COLLECTING HABITAT GROUP MATERIAL IN THE 

 CANADIAN ROCKIES 



By W. L. BROWN 

 Chief Taxidermist, U. S. National Museum 



In October 1940 the first habitat groups with painted backgrounds — 

 moose and caribou — were completed in the United States National 

 Museum. While they were being constructed, two other such groups 

 were being planned, namely, a Rocky Mountain goat and a Rocky 

 Mountain sheep group. In order to select settings and obtain ma- 

 terial for these, it was necessary to visit British Columbia and 

 Alberta in Canada, regions from which the mammals to be used 

 were collected some years ago by Dr. Charles D. Walcott. 



On July 11 I left for Field, British Columbia. Field, a most 

 picturesque spot located in the Kicking Horse River valley, is sur- 

 rounded by Mount Burgess, Mount Field, Mount Stephens, and 

 Mount Dennis, all four of which are over 8,000 feet in altitude. I was 

 told by several people living at the Y.M.C.A., where I made my head- 

 quarters, that at certain times of the year goats could be seen on 

 the ledges of Mount Burgess, just opposite the Y. Mr. Holman, 

 Acting Superintendent of Yoho National Park, offered me his full 

 cooperation in making the trip a success. 



My first field trip was to Yoho Valley chalet camp to obtain data 

 on the formations there. This valley is said by many to be one of 

 the most beautiful of the entire Rockies. The camp is situated in 

 a meadow within sight and sound of the Takakkaw Falls. 



Arrangements were made for a trip up Mount Burgess from the 

 Emerald Lake side. A guide was employed, and horses were ob- 

 tained to bring back the material to be collected. At a point 7,020 feet 

 up as indicated by the altimeter, we reached an angular shale cliff 

 which I decided would make an especially fine setting for the goat 

 group, having seen four goats, many tracks, and much goat hair 

 lodged in larch trees here. Rock rabbits running in and out of the 

 ledges of shale and the whistling of the marmots added to the in- 

 terest of this spot. The President Range, rising high into the clouds, 

 made a perfect background picture. 



Wildflowers bloomed profusely here, and it was interesting to 

 note how the flora changed as we ascended the mountain. Photo- 

 graphs were taken, measurements of the rock formation were made, 

 and a complete collection of the flora was obtained, along with soil 

 and shale. Among some of the plants collected were the heather, 



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