Report of an expedition down the Zuni and Colorado rivers / by Captain L. Sitgreaves.

  • United States. Army. Corps of Topographical Engineers.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of an expedition down the Zuni and Colorado rivers / by Captain L. Sitgreaves. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    I also procured here a fine species of A pus (A. longicaudatus,) described by Major LoConte in the Annals of the New York Lyceum of Natural History, vol. 4, p. 155, pi. 9. Frequently did I find in the road that disagreeable-looking object known to the Mexicans as the vinagron, (Telcphonis giganteus,) and by them much dreaded. From El Paso, passing up the Rio Grande, along which stream the vegetation alters but little, the timber being principally cotton-wood, (Populus monilifera,) the mezquit (Algarobia) extending up as far as the Jornada del Muerto, the creosote plant, (Larrea Mexicana,) grease-weed, (Obione cauesccns,) Fallugia paraduxa, and various species of artemisia and yucca, are found growing along the barren hills extremely abundant. There were but few flowers to collect. I added to my collections numerous birds and reptiles along this stream, and during our detention at Santa Fe. On Wednesday, August 15th, 1851, we commenced our western march from Santa Fe, following the valley of the Rio Santa Fe a number of miles, and then crossing a dry, arid, gravelly plain to the Galesteo creek, the valley ol which we followed a number of miles. From there we passed over to the Rio Grande, at the pueblo of San Domingo. But little of interest is presented thus far, the country for the most part being quite barren, gramma-grass (Boutelorea) being found in occasional patches, several species of Opuntia, also Ephedra, the Fremontia rermi- cularis, &c. From here the valley of the Rio Del Norte, as far as Albuquerque, presents but little change in regard to vegetation, with the exception of a few scattered cotton-wood trees, (P. monilifera,) or occasionally a few cedars, (Junipe- ms.) The grass in many places was plenty, and of good quality. Along this river I observed numerous water-birds, such as the great and little yellow-shank tatler, ( Totanus melanolcucus and T.jlavipcs,) the little sand-piper, ( Tringa pusilla and T. Schinzi,) a new species of curlew, (Numenius occidentalis,) coots, (Fulica Americana,) avocet, (Recurvirostra Americana,) brant, (Bcrmcla brenta,) ducks, mallard, (Anas Boschas,) blue-winged teal, (Pterocyanca cocru- leata,) shoveller, (Spatula clypeata,) white pelican, (Pclecanus trachyrhynchus,) besides several varieties of land birds, finches, &c. Crossing the river at that place, and pursuing a western course, ascending a number of miles over a sandy, barren road, we came to a plaiu; from this we rapidly descended to the Rio Puerco, having passed over a barren waste upon which little was growing excepting grease-weed (Obione cancscens,) I ranscria acanthocarpa, or Ycrba del sapa of the Mexicans, several species of artemisia, and a few cacti. At this stream, which w’us now dry, there were a tew scattered cedars and cotton-woods. Passing from hero to the pueblo of Laguna, over a diversified country, with occasionally plenty of gramma-grass, (Boutelorea) and on the hills numerous cedars, birds and quadrupeds were very scarce: now and then an occasional reptile was to bo seen. Here wre encamped a few days, and near by tlitre is growing a species of scrub oak, (Qucrcus Emoryii) also numerous cedars, (Jum- per,) s.) About Acoma T found specimens of the Datura Mctel. There were quite a number of birds among the cedars, among them the California jay, (Cyanacorax Catifomicus;) in the lake, in the vicinity of camp, there is quite a variety o water-fowl.