Dec. ti, 1898.) 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



negative. With a rifle I could have easUy killed several. 

 They passed on up the creek and disappeared in the 

 steam. I could hear them splashing water, long after 

 they were out of sight. 



We had to ford the stream "feoon after the elk passed us, 

 it was rather cold wiirk at the time, but one gets used to 

 such things when hunting, either with a rifle or camera. 

 That's a part of the programme we have to go through. 



Our intention now was to make for a little cabin on 

 what they call Trout Creek; a cabin built for the use of 

 scouts while on their winter trips. I had never seen it, 

 hut felt sure I could find it although it was "cached." 

 We struck out over the hills, taking; a southwesterly 

 course. About a mile from where we crossed the creek, 

 we came in sight of the first band of buffalo; there were 

 twenty -seven in the bunch, five of them calves. Some 

 were feeding, others lying down; they were on ground 

 that is not quite warm enough to melt all the snow off, 

 but it was thin and all gone in places. To the north up a 

 little hot creek, we saw two very large bulls. Traveling 

 Oil t made for a high knoll, where I dropped my pack 

 • atld shoes, to have a rest. I went to the top and sal 

 down on the sdnny side of a large boulder; just west of 

 mfe ahd less than a quarter of a mile distant were eight 

 large bulls, one of them mouse colored. 1 watched them 

 rooting for grass quite a while, when three of them lay 

 down. I ate my lunch and waited in the hope that they 

 would change their position, as it was impossible to gt t a 

 good picture where they were. To have any sort of a 

 negative, I must get within 100ft. of them, I mu-t have 

 the light right, but as the wind was coming from the 

 sun, I had to give up getting a negative of that 

 bunch. 



Off still further west I could see three buffalo on a point 

 of a ridge, two lying down, one feeding. To the north I 

 could see a large band of elk. They were just at the edge 

 of the timber, on the north side of Hayden's Valley. By 

 carefully counting, we made out between 300 and 400 in 

 this band. We spent an hour on the knoll looking around. 

 Besides the large game, we saw oth<^r things, and once 

 what we supposed to be ravens from the way they moved 

 around over the snow. They proved to be wolverines, 

 however. Traveling on, we would scare up a fox or 

 coyote every little way. 1 do not know what so many 

 animals of that kind J^nd to live on. We seldom— if ever 

 —saw a dead animal. 



After a while we got into some broken hills, where 

 there were strips of timber. Here the snow was very 

 much drifted. From the west and exposed side the snow 

 would be blown to the east side, where it was in drifts 

 from 10 to oOft. deep. Then, too, parts of the timber 

 would be full of snow. Only where the wind struck the 

 western edges would there be any sign of bare ground. 

 Everywhere we could see signs of game; their trails 

 through the snow — even through the deep drifts and in 

 thii sheltered part of the timber the snow would be 

 tramped down by elk and buffalo, where they had spent 

 hours seeking shelter from some severe storm. Some of 

 the exposed side hills were covered with snow only as 

 deep as the tops of tne rye grass and sagebrush. On these 

 places bimches of elk were to be seen, three, four, and 

 soraetimes five in a place. Once we came up to a little 

 basin or pot hole and on the side directly across from us 

 an old bull elk was digging away in snow 8ft. deep. 

 While watching him I noticed to myris^ht two more bulls 

 not over 75ft. away. I had not noticed them at first, 

 as they were standing against the bare ground of 

 the basin's rim, which was just their color. None 

 of the bulls saw us. I was getting the camera out 

 for a shot, although the sun liad disappeared under a 

 bank of clouds that was coming up in the west, but just 

 then four more bulls made a run from left to right 

 across the hole. They had not seen us, but had got our 

 wind before they started. They passed between the single 

 and two bulls, stopping for a second about one hundred 

 feet from us. There was no use shooting, as it was too 

 dark for a picture; but what a good chance it would have 

 been if the sun had only been shining. All the bulls lef t 

 except one of the two to the right. He did not notice 

 that anything was wrono;, but went on feeding while we 

 were out of sight. At last he noticed that he was alone. 

