80 NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 



I suppose that not many members of the Union have had the pleasure 

 of visiting that region, and perliaps as a result have only a vague idea 

 of its appearance; so T \vill endeavor to give you a more definite picture 

 of it. 



Valentine is located in the northeast part of Cherry County, near Fort 

 Niobrara. Like many other western towns it lies out on the open prairie 

 unprotected from winds or sun. About two miles to the north, the north 

 bluff of the ^linnachaduza Kiver rises high above the flat prairie in the 

 foreground. Now and then a ledge of white limestone crops out, look- 

 ing like snow from a distance. Many of the buildings in Valentine are 

 built of stone quarried along this bluff. To the south a little farther 

 away can be seen a few pine trees along the top of the bluffs of the 

 Niobrara River. To the east and west the open lirairies extend, amost 

 as far as the eye can see. The locality chosen for mj' ^vork \vas among 

 a number of small lakes, about 30 miles south and west of Valentine. 

 Having missed the stage going out in that direction, I would have been 

 seriously delayed had it not been for the kindness of Professor Watson 

 of the Valentine schools, through whom I secured transportation for 

 myself and baggage on top of a wagonload of merchandise going out 

 to a store at Simeon, a post office about 25 miles out in the Sand Hills. 



About eight miles from town we crossed the Niobrara. The river 

 her& is a beautiful streami, perhaps 60 yards wide, running swift and 

 clear between high bluffs which it has eroded in the Arikaree sands. 

 We followed the river for about a mile before reaching a side canyon 

 through which the steep bluff could be ascended. The part of the valley 

 on either side of the river is thickly covered with low trees and bushes 

 with now and then an occasional taller tree reaching above the rest. 

 At the base of the bluff these give way to pine trees, which grow scat- 

 teringly along the face of the bluff. As we wound along the brush- 

 lined road numerous birds were heard calling and singing. The mellow 

 whistle of the Yellow-breasted Chat sounded above all others, except 

 the "Bob-white" of the Quail. After a stiff pull up the side canyon the 

 top of the bluff was reached. Here we stopped for a few minutes to 

 rest the horses and to eat our lunch. The view was one of the prettiest 

 I have ever seen, the air so clear that far-away objects were brought 

 near. Looking toward the northeast Valentine rests on the prairie, 

 a darker spot on a lighter-colored background; beyond and extending 

 in an unbroken line as far as the eye can see toward the northwest is 

 the north bluff of the Minnachaduza. To the west, and about four or 

 five hundred feet below, the glistening river extends until lost to view 

 behind a bend of the canyon. From a gnarled pine tree near bj' a 

 Swainson's Hawk looks sleepily on, taking wing as we api^roach and 

 joining a flock of Turkey Buzzards over the river for a moment before 

 resting on a tree across the canyon. Looking in the ojiposite direction 

 the faintlj^-marked trail is lost to view over the hills in the distance. 

 We followed this trail for a number of hours before coming to Gordon 



