October 1927

DEPARTMENT OF THL I'

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HUBERT WORK, SECRETARY NATIONAL PARTY SERVICE STEPHEN T. MATHER, DIRECTOR YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES VOL. VI OCTOBER, 1927

NO. io This is the official publication of the Educational Depart• went of Yosemite National Park. It is published each month by the National Park Service with the cooperation of the Yosemite Natural History Association, and its purpose is to supply dependable information. on theJ natural history and scientific features of Yosemite 1` ational Park. The articles published herein are not, copyrighted as it is intended that they shall be freely used by the press, Communications should be addressed to C. P. Russell, Park Naturalist, Yosemite National Park, California.

E. P. LEAVITT

Acting Superintendent

"LEARN TO READ THE TRAIL-SIDE"

Yosemite NATIONAL PARK, CALIF. t9aZ

A PERSONAL INVITATION. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK IS YOURS! WE OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WANT TO HELP YOU TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR PARK

AND TO UNDERSTAND IT IN ITS EVERY MOOD. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICE IS OFFERED TO YOU free BY YOUR GOVERNMENT: Visit the Yoseil ite Museum ! Here you will learn the full story of the Park ---- what tools were used by the great Sculptor in carving this mighty granite-walled gorge; who lived here'before the white man came; how the Days of Gold led to Yosemite's discovery; how the pioneers prepared the way for you; and how the birds and mammals and trees and flowers like together in congenial communities waiting to make your acquaintance. ` Plan your trail trips on the large scale models in the Geography Room. The Yosemite Library in the museuth provides references on all phases of Yosemite history and natural history. Popular lectures on Yosemite geology and other branches of natural history are given by nature guides at scheduled times each day. The nature guide on duty will be more than willing to answer your questions on any subject. Go Afield With a Nature Guide! Take advantage of this free service that will help you to know your Park A competent scientist will conduct you over Yosemite trails, and from him you may learn first hand of the native flowers, trees, birds, mammals, and geological features. See Schedule of Nature Guide Field Trips. ' Visit Glacier Point Lookout! From there you will obtain an unex4elled view of Yosemite 's High Sierra. The binocular telescope will bring Mt. Lyell to within one third of a mile from where you stand; you can recognize friends climbing trails several miles away. The Nature Guide in attendance will help you to operate it and will explain what you see. A small library is at your command. You will enjoy the informal nightly campfire talks given here. Attend the Nature Guide Campfire Talks! In addition to the museum lectures members of the educational staff give talks as a part of the evening jrogram at Camp Curry and Yosemite Lodge. Non-technical explanations; of how Yosemite came to be; what you may expect of Yosemite bears; how the local Indians lived; what birds you see about your camps; what trout you will catch in Yosemite waters; how you may best visit the wonderland of the summit region; and scores of similar subjects are given by the National Park Service Nature Guides

ALL OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE BY YOUR GOVERNMENT. —TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM—

Volume VI October 3i, 1927 Number

TO THE HALF DOME CRACK

By Ralph Teall Tai. crack on,he summit of Half while the general average was four. Dome has ong been an object of Only a very few observation, some interest both to the geologist varied as much ^s one second from and the laymen, but its general this average. By the formula for description has been wild and its bodies falling freely under the inexistence often completely denied fluence of gravity the approximate A recent trip tl ere offered oppordepth o the fissure was calculated tunity for more accurate observeto be about 256 feet. tions which are recorded here. This figure is subject to error 'I.e crack is located at the base from rebounds or obstructions causof a roughly equilateral triangle ing deviation from a straight whose two sides are formed by the course or constant acceleration, aledges of the overhanging ledge on though this would cause error on which are located the flag pole and the side of a too large estimate register box. Its ends, however, do rather than otherwise. A rustling not even closely approach the or splashing sound at the bottom actual cliff. It is between 150 and suggested that water filled a con200 feet long and averages at its siderable depth and caused false broadest part, from 8 to 10 inches observations, but this idea was wide. The general clearage plane abandoned as too fantastic and the roughly parallels the,sheer north noise attributed to tin cans and west face of the dome. papers lodged there, the remnants The depth of the crack has been of innumerable lunches. the subject of many wild conjectures and reports. In this case Nevertheless, this fissure still reit was observed by timing the fall tains " interest and significance of a series of various sized stones It is the best accessible example It had been commonly reported at of a vertical granite clearage plane such an attempt would result only and corroborates the theory of the in hearing the rock or stone rattle formation of Half Dome. These down indefinitely and never strike observations would, however, sugbottom but there was no corrobogest that the fissure is far from ration for this view. In every case bottomless and there is no apparthe stone apparently came to a ently imminent or moderately redefinite stop. The longest time of mote complete clearage and discard fall recorded was seven seconds, of this huge sheet of rock. 7 3

