June 1927

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUBERT WORK, SECRETARY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STEPHEN T. MATHER, DIRECTOR YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES VOL. VI JUNE, 1927 NO. 6

This is the official publication of the Educational Department 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 the natural history and scientific features of Yosemite National 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.

W. B. LEWIS

Superintendent

"LEARN TO READ THE TRAIL-SIDE" YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIF.

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 FOLLOW-

ING SERVICE IS OFFERED TO YOU free BY YOUR GOVERNMENT: Visit the Yosemite 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 live 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 museum 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 unexcelled 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 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 program 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 June 30, 1927 Number 6

NIGHT ANTS AT HOME

By D. D. McLean On the evening of May 13 I went leg hold, but he dashed away for up toward the foot of El Capitan his life and managed to make it to wander about through the boutwithout being pinned down. One tiers with a powerful flashlight. I tiny ant came in dragging a small found several different homes of caterpillar many times larger than ants that were working diligently himself. Still another was pulling in the moonlight. One nest of small, some winged insect. The brilliant dark-colored ants was located unlight from the flashlight did not der the edge of a boulder about a seem to inconvenience them in the foot across. Here all was busileast. ness, for they were all apparently At another place two slenderbusy. A large flying termite had legged, rapid-moving night ants been captured by them and was hewere found prowling over a great ing torn to pieces. The four wings boulder, presumably hunting. They had been severed at the body, and were large and extremely active. the abdomen had been cut away They wandered about over the boulfrom the thorax. One ant had the der, covering most of its surface head, which was many times greatin their ramblings, but did not find er in weight than the ant itself. At any prey. They finally disappeared least half a dozen were wrestling over the side. One big, black with the thorax in an effort to carpenter ant was seen carrying a take it underground, and fully as small spider, but he was lost in many were busy with the abdomen some oak leaves. The one carrying the head finally These ants were all of different disappeared down the entrance hole. species and all busily engaged in and several minutes later the food gathering. I have seen ants thorax. also, was carried in. The at night many times that I have others still worked with the abdonever seen about during the day men. time. However, the long-legged A spider came along and blun- none seen on this evening is the dered into the mass of ants near only one I have never seen abroad the entrance. A large number in daylight. dashed toward him, each after a

INDIANS GRAZED ON HERBAGE

By C. P. Russell

THE

ASSERTION that California Indians habitually grazed like herbivorous animals is usually received with skepticism by most people, but there is evidence aplenty that in the days of dense Indian population, days before the tribes were greatly influenced by the whites, the primitive Californians did turn out on the meadows to feed on certain green plants. Dr. John Marsh, who settled at the foot of Mount Diablo in 1837, advisable to turn him loose to graze. wrote to Lewis Cass in 1844 as follows. The Captain consented to the sergeant 's kindly arrangement to teth- "Their (Indians of the Mount Dier him, and he was led out to graze able region) food varies with the upon the young clover, sorrel, bulseason. In February and March bous roots, and the fresh growth they live on grass and herbage; of ferns which were then springing clover and wild pea vine are among up in the valley, one variety of the best kinds of their pasturage. which we found a good salad. All I have often seen hundreds of them of these they devoured with the relish grazing together in a meadow, like of a hungry ox." so many cattle." (Elliott 's "History of Fresno County Native Yosemite plants, the leaves and stems of which are known to have been eaten raw or cooked by County, speaks of seeing groups the aborigines, are as follows: Sonof Indians wallowing in the wild chus asper the Prickly Sow-thisclover, plucking the herbage and tle; Phacelia ramosissima; Lotus eating it by the handful. C. F. strigosus of the pea family; Lupines Saunders describes the use of sp.; three species of clover; Triparched kernels of the Pepper-nut folium obtusiflorum, T. tridentatus, of California Laurel, munched with and T. microcephalum, the small the clover to obviate bloating and headed clover; Eschscholtzia calindigestion. Saunders also states ifornica, the California Poppy; Monthat the herbage was sometimes tia perfoliata, Miners Lettuce; dipped in salted water to avoid the Chenopodium album, Lamb 's Quarsame unpleasant difficulties. tens, and Pteris aquiline, Common When the second expedition Bracken. against the Yosemite Indians was Readers who are interested in made in May, 1851, members of knowing more of green plants eaten Captain Boling's company succeeded by Indians are referred to "Plants in capturing old Tenaya, chief of Used by Yosemite Indians," by the tribe. For some days he was Florence Brubaker, Yosemite Naheld a prisoner at Boling's camp ture Notes. Oct. 1928; 'Plants Used near the present Sentinel Hotel by the Indians of Mendocino site. H. H. Bunnell, a member of County, Calif.' by V. K. Chestnut: 'Conthe invading force, writes as fol- tributions from the U. S. National lows regarding the herbivorous Herbarium Vol. VII, No. 3, 'Useful habit of Tenaya. Wild Plants of the United States " He (Tenaya) was a hearty feedand Canada," by Charles Francis er and was liberally supplied. From Saunders, 1926 : "Handbook of the a lack of sufficient exercise, his Indians of California," by A. L. appetite cloyed, and he suffered Kroeber, 1925 : "Plants Used by thefrom indigestion He made appliKlamath Indians," by Coville, 1897. cation to Captain Boling for per- and "Contributions to North Amerimission to go out from camp to the can Ethnology." Vol. III, by S. place where grass was growing, Powers'. saying the food he had been supplied with was too strong, that if he did not have grass he should die. He said the grass looked good to him, and there was plenty of it. Why then should he not have it. when dogs were allowed to eat it? "The Captain was amused at the application, with its irony, but surmised that he was meditating another attempt to leave us; however, he good humoredly said: 'He can have a ton of fodder if he desires it, but I do not think it ad- See illustration on following page.

