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they can and do live on arid lands without water.    In humid 
regions many animals, during the cooler periods of the year, may 
live      itely w       ~th'aer, other than that supplied by 
succulent food, but the ability of desert dwelling forms to survive 
without water during the dryest and hottest times is most remarkable. 
In recent years denuded range lands, as result of ex- 
cessive grazing by domestia animals,hgV4 reacted seriously against 
the welfare of wild game in many sections.   Desert dwelling species, 
however, have been but little affected in this respect due to the 
fact that scarcity or total absence of water precludes the grazing 
of domestic animals, thus permitting, so far as plant life is con- 
cerned, almost natural conditions to prevail.   Furthermore, the arid 
mountainous regions for the most part are characterized by such 
rugged topography as to render them of little value for grazing. 
Favored by these natural fortifications against intensive utiliza- 
tion by man and his beasts, remnants of rare and valuable species as 
desert dwelling mountain sheep have been able to exist here and. there 
in spite of the inclination on the part of many hunters to kill to 
the last individual.   Such species would. have been exterminated 
long ago had it not been for this natural protection. 
The existence of the hardy dwellers of our inhospitable 
lands is no doubt dependent as much upon daily conduct of the 
animal as upon water substituting plants, k During the dry, hot 
summer days animals and birds alike retire to the shelter of caves, 
over-hanging ledges, canyons or dense cover of various shrubs where 
in .complete retirement in dense shade the consuming rays of the sun 
are avoided. 
In the range of the desert dwelling mountain sheep al- 
most invariably are to be found caves of considerable extent in