Douglass : A Geological Reconnaissance. 225 



The next morning Mr. Hanson loaned me a horse and saddle, and 

 I started for the "Home Ranch" about seven miles to the south- 

 ward. After ascending a narrow ravine which winds between the 

 bluffs, I came to a rolling grassy prairie, which, in some places inter- 

 rupted by buttes, stretches away to the southern and eastern horizons. 

 Td the southwest the rough land continues up the Little Missouri 

 River. The prevailing vegetation on the upland is buffalo-grass, now 

 in bloom, small greenish-gray prairie-sage, and other dwarf plants, 

 among which are golden-rod and other compositse. To the south- 

 ward is what appears to be a slight depression, and beyond this, about 

 ten miles distant, a large high butte, or mesa, which contains strata 

 higher than those which we have previously observed. This is vari- 

 ously called H. T. Butte and Black Butte. Farther to the eastward, 

 across the valley of Sand Creek, looking more like a range of hills, is 

 White Butte. 



The Little Missouri Home Ranch (Plate XV) is located in the 

 valley of a little stream. The buildings have the appearance of a little 

 village in the midst of a great wilderness. For miles there are no other 

 habitations, yet here are many of the real comforts of the city, with few 

 of its discomforts. There are dwellings, storerooms, shops, an eating- 

 house, a spring-house, and other buildings. Here I was treated with 

 true western hospitality, and was freely furnished everything available 

 for the exploration of the region. Mr. Earl Huidekoper was absent 

 when I arrived at the ranch, but when he returned, though it was a 

 busy time and all were at work preparing for the round-up, he showed 

 me every possible kindness and courtesy. 



The valley, in which the ranch-houses are located, varies in width 

 from about sixty to one hundred and forty rods. Through this little 

 valley in its narrow channel between cut-banks, winds a small stream, 

 along which are shrubbery and small ash, elder, and choke-cherry 

 trees. Over these climb vines of the hop (^Hwnuhts Inpulus), wild cu- 

 cumber (^Echinocystis lobatuni), virgin's bower ( Clematis iigustidfolta), 

 and climbing polygonum {^Polygonum dumetonim .? var. scandens'). 



The next day after our arrival, August 6, I rode over to Black 

 Butte (Plate XVI). Near the road there is a quite high hill, at the 

 foot of which there is a sluggish stream. On the side of this hill 

 the fossil shell of a Unio was found. On the top the rock had 

 been changed by the burning of a seam of coal, to various shades of 

 blue, brown, and pink. Some of the rock is sugary in texture, and 



