1928

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HUBERT WORK, SECRETARY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STEPHEN T. MATHER, DIRECTOR YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES VOL. VII MARCH,

1 928

NO. 3 "LEARN TO READ THE TRAIL-SIDE" YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIF.

1928

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.

E. P. LEAVITT

Acting Superintendent

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES THE PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION

Volume VII March, 1928 Number 3

EXIT "OLD HORNY'

By George M. Wright There is one more chapter to tell monarch—just how old it is im- -just one and the story is done. possible to say—was attested by the For Yosemite's "Rhino Buck" is no condition of the teeth. They were more. almost worn down to the gums in A recent number of Yosemite NaPlaces. No doubt the increasing inture Notes (January, 1928,) carried ability to masticate properly was an account of this most curious partly responsible for its preferphenomenon, the buck mule deer ence for such soft hand-fed foods as with a supernumerary horn growbuttered bread and candying from its snout. Each winter after the rut Old Even though the eventual loss of Horny was so thin and exhausted such a specimen in case the buck that local residents thought their perished in some unfrequented spot pct would surely die. However, he would have been little short of a invariably recuperated rapidly, cecalamity from the scientific viewturning to his favorite back door point, he was permitted to roan) haunts in the succeeding summers, unmolested. Old Horny had countall fattened up and carrying a less friends among residents and splendid head of velveted antlers. tourists. The living animal was This year he was so emaciated even more fascinating than his valen the mating season closed he whitened bones ever might be. Bepark rangers ran him into the elk aides, whereas the first appearance corral for protection and observaof the third antler showed it to he tion. While there the two large a single spike, and last year it antlers were shed. The supernu,ngrew out with two points or tin(,). erary horn lingered on and still there was great interest to see remains attached to the skull. what increase yet another season Finally he was removed to the might produce. government barns where even a But Old Horny played out. He private stall with all the care of an was thought to be quite old by attendant could not succeed in -ereason of his great twisted antlers storing him. The immediate cause Then too, his demeanor was sub of death was apparently some endued and movements deliberate, 'iut fection, the only external evidence Mtlff. That he was a venerable of which was a large lump on the

"OLD HORNY'S" SKULL—(A) is the supernumerary antler which has been produced by the nasal bones. In other instances of three ant let's on bucks the extra growth has come from the frontal hones, well back of the position occupied by this remarkable rhinoceros-like horn (B) is the socket from which one large antler has dropped. During the years that "Old Horny" has been under observation he has shed his large antlers normally, and following this discarding process, the third antler has also fallen off This spring the animal died soon after shedding the two large antlers The spine on his nose was found to be firmly seated on the nasal bones. right side of the lower jaw. Later frontal bone. examination of the head showed or does the supernumerary horn that the diseased condition had show any indication of being the spread far up that side of the head result of some early injury. The The exact cause of the malady nasal bone at this place, and even could not be determined. the forepart of the frontal acme, Needless to say, there was great are abnormally enlarged and stout curiosity to see the skull after the as though to support the socket. hide and flesh were removed in The latter is symmetrically formed order to discover the exact form and placed directly on the summit and manner of attachment of the of the snout. The small two-spiked unicorn spike. Nor was there any antler grows from it in a normal occasion for disappointment. As manner. shown in the accompanying lrawConcerning the origin, and post-ding by C P. Russel. the auprenumble s ignificance of the "sport" horn, erary horn originates from a point little can he said at the present. near the center of the nasal bone, Further study of the skull or the whereas the sockets of the two d iscovery of similar deformities in shed antlers are located in a norother deer may throw new light on real position or the frontal bone the subject or at least develop This discovery bears remarkable some interesting speculations. interest, for though instances of In the meantime. Old Horny shell three antlered heads are not anno' pass into the land of ignominknown in the deer tribe, all three ty. Chief Ranger Townsley nas antlers are always attached to he elected to mount the antlered head. frontal hone This case very deliIn the future people will come in n'tely shows that the horny growth look upon the strange creature, u) of;In antler rnny hr borne by of marvel and then go away wonder- (Ii iletnul nrenrher other 'hell the mg upon the ways of nature.

