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NATURALISTS GUIDE TO THE AMERICAS 



duck hawk, Lewis woodpecker, white- 

 throated swift, alder flycatcher, pinion 

 jay, white-winged junco, western tana- 

 ger, Audubon warbler, Townsend soli- 

 taire and mountain bluebird. 



Less definite statements can be made 

 in regard to other animal groups, but 

 salient features may be noted. Snakes 

 are in much greater variety in the 

 Missouri region than westward and 

 several species are confined to it. The 

 prairie rattler (Crotalus confluentus) is 

 found in this, the eastern part, the 

 plains rattler only in the west. Two 

 species of sand lizards swarm in the 

 sand hills, but the striped lizard (Cnemi- 

 dophorus sexlineatus) is common only 

 in the Missouri region. Box turtles 

 (Terrapene ornata) are abundant in the 

 sand hills. A horned toad (Phrynosoma 

 douglassii lemandsi] is rare in the plains 

 region of the southwest. Bufo cognatus 

 is the common toad of the state, B. 

 amencanus being rare in the Missouri 

 region, and B. woodhousii found only 

 in the west. Rana pipiens is found 

 throughout the state; the bullfrog (R. 

 catesbeiana) is rare and, except where 

 artificially introduced, confined to the 

 southeastern portion. Axolotls (Am- 

 bystoma tigrinum} are common in the 

 more alkaline sand-hill lakes. The 

 insect faunas of the two ends of the 

 state are decidedly different. In the 

 southern plains region in the west are 

 found solpugids and a large centipede. 

 Terrestrial molluscs are largely confined 

 to the Missouri region. Earthworms 

 are very rare except in the Missouri 

 and prairie regions. The cut-off lakes 

 and bayous in the Missouri region are 

 rich in aquatic forms, and so are the 

 freshest of the sand-hill lakes, but 

 the alkali lakes have a very limited 

 fauna, though at certain seasons the 

 few species present may appear in 

 enormous numbers. The prairie ponds 

 and sloughs have a relatively poor 

 fauna, consisting largely of insects and 

 Crustacea, unless spring-fed and per- 

 manent, when a rich fauna develops. 



II. NATURAL AREAS 



Preserves 



1. * Arbor Lodge. (H8.) The former 

 home of J. Sterling Morton, just outside 

 the limits of Nebraska City, which is on 

 the Missouri, 45 mi. south of Omaha 

 by the Missouri Pacific Ry. It has 

 been recently deeded to the state and 

 is now being administered as a state 

 park. Represents the southern portion 

 of the Missouri region and consists of 

 about 1000 acres of deciduous forest, 

 open ground, and ravines with springs 

 and small streams. Rich in trees, 

 possessing about 200 species of native 

 and introduced trees. Altitude 905 

 to 1060 ft. 



A fine avenue from the town. 



2. *Child's Point area. (D3.) About 

 6 mi. from the center of Omaha, con- 

 sisting of several tracts: 75 acres, held 

 by the Y. W. C. A. as a camp tract j 

 103 acres given to the Boy Scouts for a 

 camp by Dr. Gifford of Omaha; 700 

 acres in the Fontenelle Forest, held by 

 Dr. H. Gifford and Mrs. S. Joslyn of 

 Omaha; and about 1600 acres, the Wiley 

 Point Game Preserve, held by Dr. 

 Gifford. The whole forms a continuous 

 tract of nearly 2400 acres, representing 

 every type of habitat in the Missouri 

 region and with a very rich fauna and 

 flora. It is hoped that this will all 

 ultimately become a state park and the 

 natural features preserved. Altitud3 

 960 to 1165 ft. 



Trolley line from Omaha. 



8. *Belmont prairie. (C3.) Two mi. 

 north of Lincoln; 160 acres of virgin 

 prairie, including upland and lowlands. 

 Now used constantly by University 

 classes, but under private control and 

 liable to exploitation. Altitude 1160 

 to 1240 ft. 



4. Salt basin and lake. 1 mi. west of 

 Lincoln, containing about 700 acres. 

 Should be a city park and game refuge. 

 Now under private control, subject to 

 exploitation, and in part used as an 

 amusement park. Saline lake, artificial 



