The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-07
New York Ills, orical Society.
PAPER ny PROF. BARTLETT ON ANIMAL LIYE |
THE INTERIOR OF NORTH AMERICA.


day evening, at the University Eon Luther Bradish
President the chair After tho reading and approval
81 the minutes the President stated that communca
ton had been received from Mr. Chas A. JOY who passed
four years at the universities of Colt ngen and Berlin
where he waS made ciuainted with an important iaes
in restion the Hessan officers who were In the war OF
the Revolution He learned that there we're in existence
several letters which they had written to theH ilonaa
during the war and copies which he thought could be
procured at the trAing expense OF twenty-five OF try
dollars The President hoped the matter would be placed
in the hands of the Executive Committee and moton
II was so disposed Of communication from Senator
Brooks had also been received stating that the bill to
protect the property of the Society had passed the gs
nature The President next announced the receipt the
deed which had been drawn up by the Baptist Tabernacle
relative to piece of ground the corner of Eleventh
street second avenue which had been purchased by
the Society The thanks Of the Society voted to
Mr.. Chauncey the Treasurer, for the able manner in
which he performed the duties of his office.
The following resolution presented by Mr. Devereux
who prefaced it with few appropriate remarks was
adopted -
Resolved That committee OF three be appointed to
respond with the Secretary Of .hs and take spch
on the Historical Societies Of the United States OF
after be struck at the instance Of the general govern
ment.
Mr. wmxoRK directed the attention of the Society to
the Presidents chair which he said proved by com
peteht authority to be authentic painting.
Rev.Dr. VAN PEIT said that he had in his schooboy
days seen Washington and testified to the correct like
Sees of the portrait
Mr. BARTLETT read the following valuable and interest
ng paper ON
fTIE FORMS OF NATURE AND ANIMAL LIFE IN THE
INTERIOR PORTION OF NORTH AMERICA.
The which nature in the interior parts
,i,hs North American continent beyond the reach Of
the great rivers and their tributaries peculiar
Ia strike the visiter by their novelty Of these shall
give brief sketch barely sufficient perhaps to give
idea Of their true character To enter fully in
~ geographical account OF the country would require
many hours and could not be comprehended without
map and Illustrations. This my apology FOE the impsr
fections and ncompleteness of my remarks
the Rio Grnnde eastward between the parallels of
and "a deg north latitude lies the great plateau Of Tex
ma and New Mexico extending more than three hundred
miles Further north is known the Lano Rsacado
StAked Plain This broad district is destitute Of forest
trees and shrubbery except along the immediate margin
limited being confined to the very banks and never
tending hundred yards from the stream In this region
the Brazos the Red River and the Colorado have their
se but is not until they have coursed for two three
hundred miles that their hanks present any considerable
extent Of bottom land with its accompanying forests As
they descend from the high table the valleys expand the
land becomes fertile luIuriant valleys appear and
forests of oak extend for miles.
The plateau bears but little grass, and this short
stuned variety which, after rains, shoots rapidly up,
and speedily becomes dry aording but little susie
nance without water this arid belt an eecual bar
rier to the progress of the buffalo, which otherwise
would cover the plains OF lower Texas.
About the parallel of twenty mine degrees and thirty
minutes the table land breaks Of into numerous spurs
descending to great plains prares which extend to
the shores of the Gulf of MEXICO, in broad belt from
hundred and fifty to two hundred miles in width. The
whole of this district consists of gently unduatng plains
without timber, along the margin of the streams
and il covered with the most uxuriating grass. The
eastern portion of this plain, well the whole of
eastern Texas is watered by numerous streams and in
fertility unsurpassed by any portion of the globe The
western and western portion deficient in water
courses Rio Grande possesses tributaries here
worth notice south of the Nueces the
tering the Gulf quite dminut,e. But for grazing
and rearing large herds OF cattle the land is unequaed
and II is evident from what of wells sunk in the
midst of these plains that water can be found within
hundred feet of the surface.
The indigenous prairie grass tall coarse, fun Of seed
at the top and when young resembles wheat in the
spring But in grasses the glory of the State mezqu
swerd preserves verdure in the winter and beyond
all comparison affords the best wild pasture in the world
,uaty after it has become hard and dry.
West of the Rio Grande from about the thirty fourth
aralel to the Gulf of California and may add to the
ores Of the Pacific, and thence south for 500 1000
allies, this vast region is but poorly adapted to agricul
ure 1t is destitute Of forests, except in the higher
egons of Che Sierra Madre great chain of the Cor
-dileras in the deiles leading to them. Tmberei
land is also found in the strips along the water
courses; but these cannot with proprety be termed
forests There also valleys between parallel ranges
of mountains, sometimes two or three miles in width,
which derive moisture from the mountains where
the mezquit live oak attain the height of thirty feet
Grass appears only at intervals The high table land OF
chihuahua exhibits il in the greatest quantity but even
here is not continuous. Sometimes is found spread
Ing over districts fifty or more miles in extent when
barren interval of thorny chappera appears, and for
miles blade of is not to be Upon the whole,
feel safe in saying that OF the elevated plateau Of
Mexico not than twothirds can be called grazing
ing from about the parallel of thirty two degrees and
thirty three minutes where the Rocky Mountains sud
the parallel The water courses here run to.
wards the north, and discharge themselves into lakes
which have outlets. The Conchos alone stream
which is large the Rio Grande and has many trbu
aries discharges itself into that river 1t is in that
portion of Chihuahua which forms the eastern slope of
the Sierra Madre, have before said that the best
arabic and timbered land is to be found. This for
mountainous district, is well watered.
The district south of the River Gila between the Rio
Grande and the Pacific for about hundred and fifty
miles in width. is of the most barren character The
paas On leaving and proceeding westward come
broad plains with but little vegetation the sunted
mezqut and other plants to arid regions. This
broad belt extends to the Pacific and is crossed at inter
walls of from fifteen TO thirty miles with short and so
lated ridges Of mountains, from one thousand two
thousand feet above the plain Running from northwest
TO southeast. These, at distance appear like con-
tnuous chain but ON approaching them they are found
TO be in short ridges from i've to ten miles in length
overlapping each other, and afordng easy passages
In this respect these chains differ from the
mountain ridges both at the north and the south
Coming the north they present but few openings
until they reach the parallel of about 80 49, whore they
fa of and lose themselves in the plain, before stated
Near the copper mines they attain height of six thou
sand feet above the eyeof the sea They rise in peaks
separated by and intricate valleys, and maintain
this character until they terminate the plateau This
plateau extends souhwardy through the greater part
OF Mexico.
About the latitude of 81 Is the great Cordiera range
again begins appear the western border Of the table
land and is as ii the concentration Of many lesser
ridges into vast chain, elevated, compact and i'm
gassabe extending through the entire length Of Mexico
IN the Cordilera of the Andes in South America. The
wagon road Of Colonel Cooke spur Of the Sierra
Madre here second pass for mules only exists short
distance from the SOUTH after which there passage
through can these mountains be crossed again with
mules for several hundred miles.
The river ella from it's source to point about fifty
miles below where the San Pedro enters, is closely
In nv and p,pa h1o na
this they appear only at intervals and not in continuous
chains The rest OF the valley of the ella is quite open
to the Colorado.
The water courses Of Sonora take their rise In the
SIERRA Madrc and in the mountains at the north Those
which rise in the former receiving copious and
constant supply Of water reach the ocean, while the
streams in the northern portion OF the State after ira
vrng arid deserts and forcing their way through lofty
mountains Tor three four hundred miles much
by evaporation that they Go reach the sea- but