buep:au of biological surm^y. 365 



birds occurs every "sv inter in Mexico, Ijiit conditions in that country 

 have not been propitious for a mi<]rratory-bird treaty. 

 . A considerable number of our important waders and shorebirds, 

 especially golden and black-bellied plovers, winter in Argentina and 

 adjacent countries, and their future conservation may depend on 

 conditions attending the rapid development of agriculture in that 

 remote region. In order to have the necessary first-hand informa- 

 tion regarding this, an assistant biologist was detailed to proceed to 

 Argentina and adjacent countries in time to witness the arrival there 

 of our migratory wild fowl during their southern migration in the 

 sunmier of 1920 and to continue his investigations relating to these 

 birds in their winter home until they return northward again in the 

 spring of 1921. He sailed for Buenos Aires on May 29 and should 

 bring back much valuable information bearing on the future of many 

 of our well-known species. 



WILD LIFE IN NATIONAL PARKS AND NATIONAL FORESTS. 



Late in September, 1919, a representative of the bureau visited the 

 Black Hills of South Dakota to investigate the topography and food 

 resources of an area which has been proposed as a game and bird 

 refuge, to determine its fitness as a reservation for the protection of 

 wild life. 



An investigation was begun late in October in cooperation with 

 the Forest Service to ascertain the conditions affecting the herd of 

 elk at different seasons on the Sitgreaves National Forest, Ariz., 

 variously estimated to contain from 300 to 500 animals. These are 

 the progeny of a number of elk introduced from the Yellowstone 

 Park region several years ago. The work was resumed in January, 

 when the winter range and the approximate number of elk compos- 

 ing the herd w^ere determined. Another trip was made to the region 

 during the latter part of June to ascertain the summer range of the 

 herd and to secure data on which to base final recommendations re- 

 garding the extent and approximate boundaries of a proposed game 

 refuge. This investigation was still in progress at the close of the 

 fiscal year. 



During the first half of April an investigation of the condition of 

 the elk wintering in the Jackson Hole region was made, special atten- 

 tion being given to certain areas in the Hoback Valley, along the 

 slopes of the foothills bordering Jackson Valley on the east and in 

 the valley of the Gros Ventre, all within the confines of the national 

 forests, on which, by virtue of arrangements made in 1917 with the 

 Forest Service, grazing by cattle was restricted in order to conserve 

 sufficient forage for wintering elk. Further joint investigation by 

 this bureau and the Forest Service is planned during the summer. 

 The National Park Service will also have men in the field in order 

 that the three bureaus interested in the Yellowstone elk herds may 

 work effectively for their conservation. A new edition of the cir- 

 cular of information concerning Yellowstone National Park, which 

 is issued annually by the National Park Service and which ai)peare<l 

 in the spring o:^ 1920, contains revised lists of the mammals and 

 birds of this area, contributed in part by a field naturalist of this 

 bureau. In addition, a comprehensive treatise r)n the mammals of 

 Yellowstone National Park is in the hands of the National Park 