BROKEN WING RUSE

By Beryl Rapp During our stay in the Yosemite Once in crossing a meadow in Valley we have had the opportunsearch of violets I was startled by ity of studying intimately the haba meadowlark starting forward diits of the birds nesting there. We rectly under my feet with the same have seen the thrush start silently "broken wing ruse" used by the from her nest in the willows and Sierra junco. Fearing that I realreturn by a circuitous way stoply had hurt the beautiful creature ping many time¢ en route to look I was led away some distance, but cautiously about for enemies. We later, when it became quite evident have seen the mother robin spread that the bird was only fooling me, her wings above her young to shelI managed to find the covered nest ter them from the blistering rays on the ground with its short tunof the sun at noonday. And we nel entrance. have protested when young grosIn the mountains between Imbeaks seemingly large and ableperial Valley and San Diego we bodied have lifted their wings and came upon a quail with her brood voices demanding food from an obof downy chicks no larger than viously overworked and bored parmy thumb. In an instant the ent. downy bits faded into the dry But the ruse used by some birds landscape while the mother flutto draw possible enemies from the tered away with a broken wing. Finding that I would not follow she nest is perhaps the most interestreturned several times before giving instinct of all. While swinging ing up and calling her chicks. along the McGee Lake trail we The killdeer carries the same were suddenly startled by the "broken wing ruse" to such an exsharp cry of a small bird as it fell tent that you become impatient into the path in front of us from with. her. Her fright cry and her a thicket of young pine. The little willo nosy wsdi flapping sturbs in the the tall other grass birds or Junco flopped in a distressing manand ruins the afternoon's study. net. as though its right wing were With the possible exception of broken and its left foot badly hurt the Western mourning dove all the Still it made surprising speed Ing birds use of which I the habve roke obnsery wing ed mak ruse" ahead In spite of its injuries. have been ground nesting birds. We searched the copse and Then meadowlark, Sierra junco, ground thoroughly but failed to qua ts flat and killdeer, graound ll build or their nes find the nest though each time we to the level of the earth. The dove pushed our way into the pine may be the case which proves the thicket the birds fairly gnashed rule, for it is entirely possible that this bird was once a ground nester their bills and once the little fer and has only recently taken to male flew directly into our faces, nesting in tall shrubs and to trees.

Yosemite NATURI NO'rEl+

STUMPS THAT GROW

By Paul J. White Douglas fir stumps recently have been discovered growing many years after the trees were felled. Four cases of this unusual growth are in evidence along the Vernal Falls trail near the bridge. A few yards from the south end of the bridge beside the trail one may find a growing stump thirty inches in diameter and two feet high. The cambium layer continued to grow after the tree had been felled, forming wood and bark which has grown over the top of the stump, making a roll entirely around the periphery two inches deep and three inches thick. This bulging growth resembles that which a tree produces to cover large scars. A short distance up the trail there are three other growing stumps, one of which we sectioned vertically to determine the method of development. The Explanation of the Unusual Occurrence The cause of this continued growth is not evident since the Douglas fir does not stump-sprout and since there are no green leaves present to produce food for growth The explanation is the accidenta, grafting together of a root of the stump with a root of a growing tree from which is taken its sustenance. That this is possible is evidenced by two specimens of per. feet grafts, one of which is on display in the Yosemite museum and the other on the Vernal falls trail. The graft in the latter case has taken place just below the surface of the soil but has since been ex posed to view, This is the onlv logical explanation for this phe nomenon.—By Paul J White. surface Diagram _ showing growth on Douglas fir stump. A, hark. B, annual rings; new growth thirtyTour years. C. top of old stamp. This section shows the outer bark, cambium layer and wood, the latter made up of thirty-four annual rings indicating the number' of years' growth since the tree was felled. During the first year the cambium grew vertically as well as horizontally but curved inward, the center of the stump forming a tiny semi-circle oneeighth of an inch in diameter. Subsequent annual growths built upon this in irregular seriricircles until a roll of wood had been formed around the top of the stump three inches thick covered with a thin bark.