RECENT MUSEUM ACCESSIONS

By C. P. Russell Friends of the Yosemite Museum sity Iibraries; "Birds of the Pacifi continue to add to the interest and States" was presented by D value of our collections by making Ralph Hoffmann, its author; fot gifts of exhibit materials, books bird books and more than 100 pan and cash. The co-operative spirit phlets on birds were received fro! that prompts donors to aid in our the National Audubon Society; tt project is appreciated by museum exceedingly rare and historical] visitors as well as by those who important "Bodie and Esmeralds are responsible for the maintenwas presented by Theodore Hoo ance of the museum, Expressions er; a bound file of Sierra Club Bu

to this effect are frequently heard letins, Vol. XII, is the gift of tY from individuals in our exhibit Sierra Club; nineteen rare and us, rooms. Evidence of cooperation ful historical volumes were pu begets a desire to co-operate and chased with funds provided by tY our list of donors grows encouragYosemite Natural History Associ; ingly. tion; Averil Barton gave $5 wit Gifts of cash with which to cornwhich to purchase Van Dyke's "Ti' plete installations have been reDesert" and other books; Mr ceived from F. C. Walcott, Dr. T. David White presented "Winema S Palmer, the 1927 class of field a history of the Modoc War, whit natural history, and the Yosemite is rarely quoted by dealers, an Natural History Association. These Bancroft's "Literary Industries"; funds will be expended in conportion of the January 19, 185 structing a model of a typical YoSaturday Evening Post contai] semite Indian village, and in puring an article on California min( chasing needed books, by Bayard Taylor is the gift ( More than a hundred books have Mrs. A. W. Clark; the Automobi been added to the museum library. Club of Southern California pr, Chief among these are twelve volsents a file of its "Tourin umes of the Century dictionary Topics." Seventeen reports of ac from W. H. Martin; "Wild Flowing superintendents of Yosemil ers of the West," by F. E. ClemNational Park, director of nation; ents, was presented by the author : parks and secretary of the interic incomplete sets of "Biennial Rewere obtained from Gabriel Sovu ports of the Commissioners to ewski; Kenney's 1882 edition c Manage Yosemite Valley" were ob- "Business Director of Wester tained from the California State States" was received from Mr Library, and the Stanford I niver ! ll,t M. Cain; five photostat ( :nntinurd of p' L >4I

Dr. Hermon C. Bumpus, executive committee chairman of the American Association of Museums, has been identified with the Yosemite Museum project since it was adopted by his association in 1924. He has recently made final inspection of the building and the completed installations.

H. C. BUMPUS INSPECTS THE YOSEMITE EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

By C P. Russell "To ascertain to what extent the terested in the establishment of construction of the Yosemite Muthe museum looked with doubt sewn and its substation at Glacier upon the value of the "relics"— Point has fulfilled expectations; "historical junk" — which had how it is being operated by the Naautomatically accumulated in the tional Park Service and how it is old museum. The curator has, being used by the visting public; to however taken particular interest observe the reaction of the 'service' in this material; has arranged it and the public to the efforts at into chronological periods, and popular education therein and installed it in such a way as to thereabouts, and particularly to give it a most Inviting appeartest the instructional value of the ance and a high educational exhibited material, the plan of invalue. One is forced to suspect stallation, the style and content of that in any local—or, perhaps the labels, and to make suggestions better, focal—museum, the hiswhich might have constructive tory of the neighborhood as a value," were the purposes of a rematter of popular interest—and, cent visit made by Dr. H. C. probably, of educational value— Rumpus of the American Associaoutranks any other subject. If Con of Museums. this is really so, no modern muHis official report, made to the seum of science will be complete Laura Spelman Rockefeller Menlothat does not exhibit material rial (from which organization that will serve as a synopsis of funds were obtained with which to local history. build the museum), is gratifying to It may be well to mention here those who have been engaged in that "particular interest" was taken doing the work. He considers each in the history collections because of the exhibit rooms and judges most of the other phases of Yothem to be creditable. Comments semite museum work had already on the history room are especially received careful study. Dr F. a significant in the light of probable Matthes had studied Yosemite future museum construction in nageology for fifteen years and his tional parks, and they are here conclusive findings were available quoted : to us. Upon them we based the The fourth and final exhibition organization of geology exhibits. room has to do with the history Likewise the thorough work done of Yosemite and the immediate in the field of natural history by neighborhood. It arrests and Dr. Joseph Grinnell and his staff holds the attention in a truly left nothing to be desired in this startling manner At least some department. Our life zone exhibits of those who were originally inare based on the field work done

