. 

 The Red River affords interostinj: iu\\Xii- 

 tic studies which arc in • ' ' ' ^ 

 with those of the sum. 



Elevation: about 12(M)ft. 



Accessible from Cliiliicotho or \ ornon. 



//. .An intcrc.-iling (Uscrt rrgion lies 



at the northern union of Cr.^ ' '\ 



Dickens counties. (A.'?/* 'I'ln' 

 able region here would ' : 



mi. Interesting more f: d 



point of view, having a good gnnvth of 



de.-^crt flora. Considerable ero- ' •<« 



worn a fair canyon through tl. >. 



