NATURAL AREAS AND REGIONS 



511 



the timber for cover. Therefore the 

 species is isolated within a relatively 

 narrow range. Here also is the bighorn 

 sheep (Ovis mexicana) found locally in 

 the Guadaloupe and Chisos mountains 

 where it is confined to the high altitudes. 

 The gray-footed chipmunk (Eutamias 

 cinereicollis canipes) an inhabitant of 

 the Guadaloupe mountains above 6000 

 ft., is found ranging upward from this 

 elevation along with the western yellow 

 pine and the Douglas spruce. 



III. PRESENT BIOTA 



The original biota of the state has 

 been profoundly modified by many agen- 

 cies, many of which are directly due to 

 man, and it is doubtful if any region has 

 entirely escaped this human interference 

 either directly or indirectly. Agricul- 

 tural development has led to a great 

 modification of both prairie and wood- 

 lands. Lumbering in eastern Texas has 

 caused profound changes in the forest 

 aspect, and these changes are all of them 

 bound to increase. Fires have swept the 

 original timberland, and the effects of 

 this on the undergrowth and the natural 

 re-forestation and succession has been 

 profound. Over-grazing has greatly in- 

 fluenced the prairie grassland conditions, 

 and the luxuriant growths of former 

 days is no longer present in many of the 

 regions, leaving practically denuded 

 ranges. These factors and others of a 

 similar nature have greatly altered con- 

 ditions, and have led to the introduc- 

 tion of vegetation types not native to 

 the region originally. With the advance 

 of civilization has come of course pro- 

 found changes in the wild animal species 

 of the state. Many species have been 

 exterminated, others have been reduced 

 to a pitiful remnant of once great herds. 

 As would be expected, the big game has 

 suffered most. The great herds of bison 

 are gone ; the gray mule deer of the trans- 

 Pecos country is on the decline; the 

 pronghorn antelope still clings uncer- 

 tainly to isolated regions in the great 

 plains, but is practically gone; the elk, 

 which ' straggled over the northern 

 region, is gone, and the bighorn sheep is 



still holding out in regions among the 

 Guadaloupe mountains, but is almost 

 exterminated. The jaguar, once com- 

 mon in east and south Texas, is gone 

 except for a very rare individual; the 

 ocelot clings to the wooded areas of 

 south central Texas, but is nearly gone. 

 Bears of various species are still locally 

 fairly common, but it is a question of 

 time only until they too will be reduced 

 to hopeless remnants. Deer, raccoon, 

 opossum, otter, mink, skunks, and rab- 

 bits are still plentiful in their native 

 haunts. Among the birds a similar con- 

 dition exists. The wild turkey is nearly 

 gone entirely gone over most of its 

 former range and the same may be said 

 of the heath hen, roseate spoonbill, 

 egret, cranes, etc. The southern pileated 

 woodpecker is going along with its 

 native forests, and the ivory-billed 

 woodpecker has preceded it into the 

 past. Quail both Mexican and bob- 

 white are still abundant, but the 

 slaughter of these birds is such that it 

 can only be a question of time before 

 they too are brought to a serious 

 condition. 



IV. AREAS AVAILABLE FOR PRESERVATION 

 AND STUDY 



As has just been pointed out, man has 

 wrought great changes in Texas, these 

 changes being coincident with the prog- 

 ress of civilization and of course were 

 inevitable. Yet the changes that have 

 occurred are only a beginning, and 

 greater changes still must come. Noth- 

 ing we can do will bring former condi- 

 tions back again, but it is in our power 

 to preserve for future study certain 

 typical areas within which the changes 

 have been minimal. All of the regions 

 listed herewith under the heading of 

 Texas are still practically untouched 

 untouched except for such changes as 

 must invariably accompany the driving 

 of railroads through the wilderness, 

 etc. Native animals are still present, 

 fine timber still stands if timber was 

 present, and may still be said to be in 

 essentially a primitive condition. These 



