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NATURALIST'S GUIDE TO THE AMERICAS 



areas are, then, still in a natural state, 

 and are likely to remain so for some years 

 to come. 



V. NATURAL AREAS AND STATE PARKS 



a. State parks 



1. Washington Park. (04). At the 

 old city of Washington on the Brazos 

 River, formerly capital of Texas. This 

 park was established by an act of the 

 Texas legislature in 1916, and with the 

 $10,000 that was appropriated, 50 acres 

 of land on the river was purchased. The 

 park commemorates the signing of the 

 Texas Declaration of Independence at 

 Washington on March 2, 1836. 



At present the park is inaccessible, 

 but good roads are in project, and will 

 open the park to travelers in the near 

 future. Mr. R. E. Pennington, of Bren- 

 ham, Texas, will gladly furnish informa- 

 tion concerning the park, as Mr. Penning- 

 ton is one of the commissioners. 



9. Goliad State Park. (C4.) Estab- 

 lished in memory of the Texas hero 

 James Fannin, and commemorate the 

 massacre of Fannin and some three 

 hundred Anglo-Americans by the Mexi- 

 cans near Goliad on March 27, 1835. 



Information may be obtained from 

 Mr. William Seeligson, Goliad, Texas, 

 one of the park commissioners. 



3. San Jacinto Slate Park. (04.) 

 Commemorates the battle of San Jacinto 

 on April 21, 1836. It is the largest and 

 best developed park in the State, com- 

 prising 275 acres. The roads through 

 the park are in good condition, of shell, 

 and markers point out where different 

 incidents in the course of the battle 

 occurred. Part of the park is on very 

 low ground, sloping to the Chocolate 

 Bayou and San Jacinto River. 



Information may be obtained from the 

 keeper, Mr. W. C. Day, at Deer Park, 

 Texas. 



4. Gonzales Park. (C4.) Forty acres 

 at Gonzales, Texas. In very fine con- 

 dition, and is one of the most beautiful 

 spots in Texas. 



Mr. J. W. Rainboldt of Gonzales will 

 furnish information. 



B. King's Park. (04.) Is situated 

 just in front of the court house in the 

 historic city of Refugio. It is in beauti- 

 ful shape. The park commemorates the 

 loss of a party of Texans under Captain 

 King in 1836 at the hands of Mexican 

 soldiers under Unea. 



Mr. J. T. Vance, one of the commis- 

 sioners, will furnish any information. 



b. Wild life preserves 



1. Laguna Madre Islands. At present 

 Texas has only one wild life preserve, 

 that being a group of islands known as 

 Three Islands, and North and South 

 Bird Island and adjacent flats and reefs 

 in the Laguna Madre on the Texas coast. 

 These islands have been leased for a 

 term not to exceed fifty years to the 

 National Association of Audobon Socie- 

 ties. These islands are the abundant 

 breeding grounds for the following 

 species of birds: laughing gulls; terns: 

 royal, Caspian, Cabot, gull-billed, com- 

 mon, black, least, Forster; black skim- 

 mer, Mexican cormorant, brown and 

 white pelicans, reddish egret, Louisiana 

 heron, ward heron, black-crowned night 

 heron, white heron, etc. 



c. Available and proposed areas 



1. The Lake Caddo Region. (A2.) 

 An immense swamp association, located 

 in Marion and Harrison counties, on 

 the Texas-Louisiana line. Includes the 

 west half of Lake Caddo, and Cypress 

 Bayou which enters it. About 25 mi. 

 long (from east to west) and from 3 to 

 10 mi. wide. A mixture of eastern 

 and western forms. One of the wildest 

 and most natural areas in the entire 

 state. Abundant aquatic life of every 

 description. Reptiles and amphibians 

 abundant; a perfect, natural bird sanc- 

 tuary, sheltering egrets, wood ducks, 

 ibis, wild turkeys, pileated woodpeckers, 

 and other interesting forms. Contains 

 deer, various cats, and other large 

 mammals. Alligators abundant. May 

 be reached from the City of Jefferson. 

 No one should attempt this region 

 without local assistance, as getting lost 

 in the vast swamp might well be fatal. 

 One of the most ideal game preserves 

 in the United States, and the first region 

 in Texas that should be set aside for 

 a National preserve. Elevation: about 

 175 ft. 



