June 1929

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES A TRAILSIDE MUSEUM HAS BEEN INSTALLED HERE.

Funds are needed with which to reconstruct this picturesque land mark. When the cabin has been made safe it will house a permanent museum exhibit. Volume VIII

JUNE, 1929

Number 6 Department of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary National Park Service Horace M. Albright, Director

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 co operation of the Yosemite Natural History Association, and its purpose is to supply authoritative 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. Correspondence should be addressed to C. A. Harwell, Park Naturalist, Yosemite National Park, California.

C. G. THOMSON

Superintendent

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

Published monthly Volume VIII June 1929 Number 6

A "GOOD-BYE" AND A "HELLO"

By C. P. Russell In 1924 the American Association The American Association of of Museums lent a supporting hand Museums has maintained its wholeto a faltering offspring of the U. hearted interest and has embraced S. National Park Service. The in- the entire National Park System fant was the Yosemite educational in its motherly arms. A trailside project. The helping hand came in museum has been constructed on the form of recognition of promisthe rim of the Grand Canyon. An ing work done and financial supimportant branch museum has just port for continued development. been built at Old Faithful geyser in The Yosemite museum was given the Yellowstone and preparation is adequate quarters and worthy ex under way for a splendid central hibits were prepared. The steady institution at Mammoth Hot Springs in the same park. growth of the educational service This enlarged scope of the Nawhich grew up about this new tional Park Museum work has called ter has developed a certain public for a National parks official who conscience of the good that results can concern himself with the prepfrom such activities in National aration and installation of exhibits parks. Educators have taken note which will tell the significant story of the results obtained and great in each of the new institutions. The national institutions have expressed writer is happy to announce that their approval of the projected he has been designated to serve in plans for future service. The gen this capacity. eral public has registered interest. For six years he has enjoyed the in no uncertain terms, and the Na- loyal cooperation of a staff of nattional Park Service seeks, and ob- uralists who have "put over" the tains government appropriations Yosemite program of lectures, trips for the maintenance of the Yosem- afield, and museum service, To ite educational program, which to these coworkers he acknowledges now officially regarded as a major deep appreciation of their constant function. support in bringing success to the

department. To that large number government funds. The Yosemite of individuals and organizations museum library has been especially benefitted by this co-operation, to the details of exhibits and col- and that library has been most vallections housed in the Yosemite uable to the park naturalist. To all museum he wishes to express re- readers of Yosemite Nature Notes newed thanks and the assurance and especially to the editors of that that their gifts are left in the hands journal, the "Stockton Record," the of a most worthy Yosemite staff. writer wishes to express thanks for For four years the printed series the interest shown. of Yosemite Nature Notes has made This is the last number of the friends for the Yosemite Educa- Yosemite publication which the tional department. As the organ of present park naturalist will be the Yosemite Natural History Asprivileged to produce. Through it sociation and the Yosemite museum he makes his bow of exit and init has made many contracts of imtroduces his capable successor, Mr. portance to the cause, and the sup. C. A. Harwell. Of this friend, not port given to it has made possible entirely new to Yosemite enthusia large number of museum enter asts, more will be told in the next prises which were unsupported by number of Yosemite Nature Notes.

MUSEUM ACCESSIONS FOR MAY

Chris Jorgensen, former Yo- "History of San Francisco Cornsemite valley artist, has added thirmittee of Vigilance of 1851," Willty-one valuable Indian baskets to iams, 1921. his earlier gifts to the Yosemite Eleven pamphlets of historical inMuseum. One hundred and eightyterest were also obtained from the one ethnological items have been Library of Congress. accessioned from Mr. Jorgensen, "California Fish and Game," Vols. and his collection constitutes a valuable part of the Yosemite Mu12, 13 and 14, and the "1926-28 Reseum Indian collection. port of the division of Fish and The Yosemite National History Game" were obtained from the California Fish and Game Commis Association has purchased and presion. sented the following: "Useful Birds and Their ProtecC. E. and C. H. Mayo presented tion," Forbush, 1913. a flint lock musket and bayonet which has been in the Mayo family "The Fur Animals of Louisiana," for 100 years. Arthur, 1928. A geological map of California The Library of Congress presentwas obtained from the California ed four volumes : division of Mines and Mining. "Yellowstone National Park," Sectional book cases (eight secHaupt, 1883. tions) were made available to the "Souvenir of California," DenniPark Naturalist's office as a loan son News Co., N. D. from George M. Wright. "Semitropical California," TruTwenty-one lantern slides were man, 1874 prepared at government expense.

