TENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 219 



behavior of these animals when protecting themselves and travel- 

 ling out of the country. 



This experience forms the chief subject of this article, and it 

 may be introduced by a few words on the environment of these 

 animals, geographical and zoological, and then upon their struc- 

 ture. 



The elevations are from 4,000 to 10,000 feet above sea-level. 

 The summers are short, moderately warm, and dry. The winters 

 are long, moderately cold, with a heavy snowfall. The originally 

 heavy forests of spruce and jack-pine have been largely destroyed 

 by forest fires, undoubtedly disturbing the natural faunal condi- 

 tions considerably. The active Carnivora, such as the puma and 

 wolves, are rare. The goats mainly keep in the region at and 

 above the timber line, where they are comparatively safe ; but 

 they also stray down to the lower streams, and we observed a 

 mother and kid on the cliffs above Fording River, but little above 

 the level of Elk River. 



Zoologically, this parallel and district is extremely interesting 

 as a neutral zone inhabited by both northern, boreal, and south- 

 ern animals. Among these, the goat and the caribou are near their 

 southerly limits ; while the puma or cougar is near its northerly 

 limits. 



REPRESENTATIVE MAMMALS OF THIS REGION. 



As this entire country is underlaid with valuable coal mines, 

 and is rapidly being settled, the wild animals will inevitably be 

 driven out, although it must be said that the game laws are 

 admirable and that they are respected and enforced. Notes on 

 the existing animals will in time be valuable. I owe the following 

 chiefly to my guide Charles L. Smith, who is endowed with excep- 

 tional keenness as an observer, and has all the finer instincts of 

 the naturalist. The list has been studied and a number of points 

 added by my friend Director W. T. Hornaday, who followed me 

 into this country. I am also indebted to Prof. J. A. Allen and 

 Mr. W. K. Gregory for revising the list. 



RODENTIA. 



Among the Rodentia the beavers (Castor canadensis) , which 

 are now being protected, are again increasing in numbers. The 

 yellow-haired porcupine {Erethison epixanthum) is fairly abun- 

 dant. The gray- and yellow-legged marmots (Marmot a prui- 

 nosa) are numerous. Rats and mice are present in endless vari- 



