THE CONDITIONS OF THE STEPPE 15 



animals, both the species and the individual are able to move 

 about, consequently, we would expect the animals to be but par- 

 tially confined to a given association. The coyote for example 

 may be found in each and every formation mentioned, but we all 

 know that in some, for example, the stream, pond or marsh, its 

 presence only indicates a visit. In the case of animals, the as- 

 sociations in which they breed are considered to be the associations 

 to which they truly belong. 



II. THE ECOLOGICAL FORMATIONS, 

 i. The Grass Covered Upland or Steppe. 



(a) The Climatic Conditions of the steppe are severe. It has 

 consequently been classed as a Xerophytic ecological formation. 



Precipitation. The rainfall comes sporadically. Sometimes 

 it falls with great violence and is occasionally accompanied by 

 hail. Frequently only slight showers occur. Periods of drought 

 of shorter (a few weeks) or longer (a couple of seasons) dura- 

 tion are expected. Ordinarily, about three-fourths or more of 

 the total rainfall takes place in the five growing months. The 

 dryness of the rest of the year is evident. The relative humidity 

 of the steppe is low. 



Temperature. The range of temperature is very great, almost 

 150 degrees Fahr. annually, and frequently 40 degrees daily. The 

 summer months, especially July and August are hot and the 

 winters cold. The seasons are irregular. Freezes occasionally 

 occur as early as mid-September and as late as May, and frosts as 

 early as early-September and as late as June. During the winter 

 season, especially in January and March, unseasonably warm 

 weather occasionally starts vegetation only to have it damaged 

 by the succeeding cold snap. 



\Yind. Steppes are windy. The velocity is seldom high, but 

 an 8-12 mile breeze is almost constantly blowing especially during 

 the day time. In the summer such winds may be exceedingly hot 

 and may blast the vegetation severely. In the winter the winds 

 are often very cold. When driving dry snow, they are indeed 

 cutting. 



Light. There is very little protection from the direct rays 

 of the sun for the plants nor for the animals, except those that 