THE YOSEMITE MUSEUM AND THE CONSERVATION OF WILD LIFE

By C. P. Russell Several millions of American citiIf we analyze ideals and desires zens just now are invading our naregarding a National program of tional parks. These annual phgeneral conservation outside of Nagrimages to Yellowstone, Yosemite, tional Parks, we arrive at the same Grand Canyon, Mount Rainier, sequence of endeavors. Accepting Rocky Mountain, and others of our conservation as meaning the greatsystem of great natural preserves est permanent use of any area or steadily become larger. National resource, we find that a program parks are overwhelmed by tides of of preservation must necessarily carry a campaign of education at eager sightseers, and facilities for its head; education, first of all, to accommodating the crowds are the end that proper legislation may taxed to the utmost. A point has be effected, and then having obreached where some parks entained the desired laws, it is necesbeen sary to educate the people to an thusiasts throw up their hands in appreciation of why the laws should terror at the threatened inundation be observed. of nature's sanctuaries, and one is Here is the opportunity for National Parks. led to ask what the outcome may be. Three Million visitors To counteract and subdue any. About three million people visit thing of the "jazz element" that our national parks annually. Where, may enter with the multitude, the in our land, is it possible to reach National Park Service has instigreat numbers of citizens with a tuted an educational service wheremessage of conservation at a time by the crowds may be brought to when they are in a more receptive a realization of the true signifimood? cance of national parks. By the It is hardly necessary to go into same token that makes this service detail as to how the educational a restraint upon mummery within department of a national park "puts the parks, it also becomes a signifiover" its message of conservation. cant factor in the national camSummer programs of trips afield paign for the conservation of all and public lectures for park visinatural assets of America. tors, as well as year-'round park Primary Park Purpose museum work. are well known. PerIt is generally conceded that the haps it will be of interest to indi- primary purpose of conducting Nacate briefly a few specific instances tional Park Service work is to preof introduction of pertinent conserve for all time the areas set servation messages into our activiaside as national parks, and to faties. cilitate the study and recreational Yosemite Museum Features enjoyment of those areas. In adWhen the Yosemite Museum was vance of recreation must come a in the building, an Oakland taxiplace in which to recreate—conserdermist Gus Nordquest, volunvation of recreational areas, and teered to install a coyote habitat before we can hope for conservagroup as a part of the natural histion public opinion must be shaped. tory exhibit. Needless to say, his In other words a program of educaoffer was accepted, with the result tion must be launched. that a very effective and compelling Endeavors for, and by, the parks, exhibit greets visitors as they enter then, may be concisely listed in the the natural history room. In this following order : instance, the coyote is having dif- 1. Education ficulties with a skunk, and it is 2. Conservation seldom, indeed, that a visitor re- Recreation sists his impulse to read the large,

clearly lettered labels that form being read. In this case we have a part of the case front. In addi- put in a plea for the preservation tion to giving interesting and amus- of the disappearing race of California ing information on the unsavory Valley Elk. This notable mam-

