BRN 9-2 (uncompressed) - Flipbook - Page 41
What happens next? Unfortunately, not much. I had hoped
to Þnd these caterpillars again to validate their supposed
response to certain pitches of sound. I did not Þnd these
caterpillars again.
Our focus is on natural history so our exploration of the
before and now in maps will focus on that broad topical
area.
To provide a broader perspective, before we delve into more
modern detail, we have included several historical maps on
the following page. These maps depict what was known
and what was considered important. These maps were
copied from Early Naturalists of the Black Range.
The pupal stage of this speciesÕ life is spent underground.
The caterpillars crawl to the ground, burrow in, and pupate.
Awaiting the next stage of the life cycle.
Then and Now - As Seen in Maps
1650. Nicholas SansonÕs map (L'AmŽrique Septentrionale,
Le Nouveau Mexique et La Floride - detail at the upper left
on the next page) had the Rio de Norte ßowing into the Gulf
of California but represented a major step forward in
understanding the geography of the area. In addition to the
known land forms at that time this map includes various
communities and population centers (e.g. ÒApaches de
XilaÓ). Those exploring the Gila today may not Þnd this map
useful, but in the late 1600s every data element could mean
the difference between life and death.
Cartographic depictions of our landscape (maps) are used by
all of us, all of the time. If you are working in the Þeld they
can be the tool you use to get from where you are to where
you want to be - that and a good set of boots.
Maps change. That is something we donÕt always think
about, but every edition of a map has changes from the
previous. Sometimes those changes reßect changes in the
natural topography, sometimes changes made by humans,
sometimes as a result of a change in emphasis (of the map
maker).
1758. Bernardo de Miera y Pacheco was one of the most
important cartographers in New Spain (if not the most
important) during this period. By 1743 he had settled in El
Paso but moved to Santa Fe in 1754.
In our explorations, we often look at several maps of the
same area. The maps may have been made by different
entities but are contemporaneous; the maps may have been
developed at different times; the maps . . . There are many
reasons and ways the maps may be different. That is what
we want to look at more closely in this article.
His map ÒMap which Don Francisco Antonio Mar’n del Valle,
Governor and Captain General of this kingdom of New
Mexico, ordered drawnÓ was widely used during the colonial
period and is shown at the top right on the following page
(and detail below that). Note the following in the detail:
The existence of the Sierra del Cobre Virgen northwest of
the Sierra Florida and the Rio de las Mimbres between the
two. (The Rio Mimbres is shown ßowing into a lake.) North
of the Sierra Florida is Cerro de los Remedios, which refers
In last yearÕs April issue of this journal we explored the
concept of repeat photography and its use in gaining insight
about changes in our natural landscape. Here we analyze
what the changes in a basic tool, over time, tell us about our
natural landscape.
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