THE GRASS CARPET ON YOSEMITE'S FLOOR

By E. M. WOODHAM "Grass is the forgiveness of nature — her constant benediction. Fields trampled with battle, saturated with blood, torn with the ruts of canyon, grow green again with grass, and carnage is forgotten. Streets abandoned by traffic become grass-grown like rural lanes and are obliterated. Forests decay, harvests perish, flowers vanish, but grass is immortal."—James Ingalls. The grass family is a large one help and crowds out all other specontaining 6000 known species, 380 cies maintaining a dense sod. In of which are grown in the United this respect it sometimes becomes States. It includes three-fourths of a pest. In midsummer it sends the cultivated forage crops and all forth feathery yellow-green flower of the cereals except buckwheat. spikelets which give a beautiful The steppes of Russia, the pampa : garnish to the lower plants of the of South America, the broad carpet. This species is native, soon reaches of Australia and the vast covering the bare spots throughout plains of America are covered with all the life zones of Yosemite Naits members and these regions have tional Park. It is cultivated as a become the great pastures of the lawn grass and makes excellent world. pasture for grazing animals of the The grass plant is a herb, having region. alternate leaves with parallel Another native form, Panicum, or veins. It usually has a hollow panic grass, is found in clumps stem which is cylindrical and closgrowing in moist rich soil. One speed at the nodes. The leaves concies, Panicum pacificum, is scatsist of two parts, the sheath at the tered throughout the nap of our base enclosing the stem and the carpet It is often found in the blade or leaf paper. The flowers higher` country protruding in beau. are tiny, usually perfect, and are tiful' feathery plumes from bearranged in spikelets. tween large rocks near mountain The beautiful green carpet in the springs. meadows and the open spaces of California.vild oat, Danthorna the woods in Yosemite Valley form californica, is found in dry places a most striking contrast to the of the Transition zone and in the great gray walls of granite that mountain meadows of the Alpine tower above its floor. As the visitor zone. This species is one of the to the valley enters the gateway common weeds of the Pacific Coast between Cathedral Rocks and El region. The wild form is taller Capitan after a hot ride from El than the cultivated form and its Portal, he is thrilled with the vivid seeds are of a pu.plish color, green that meets his eyes as he Wild barley has become a very rides from one end of the valley offensive weed in Yosemite's carpet to the other. The valley floor is a for when it is mature the axis of veritable carpet woven from many the spike breaks at the joints and species of grasses, sedges, rushes, each group of three spikelets beterns, weeds and colorful flowering comes separate. These are the plants. "arrowpoints" that work through The most common grass found the soles of the shoes and hose of in the nap of Yosemite's carPet is the walker as he travels through the Kentucky blue grass (Pea Prathe meadows in late summer. tensis). This is a native species and i Bent grass, Agrostis, gives a very of all the grasses is undoubtedly peautiful pattern to Yosemite's car the most widely distri but e d pet. It, like panic grass, grows in throughout the area of the Yosemclumps in the moist, rich meadows, ite National Park. It thrives best attracting the attention of many where there is at least thirty inches because of its showy head, which of rainfall or its equivalent and towers above the other grasses in it will take complete possession of the carpet. land containing limestone soils. It Many of the grasses on Yosemestablishes its way without man's ite's floor are forms that have been