MINER'S LETTUCE.

Montia perfoliata One of the succulent plants of which the Indians were fond. Stephen Powers is authority for the statement that Indians would use the gathered plants near the nests of red ants, permitting the insects to run over the leaves, so flavoring them with formic acid. This acidity took the place of vinegar that the white man uses on his salads

A WHITE-HEADED

WOODPECKER's NEST For several mornings I was awakened at an early hour in my room at the Rangers Club by a tapping sound somewhere outside the building: There would be a series of taps, then a pause of several seconds, then another series of taps. Finally, after hearing it a number of mornings, I concluded to investigate. At the foot of one of the pine trunk corner posts of the back porch I found a considerable mass of pine chips, and about two feet and a half above the ground was an entrance hole of woodpecker's home. As I approached the nest hole, a female white-headed woodpecker thrust her head out and sized me up for a few moments and then flew up into a nearby pine. The male joined her and they talked in low tones. Another hole had been started a couple of feet above the occupied one, but something had caused them to change. The male bird gave an exhibition of himself in a peculiar flight song, which was a series of rapidly uttered chuckles and peeks, accompanied by a peculiar gliding flight with the wings slightly elevated and fully extended. On perching near the female, there was a great deal of bowing and talking. The whole back of his head had the feathers raised, so that the red patch stood out sharply. The excavating is still continuing but must be nearly completed. We hope they will raise their family so we can get some pictures of the young birds, also the adults.—D. D. McLean.

A TIMELY NATURE LESSON

By H. C. Bryant In late spring and early summer a bottle, " is the usual comment. So deer leave their winter quarters the little creature is carried away and go into the higher mountains, while the helpless mother looks on The bucks, whose antlers have from some concealed vantage point. started to grow, again seek shelter Then come days of exacting care along the higher ridges. The does usually followed by the death and hold to the small mountain meaburial of the fawn. dews and to the ridges near lakes To see a new-born fawn is a rare and streams. Here on one of these brushy ridges the mother deer finds privilege and one's appreciation is a secluded place and gives birth to best expressed by intelligently twin fawns. For the first few days leaving it undisturbed. To carry the young lie quietly in the shelter it back to camp instead of leaving of a bush, being dependent upon it to the care of its natural mother their protective coloration (a white- is to commit, during one's vacation, spotted, reddish brown coat blend- an act that those who perform it ing with the ground) and lack of may think they are doing through odor to escape detection. The moth- benevolence, but in reality they are er leaves the fawn only when nec- kidnappers and rightly do essary to obtain food and water, nev- they deserve all the derisive thought er going far and always standing that goes with the name. guard, alert to every motion or The Fish and Game Commission sound. looks with disfavor on "fawn kid-To these same fawning grounds nappers." A letter directed to it for come fishermen and mountain hik- a permit to keep a fawn will be met ers, recreation bent. By chance they with a rebuke. Very rarely do botdiscover a fawn. Truly it DOES tle-fed fawns live and because the seem lost and abandoned by its Fish and Game Commission exists mother! It IS thin and starved for the purpose of conserving the looking! It instinctively plays wild life of California, it can not "possum" when touched, strength- give its sympathy to acts that so ening the theory that it IS weak- materially reduce the deer supply. ened by starvation. "Poor thing! National park regulations prohibit Let's take it to camp and rear it on disturbing of fawns in Yosemite. Mountain Lions at Alder Creek In the vicinity of Alder Creek that a lion will eat off the same checking station, on the Wawona carcass twice. Their nature is to road, the mountain lions are in- make a fresh kill every time they creasing in numbers. eat. This king beast of the forest is Along Alder creek and South making untold slaughter of our Fork of the Merced there were deer. Fishermen tell me of kills dozens of deer killed this spring. being made throughout the forest. The deer are numerous and tame. Sometimes the lion eats a very and it is no trouble for the lion to small portion and leaves the re- make a kill whenever it is hungry. mainder for the coyotes and bear to devour. Every morning and evening a Friday morning, May 20. Mr. number of deer come to the salt log Barnett, coming by my station which is close to our station. One with horses, told me of a fresh kill evening while I was sitting in the down the road. I went to the locostation I heard the deer snort and tion stated and found the carcass run in every direction. I immedistill warm. Apparently the lion had ately investigated and found the track jumped from a rock down upon the of a large lion within fifty feet of deer. then dragged the carcass the salt log where the deer were across the road and down the bank licking salt. For two days the deer about one hundred yards into a were so frightened they did not thicket of small pine trees and cov- come back to the salt. ered it very neatly with pine It is difficult to know just how needles. The lion will probably many lion are in this vicinity and come back and feed off the carcass how many deer they kill.—Ranger again if it is covered. But it is rare John W. Bingaman. Continued on page 48.

