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[[underlined]] Cheyenne R. [[/underlined]]

The ravines & bank have a flora of their own such as Juniperus, Populus novotifera, Ulmus americanus, Fraxinis viridis, Shepherdia argentia, Rhus aravatica, Artemisia cava, Yucca glauca. Cottonwoods grow along Cheyenne R. There is no sandy flat on this side near here.

Loring shot a Lepus campeatris which contained 4 large embryos. She still wore her old winter hair which was worn off short & crisp[[strikethrough]] y [[/strikethrough]].

Fished a Sitomys out of an old well by the road. L. shot a S. 13lineatus which contained 9 embryos. Shot 2 each of 2 species of longspurs.

[[underlined]] May 31 [[/underlined]]  Loring caught 5 Sitomys. I caught nothing. Crossed the river and followed down about 2 miles on S. side & finding a wide sandy flat camped & set traps, made up birds, hunted, cleaned gun & in evening shot bats. We both got 5 Vesperogs. Caught a Perodipus & set gopher & perognathus traps. High gumbo hills of badland appearance, full of gypsum & fossils border the river valley which in places is one or two miles wide with sandy or gumbo flats & again is narrow.  Populus monolifera & Shepherdia argentia grow in rows along the flats. Thickets of rose bushes are full of flowers  Symphorocarpus & Rhus aromatic are common on the flats, also Pentstemon [[blank space]] & Lathyrus arvatus, Opuntia & Mamillaria.

Splendid grass, lots of stock.

Mr. Smith who has lived here 15 years says Porcupines are rather common.

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[[underlined]] To Belle Fourche R. [[/underlined]]

[[underlined]] June 1[[/underlined]]  Caught a Perodipus, a Perognathus paradoxus, a P. fasciatus, an Onychomys & 4 Sitomys. Loring got 2 Thomomys & shot a Colaptes. Followed down  the river about 3 miles to Smithville P.O. & store at mouth of Elk Creek. Here we climbed up onto the prairie. At river aneroid read 1750, on top of prairie 2100 feet at edge.

Crossed rolling prairie about 10 miles & then descended into the Belle Fourche valley, followed up the river 4 or 5 miles & camped at a ranch, which is said to 15 miles from mouth of Belle Fourche, 18 miles from Smithville, 50 miles from Rapid City. Top of prairie at edge of valley read 2350 & Belle Fourche R. 1900 feet.  It is a valley one to 2 or 3 miles wide, with badland sides & gumbo bottom, good grass & along the river groves of Cottonwood. Junipers & bushes grow over the valley sides as they do along the Cheyenne.

The Belle Fourche flows through a smaller bed than the Cheyenne but carries more than twice as much water. The water is muddy but fairly good to drink. Not half so alkaline as the Cheyenne. There are no sandy flats. Crossed the Belle Fourche on horseback & it came well up on Jumbo's sides. Set traps, did not finish making up specimens. Came 21 miles today.

Gnats are fearful, & in evening some mosquitos bother. Can just see the Black Hills & Bear Butte.