 This seemed to astonish him and he looked all aroumi, 

 but seeing nothing to frighten him he went on feeding 

 for a time, but showed by his actions that he did not 

 feel safe. Every few seconds he would look up, step 

 around and move his ears in all directions to catch any 

 sound and smell of the wind for danger. Notliing was 

 wrong so he would feed a little more. He was a noble 

 animal an-l I disliked to go without his picture, but we 

 could not wait, so we commenced to climb a snowbank, 

 which brought us in sight. Even then he looked for 

 some time before he moved off. I began to think he was 

 partially snow blind, although I am not sure this was 

 the case. 



Soon after leaving the elk we were in a violent snow 

 squall. The air was full of snow, one could not see 

 twenty feet ahead. It seemed as though it would smother 

 us. We sought shelter in timber while it lasted— about 

 ten minutes, After the squall was over we soon reached 

 the little valley through which the wagon road runs that 

 leads to Larry's old dinner station. Following a ridge 

 to the right we saw five more buffalo, two on the same 

 ridge, one off to our right and two on a side hill, none of 

 them over one hundred and fifty yards away. All were 

 sleeping except one on the side hill. The snow that had 

 just fallen covered them like a blanket. The sun was 

 still behind a thick bank of clouds, so there was no 

 chance this day for a picture, and not wishing to disturb 

 the animals we slid down off the ridge and turned up 

 Little Trout Creek to hunt up the bit of a cabin. 



This %ve foiind hidden under a snowbank, all except 

 a bit of the front. Snow covered it completely, except a 

 hole where the chimney was, as it had been occupied for 

 two nightii a montii before we came. The drift hung over 

 the front hke a shed roof. We found a lot of swamp 1 ay 

 in the cabin and enough wood to last a few hours. We 

 threw off our paciis and set to work to make ourselves 

 comfortable. The cabin was 7 X 10ft. inside and about 7 ft. 

 high, with an outside chimney, the fireplace in the cor- 

 ner. The door, a small one with a small window in it, 

 gave a bit of light. We had to provide ourselves witli 

 wood enough to last all night and this was quittj a task as 

 we had only one little camp ax. I cut a dry tree down 

 and into lengths handy for packing. Dare taking it t« the 

 cabin on his shoulders. Every move we made outside the 

 cabin was on snowshoes; if we stepped off, down we would 

 go to our waists, for the snow was very deep in the little 



gulch in front of the cabin, I could not find bottom with 

 a 6 ft. snowshoe pole. 



W hen we fired up, the cabin was soon full of smoke, but 

 we bettered this a little byputtmg pine boughs up around 

 the outside of the chimney. The inside of the cabin was 

 soon quite homelike, with, a bright fire and our duds 

 hanging up to dry. We squatted down in front of the 

 fire to do our cooking and eating, and were as well satis- 

 fied, if not better, than in the great, empty, lonesome 

 hotels. They always give me the blues. I can be con- 

 tented in a hole in the ground better than in a deserted 

 hotel. We found an old tomato can, in which we made 

 our tea, and out of other cans we made water buckets and 

 pans to warm up our baked beans. No fault was found 

 with the cook, food, or service; everything went. By 



THE CABIX IN THE SNOW. 



Amateur photo by E. Hofer. 



eight we were so sleepy we were glad to turn in. We 

 piled up the hay in front of the fire, put a blanket down 

 on this, and using firewood for pillows, drew the other 

 blanket over us and went to sleep. The one that got froze 

 out first would gpt up and put on more wood. 



In the morning we were up before daylight. We were 

 blackened by the pine smoke, but a wash and scrub in 

 the snow made us clean and comfortable and able to stand 

 any amount of cold. We left everything in the cabin ex- 

 cept the camera, and struck out for pictures, with the 

 canon hotel for our next camp. Going back we took a 

 different route. While in the open country I saw a band 

 of twenty buffalo, but they were where I could not get at 

 them for a picture, and did not disturb them, as I was in 

 no hurry. We followed high ridges when possible, for 

 these gave us a better view of the country. Away off to 

 the east, toward the Crater Hills, were larg^e bands of elk, 

 mostly cows, calves and spikes. I did not care for a pic- 

 ture of these, and continued on toward the foot-bridge 

 across Alum Crtek. Eunning down a long, steep hill, I 

 surprised a fox. How he did "light out," with me after 

 him. I was gaining on him every second, running down 



A NATIONAL PARK BUFFALO. 



