338 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 12 



DESCRIPTION OF ROUTE 



As a preliminary to the work of the summer, Miss Alexander 

 and the writer spent a month, from February 10 to .March 8, 

 1911, at Helena, on the North Fork of the Trinity River, in Trin- 

 ity County, and at Tower House, in Shasta County. 



We went by stage from Redding, Shasta County, following the 

 Sacramento River for about three miles, then up Shasta Creek and 

 over the Shasta divide, elevated 1800 feet above sea level, down into 

 the valley of Clear Creek to Tower House and French Gulch, and 

 from there over the Deadwood divide, 4550 feet by aneroid, to 

 Lewiston, on the Trinity River. 



The east slope of the Shasta divide presents a scene of desola- 

 tion as a result of the killing of the trees by fumes from the 

 smelters. On the west side the vegetation is more nourishing, but 

 miles of timber and chaparral have been demolished by forest fires. 

 When we crossed the Deadwood divide, Febi-uaiy 9, there was much 

 snow near the summit. We saw very few birds, only a flock of chick- 

 adees and kinglets, and a few quail. Mammals were even less in 

 evidence, although in places we saw a few tracks in the snow near 

 the road. Only one chipmunk and one may squirrel were actually 

 seen on the entire stage trip through to Weaverville. 



We spent the night at Lewiston and went on the next day to 

 Weaverville, following the Trinity River for about three miles, 

 crossing it and climbing over the shoulder of Brown Mountain, and 

 down into Weaverville, arriving there February 10. Consultation 

 with some of the people of the town seemed to point to Helena, on 

 the North Fork of the Trinity, as being a good place for trapping, 

 and further desirable because George Knowles, considered to be 

 one of the best trappers in the county, was staying there. It is 

 an eighteen mile drive up West Weaver Creek, then over the Oregon 

 Gulch Mountain, 1050 feet, and down the gulch to Junction City 

 on the Trinity River. This Oregon Gulch is being filled up at the 

 rapid rate of twelve feet a month by debris from the La Grange 

 hydraulic mine. The water of the Trinity River itself is turbid 

 from the many mines scattered along its course. From Junction 

 City we turned up Canon Creek for a short distance, then doubled 

 back to the Trinity and followed it down to where the North Fork 

 empties into the main stream. The water of North Fork was beau- 

 tifully clear in contrast to that of the muddy main river, and its 