brought into the valley in the hay loves. It, like cheat grass, is a na• fed to the animals. Brome grass is tive of Europe, has escaped from one of such forms. It is adapted to cultivation. porous soils and semi-arid climates, Velvet grass, Notholcus lanatus, enduring dry weather well and beis one of the most beautiful grasses ing affected least by the frost that helps make the nap of our carCheat grass, Bromus secalinus, is pet. It grows in clumps, is very scattered throughout the meadows leafy, grayish in color and both on the valley floor. This species is stems and leaf blades have a well-named, for. it will replace other smooth, velvety feeling. The leaf growths very quickly and is really blades are flat, six inches or less in a weed. To keep it from crowding length. The flowers form a soft, out the more valuable grasses it purplish plume-like panicle. This should be cut so that it cannot scatspecies was introduced into Amenter. It makes fair hay but is not of ca from Europe. It has been culti sufficient value to make it worth vated as a pasture grass but has cultivation. not been valuable. It has become The History of Wild Timothy abundantly naturalized in mountain Timothy grass adds its bit to the valleys. carpet also, for it helps make a palMost grasses are wind pollinated. tern scattered as it is throughout Oats and wheat are self-pollinated. most of the meadows of the valley The fruit and grains are among the This is an introduced species from staple foods of the human race; as Europe. Originally the name, mea well as of animal life. The grasses dow cat's tail, was applied to it be may be divided into two classes-cause of,its resemblance to the cat annuals, persisting for only a sintail reed. Timothy Hansen brought gle season, and perennials, persistit to America from England in 1720 ing for more than two years. They

It was cultivated with success in have three ways of multiplying: this country and ranks very high (1) by means of seeds; (2) by un as a hay grass '-ecause its yield is derground stems, rootstocks or so heavy, it is so palatable and easy bulbs, and (3) by stems (stolons), to cure. Timothy sends out new which grow along the surface of shoots from its bulb root. These in the ground. The roots of all grasses turn form bulbs from which other are very slender and have few bulbs are produced. These bulbs branches. New roots are formed are the food storage houses whic-i each year, even in perennials. nourish the plant throughout the Two kinds of grasses are cultiwinter. vated, for food--grain crops, those In most grass plants new growth grown perennially for seeds or is added to the tops of the stems grain, and forage crops, those and branches. If such plants are grown for forage, roughage or cropped off the growth is checked bulky food of animals. Among the until new stems or branches are giant grasses are bamboo, corn and sent out. Grasses make theft new sorghum, all of which have valugrowth at the base of the leaves able food properties. The lengthening blades are merely Bibliography pushed along from below and the Illustrated Flora. of the Pacific growth is not seriously checked by States—Abrams. the removal of the tips of the Manual of Flowering Plants of leaves. This explains their value California—Jepson. as forage crops. Essentials of Agriculture—Ws.English Blue Grass

ters. Meadow fescue, Festuca elatior, College Botany—Atkinson. sometimes called English b 1 u e Textbook of Botany—Coulter, grass, is another species which Barnes and Cowles. helps to form the pattern of YoProduction of Field Crops—Hutsemite's carpet. It likes the rieh eheson and Wolfe. moist soil of the meadows and Applied and Economic Botany— thrives on land too wet, either for Kraemer. blue grass or timothy. It is often Field Crop Production—Livingfound scattered in the lawns of the ston. valley where, because of daily Weeds and Their Control—State sprinkling it gets the moisture it Department of Agriculture Bulletin