Amateur photo by E. Hofer. 



hill, and I would have been on top of him in a moment, 

 but he turned sharp to the right, while I flew past. While 

 running he lost time looking'back to see what kind of an 

 animal it was tliat could run ftister than he on the snow. 

 He seemed so astonished that I got laughing until I came 

 near taking a header into a snowbank. I beUeve the fox 

 would have laughed at me had I fallen. The joke would 

 have been on the wrong party. 



We found a lot of ducks in Alum Creek, and they flew 

 as though they were very fat and heavy. I took a shot 

 at them with the camera, but did not get anything. AH 

 Alum Creek bottom was pawed or rooted over by buffalo 

 and elk. There did not seem to be a square yard of snow 

 that had not been disturbed. It was liard snowshoeing 

 along the river until we reached Cascade Creek. There 

 the shoes would not stick. We were three-quarters of 

 an hour getting from the bridge up to the hotel. This is a 

 hard climb, winter or sumtner. 



After resting a day we loaded up with provisions and 

 struck out for the cabin. Dare went by the most direct 

 route, while I hunted for a picture or two. I found a 

 buffalo on the ridge about a mile from the Crater Hills, 

 before I could approach near enough to get a shot clouds 

 began to gather. He was on an open side hill in such a 

 position that I could not get clos -r to him than 100yds. 

 As soon as he saw me he commenced to move for higher 

 ground. I got two shots at him as he was making his 

 way through deep snow, following a trail he had traveled 



befoi-e. I spent an hour or two looking- for other ani- 

 mals, and saw a band of buffalo off about a mile in the 

 edge of the timber to the south of the vall'y. The clouds 

 were now quite thick and the light too dull for pictures. 

 I madp my way toward the cabin, and when I struck 

 Dare's snowshoe trail I found a mountain lion's ti-acks in 

 it: he had followed Dai-e for half a mile, turning off into 

 the timber to the right, when Dare's trail started up the 

 gulch -wdiere the cabin is. 



The next day I saw where the same lion, or another, 

 had followed my trail about as he had Dare's, only he 

 had come almost up to the cabin door. 



We now made a visit to the hot country on and around 

 Mary's Mountain, saw signs of buffalo everywhere, but 

 could not find a band. On Mary's IMountain is the first 

 place I ever got a photograph of buffalo. 



Our provisions getting low we made another trip to the 

 hotel. What a lot of s-tuff one can get away with on a 

 snowshoe expedition. When we left the hotel the morn- 

 ing was clear and cool, — 25'. The snow was in splendid 

 condition for shoeing. When the sun came out the trees 

 and everything was covered with a thick frost that shone 

 like silver crystals, the frost was as thick on everything 

 as thouKli an inch of snow had fallen. I took two pic- 

 tures with Dare in the foreground. They look cool and 

 wintry. 



I found another buffalo bull on about the same ground 

 as the first one. I got a good picture this time, for I had 

 better light. I slipped up carefully to where I had seen 

 liim sleeping, but he was not there. Going a bit further, 

 I looked over the rim of a hill and saw him out in the 

 deep snow. He was breaking a trail to new feeding 

 gri-iund. I worked around to get close to him, and as 

 soon as he saw me he rushr d back up his trail to a little 

 hill, passing within 50ft. of me. I "pressed the button" 

 when he was in the best position. He was going like a 

 .^team engine through the snow. I supposed I had a first- 

 class picture, but it proved that the camera could not get 

 there fast enough. The legs were blurred, and the nega- 

 tive of no use except as a memento of the hunt. Getting 

 negatives of this kind is like wounding an animal and 

 having it get away from you. You know it will suffer 

 and die and be lost to everything but the bears and wolves. 

