CHAPTER XXIII. 



FHOM SHERIDAN TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS — THE COLORADO PORTION OF THE PLAINS 



THE GIANT PINES — ATTEMPT TO PHOTOGRAPH A BUFFALO THINGS GET MIXED 



— THE LEVIATHAN AT HOME — A CHAT WITH PROFESSOR COPE — TWENTY-SIX 

 INCH OYSTERS REPTILES AND FISHES OF THE CRETACEOUS SEA. 



AT Sheridan, we were very near the Colorado 

 portion of the plain, which stretched on for 

 some hundreds of miles further westward, its further 

 line lapping the base of the Rocky Mountains. Into 

 this territory we passed, and spent a considerable 

 period of time in its examination, but while our ex- 

 perience was to us full of interest, any thing more 

 extended than a brief summary would occuj)y too 

 much space here. 



For the first one hundred miles, the soil deterio- 

 rated in quality, and the sage-bush made its appear- 

 ance, as did also the "Adam's needle" or "Spanish 

 bayonet." The latter makes an excellent substitute 

 for soup, but a wretched cushion to alight upon when 

 thrown from your horse. (I make the latter state- 

 ment on the authority of Doctor Pythagoras.) Brack- 

 ish water was found at intervals, and white saline 

 crystallizations were seen along some of the streams. 

 Although the soil was more sandy than further east, 

 the buifalo grass was abundant and nutritious, so 



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