INTRODUCTION. 11 



mountains. From here on until within a few miles of Manns Lake 

 there was practically no trail, except such as had been made here and 

 there by cattle and sheep traveling to and from water and feed. In 

 no case did we reach the highest elevation on the mountains, but skirted 

 them on the west and north along the broad broken table-lands where 

 so much pasturing is done. Our course led across and somewhat below 

 the sources of the Blitzen, Mud, Indian, and Cocoamongo creeks. 

 From Manns Lake we returned to Wild Horse along the traveled road 

 between the Alvord Desert and the base of the mountains, having in 

 this manner surrounded the main divide of Steins Mountains and 

 having traversed the main summer range of the region, accomplishing 

 in this mountain range a similar survey of the country as we did in the 

 Pine Forest and adjacent ranges in northern Nevada. Returning 

 from Wild Horse to Manns Lake, a couple of days were spent in the 

 vicinity of Divine's ranch, which extends from the eastern slope of 

 Steins Mountains to the Alvord Desert. The next stop of any length 

 of time was made on the Island Ranch, between the forks of Silvies 

 River, 15 miles south of Burns. From here we traveled by rather 

 rapid stages to Ontario, passing en route Silvies, Calamity Settlement, 

 Drewsey , Beulah, Westf all, and Vail. Short stops of one to three days 

 were made near Silvies and Beulah, and at Indian Creek and Harper 

 ranches. 



For some features of the work conditions were not at all favorable. 

 The region should have been visited about twenty days earlier for the 

 collection of specimens. Many important things on the desert were 

 so far gone when we arrived that good specimens could not be obtained; 

 but, while there was loss in this respect, we were able to secure a large 

 quantity of seed, especially of the valuable wild wheat {JElymus tri- 

 ticoides); and we were in just the right time for the study of the 

 native hay meadows and the summer mountain pastures under full 

 stocking. 



The trip under the circumstances was very easily made, and was 

 devoid of the many hardships which are usually encountered, even in 

 regions much more easily traveled. This was due entirely to the 

 excellent provisions made for our accommodation. The traveling was- 

 done by team, except when we took pack outfits on mountain trips. 

 (See Pis. I, fig. 2; II, fig. 2; III, figs. 1 and 2, and IV, fig. 1.) During 

 nearly the entire six weeks we received accommodations at ranches 

 lying along the route. Sometimes the stops were made at a ranch; 

 at other times with the hay crews on the meadows, and in one instance 

 with a round-up outfit that was gathering beef for the market. A 

 total of about 700 miles was covered in this manner, through probably 

 the most sparsely populated and one of the largest areas in the country, 

 with no railroads or telegraphic communication. 



