6 BULLETIN FERGUS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. 



character of the so-called "Bad Lands," and their avi-fauna belongs some- 

 what to that of the Great Plains region. Arid conditions of climate and 

 soil prevail. Large areas are overgrown with low forms of cacti and 

 dwarf sage. The streamsides support heavy growths of greasewood and 

 the larger sage-brush. Among such surroundings may be noted the sage 

 thrasher, lark bunting, clay-colored sparrow, western vesper sparrow. Mc- 

 Oown's longspur, chestnut-collared longspur, and sage grouse, as the most 

 common. 



The immediate valley of the Musselshell River averages more than 

 half a mile wide, and is characterized by a heavy growth of cottonwoods 

 in most places, broken by clumps of box elder, quaking aspen, haw, willow, 

 and other dwarf trees. The plains beyond the river valleys are almost 

 devoid of trees. 



The elevation of Fergus County varies from three thousand to eight 

 thousand feet, the larger portion perhaps being between mree thousand 

 and three thousand five hundred feet. The altitude of Lewistown at the 

 site of old Camp Lewis is 3,890 feet. In the Judith Gap the altitude is 

 4.650 feet. Judith Peak is 6,386 feet high. At old Ft. Maginnis the ele- 

 vation is 4,310. The altitude of Ubet is 4,540 feet; of Utica, 4,420; of Phil- 

 brook, 4,260; of Oka, 4,540; of Castle Rock or Butte, 4,947; of Cone Butte, 

 5,820; of Moccasin Peak, 5,547, of Wild Horse Lake, 2,850. Ft. Keogh, 

 on the Yellowstone, to which frequent reference is made, has an elevation 

 of 2,367 feet. 



The western portion of the county contains the beautiful Judith 

 Basin. Fed by the snows of the northern slopes of the Big Snowies and 

 Little Belts, the Judith River takes its rise in the western part of the 

 county, and thence flows in an indirect course to the Missouri on the 

 north. Many small streams feed the Judith River with their crystal cold 

 waters, among which the most important is Big Spring Creek or Big 

 Trout Creek. It is said that only once in the history of Lewistown has 

 this creek been frozen from bank to bank. On its open waters ducks fre- 

 quently linger through the coldest weather. 



In the Judith Basin, the little bends of the small streams and 

 ditches support thick patches of rose bushes, with clumps of dwarf wil- 

 low, haw, buffalo-berry, and choke-cherry. The coulees and ravines open- 

 ing into the water-courses are clustered with the foregoing growths, be- 

 sides service-berry, dwarf aspens, and dwarf conifers. The foot-hills 

 and mountain slopes are burdened with thick areas of pine, fir, and other 

 evergreen. The benches and high prairies of the Judith Basin are cov- 

 ered with choice grass, forming rich grazing lands. In spring myriads of 

 wild flowers deck the hill-sides. Then we see beds of larkspur, shooting- 

 star, harebell, adder's-tongue, wind-flower, buttercup, wild flax, and others 

 of similar habits. The benches and prairies are tenanted by birds, such 

 as McCown's longspur, desert horned lark, long-billed curlew, mountain 

 plover, western meadowlark, western vesper sparrow, and an occasional 

 Sprague's pipit. The prevailing altitude of these level areas is about 4,000 

 feet. 