skunk we have taken occasion to mal is limited to California, and its put in a good word for the coyote. disappearance would be a loss Need for Study which future generations would re- There is a growing feeling that gret, if we do not. Now the last the scientific, education, and ecoremnant of the once enormous elk nomic value of predators is not herds of the San Joaquin and Sac- properly represented by the existramento Valleys is threatened with ing policy of extermination. Viewed extermination. from the broadest standpoint of the On lands in Kern county belongpublic, it is our duty to conserve ing to Miller and Lux a few hundreds predatory animals in national parks, of the beasts still run at and, where possible, to point out large large under conditions very near to visitors the need for studies upon those that existed before Califorwhich acceptable predatory animal nia valleys were densely populated policies may be formulated for the by white men The Miller and Lux country as a whole. lands are to be broken up into The Yosemite Museum coyote exranches and sold, which will mean the elimination of the elk range hibit is a step in this direction, and The California Academy of Sci- I venture to guess that thousands ences too has been active in the of citizens have caught their first future attempt to guarantee the word of the predatory animal probexistence of the elk herd, but no relief lem from it. Many Museum visitors from the threatened danger has been found. The Yosemite Muse- No less than 300,000 people enum label that accompanies the im- tered the Yosemite Museum during bedded elk skull explains the pres- 1928. Only the smaller part of ent circumstances and makes a plea these visitors made an attempt to for the preservation of the intereststudy carefully labels and displays, ing animals. It is possible that some but practically every one of them one of the thousands who read the seized upon certain outstanding feastory may take it upon himself to tunes that have dramatic appeal. lend aid. We have centered upon these pop- Bear Season Opened ular exhibits in spreading our mesTo the great grief of nature lovsage of the need for conservation. Through the cooperation of the ens, California has recently removed Forestry School of the University California protection from black bears. of California, we have come into The famous California Grizzly, the possession of a most remarkable one representative genus for which elk skull that had been overgrown the state was named, has been by the trunk of a Madrone tree. officially given sanction to the last The growth of the tree had taken animal. Now official destruction of in such a way as to cause the one genus for which the state was the huge antlers to protrude evenly named has been given. from either side of the trunk. The Those of us who are familiar with skull itself is deeply imbedded bears know, of course, that no within the heart wood, and only charge warranting such destruction where the tree has been sectioned can justly be placed against them can it be seen. We have exhibited A half million people now enter the specimen conspicuously and,Yosemite each year, and a great needless to say, so spectacular a preponderance of them are Califorfreak arrests the attention of every nians. The Yosemite Educational visitor. We have felt that to ex- Department during the past sumhibit freaks is, ordinarily, bad pol- mer made every effort to acquaint icy, but certainly here is an excel- these visitors with the facts regarding this slaughter of Califor- Exhibits Attract Attention nia's most interesting animal. Our Having aroused the visitor's curiwork of 1929 will be dedicated to osity, we are assured of our label bringing about the elimination of

this unfortunate law from the Calibefore he can withdraw a dozen fornia statutes. bears, great and small, lumber into Means of attack are several. A the light and produce a most intransparent, colored picture, de- teresting spectacle of antics, brawls picting the shooting of a female and drollery. bear and her two cubs, is exhibited During this performance a lecin the museum It attracts consid- turer tells of bear habits, not failerable attention and arouses com- ing to mention the danger that atment. The label accompanying it tends feeding the beasts from the explains the threatened exterminahand. Here is a most excellent tion of bears in California and opportunity to spread the word of makes a plea for public action in the unwise bear law and to develop changing the bear laws. the public support necessary to reLarge Lecture Audiences instate this animal among the protected mammals of California. Evening lectures given by memBird Banding Stories hers of our educational staff at Yosemite resorts reach as many as The story of bird-banding finds 3000 citizens in one gathering. Frea place in our evening lectures and quently these lectures pertain to on field trips. By informing park the life history of bears. Probably visitors of the organized attempts nothing in the experience of Yoseto trace bird migration, we hope mite visitors leaves a more lastto assist in preparing individuals ing impression than does the thrill to co-operate when a banded bird of encountering bears along the comes into their hands or when trails and roads. It is, then, an other opportunities arise. easy undertaking to arouse the Stream pollution and its deadly sympathy of an audience when a effects are explained to thousands bear talk is given who would not, elsewhere, even hear Comments made by listeners durof it. The importance of game ing the talk and afterward are inrefuges is stressed constantly. Forvariably heartening to the lecturer est fire prevention can, of course, and are good evidence that an enfit into our program very naturally, lightened public will not tolerate and no opportunity is lost in prethe slaughter of bears by a few senting it Information on insect would-be sportsmen and depredations in forests and how selfish, they are controlled is emphasized in stock. growers. museum exhibits and in illustrated Our most fertile field for the dislectures. semination of information on the Reforestation and the relation of California bear legislation is the wild life to forests is not neglected. popular bear-feeding platform. EvThe presence of great numbers of ery night in the week throughout mule deer in Yosemite makes it the busy travel months hundreds possible to interest many visitors journey to a point on the Merced in the present status of the animal River where bears are fed under and offers a means of approach in the glare of powerful lights. advocating wild life sanctuaries. Parking space has been provided, Park visitors come in contact with and visitors arrive in their own more than a few fur-bearing anicars or ride in one of the fleet of mals, or the tracks they leave, and big stages operated by a transporour ranger-naturalists thus find tation company. These stages asopportunity to drive home the plea semble visitors from the several for proper conservation of furresorts and are accompanied by a bearers. In that connection, we lecturing guide. never fail to dwell upon the necessiWhen the crowd has gathered ty for complete protection of fisher, along one bank of the river a sigmarten, and wolverine in California, nal is given and a flood of light and the great loss constituted by reveals a natural amphitheatre in the removal of protection on Cali- the forest of the opposite shore. fornia beaver. An attendant steps from the gloom One of the most noted of our about the lighted area and dumps museum exhibits is a fifteen-pound buckets of choice kitchen scraps European trout ' taken from the onto a platform of planks. Even Merced River. It happens that this

