Sept. 26, 1872] 



NATURE 



437 



A GIGANTIC '' PLEASURING GROUND": THE 

 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK OF THE 

 UNITED STATES 



II. 



T EAVING the Yellowstone Basin, and crossing in a 

 -•— ' westerly direction the range which divides the drain- 

 age of the Yellowstone and the Madesin, we come into 



the great Geyser Basin of the Firehole river, a branch of 

 the Madesin Forth. Travelling in this region is attended 

 with great difficulties on account of the immense quantity 

 of fallen timber. The uplands, as well as the lowlands, 

 are covered with a dense growth of pines, the majority of 

 which have a trunk not over 6 in. to 12 in. in diameter, but 

 run up to a height of 100 ft. to 150 ft., as straight as an 

 arrow. In crossing this shed the source of the east fork 







Fig. 6.— Mud Puffs. 



