60 REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



lower country we find pifions (Finns ctfnlis) and. cedars (Jnnipcrus vir- 

 ginianus). Intlie kills near Sheep Mountain we observe, the same trees, 

 prominent among them the white pine (Abies Engelmanni). All that 

 low country lying east of the Wind River Mountains and north of the 

 Sweetwater Plateau contains sage-brush and cactus (Opuntia). On the 

 bluffs cedars and piiions are very prominent. Cottonwood trees (Popu- 

 lus balsamifera) hue the rivers or streams, and grease-wood (Sarcobatus 

 verm iculat its) is mixed with sage-brush. On the Sweetwater Plateau but 

 very little timber occurs, excepting on its northern slope. There pines 

 and quaking asp are found in the gulches, while sage covers the inter- 

 vening ridges. On the southern slope of the plateau bunch-grass (Brio- 

 coma cuspidata) is abundant, affording good feed for the animals. Along 

 Sweetwater Eiver there is but little timber, consisting of cotton wood and 

 some spruce higher up. Willow-brush, growing quite high, Hues the 

 river. In the granite hills we find scarcely any timber, only a few j)ines. 

 Although the elevations at a number of points in the regions mentioned 

 were often quite low, we met with no wild fruit except service-berries 

 (Amelancliier alnifolia). On Sandy Creek we found large quantities of 

 yellow currants (Eibes aureum) and some black ones (B. floridum). 

 Gooseberries (Eibes Mrtellum) occur at several localities, but do not 

 ripen until late in the season. Both the Seminole and Sweetwater hills 

 are well timbered with spruce and pine. Cottonwood and asp are found 

 in the gulches and low valleys existing in the hills. 



Very little variation is observed in the vegetation of the low country 

 south of these hills. Sage-brush occupies the most prominent place, 

 growing frequently to very large size. Cedars appear occasionally on 

 the bluffs, and near some springs we found quaking asp. Prickly pears 

 and round cacti (Behinocactus) render travelling rather unpleasant at 

 some localities within this region. 



Good timber can be obtained from the foot-hills of the Wind Eiver 

 Eange on its eastern side, or along its western slope. Within the Sheep 

 Mountain Group there is a plentiful supply, but transportation from 

 there becomes difficult. Both in the Sweetwater and Seminole Hills 

 timber is abundant, and the configuration of the country is such that its 

 removal is not seriously impeded. In the Granite Hills the few trees 

 there existing are generally stunted, but for building purposes would 

 answer tolerably well. No available timber exists in the low country 

 south of the Sweetwater Hills or in that north of the Sweetwater Plateau. 

 No inducements are there offered to settlers, however, by the character 

 of the country, and it is not likely that a demand for timber will arise. 

 Light timber can be obtained from the lower portions of the Wind Eiver 

 foot-hills and along a number of streams in that section of country. 



GAME. 



Game is abundant in the district which we surveyed. Prom June 12 

 to the end of the season we were never without fresh meat, although we 

 made no especial efforts to obtain it, but merely shot the game when we 

 happened to meet it. Each different type of country is inhabited by 

 different animals ; and our food was varied, therefore, in accordance with 

 the character of the country through which we travelled. Buffalo, the 

 largest North American mammal (Bison americanus), were found at 

 two localities. On the Little Sandy we met a solitary old bull, who had 

 for some time evidently regarded that region as his private stamping- 

 ground. On the Sweetwater Hills we saw quite a number of these 

 animals. During September and October, sometimes a little earlier, they 