YvsCMI'i1' NATURE NOTES

PLURALITY OF MATES

Enid Michael The California woodpeckers have leading the way for the two pure more leisure than most birds, In :.uere. The pursued one led her the fall of the year they gather ane pursuers an erratic course, diving tuck safely away a store of acorns through treetops. leaping into the to tide them over the winter. When air and plunging again :;.)ward the the harvest days are over they have earth, in general the race course, time to play, or.5iniply loaf in the although irregular, described a cirsunshine, witch they frequently do. cle the round trip of which would Here in Yosemite valley these wise cover a distance of perhaps let and thrifty woodpeckers have more yards. After two or three trips, the leisure than ever now that they leader would come to perch un a have adopted up-to-date storing certain dead oak bough above my methods. In times passed, before head. The pursuers would also come the valley was made "biggar and to perch and then there would fol-, better" by the promoters of the lew wild hiccuping chatter, cs hich tourist trade, the California e oodchatter was accompanied by much peckers had certain "cupboard hawing and scraping. After a few trees, " whereholes were drilled to moments the birds would be off receive snugly each a single acorn. again. This performance was re- To drill a hole for each individual peated a number of times and then

acorn that was to he stored was a the female bird, the leader in the prodigious task—a task that is no play, came to perch where she longer necessary tinder the present poised with fluttering wings and storing methods. upturned tail. In this position, in All the buildings of the valley are turn, she was embraced by her two either roofed with shakes or shinlovers. glen. Where the shingles or shakes The strange nerformance delap together along the ed 'es of the scribed above aroused my curiosity, roofs or at the eaves there are and I wondered if the social order crevices which the woodpeckers of the California woodpeckers sanchave learned to utilize as sto rage tioned a plurality of mates. Subsebins for their winter supply of fluent investigation brought out acorns. It would b difficult o facts which would tend to substane t ' store a. full round acorn in the bate the belief that polyandry is crack between the shingles, but the practised among California woodwoodpeckers obviate the difficulty peckers. And here follows the subby hulling the acorns and poking etantiation : Late in the month of them away a. halt at a time. ?San May young woodpeckers were being moves into the Yosemite. and cuts fed in two different r,estholes, These clown the woodnecker 's storage nests were separated by a distance trees: the woodpecker retaliates by of a half mile. and neither nest pounding acorns between the shinwas the nest of the cvoodpecl :ers I gles of man 's dwellings, had seen go through the mating ceremony. In botn gases, however, Not only are the California woodtwo males and one female were inpeckers notable for their habits of volved in the feeding of the young. thrift and their sunny disnnsitions, Occasionally two parent birds would but, also it seems, for their peeube in the nest-hole when the third liar marriage customs. One sunny hied arrived. In thie case the third morning In early spring I happened bird would (ling rharitering to the to be the witness of the ctrlminalii;g tree trunk until both occupants of scenes of what had evidently been the hole had left. then she would a vigorous courtship. Loud (hattertake her turn in the nest-hole. In trig attracted my attention to the these family groups of California scene. Three California woodwoodpeckers all lvirds apparently peckers were racing through the live happily together, and certainly treetops in a spirited game (if tag. the voting are well cared for.— There was one bird out in front Enid Michael.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF SOME YOSEMITE PLANTS

By Fern E. Miller Yosemite School of Field Natural History In making survey of the park without any of the objectionable flora possessing medicinal proper features of that drug The flowers. ties, some interesting facts have placed in oil and exposed to the sun have been thought valuable as come to light regarding various a hair tonic and scalp cleanser. plants and their uses- -many of One of the most popular medwhich seem very queer. We have icinal plants of Yerba the state Santafound in all seen and admired the beautiful the park is (Eriodictyon califor•nicum, Greene), the flowers found here, but how many "holy herb" of the early Spanish people know that many of these settlers, who valued it as a blood plants serve purposes other than purifier, a cure catarrh for consumpti u rhe and o ma n, bronchitis,, pleasing the aesthetic senses? tism. The Indians used it also in The little meadow plant with a treating colds, asthma and grippe A tea is made of the dried obj lea ecti ves on, bright pink flower which Spanish or, if the bitter taste is Californians call Canchalagua (Eryable, t, boiling them with sugar thraea venusta, Gray' is also known This is one if the few medicinal as Wild Quinine because of its bitPlants of the park recognized as ofter taste and usefulness in treating ficial in the United States Pharmacopacia. fevers. Plants were found by the early We usually think of our Godetias inhabitants for practically every with their rich magenta coloring as necessity iacolu Among other uses, Chia objects of admiration rather than niched a means mba ofrire ae. Bench moving foreign fur

