BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY. 359 



plumage of these birds for the purpose of personal adornment. The 

 other film shows views of the birds on the bird-refuge islands near 

 the mouth of the Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico and is entitled 

 " National bird refuges." 



Detailed histories of the Bison Range and Wind Cave Preserve 

 have been completed, a rough draft of a history of the Niobrara Res- 

 ervation, Nebr., has been made, and data assembled for the writing 

 of iiistories of other refuges. 



Xatlonal Bison Range^ Mont. — With the exception of the deplor- 

 able loss of antelope during the past winter, the animals and birds 

 have done well on this preserve, although in spring the animals 

 were much reduced in flesh, owing to the exceptionally severe win- 

 ter. Eight buffalo died during the year and 77 were born, increasing 

 the number to 452. All deaths in the herd within the past year have 

 apparently been from natural causes, as there has been no contagious 

 sickness of any kind. The elk now number 325 as against 265 last 

 year. 



The unfortunate loss of antelope reduced the herd from 60 (the 

 number reported on June 30, 1921) to 17. During the time when 

 the range was covered with snow coyotes drove the antelope into 

 drifts, from which the}^ could not escape, and killed by far the 

 larger part of the herd, an unprecedented loss. On June 30, 1922, 

 it was estimated that 25 antelope were on the range, counting a few 

 young of the year. Since January 1, 30 coyotes have been trapped, 

 shot, or poisoned on this preserve or near its boundary', and 76 others 

 were taken in the surrounding country. 



In the autumn of 1921, 17 white-tailed deer and 17 mule deer 

 were received at the range, the gift of Frank Conley, of Deer Lodge, 

 Mont. The estimated number of mule deer now on the range is 50; 

 and of wdiite-tailed deer, 25. 



Through the courtesy of the Canadian National Parks Service, 12 

 mountain sheep were obtained in February from Banff, xA^lberta. 

 The band consisted of four rams and eight ewes, which were kept 

 in a corral near the warden's quarters on the range during the 

 remainder of the winter. Thev are doing well and have increased 

 in number to 16. 



The 24 ring-necked pheasants turned out in the fiscal year 1921 

 had increased to about 124, and at the present time 100 are reported 

 on the range. The introduction of the pheasants has been so suc- 

 cessful that the State has contributed this year nine pairs of Euro- 

 pean partridges, and it will be interesting to note the result ; they now 

 number 25. 



Two reservoirs for watering places for the animals have been com- 

 pleted, one on the west side of the range and the other near the south- 

 east corner. 



^Vind Cave National Game Preserve., S. Dak. — This year's calf 

 crop has increased the buffalo herd from 71 to 90, and the elk number 

 149. not including calves. During the exceptionally severe weather 

 conditions last winter the antelope herd was reduced by bobcats and 

 coyotes from 34 to 14. The remaining animals are in splendid con- 

 dition, and on June 30 there were 6 fawns reported, making a total 

 of 20 antelope in that herd. Since January 1, 75 predatory animals 

 were caught on Wind Cave Preserve and in the surrounding country. 



25684— AGR 1923 24 



