210 



NATURALIST'S GUIDE TO THE AMERICAS 



It is not possible to give with any 

 degree of certainty a distinct bird life 

 for the various forest types since most 

 of the birds inhabit several types. A list 

 of these is given under the cedar-hem- 

 lock-grand fir type. 



Western yellow pine, Pinus ponderosa 

 scopulorum, is the only coniferous tree 

 occurring in southeastern Montana on 

 the Sioux and Custer National Forests. 

 This type represents outposts of the 

 Black Hills Yellow Pine type. 



The western yellow pine occurs in 

 largest bodies on the following National 

 Forests : 



Cedar -hemlock grand fir-western white 

 pine type 



The Thuja plicata-Tsuga heterophylla- 

 Abies grandis-Pinus monticola type 

 occurs chiefly in northern Idaho be- 

 tween 2000 and 4500 ft. elevation. 

 This type is not necessarily confined to 

 higher elevations than the western yel- 

 low pine but marks a region of much 

 heavier rainfall. Air temperatures are 

 lower than those observed in the western 

 yellow pine forests. The cedar-hem- 

 lock-white pine forests have a mean 

 annual air temperature of 42.4° and an 

 annual precipitation up to 40 in. Snow- 

 fall, which is 112 in. per year is also 

 much heavier and the humidity greater 

 here than in the western yellow pine 

 type. This type is found on more 

 protected slopes and aspects over 

 broken topography where the extremes 

 of climate are tempered by greater pre- 

 cipitation and cloudiness, and where the 

 texture and moisture holding qualities 

 of the soil are improved and maintained 

 by a dense stand, deep shade and rapid 

 accumulation of humus. This type of 

 forest, therefore, shows a wealth of 

 herbaceous species, shrubs and conifers. 



The fauna is also rich in species of 

 birds and of fur-bearing mammals. The 

 following birds and animals have been 

 observed: Woodpeckers (pileated, flicker, 

 red-headed, hairy, downy, andsapsucker), 

 screech owl and great horned owl, mourn- 

 ing dove, swallow, kingbird, ruby-throat- 

 ed humming bird, bronzed grackle, junco, 

 winter wren, chickadee, songsparrow, 

 vesper sparrow, ruffed grouse, occasional 

 quail, pine grosbeak, American crossbill, 

 varied thrush, Steller's jay, and Canada 



jay." 



Among the important animals may be 

 mentioned the mule and white-tailed 

 deer (Odocoileus hemionus and O. sp.), 

 elk (Cervus canadensis occidentalis) , 

 black bear (Ursus americanus), cougar 

 (Felis concolor group), lynx and bob-cat 

 (Lynx spp.), coyote and timber wolf 

 (Canis spp.), skunk (Mephitis), weasel 

 (Mustela), porcupine (Erethizon), pine 

 squirrel (Sci^lrus hudsonicus rich- 

 ardsoni), snowshoe hare (Lepus hairdii), 

 flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus 

 subspp.), pack rat (Neotoma cinerea 

 subspp.), jumping-raouse (Zapus), beaver 

 (Castor), muskrat (Ondatra zihethica 

 osoyoosensis) , mink (Mustela vison ener- 

 gumenos), and rarely otter (Lutra) 

 occur along the streams. 



Forest fires have been frequent and 

 destructive in this tj^pe of forest and 

 have greatly limited the distribution 

 of the species, which are moisture- 

 loving, tolerant of shade and less fire 

 resistant than larch and Douglas fir. 

 Because of prolific seeding and the ease 

 with which lodgepole pine and western 

 white pine reproduces on burns these 

 species, particularly the latter, are much 

 in evidence. In fact the Idaho forests 

 are known for areas of stately virgin 

 forests of almost pure white pine. These 

 trees reach 180 and 200 ft. in height and 

 are found up to 50 and occasionally 60 in. 

 in diameter. The highest cut on record is 

 one million board feet of lumber on 10 

 acres. This tj^pe, therefore, marks the 

 greatest activity of the lumbering indus- 

 try in the Inland Empire. Virgin stands 



■• I am indebted to Ranger G. Kempff for help in 

 preparing the list of birda. 



