10 MAMMALS IN THEIR RELATION TO SPOTTED FEVER. 



Five individuals were examined about May 19, 25 miles south of 

 Darby, but on only one of them was a tick found — an adult Derma- 

 centor albipictus attached to the anus. Ticks were not abundant 

 in the locality where these animals were taken, and it is probable 

 that in other situations deer more frequently serve as hosts for ticks. 



WHITE-TAILED DEER. 



{Odocoileus Icucurus.) 



White-tailed deer are bottom-land animals, in contrast to the mule 

 deer, which range principally in the foothills and mountains. They 

 occur in suitable places along the Bitterroot River from Missoula 

 to Darby, and also along those tributaries of the Bitterroot wdiose 

 bottom lands afford them congenial cover. On the creeks they range 

 well up into the mountains, at least as high as 5,500 feet. The only 

 specimen examined Avas taken June 25 near Packers Meadow, Idaho, 

 and was free from ticks. This may have been due to the fact that 

 there were very few ticks in that locality. 



ELK. 



( Ccrvus canadensis. ) 



Elk were formerly abundant in the mountains on both sides of the 

 Bitterroot Valley, but they are now scarce, only a few small bands 

 and roaming individuals remaining in this part of Montana. A cow 

 elk shot on May 17 at Lake Como had no ticks on it, although ticks 

 were numerous where it was shot. 



MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 



(Ovis canadensis.) 



Sheep formerly occurred in suitable localities throughout a large 

 part of the Bitterroot Mountains and the range east of the valley, 

 but they are now mainly restricted to higher parts of the ranges about 

 the head of the valley. None were taken. 



MOOSE. 



(Alces amerieanus.) 



Moose were once common in parts of the Bitterroot Valley, and 

 a few are reported still in the mountains to the east and west, but 

 mainly on the outside slopes. 



* MOUNTAIN GOAT. 

 ( Orcarnnos montanus. ) 



Mountain goats seem to be still fairly common over most of their 

 range in the Bitterroot Mountains and in the mountains southeast 



[Cir. 82] 