 It always gives me a sickening feeling to have it happen. 

 With a negative, though, that don't come until the hunt 

 is over. Tne buffalo ran to the top of the knoll and 

 stopped. Dare was between him and higher ground. 

 The snow- was not much over a foot deep where he was 

 standing. I went around and up on the knoll with him 

 and took three shots at about 75ft. Wishing to get better 

 pictures and nearer views I commenced working side- 

 ways up to him, keeping my snowshoes pointed down 

 the hill, in case I had to run from him. At first his 

 head was turned from me, but as I got closer he faced 

 around, shaking his head now and then. I cut the focus 

 down to 50ft., and was just about that distance from him 

 when he showed decided objections to my coming closer. 

 Dare said, ' Look out, he's getting mad!" 



I said, "Yes, and I'm .going, too!" I pressed the button 

 just as he started for me and then made a break for the 

 deep snow. He came up to within 25ft. by short, quick 

 jumps, but by this time I was where the snow was 4ft. 

 deep. He then turned and made for higher ground, pass- 

 ing Dare, who liad moved out of the way. I don't think 

 the buffalo intended to attack me; he was only running a 

 bluff. But I did not care to stand there. I thought his 

 bluff enough for me. There was too much buffalo behind 

 it. Elwood Hofer. 



[to be concluded next week.] 



COUGARS IN THE NORTHWEST. 



Okjlnogan, Wash. — Editor Forest and Stream: In 

 your issue of Oct. 28, in the foot note to my article, you 

 ask what is a cougar as distinguished from a panther in 

 the Northwest. 



The cougar is shorter both in body, neck, tail and legs; 

 his head is broader and his legs larger and more muscular; 

 he is gray and has not a red hsdr on him, and his tail has 

 a black tuft on it. The habits of the two are the same. 

 Either will kill a cow when hungry. 



Jim Curley and I were riding along on Clearwater once 

 when I noticed, a short distance ahead of me, a cougar 

 crouched down behind a pine log watching a cow which 

 was feeding only a short distance below. The cougar 

 was so intent on its prey that it had not noticed us. 



We stopped and watched it for a few minutes, while 

 the unsuspecting cow kept feeding toward the log. Jim 

 proposed to wait until it made its spring, but I told him I 

 was afraid it would kill or cripple the cow before we 

 could prevent it, and that we would put my dog after it. 



We started to ride to it. when it soon saw us and 

 started for a thicket up the mountain. I put my dog 

 after it and he soon treed it. We hitched our horses and 

 went up near the tree. I called the dog to me and Jim 

 shot the cougar in the head. As soon as it quit kicking 

 I let go the dog and urged him to fight it, which he did 

 until we made him quit. We skinned it and had the 

 skin tanned for a rug. Lew Whjmot. 



[The characteristics of the cougar given by Mr. WUmot 

 are not such as naturalists regard as of specific value. We 

 have seen panthers which were stout so as to seem short- 

 necked and thick-bodied, which had broad heads and were 

 gray in color. These we have believed to be old individ- 

 uals. The younger ones are much more slightly buUt and 

 seem to be longer. They are red in color, often nearly as 

 rnd as a deer in the summer coat. There are only two 

 species of long-tailed large cats known in North America; 

 one is the cougar, panther or puma, and the other a 

 southern form, the jaguar, which is spotted somewhat 

 like a leopard, and just crosses the Eio Grande into Texas. 

 No doubt our correspondent has seen grizzly bears of 

 many colors, but we do not imagine that he reg u'ds color 

 as a good specific color in the bears. Tiie deer is red in 

 summer and gray in winter, yet although he has a coat of 

 two colors at different seasons of the year, he is still the 

 same animal. So, a panther may be spotted — as it is 

 when new born — red for the n^xt three or four years of 

 its life, and after that, if it Uves so long, gray, and it 

 would naturally grow more miKClllar and heavier as it 

 grew older.] 



