December. 31, 1906 179 



The general aspect of the country, outside of the irrigated 

 tracts, is that of all arid regions, sage brush and other charac- 

 teristic composites predominating in company with Alriplex 

 and Grayia. 



Much of the c(juntry between Laws and Bisliop five miles 

 southwestward is swampy, due to irrigation extending over a 

 period of many years, for water here is abundant, Owen's river. 

 Bishop creek and other streams which fiow from the snow clad 

 Sierras furnishing a bountiful supply. 



Collecting on the east side was confined to a narrow strip 

 about a mile wide extending from Laws to the base of the White 

 mountains, about three miles distant, and then up Silver canyon 

 for about five miles, the elevation probably 5500 feet at the 

 highest point reached in the canyon. One trip was made to a 

 point about five miles northeast, just over the Mono county line 

 to the mouth of a canyon above the Southern Belle mine. 



On the west side of the valley the formation is entirely dif- 

 ferent, being almost exclusively granite with an occasional out- 

 crop of the ancient Alabama range. One of these outcrops is 

 found four or five miles due west of Bishop and is called Red 

 Hill on account of the red-brown volcanic rock abounding on it. 

 It is a low, broad mound, the summit perhaps 400 feet above 

 the surrounding granitic sand. Between it and the Sierra foot- 

 hills is a gradually ascending sandy plain three to five miles 

 acro.ss. The flora of this Red Hill is disappointing, since it dif- 

 fers in no wise from that of the granite region surrounding it. 

 One would naturally expect to find a goodly proportion of dis- 

 tinct species. 



Several trips were made to the foothills west of Bishop, the 

 objective point being a series of elevated meadows extending 

 some four or five miles down from the foot of the Sierras. Al- 

 though the meadows were entered twice, they were found to be 

 of little interest, but. the adjacent hills yielded niany species. 

 The meadows are used as pasture land, which fact no doubt ac- 

 counts for the scarcity of species. 