preserved specimen is not exhibited Through the Yosemite Natural conspicuously, and this fact has History Association, which is so brought to our attention the in- Educational Department, which is so closely affiliated with the Yosem- terest manifested in it. Hundreds a part of it, we are co-operating ite of people who have heard of the with the American Forestry Assnexistence of the fish from other elation, the American Nature Asvisitors approach museum attendsociation, and the National Parks ants to ask where it may be seen. Association We lend our aid in In connection with the unusual securing members for two of these fish we explain the undersirability organizations and dispense literaof introducing non-native species ture on conservation which they of fish and other life to national provide. parks. While visitors are marveling "Yosemite Nature Notes," pubat the great size of the trout, we lished with the aid of the local asalso take opportunity to tell of our sociation, carries on when our sumfishing regulations and the necesmer work terminates. sity of observing fishing laws in Through it our message reaches general. some 400 readers, and contact is In the field-trip work we occamade with other organizations. sionally come upon trees which visiThe accomplishments of so small tors have mutilated with carving. an organization as the Yosemite These instances are rare, for reguNatural History Association may lations pertaining to defacement of appear unimportant, but its existnatural objects are strictly enforced. ence has added to the permanency I have in mind one instance of an and breadth of our work, to say Oakland man leaving his name and nothing of the considerable finanaddress in ten-inch black letters on cial aid lent to all of our projects. a boulder the size of a cabin. He It seems opportune to introduce was traced and finally located, not here a subject which has not yet in Oakland, but in a remote city, their congressmen. Nature guide and forced to return to eradicate activities but, nevertheless, is eshis smirch. sential to substantial success of ed- Certain trees, our huge Western ucational work in the national Yellow Pine of eight feet diameter parks. In those parks in which in particular, have been subjected popular educational programs are to the mania of individuals to carve now maintained. sufficient study of initials. When a nature guide the local natural history has been brings a party of visitors to such made to form a basis upon which evidence of human thoughtlessness, to build. In the majority of parks, the time is ripe for a lecture on however, studies of the native "Outdoor Good Manners." plant and animal forms have not And, finally, these multifarious been made. Scientific problems of lessons in conservation that are wild life maintenance and adminigiven in scattering doses to hunstration continually arise, and welldreds of thousands are all gathered defined policies regarding these in organized form and energetimatters are essential to successful cally presented to members of the procedure. Yosemite School of Field Natural Nothing short of thorough ecolog- History. The National Park Serv- ical study will develop such police is conducting a well-organized icies. and it is apparent that technicourse of instruction for college cal research workers must be added people, and for seven weeks each to the present staff of naturalists summer twenty men and women who disseminate information in the receive intensive training in field national parks. The first step in nature study and conservation. this direction will be made in 1929 These twenty individuals are, for when. through the cooperation of the most part. teachers of biologia philanthropic naturalist, a comcal subjects, and they go back to prehensive survey of pressing needs their twenty communities prepared will be launched, to carry our message to citizens In summarizing this account of who may never participate in the opportunities for the conservationeducational activities offered to the ist within national parks, the folgeneral public within Yosemite. lowing points embody the issue :

1. The ultimate success of a na- zens who, in turn, may influence tional conservation program detheir Congressmen. Nature guide pends upon aroused public interest work in national parks affords opin the necessity for conservation. portunity to educate great numbers The educational departments of naof citizens in these matters. tional parks are in a position to 3. To prepare a thorough foundamake an important contribution tion for popular educational work toward arousing such public inand for wise administration of wild terest. life in national parks, it. is desirable 2. National parks, themselves, are that full-time research workers be not yet free from attacks from varincluded in National Park Service ions selfish interests. The issues inpersonnel. valved must be made clear to citizens.

WHAT INFLUENCES MAKE FOR LATE SEASONS?

