60 BULLETIN NO. 4, DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



were most common on partially bare and dryer grounds where the vege- 

 tation is less rank. Color of wings and tibiae does not necessarily indi- 

 cate specific differences. 



DESCRIPTION OF SURFACE. 



The Taos Valley extends from the Arroyo Hondo, or deep ravine, of 

 the Rio Hondo, or deep river, on the north, and from the canon of the 

 Rio Grande on the west to the foot of the Taos range of mountains on 

 the east.- It slopes to the southwest from the mouth of the Rio Houdo 

 canon, which has an elevation of 7,800 feet, to the edge of the Rio 

 Grande canon, which is about 6,400. The greater portion of the coun- 

 try is of a drift deposit, and consequently is mixed with bowlders and 

 fragments of rock from the bordering mountains. It also is very rich 

 when irrigated, which can be done over almost every portion by some 

 one of the various beautiful mountain torrents that traverse the valley 

 towards the Rio Grande. At present all or nearl} T all the farming is 

 confined to the upper portion of the valley bordering the mountains, 

 but I am satisfied that the lower portions, which are at present occupied 

 by sage-brush, will be equally productive with the aid of water. 



The surrounding mountains are rich in minerals, and only await the 

 approach of railroad communication to be developed. With this, farm- 

 ing will also necessarily increase and the region become one of the rich- 

 est in this section of New Mexico. Stock-raising is confined chiefly to 

 goats, a few sheep, burros, hogs (which are picketed out), and a few 

 cows. An abundance of chickens, too, is also raised in some parts of 

 the valley. (Eggs and wood always oue price, the former 25 cents for 

 16, and the latter same per load.) In passing north from Taos we enter 

 the valley of the Rio Hondo. This latter is a stream of almost double 

 the size of any of those passing through the Taos Valley, but differs 

 from them by running in the center of a deep, narrow, canon-like valley ; 

 most of this, however, is farmed, as is the high mesa on the south side 

 of the valley, which latter slopes toward the Taos Valley. The upper 

 end of this mesa, at the base of the mountains, is about 8,000 feet above 

 sea-level, and descends toward the Rio Grande at the rate of about 100 

 feet to the mile. After leaving the Rio Hondo a low spur of the mount- 

 ains, or high, irregular mesa, partly of volcanic rocks and covered with 

 pinon pines and cedars, is crossed. This, at the highest point, reaches an 

 elevation of 8,215 feet at a distance of between 2 and 3 miles from the 

 mountains, which at the general slope of the country would be about 

 8,500 at the base of them. From this point the descent toward the Red 

 River is quite rapid, this latter being about 7,400 feet where it leaves 

 the mountains, and about 100 less where it enters the canon at the foot 

 of the valley, and preparatory to entering the Rio Grande. This valley, 

 like that of the Rio Hondo, is comparatively narrow, and pretty well 

 occupied by farms. 



On the north edge of this valley begins what is known as San Luis 