) a basis for a hand lotion. However-, particles from the eye The seeds the leaves of this plant have been are mucillagenous and, placed under mixed with lard, heated and strainthe eyelid, collected the offending ed and when cool, used as an apsubstance and relieved the sufferer These seeds were also an important plication for chapped hands. article of diet for the ancient Max Another flower whose beauty jeans, who cultivated the plant, and brightens many parts of our state for the Indians, who used them in is the California Poppy (Eschsoups, etc scholtzia californica, Cham) This is There are, in the park, over.

not found commonly in the park. plants possessing medicinal proper. but may be seen near Bridalveil ties in greater• nr less degree While Falls, where, Hall says, it is appal.- many used by Indians and settlers ently native. This plant. has been probably have little or no intrinsic an object of interest to chemists value they are harmless; and some and therapeutics, for it is said to have proved of real worth in cura• act in a manner similar to opium tive processes.—

AUTUMN LIFE AMONG THE RED FIRS

By D. D. McLean I had gone up the slope to the south of Shippey Meadows, just wandering along to see what was present in the form of animal life among the giant Red Firs. The giant trunks towered high above and shut out the sunlight from the ground beneath. The air was cool and colors of fall were beginning to show on the plants near the small trickle of water that flowed down the steep gully that I was traversing. The huge firs whispered softly as the wind waved their crowns far emphatic tone off to the right; su above. I worked on up until L I investigated and found him grum reached the summit of the ridge bling over a Sharp-shinned hawN and finally came out onto a great perched on a dead stub about ten stretch of granite where scattering feet high. The hawk dashed off Lodgepole and Jeffrey pines forced down the gulch, but the Chickaree their roots into the cracks started scolding instead. Just as I rounded a turn in the A small flock of Cassin Purple gulch near the meadows, a band of finches were on the ground under a deer broke out and dashed away couple of much dwarfed and twisted pell-mell through the Lodgepoles Lodgepoles. A little farther on two and firs only to stop and look back Audubon warblers were seen in after the first wild rush. company with a small group of Here a group of Chickadees, Western bluebirds. Juncos were. Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned everywhere and a few Chipping kinglets, Lutescent warblers and sparrows accompanied each flock Red-breasted nuthatches greeted As I went on northeast along the me. ridge two Clark nutcrackers started The Chickadees were very nu to scold at my intrusion on their merous. A Hermit thrush was domain. They flew on ahead as I perched peacefully on an oldwater finally approached them too closely logged stump that just protruded I sat down and watched a Goldenfrom the ground. mantled ground squirrel for a few As I entered the meadow, one moments, and as I started on two again the Chipping sparrows startlarge mule deer bucks trotted out ed to rise and head for the trees of some brush and stood looking at Two Mountain bluebirdwere lazily me from about one hundred feet. catching grasshoppers over a bare As I passed them they followed piece of ground. One Williamson along out of curiosity. A pair of sapsucker flew across the meadows Townsend solitaires were feeding a apparently on his way to roost a current bush in a low, damp The wind was blowing a gale creek and flitted up to dead limbs now. Everything was becoming on a fir overhanging the creek. As dusky due to the corning of darkI started on from there a Chickaness, and the air was bitter cold; so ree was heard scolding in a very homeward I journeyed.

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FROM THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OUT-DOOR RECREATION

Called by PRESIDENT COOLIDGE

"THAT THE CONFERENCE ENDORSE NATURE STUDY IN SCHOOLS AND THE EXTENSION ' OF THE NATURE STUDY IDEA TO EVERY AMERICAN SCHOOL AND FAMILY; THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUMS OF NATURAL HISTORY IN NATIONAL PARI SI WILL INCREASE THE EDUCATIONAL RECREATIONAL VALUE OF THE

rABxs".—Resolution of the Conference.