464 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [1885. 



( Carya tomentosa) is also found in the vicinity, and Hackberry, Soap- 

 berry and Eed Cedar are common. 



Immediately above Austin the timber remains good. Beyond the 

 San Saba it gradually decreases, and, after passing the mouth of the 

 Concho, one sees only the American Elm and, in less quantity, Hack- 

 berry, Soapberry, and Willow. Still further up, at Colorado City, where 

 the Texas Pacific Eailroad crosses it, no timber is visible on the naked 

 banks and the river has dwindled to a salt brook, often dry. 



Two of the upper tributaries of the Colorado have permanent water, 

 some wood, and run through good grazing districts : Tobacco Creek, 

 fringed with Hackberry and Willow, and Cbampliu Creek. On the 

 latter I noted two or three Cottonwood; Black Willow {Salix nigra) 

 attaining a foot in diameter and the dominant tree ; Hackberry and 

 Soapberry; a small Pluuj {PntiiK.'j i ivularis) and two shrubby Oaks, 

 Qiierciis grisea, and var. brevifolia of Q. undiilata, the latter 10 to 12 feet 

 high. Large Mezquit woods cover many of the surrounding plains and 

 aflbrd excellent fuel and fence rails, but no building timber. 



The San Saba and Llano Elvers, large western affluents of the Colo- 

 rado, are fairly well timbered, and flow through fertile valleys, while 

 good grass covers the surrounding plains. The prevalent trees along 

 these streams are : Pecan, Cottonwood, Willow, Chestnut Oak {Quercus 

 Muhlenbergii), Live Oak {Q. nirens), a small Post Oak {Q. Durandii), 

 American Elm and Mulberry {Moras micropliylla). On the uplands the 

 Eed Cedar [Juniperus occidentalis var. conjungens) and the ordinary 

 Post Oak {Quercus stellata) are conspicuous in places. 



THE BRAZOS. 



The Clear Fork of the Brazos runs through a good farming region. 

 Its banks are covered with Pecan, Cottonwood, Live Oak, American 

 Elm, Hackberry, Willow, and Mesquite. The last four trees or shrubs, 

 with a few stray Pecan, extend into the southern branches of the Fork 

 as far as Abilene and the range of high hills forming the watershed 

 between the waters of the Brazos and those of the Colorado. 



Above the mouth of the Clear Fork, the Brazos dries up in many 

 places ; the timber grows scarce and often disappears. Its several 

 branches, shallow, sluggish and salt creeks, stretch westward through 

 broken, naked plains and gypsiferous blufi's. Despite the barren as- 

 pect of the country the grass is very good in many districts, where 

 thrive large herds of cattle. 



On approaching the Staked Plains, water is purer, more plentiful, and 

 the grass more nutritious and abundant. Small groves of Cottonwood 

 are seen in sheltered canons, notably in Canon Blanco. 



THE RED RIVER. 



The many heads of the Eed Eiver, within the Pan Handle, afford an 

 ample supply of excellent and permanent water, and meander through 