by these naturalists from the Calinature guide work. "On the second fornia Museum of Vertebrate floor are the headquarters of the Zoology. While the Yosemite InYosemite Natural History Associadians, strictly speaking, have not tion, an organization of one or two received careful consideration as a hundred members---many of these unit, yet enough work has been are naturalists of high standing— done in the Yosemite region by and all are devoted to promoting such ethnologists as Dr. A. L. Kroethe scientific and educational work ber and Dr. C. Hart Merriam and by of the National Park Service. It is Chief Naturalist A. F. Hall to form instrumental in maintaining, with a basis upon which to build. New the cooperation of the 'service,' a notes and exhibits are coming into most creditable little publication, use as they are developed by study. 'Yosemite Nature Notes,' and has Organizing the Story of frequently and liberally provided the White Man's Affairs funds when occasions of necessity On the other hand, the story of have arisen. Its contribution made the affairs of the white man within the substation at Glacier Point—the the Yosemite region had never been first trailside museum -a reality. organized. Hundreds of fragments Yosemite Nature Notes is a delightof Yosemite history exist in printed ful little amateurish monthly. It form but they had never been colbears all the signs of being issued lected and built into a comprehenunder the combined forces of detersive story. It was then this necesmination and hardship, but the arsity for research that developed titles, full of the atmosphere of the "particular interest" in Yosemite Sierra, are cleverly adapted to the history exhibits. Through the coaverage reader, while not infreoperation of some one hundred inquently embodying observations of dividuals, rare and pertinent volreal scientific value. It is just right umes, letters and manuscripts have as it is—may it never be destroyed come into our hands. The "histori. through an effort at typographic cal junk" has been greatly inimprovement." creased through the help of the Sometimes when we have labored same individuals mentioned above before our little job press grinding and the history room now contains off a particularly refractory page, some representation of every indiwe have recognized the "hardship." virtual who has played a part in the Yet the contacts we can make and Yosemite story. Articles on the maintain through Yosemite Nature various chapters of these human Notes are of sufficient importance events have been and are being to justify the publication. Furtherpublished in Yosemite Nature more, our printing plant enables us Notes, the California Historical Soto do museum printing jobs which ciety Quarterly and the Sierra Club could not otherwise be accornBulletin. Within the year it is pushed, for there are no governhoped to produce them in book ment funds available with which to form. have them done professionally. We Dr. Bumpus has not failed to give shall be glad to improve the typogthought to the organization which raphy of Yosemite Nature Notes if renders service in the maintenance opportunity presents itself. of the museum and its attendant In concluding his report Dr.

Bumpus states, "Our expectations place and at a time when it is have certainly been fulfilled, and urgently desired." we know no more practical, effecThe sympathy and genuine intertive or satisfying method of adult est which Dr. Bumpus has always education." He further expressed displayed in supervising the Yosemhis conviction "that the educational ite Museum construction and inwork made possible by the original stallation has endeared him to Nagrant of the Laura Spelman Rocketional Park Service officials. We feller memorial has yielded not anticipate the pleasant association local resnaa alone, but has called which other park naturalists will general attention to a method of MIexperience when more national parting nformstion--to a plan of park museums are built by the promoting adult education--at a American Association of Museums. Gifts to the Yosemite Museum Yosemite Indian Village Life- -This painting was made by Lady C. F. Gordon Cumming, a British woman, who visited Yosemite in 1878. While in the valley she made numerous watercolor paintings and gathered notes from which she wrote a book, "Granite Crags." This picture, with others, was taken back to the British Isles, where they recently came to light. The Yosemite Park and Curry Company purchased several of them and presented them to the Yosemite Museum, where they may now be viewed This one is particularly interesting, for it shows

all of the stages in the preparation of the acorn food, which was a staple food substance of the Yosemite Indians.

