96 Bird-Nesting 



ourselves on a beautiful hill-girt plateau, in the centre of 

 which stands the town of Calgary, at the base of the Rocky 

 Mountains, 2,262 miles from Montreal, and 3,416 feet above 

 the ocean. Before us the mountains rise in varied forms and 

 in endless cliange of aspect, as the lights and shadows play 

 upon them ; behind us is the great sea of open prairie : north- 

 ward is the wooded district of Edmonton, and the North 

 Saskatchewan, full of moose, elk, bear, wolves, foxes and all 

 manner of fur-bearing animals and winged game : southward, 

 stretching away one hundred and fifty miles to the United 

 States boundry, is the ranching country. You may be sure 

 of a cordial welcome should you visit the ranchmen, and it 

 will be worth your while to do so. You will lind them all 

 along the foot hills, their countless herds feeding far out on 

 the plain. Cattle and horses graze at will all over the country, 

 summer and winter alike. The warm " Chinook " winds from 

 across the mountains keep the ground free from snow in the 

 winter, except for two or three days at a time, and the 

 nutritious and naturally-cured grasses are always within 

 reach of the cattle. All along the base of the mountains, 

 clear streams come down to the plain at frequent intervals, 

 and there is timber in plenty throughout the foothills. The 

 soil is rich and deep, game is very abundant, and the climate 

 matchless. Leaving Calgary and going westward again, fol- 

 lowing up the valley of the Bow, the gradually increasing 

 river terraces and the rounded, grassy foothills, on which 

 innumerable horses, cattle and sheep are feeding, shut out the 

 mountains for an hour or two. Morley station, a few miles 

 from the entrance to the Rockies, is a good centre for the 

 sportsman to start from. Here the needful outfit of provis- 

 ions, etc., can be secured, also a few Stoney Indians as guides, 

 trackers and helpers, and they will show the way to the 

 haunts of mountain sheep, goat, bear, etc. Naturally the con- 

 struction of the railway drove the game back a short distance 

 from the track, but the Indians know where the different 

 species are to be found, and they are thoroughly good hunters, 

 and perfectly reliable guides. Temporary accon\modation 



