3n t$t Ttiinht ^nolos 



piled arches. These arches were formed of out- 

 reaching and interlacing arms of parallel growths 

 of willow and birch clusters. The stream gur- 

 gled beneath its storm window of rough ice. 



I rounded the yard and at the lower end I 

 found the carcasses of the entire herd of deer, — 

 nine in all, — evidently recently killed by a moun- 

 tain lion. He had eaten but little of their flesh. 

 Wolves had not yet discovered this feast, but 

 a number of Rocky Mountain jays were there. 

 The dark spruces stood waiting! No air stirred. 

 Bright sunlight and bluish pine shadows rested 

 upon the glazed whiteness of the snow. The 

 flock of cheerful chickadees feeding through the 

 trees knew no tragedy. 



The winter food of big game consists of dead 

 grass, shrubs, twigs, buds and bark of trees, 

 moss, and dry plants. At times grass dries or 

 cures before the frost comes. When thus cured 

 it retains much nutrition, — is, in fact, un- 

 raked hay. If blighted by frost it loses its flavor 

 and most of its food value. 



During summer both elk and deer range high 

 on the mountains. With the coming of winter 



265 