Do Not Try to Adopt a Yosemite Fawn!

In the case of the infant shown above the mother deer was known to have been killed by an automobile. A merciful attempt was made to save the fawn by feeding it from a bottle. As is usually the case, the little animal died. Park visitors are urged to leave undisturbed any fawns they may come upon. The supposed negligent doe is sure to be nearby.

A NATURE PRESERVE FOR YOSEMITE

By HAROLD C. BRYANT F EAR is becoming general that artificial conditions will eventually entirely supplant natural ones even in mountainous districts. There is good reason for this fear. In the most out-of-the-way places in the Sierra one finds oats and barley growing, perhaps from seeds dropped from the pack of some pack animal. The European sheep sorrel grows everywhere. Weeds of various sorts are encroaching on the wilderness. That quarantined pest of the motorist, the puncture vine, now grows at El Portal, the entrance to Yosemite National Park. House mice and house rats, natives of Europe, thrive in nearly every mountain resort. The opossum, a native of the Southern states, is becoming common in Sequoia National Park. Furthermore, these chance introductions are augmented by purposeful introductions of fish, of plants and of animals. Requests for permission to introduce some exotic game bird or animal or to plant some non-native tree or shrub are numerous. Plantings of non-native trees are suggested for national forests. With no, or poorly enforced, restrictions against such mixing of their interest and are agreeable to faunas, how will students be able the plan. to study and appreciate original The following outline of the projconditions? Proper understanding ect has been issued by Prof. Harvey of artificial conditions is dependent M. Hall: upon knowledge of unspoiled na- 1. The General Plan. ture. It is proposed to set aside ap- This situation stirred the Eco- proximately seven square miles in logical Society of America to advo- the high Sierra Nevada for comcate preserves of natural areas, and plete protection from all disturbin the "Naturalist's Guide to Amer- ance, and for all time. Domestic ica" an enumeration of such areas animals, camping and fishing would and proposed ones is found. be excluded. Admission to be only Practically unrestricted camping by special permission and only for in national parks and national for- the purpose of scientific study or ests favors introductions of all for necessities of administration. sorts, some of them dangerous to Wild animals and plants would not the success of native forms. As a be removed or otherwise interfered consequence, the move to establish with unless invasion from without wilderness areas within national should disturb the natural balance. forests and that to set aside per- 2. Object: petual preserves in national parks The principal object would be to is timely. Without such a program furnish opportunity for the studies there is little hope for unspoiled of plants, animals, geologic feanature even with extensive wilder- tures, etc., under natural conditions. ness areas such as California pos- Neither the direction nor the imsesses. portance which these studies might European nations have long ac- now be predicted. Opportunity would be afforded for the maintained areas of this sort set aside for the use of naturalists and study of the natural succession of their students. In fact, the usual events, such as changes in aniconception of a national park in mal and plant life. The reservation Europe is an area not open to the would furnish to all future generapublic, but one preserved for the tions a sample of what would be use of nature students. found in other places if man had Professor Hall not interfered. Outlines Proposal 3. Location: Dr. J. C. Merriam and Harvey M. An area of about seven square Hall of the Carnegie Institution miles has been selected along the and several others have felt the crest of the Sierra Nevada to the need of preserved areas of this sort north of Tuolumne Meadows. This in the West. An area suitable as a area occupies a portion of moraine nature preserve has been designated Flat and includes the headwaters in Yosemite National Park. park of Delaney and Moraine creeks. Service officials have expressed This proposal does not exclude the

