24 BULLETIN 1089, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
In the interior areas covered by preliminary reconnaissances, par- 
ticularly the Tanana-Xenana River country, it was found that ranges 
best adapted to reindeer grazing lie generally between timberline 
(approximately 2,700 feet) and the snowline (approximately 6,000 
feet). The growth cover on this range includes principally three 
main types of vegetation, namely, conifers, browse-lichens, and 
lichens, occurring largely according to zone. Browse and species of 
lichen predominate and, as compared with the coast range, there is 
a noticeable absence of grasslike vegetation, especially the sedge or 
" niggerhead " type (PL IX, Fig. 2) . Up to between 4,000 and 5,000 
feet a dense cover of vegetation occurs, lichens especially appearing 
in profusion. Between 4,000 and 5,000 feet up to 6,000 feet the 
rocky nature of the soil supports a cover of lower density. Above 
6,000 feet the ground is perpetually covered with snow. 
Around the lakes and along streams up to 2,500 to 3,000 feet eleva- 
tion the principal types of vegetation are conifers with a browse- 
grass to browse-lichen subtype (PI. IX, Fig. 1). This type blends 
into the browse-lichen and browse-grass types which extend up to 
3,800 and 4,000 feet. Above 4,000 feet a nearly pure lichen type 
comes in, continuing up to snowline, at 6,000 feet. Up to 3,000 feet 
the conifers grow in scattering open patches, while above this eleva- 
tion they become very small and scattering, and usually 2 to 3 inches 
in diameter. The browse, of which ground birch is the most abun- 
dant species, often occurs in very dense patches, chiefly in compara- 
tively dry, gravelly soil. Willow grows on the more swampy areas 
and along stream courses. Alder is found in patches above timber- 
line. Of the lichens, species of Cladonia are most abundant. On 
the river bars and the lower benches of the main drainages, grasses 
and weeds form the principal growths. On lower south exposures, 
grasses are often the main vegetation. 
Forage types. — A summary of the principal forage types occur- 
ring on the immediate coast ranges, particularly of the areas lying 
between Nunivak Island and Kotzebue Sound, is given in Table 1. 
The general occurrence of the types is indicated and their relative 
forage value, the forage value as here used being derived by multi- 
plying the percentage of density of forage stand by the percentage 
of palatable plants. 
