14 
approximately at the headwaters of Rock creek, across the dividing line to the 
rock slides and rills at 7,000 feet in the vicinity of Forestry Look-out camp — 
timber-line conditions. Roughly, three life zones were represented in cross- 
section — Canadian, and Hudsonian, with the top of Old Glory mountain 
(elevation 7,900 feet) rising into the Alpine. The Canadian zone extended 
to about 6,000 feet. Snow fell on the summits commonly in July, the snow- 
bank at the foot of Old Glory mountain (7,000 feet) disappearing about 
mid-July. Temporary camps were also made at different periods near top 
of Green mountain (6,500 feet) through the courtesy of Mr. R. E. Plewman, 
an experienced mountaineer in this region, to whom the party was also 
indebted for much information on the district. 
A considerable variety of small mammals were taken in this region, 
including four or five species of voles (among them the large water-vole, 
Microtus richardsonii) , white-footed mice, jumping mice, at least three 
species of shrews, red squirrels, flying squirrels, and weasels. Brown 
pocket gophers were abundant in all open spaces and clearings from 2,000 
feet up to 6,000 feet. Columbian ground squirrels, and yellow-bellied 
marmots were excessively abundant in favourable sites, due to numerous 
clearings and berries, and probably also to the intensive trapping of all 
predatory fur-bearers. Small chipmunks (Eutamias) were abundant up 
to timber-line, and the large mantled chipmunks were found only on rock 
slides. As this region has been extensively prospected, mined, lumbered, 
and burned over during many years the large mammals were noticeably 
scarce. Signs of black bears were occasionally noted, but the grizzly bear 
was nearly extinct in the region. Mule deer were not numerous, and 
white-tailed deer were reported as still rarer. Packrats were said to have 
once been abundant, but seemed to have forsaken the area. 
On August 6, the party left Russian d by rail to Nelson, by steamer on 
Kootenay lake to Kootenay Landing, and by rail to Creston. Camp 4 
was situated on flat lands west of Kootenay river, 6 miles southeast of 
Creston (elevation of Creston 1,983 feet), and the party remained here until 
August 23. The overflow lands are about 5 miles wide along Kootenay 
river, with some reclamation ditches and dykes, fairly dry in summer and 
heavily grown with coarse sedge and rushes. The higher ground back from 
the flats is quite heavily timbered where not cut away. The fauna was 
somewhat different from the districts worked farther west, but voles and 
chipmunks were more numerous. Pocket gophers were abundant, as well 
as Columbian ground squirrels, the latter mostly going into aestivation and 
seldom seen after August 10. Coyotes, packrats, and three or four species 
of bats were numerous; white-tailed deer were more numerous than 
farther west, but the mule deer are said to be only transients in the valley. 
The intention was to go up Boundary creek on the Idaho border and work 
at the higher elevation of Summit lake, but extensive forest fires persisted 
for a month in that district and gradually worked over the mountains from 
the south and the party was ultimately compelled to move out of Creston 
district. 
On August 23, the party moved by truck to Goatfell (elevation 2,910 
feet), on the highway about 20 miles southeast of Creston, and established 
Camp 5 on a little stream about 1 mile from Moyie river. Small mammal 
life was not abundant, as a large part of the valley was burned-over land 