Ranger Billy Nelson on a peak within the Yosemite wilderness preserve. Ranger Nelson holds a skull of a mountain sheep. This animal is now extinct even within Yosemite National Park. The species still exists south of the Park and some philanthropic lover of the wilds is urged to bring a band of the animals back to their Yosemite haunts. --Photo by C. P. Russell. consideration of other areas nor the changes as the stream banks are enlargement of this one. approached. Several small lakes Suitability of the Proposed Site and ponds are bordered with bogs 1. It includes a part of the crest which make ideal habitats for speof the Sierra Nevada. cies of plants and animals not found 2. It is picturesque, with alpine elsewhere. The upper slopes exhibpeaks and cirques to the north, a it a characteristic chaparral, and general southerly exposure, and the number of species of herbaceous splendid outlooks to the Cathedral flowering perennials becomes con- Range. stantly greater toward the summits, 3. The lower slopes are where is found a rich alpine flora. forested, with a too uniform stand (5) It is watered by several small of lodge-pole pine. If given abso- streams, and there are a number of lute protection, this would swing small lakes and ponds. back ultimately to other types of (6) It is accessible but is not forest. There is a small amount of reached by any roadway nor by any hemlock and along the upper limits well-beaten trail. It is wild and of the forest is the usual fringe of seldom invaded at present. Before white-bark pine. the Yosemite National Park was The flora is very representative created it was over-grazed by of the life zones at this altitude. sheep, but this is true of practically The forests are accompanied by the all of the high Sierra Nevada. usual herbaceous types and there (7) The area is not one which is are extensive meadows with a pro- likely to be demanded by commerfusion of wild flowers. The flora cial or other economic interests of

the future. desirable whether or not the area Precedent is fenced. Some system of patrol There is, perhaps, no exact preduring the summer months is also cedent for this proposal. The plan suggested. is approximated in this country by Endorsements of the Plan some of the wild life reserves, by No attempt has been made to obcertain wild flower preserves, and tain the endorsement of any organiin the redwood districts, but in each zation, The movement has, howof these the object is different. in ever, the voluntary endorsement of Europe are found better examples the following, all of whom are more of complete reservations, such as or less familiar with conditions in the national parks of Sweden and the upper portions of the Yosemite of Switzerland. Somewhat similar National Park : Dr. J. C. Merriam, but less complete are reservations president, Carnegie Institution of in Bavaria and those of Fontainebleau, France. Czecho- Washington; Dr. A. W. Hill, director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Slovakia is just now establishing a England; Dr. K. Domin, director, reservation with objects very simi- National Museum, Prague; Prof. K. lar to those outlined above, and this B. Babcock, Dr. Harold Bryant, Uniabuts upon a similar one to be set versity of California. Carl P. Russell, H. M. Hall and David D. Keck a made a detailed examination of the Administration proposed site in August, 1926, and Plans for protection would need are prepared to make recommendato be left in the hands of the park tions. administration. An ideal protection This one area is but a start. Sevwould be a heavy woven wire fence eral such areas will be needed. around the entire area, but this is Furthermore, after the areas have admittedly impracticable. Signs at been designated it will take strict frequent intervals around the boun- patrol and careful administration to dary are a suggestion. These seem make them fulfill their purpose.

Continued from page 44 A California Mountain Lion

EXPLANATORY LABEL PLACED WITH CAGED LIONS

The great interest of visitors in the mountain lions of the Yosemite "zoo" has led park service officials to post the following printed explanation on the lion cage:

CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN LION

Felis oregonensis californica

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LION

Felis oregonensis hippolestes The smaller lion in this cage is a female California mountain lion from the Yosemite region. She is one of three that were captured as kittens by Jay C. Bruce, near Wawona in April, 1918. The larger animal is a male Rocky Mountain lion, captured in Yellowstone National Park about 1918. No other American mammal has so wide a range. It is found from Canada to Patagonia, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Mountain lions are known as cougars, panthers and pumas. They do not attack human beings but are destructive of deer. Each adult lion may be expected to kill one deer each week. (Fortunately they are not numerous; probably less than 20 lions range within Yosemite National Park. It is evident that lions and other predators have not levied upon the Yosemite deer population in excess of their recuperative powers. Lions are so wary that they are seldom seen except when trailed and treed by dogs. Many persons have lived in the mountains for years without seeing one. Human beings are in no danger of attack from mountain lions.

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 PARKS WILL INCREASE THE EDUCATIONAL RECREATIONAL VALUE OF THE

PARKS".—Resolution of the Conference.