188 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



on or near it natural!}- suppose are their rights — namely, the 

 water-supply and public highways. As far as the roads are con- 

 cerned, there is no chance for a legal fight. Excepting a small 

 piece of roadway in the southeastern part of the Forest Reserve 

 (not included in the Buffalo Range), all roads were made since 

 the Wichita Forest Reserve became a reserve. 



The boundary of the Buffalo Range leaves plenty of water out- 

 side for cattle. Part of Cache Creek and a spring near the centre 

 of the eastern line were left outside the reserve for that purpose. 



On the proposed range there are about 20 prospect holes 

 which will have to be filled or surrounded with fences. While 

 these prospects have not been worked according to law. it would 

 be difficult to prove that the required amount of labor has not 

 been done, provided the owners wish to take the matter to court. 

 Again, these people may, if they learn that their prospects are 

 on the range, stake out new claims with the idea of being bought 

 out by the Government. If they do, and are forced to leave with- 

 out remuneration, it is apt to cause ill-feeling, and the amount 

 of damage that a man can do on a windy night in October by 

 dropping a match in the dry grass can easily be imagined. 



In all probability the Wichita Mountains never will prove to be 

 a paying mineral district. Nine-tenths of the miners who came 

 in with the rush have left disgusted, and the only ones now re- 

 maining are a few who cling to their claims, hoping to sell out 

 to some one. If at the time that the range is established there 

 are any miners working there, it seems to me the wisest plan, 

 and at the same time one that will not cause discontent, is to let 

 the owners understand that their property is not to be disturbed, 

 and that they can mine as long as thev choose. 



ANIM.ALS THAT WILL THRIVE ON THE PRESERVE 



Buffalo. — From all accounts buft'alo in large numbers travelled 

 over the proposed Buffalo Range during their northward and 

 southward migrations, and doubtless many of them wintered in 

 the foothills of the Wichita Mountains. From information 

 gained from the old settlers, both white and Indian, it seems that 

 the buffaloes were hunted so persistently that they were not 

 allowed to winter in peace in this locality. Buffalo wallows were 

 found all over the prairie and level country on the range, and 

 buffalo bones and horns were found on the range by Mr. Mor- 

 rissey when he first came there. 



Prong-Horned Antelope.— Next to buffalo the range is natu- 



