182 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The range is 12 miles northwest of Cache and 24 miles west of 

 Fort Sill. Unfortunately there are no buildings on it that can 

 be utilized by caretakers or as storehouses.* 



With the exception of a valley three-fourths of a mile wide, 

 which leads out of the southeast corner of the range, and a few 

 narrow valleys of little consequence, the range is practically sur- 

 rounded by mountains, hills, and ridges, which afford protection 

 from storms. These mountains are from 100 to 600 feet high, 

 and while the boundary line does not always run at the foot of 

 them, the peaks are so close that as a whole they shelter the range. 



Although there are several high, round-topped, or rock-capped 

 hills on the west side of the range, the remainder of the mountains, 

 both inside and outside, are very rocky, being covered with huge 

 loose bowlders, and cliffs and ridges of red granite rock. Heavy 

 growths of black-jack oak usually cover the slopes, and in the 

 bottom (sometimes extending out into the level country for a 

 quarter mile) post-oak timber is mixed with the black-jack. In 

 several places it forms a small forest of trees 60 feet high. It is 

 doubtful if more than 25 cedar trees exist on the preserve. A 

 few are situated in a canyon on the west side, and on the summit 

 of a high mountain near the northeast line. 



Occupying about the centre of the range is a cluster of moun- 

 tains, hills, and ridges that completely surround a beautiful valley 

 about a mile long by three-quarters of a mile wide. The highest 

 peaks are fully 600 feet, and they shut out the storms from the 

 north and west — the directions from which the worst storms 

 blow. The top of one of these mountains is flat, well grassed 

 with blue-stem and mesquite grass, and during all but the dry 

 season water can be found upon it. This plateau would make an 

 excellent retreat for antelope, elk, or buft'alo during the hot 

 weather, as it is easily accessible through the draws and passes 

 that lead up to it from the valley. A story is told of a cattleman 

 who searched six weeks for a bunch of 30 cattle, and finally found 

 them on this mountain in excellent condition. 



The valley surrounded by these mountains I have named " Win- 

 ter Valley," because it makes such an excellent winter range. In 

 it we found many buft'alo wallows, and mesquite grass in suffi- 

 cient quantities to winter such a herd of buft'alo as it is proposed 

 to place on the range. 



Passes lead from this valley in all directions, some into the open 



* For the fencing of the range as proposed, about fourteen miles of fence will be 

 required. Of this about nine and one-half miles of fence could be fastened to trees, 

 and four and a half miles would require posts. 