The weather is always a legitidered if the weather had anything mate topic with which to open a to do with his observations, so he conversation This being this Na- obtained the weather reports from ture Guide's first note for the pres- the chief ranger's office, and this ent season, perhaps he will be safe is what he found. The mean ternin making a beginning by talking perature for April, 1929, was 46.58 about the weather. The Nature degrees, while for the same month Guide writing this has been in in 1928 it was 51.88 degrees. In Yosemite this season only a few May, 1928, it was 61.58 degrees, days, but he has been impressed while for May, 1929, it was 59.49 dewith the notion that the season was grees. That is, the average tem later this year. than in former perature for April this year was years, when he has reached Yose5.30 degrees lower than during Apmite about the same time. The ril, 1928, and for May, 1929, 2.10 deirises in Bridal Veil and El Capigrees lower than for May, 1928. He tan meadows have usually been also found that in April, 1928, the through blooming, while this year precipitation was 3.07 inches and in they are in their prime. On the May, 1.18, while for the same ledge of the north wall of the valmonths of 1929 it was 4.44 inches ley, just back of Yosemite museum, and.57 inches, respectively. Part this morning (June 12) the writer of this precipitation in April, 1929, found coiled fern fronds where last was snow. Twenty inches fell. For year they were entirely unfolded, these two months then, 5.01 inches and the buds of stream orchis were of precipitation fell in 1929 as just an inch or two above the against 4.25 inches in 1928. Perhaps ground, where last year they were then, the cooler, wetter season of much more developed. 1929 may account for the nature Now here is where the weather guide's observation. comes in. The Nature Guide wonM. B. NICHOLS

INCENSE CEDAR TENACIOUS OF LIFE

At the lower end of Yosemite a half inch above the girdle than Valley stands a tall Incense Cedar, at the area stripped of bark. Exnow dead. About ten years ago amination showed six annuli indi- some vandal stripped all the bark cating that the tree remained alive from its base for a distance of and grew for at least six years suefour feet above the ground, enceeding the girdling. tirely girding the living tree. InThe tree slowly died over this stead of giving up as a result of period of years maintaining foliage the treatment, usually fatal, this longest at the growing top. Though Incense Cedar continued to live. impaired, this Incense Cedar suc- The cambium continued to grow ceeded in carrying on life functions beneath the bark above the injured for a long period after maltreattrunk so that now the wood of the ment which normally kills a tree.— tree is larger in girth by more than. H. C. BRYANT.

PREDACIOUS PINE SQUIRRELS

On the morning of May 28. the Bold Marauder distracted crying of a female blackHe held his position unaffected headed grosbeak attracted me to by her frantic rushes and my presher nest site in a clump of western ence, but a few feet from him, dischoke-cherry. Upon arriving under turbed him not at all. It was not the nest, which was about seven until I threatened him with my hat feet from the ground, I found it that he leaped from the nest. In occupied by a Sierra chickaree or doing so he unseated the frail red squirrel. structure and from it dropped two He was perched on the edge of eggs which had not yet been broken the loosely constructed nest and in by the rodent's teeth. his fore-paws he held an egg from Occurrences of such depredations which one end was eaten. A well by chickarees are not uncommon developed embryo grosbeak proand the increased numbers of the jected from this broken end and little squirrels in Yosemite valley the squirrel was devouring it with leads one to wonder how serious a avidity. The tortured mother flut- nuisance they may become to the tered about in branches, but a few nesting birds of the valley. inches above the robber's head.

C. P. RUSSELL. BRAVE MOTHERS

Early this spring a pair of west- ticed, but the robin seems to prefer ern robins built their nest in a to stay near the nest while the carsmall choke-cherry bush in the punters are at work and only when open. Shortly thereafter it was de- the day is quieter or away from work cided to build a garage in the place she is unafraid where that bush stood. Some conAt Camp Curry a blue-fronted sultations were held as to the ad- jay built its nest in a small fir visability of moving the bush and within 10 feet of the new dining the nest and the probability of the room. During the time she has robin following. been incubating her eggs a pergola It was recommended that the has been built just at the side of nest be undisturbed until after the the tree, but she has steadfastly eggs had hatched, but it was soon stayed on her eggs. Even the large seen that the garage could be built number of visitors who pass daily all about the bush in which the and who stop to watch her as she nest stood without disturbance. Day sits, many of them even stroking after day the robin sat patiently on her back, has not sufficed to induce her eggs in spite of the constant her to leave. moving of lumber and the hammerAnother robin has taken her ing and the sawing on all sides and nesting site just against the dining above her. room wall and receives her large A few days ago the eggs hatched quota of visitors daily, but remains and the young began to be fed. No patiently on the eggs until they abnormality in feeding habits nor hatch. any particular fright has been no- RALPH TEALL.