NATURAL AllKAS AND lUOGlONS 



555 



at home here. Spiders are esi)ecially 

 abundant. 



5. Sagebrush Associdtion. The mo.st 

 conspicuous bird characteristic of the 

 sagebrush of this state is the sage hen, 

 which was numerous here until a few 

 years ago. It is being exterminated 

 rapidly. 



The most notaI)le insect is tlie large 

 black and white sage-moth, which i.s 

 very cons])icuous for a few days in July 

 or August. The larvae feed upon sage 

 leaves. 



6. Badlands. The badlands, because 

 of their relative inaccessibility, are the 

 home of several carnivores. Gray 

 wolves and coyotes are more frequently 

 met here than elsewhere. Bobcats are 

 plentiful. The puma or mountain lion 

 was formerly not rare. A few antelope 

 still feed on some of the "flats." Big- 

 horn sheep, and mule deer formerly were 

 common and the bighorn may not yet 

 be extinct in the White River ]?ad Lands. 

 The mammals now most frequently seen 

 in badlands are the striped chipmunk 

 and cottontail rabbit. The porcupine, 

 of nocturnal habit, is also found here. 

 The chief birds are the rock wren, Say's 

 phoebe, cliff swallow, violet-green swal- 

 low, western lark sparrow, turkey 

 vulture, and prairie falcon. Rattle- 

 snakes are not lacking, though far from 

 common. The horned-lizards ("toads") 

 are seen occasionally. 



The animals are grayish in color with 

 the exception of the bats, swallows and 

 swifts. The crevices and cavelcts fur- 

 nish homes for the chipmunk, bat, bob- 

 cat, Say's phoebe, prairie falcon, and 

 rock wren. The cliff swallow and white- 

 throated swift find cliffs suitable for 

 nesting sites. Several of the larger 

 mammals, notably the bighorn sheep 

 and mule or black-tailed deer, are power- 

 ful jumpers. 



IV. NATURAL AREAS 



All areas save one "The DelLs," noted 

 south of a line from lirooking.s, South 

 Dakota to Pierre, South Dakota, have 

 been found to be either too artificial 

 (e.g., dams), or too highly modified 



friitii the oriKiniil Htiito (iIcforc«t45<l; to 

 l)e con.sidorod in i\m work. 



* W'intI Cave Xnlional Park. In the 

 Black IlilLs, the "Hcono of Cui^tor'H firMt 

 stand, famou.s for many yciirf; f'.r Imliun 

 fight.s and frontier liiw!cHHn« It in 

 culled Wind Cave l>friiUHC of the htmnK 

 currents of air which alternate in and out 

 of its mouth. The park Ih also a game 

 l)reserve of unusual merit" (From Na- 

 tional I'.irk.s Portfolio). The strata in 

 which the cave occurfl are known oh 

 Pahasiipa limestone. 10, SW acres; 3700 

 to 4000 ft. 4 ICO acres set aside for a bison 

 preserve, which cnclo.se.s deer, elk and 

 antelope. 



Hot Springs, 12 mi. by bus.— ^. J. /'. 

 RcfcrcTiccs: 

 Wind Cave National Park Rules and 



Regulations, Supt. Documents, 



Govt. Printing Office. 

 South Dakota School of Mines, Book of 



Views, 1920. The I'ahasapa Quar- 



lerbj, June, 1021. 



* Crystal Cave. Within the northeast 

 side of the Black Hills National Forest, 

 halfway between Roubaix and Tilford; 

 a most interesting and beautiful spot. 

 This cave differs greatly in formation, 

 crystals etc. from Wind Cave. It is to be 

 reached l)y road from Piedmont, on the 

 Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, 

 lying about 10 mi. northwest of this city, 

 along north side of KIk Creek, 

 Reference: 



Pahasapa Qnnrtvrly, June, 1021. 



* Prairie and Parlhj Ltiul Plain. In 

 the United States grazing e.\|)criinent 

 tract, leased for 10 years. About 400 

 acres near southern edge of Fall River 

 county, South Dakota; partly level 

 plain and prairie. Slightly cliangcil by 

 grazing. Plants characteristic of sur- 

 rounding areas, showing a ivw succes- 

 sions. The fauna inclu<les pniiric-dog 

 and coyote. I'llevation 3.'»05 ft. ; HliRhtly 

 undulating. 



Ardmoret, 2i mi. N.W., C. W. A tj. 

 R. R.; about 30 mi. S. of Hot SprinirB. 

 S. D.- /;:. J. P. 



Black Hills Xational Forest. Sec U. 8. 

 G(«m1 Surv., lOth Rept. Vol .1, p. 07, 

 IS'JS. 



