The Yellowstone Park 



mirably fitted for their needs. They have 

 been seen on the borders of the Lake of 

 the Woods, and on the head of Stinking 

 Water River east of Yellowstone Lake. 



Two varieties of deer inhabit the Park, 

 commonly known as the black-tail and white- 

 tail deer, the former being much the more 

 abundant of the two. Being fleet of foot, they 

 roam over the entire area in passing from one 

 pasturage ground to another. They show a 

 decided preference for gently sloping foot- 

 hills carrying a scattered growth of mingled 

 pine and maple and other deciduous trees, 

 their natural habitat being the border-land 

 between dense forest and open valley. Such 

 favorite spots affording food, shelter, and 

 shade abound, and present one of the most 

 characteristic features of an ideal park coun- 

 try. Deer haunt the valleys of the Gallatin 

 Range and the lava slopes around the head of 

 Black Tail Deer Creek, which flows into the 

 Yellowstone ; but more than any other animal 

 they seem to delight in changing their habi- 

 tat. The ideal country for deer is that para- 

 dise for big game, the valleys of the numerous 

 streams forming the sources of the Snake. 



259 



