22 SOUTHWESTERN NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA. 
The prospect of developing flowing wells in the area is slight, The 
Paleozoic rocks and the Tertiary volcanics are too much faulted to 
present extensive and continuous water-bearing strata. In the flat 
valleys beds of sand and gravel and layers of clay may be locally so 
superimposed upon one another as to furnish artesian conditions. 
Flowing wells, however, would be encountered only by the merest 
chance and would probably be weak. 
In Turkestan and in the arid regions of southern California gently 
ascending tunnels have been driven into alluvial fans and water 
so obtained has been used for irrigation. The construction and 
maintenance of such tunnels are expensive, and in the area studied 
they would meet with success in few if any of the larger fans in which 
strong springs sink. 
SNOW. 
During the winter snow lies on many of the higher ranges and 
forms a valuable water supply to the prospector and traveler. 
SIGNS OF WATER. 
For the benefit of those unused to desert conditions it will per- 
haps be of value to describe the signs which indicate the pres- 
ence of water in southwestern Nevada. Vegetation near springs 
or tanks is noticeably luxuriant, and in consequence patches of vivid 
green are worthy of investigation. The desert shrubbery attains an 
unusual size around springs, and a number of bushes and flowers not 
elsewhere seen are abundant. The willow, wild rose, elderberry, and 
gooseberry, the red honeysuckle and the poppy, and the " water bush," 
or tonopah of the Indians, are unknown except in the vicinity of 
water. The " water bush " is a shrub 2 to 3 feet high, with grayish- 
green leaves set on a white stalk thickly covered with spikes 1 inch 
long. Mesquite grows in Death Valley and the Amargosa Desert, 
and water may usually be obtained at slight depths near its roots] 
A\ here rye grass and the cane grow there is water at the surface or 
at moderate depths. 
Rabbits, coyotes, and birds are particularly abundant near water. 
Mourning doves at sunset often flock around water holes. It is more 
than unfortunate that in the last two years the shotgun and trap have 
greatly diminished the numbers of this bird, one of the surest of water 
guides. Stock trails usually lead to water, and the point at which 
several trails converge is in most cases a spring. Since the animals go 
directly to water from the flats and on leaving the spring spread over 
the surrounding country as they feed, the trail becomes percept ihly 
plainer as it nears the spring. Many such trails, however, are Avinter 
trails, and in consequence the recency of tracks should be noted in 
searching for water. 
Wagon roads and trails are constructed from one spring or tank to 
