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AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
Vol. VIII.— FEBRUARY, 1874.— No. 2. 
COP ORYVOD > 
THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 
BY THEO. B. COMSTOCK, B.S. 
I. ITS SCIENTIFIC VALUE. 
Ir is now generally understood that a bill was passed by the 
4ist Congress, by which the tract of land known as the “ Yellow- . 
Stone National Park” was “reserved and withdrawn from settle- 
“ ment, occupancy or sale under the laws of the United States, and 
dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring-ground for 
the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” 
The writer of this article, having spent some weeks during the 
past summer in the study of the geological features of this remark- 
able region, has visited all its points of interest, and collected 
much material for the elaboration of a report, which is now in 
course of preparation. Dr. Hayden has already led two well 
equipped expeditions into this country,* while smaller parties have 
gathered more or less valuable material concerning the phenom- 
ena there exhibited.t The leaders of all of these expeditions 
* See hore Survey of Regen etc, 1871; also Geological Survey of Mon- 
z and Ul 872. 
: at j th f Cook and Folsom, who as- 
rst H ind Madi Ri 1869: Lieut. G. 
: =S: Cavalry (accompanying Gen. Washbúrn) in 1870, who reported 
briefly to Gen. hasan’ and Capts. Barlow and Heap, U. S. Engineer Corps, whose 
report to Gen. Sheridan was published in 1872. Hon. N. P. Langford, ex-governor of 
Montana, now superintendent of the park, has also published a number of interesting 
PS ar articles concerning its its marvels. 
< se Sin aE a to Act of Cong Librarian of araa a Wr nabs fe srs ets 
