544 



NATURALIST'S GUIDE TO THE AMERICAS 



northeastern face is a long and wide 

 field of snow and ice. Both are unex- 

 plored. 



As yet there are no trails, hence travel 

 is of exploratory nature, on foot or on 

 horseback, carrying all necessities. 

 Moose, elk, deer, bighorn sheep and. 

 Rocky Mountain goats, black and 

 grizzly bear, beaver, and smaller ani- 

 mals, are common. Both sides of the 

 ranges and all ravines well timbered. 

 Vegetation doubtless similar to that of 

 Glacier Park, of which the region is a 

 continuation. Drainage is entirely into 

 the Pacific. Extremes of elevation, val- 

 leys to summits, about 7000 ft. All 

 life communities from aquatic to semi- 

 arid, from prairie to timber, and lowland 

 to alpine, may be had within short dis- 

 tances. Ideal unexplored and almost 

 unknown country. 



Nyack||, on the Great Northern Rail- 

 way, back track about 5 mi. to first 

 bridge, up ravine to Stanton lake, up 

 southern ridge as far as desired; Coram|f, 

 about 15 mi. south (a), then eastward 

 toward the high summits as one may con- 

 jecture.** 



*Little St. Joe Game Preserve. In 

 Mineral County, between the Missoula 

 and St. Regis rivers and the Bitter Root 

 mountains. Between 150 and 200 sq. 

 mi., mountainous, with coniferous for- 

 ests, unpolluted streams, and unmodi- 

 fied. Set aside in 1923 as a state game 

 and bird preserve. Best reached from 

 St. Regis M . J. E. 



* River Valley and Deciduous Forest. 

 (B2.) Along the Rattlesnake creek. 

 About 25 acres, called Greenough Park, 

 on both sides of the creek; typical of 

 mountain ravine plains forest of cot- 

 tonwood, alder, birch, and pine shows 

 middle age to mature stage, and chang- 

 ing. Forest with characteristic under- 

 growth, young to mature trees. Normal 

 boulder-strewn swift stream, little pol- 

 luted, 10 to 20 ft. wide, to 5 ft. deep, 

 depending on season. The fauna in- 

 cludes pine squirrel, chipmunk, and 

 many species of nesting birds. 3235 

 ft., level. 



Missoulaf, mi. N.E (w). M. J. E. 



*Spotted Bear Game Preserve. In 

 parts of Powell and Flathead counties, 

 between the Southfork of Flathead 

 river and the main range of the Rockies. 

 Several hundred sq. mi. with Spotted 

 Bear creek as northern boundary; set 

 apart in 1923 as a state game and bird 



preserve; reached from Missoula, about 

 10 mi. N.W. ; coniferous forests, moun- 

 tains above 9500, rushing streams, open 

 prairies. M. J. E. 



Wolf Creek Game Preserve. In Lincoln 

 County. Two townships at the head- 

 waters of Wolf creek, in the Kootenai 

 river drainage ; mountains, with forests ; 

 reached from Libby, about 40 or 50 

 mi. E., or from Jennings , over the 

 mountains some 20 mi.; coniferous 

 forests, open glades, rushing streams. 

 Set apart in 1923 as a state game 

 preserve. 



*Snow Creek State Game Preserve. 

 In bad lands, or breaks, bordering the 

 Missouri river on south bank, and ex- 

 tending back from 10 to 15 mi. About 

 300 sq. mi., containing deciduous forest, 

 coniferous forest, semi-desert and arid 

 vegetation, with sand areas, talus slopes, 

 gravel slides, ravines, canyons, hills 

 and bluffs, and much glacial soil. Valu- 

 able, aside from a game preserve mainly 

 for deer, for its tree growth of coniferous 

 and deciduous forests, in semi-arid 

 section. Eastern limits of Douglas 

 fir. Generally below the prairie level, 

 from 50 to 250 ft. Townships 20, 21, 

 22, Ranges, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, E. Mont, 

 Merid. 



Miles Cityt, 92 mi. N.W. (a) ; Jordan! 

 12 to 25 mi. N.W. (a). F. B. Cobb. 



7. NORTH DAKOTA 



BY J. T. SARVIS AND J. E. SWITZER 



I. GENERAL CONDITIONS (j. E. S.) 



North Dakota is located near the 

 center of the North American Con- 

 tinent, in the grass land of the great 

 central lowland between latitudes 45 

 56' and 49 N. 



1. Topography 



The state is characterized by the low 

 level Lake Agassiz plain in the eastern 

 part, bordered by a gently rolling prairie 

 belt stretching to the westward which is 

 crossed by occasional morainic belts 