RECENT MUSEUM ACCESSIONS

(Continued from page 19) copies of Galen Clark letters pubfour Audubon bird charts were lished in The California Farmer purchased by Dr. Walter B. Scaife; of the 70's were obtained through seven photos of Galen Clark were Dr. G. T. Clark; twelve volumes on obtained from his nephew, L. L. phases of nature study were seMcCoy; Director Stephen T. Mathcured by exchange for duplicate er gave fourteen large Muybridge books received from the United Yosemite views, and two original States Veterans' Bureau; Mr. and Paintings by Thomas Hill; a genuMrs. James Schwabacher presented ine express "treasure box" for use the following useful books : Thompon the museum stage coach was son, "The New Natural History," obtained from C. R. Graham of the three volume's; Lutz, "Field Book American Express Company; numof Insects"; Shelford, "Naturalist's erous valued relics and photos from Guide to the Americas"; Mills, "The Bodie, old time mining camp, were Grizzly," and Muir, "Stickeen." Presented by J. S. Cain and family; Pack and Palmer's "Nature Ala mounted head of mule deer buck manac" was obtained from the was prepared and presented by Gus American Nature Association; Dr. Nordquist; numerous Bodie and H. C. Bryant gave a copy of "The Aurora photos were given by BurGhost Town Lundy"; forty-six volton Frasher. Joseph Dixon preumes of Annual Reports, Bureau sented eight splendid wild life of Ethonology, were secured by photos which have been framed Chief Naturalist Hall; and thirteen and hung on the walls of the mureports of the Director of National seum offices; a cane of sequoia, Parks and Acting Superintendents made from wood taken from the Reports, Yosemite, were obtained Wawona tree tunnel in 1882 was from the superintendent's office, presented by Dr. Walter B. Scaife; Yosemite National Park. Numerand the Sierra Club presented hisous pamphlets and reprints which toric records of first ascents of were cataloged and filed in the Yosemite peaks, made by Lieumuseum offices were received from tenant Macomb of the Government a number of individuals and inexpeditions of 1878. stitutions. G. E. Reynolds added An accession of little exhibit the 1927 series of "The Out-o'-Door value, but of practical use to muSection" of the Stockton Record to seum staff members, is a pair of the splendid file of hound numbers snow shoes from Roland Case of this paper already possessed by Ross. Office facilities have been the museum. improved, y the purchase of filing equipment. The National Park Among the recent accessions Service has provided cabinets and which have been placed on exhibit reprint boxes in which the groware 100 specimens of Yosemite Mg collection of pamphlets and refungi. prepared and labeled by prints may be cared for. Sequoia Miss E. E. Morse; sample of steel book cases have been installed in post and cable used in constructthe Mather library and eventually ing cable way to summit of Half heavy Sequoia tables will he built Dome, gift of M. Hall McAllister; for the reading room.

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YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK CALIFORNIA YOSEMITE MUSEUM

Dear Friend: Here are three good reasons why you should become a member of the Yosemite Natural History Association: 1. It will keep you in touch with Yosemite through "Yosemite Nature Notes". 2. It offers you opportunity to secure NATURE MAGAZINE, AMERICAN FORESTS AND FOREST LIFE, or both, at an unprecedented low price. 3. You materially aid a non-profiting Government educational activity (The Yosemite Museum and its attendant nature guide service) when you remit your membership fee. Please read a sample of "Yosemite Nature Notes", consider our purposes, and don't overlook the benefits of the combination offers with the American Nature Association and the American Forestry Association. Remit by check or money order. Cordially yours, C. P. Russell Park Naturalist