300 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [No.7. 



water and often occupy the tops of sand dunes. They usually grow 

 in clumps from 3 to 9 meters (10 to .'JO feet) in height. Their roots 

 are very long and are said to travel 30 meters (100 feet) or more in 

 search of moisture. The two species occur either together or singly, and 

 their fruit, called 'mesquite beans/ is much sought after by the native 

 animals and birds of the region, and also by the Indians. The pods arc 

 sweet and nutritious, and are sometimes gathered and fed to horses and 

 mules instead of grain. The present species (Prosopis juliflora) was 

 observed at the following localities: 



CALIFORNIA. 



Hot Springs, Panamint Valley. — Tolerably common. 



Death Valley. — Occurs in clumps and irregular patches on the west 

 side of the valley, beginning several miles south of Mesquite Well and 

 ranging thence northward. It is abundant also on sand dunes in the 

 northwest arm of Death Valley, from which circumstance the place is 

 commonly known as 'Mesquite Valley.' In Death Valley it was just 

 coming into leaf oh clayey soil April 10, while adjoining clumps on sand 

 soil were in full leaf at the same date. 



Amargosa Canon. — Common in places. 



Besting Spring. — Tolerably common. 



NEVADA. 



Ash Meadows. — Common. 



Indian Spring Valley. — Common in a few places. 



Virgin and Lower Muddy Valleys. — Common in many places. (In full 

 flower May 6.) 



Great Bend of the Colorado. — Abundant on the sand hills on the south 

 side of Vegas Wash. 



UTAH. 



Santa Clara Valley. — Occurs spariugly on sandy soil in the lower 

 valley. 



Prosopis pubescens. 



This mesquite, commonly known as ' screw bean,' is widely distributed 

 over the deserts of the southwest, usually in company with the j)reced- 

 ing. It was noted in the following localities: 



CALIFORNIA. 



Panamint. Valley. — Common about Hot Springs. 

 Death Valley. — Common along the west side of the valley. 

 Amargosa Canon. — Occurs with P. juliflora and is enormously abun- 

 dant in the upper part of the canon, where Tecoi>a Canon comes in. 



NEVADA. 



Ash Meadows. — Abundant. 



Virgin and Lower Muddy Valleys. — Common in places. 



Indian Spring Valley, — Occurs in places. 



