August 1929

YOSEMITE NATUR E NOTES

The Yosemite Museum Volume V 111

AUGUST, 1929

Number 8 Department of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary National Park Service Horace M. Albright, Director

official publication of the

YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSN.

Membershin $2.0o annually Yosemite Nature Notes with

AMERICAN FORESTS AND FOREST - LIFE

$4.00 annually Amer,can Forests alone is $4.00 annually Yosemite Nature Notes with NATURE MAGAZINE, $4.00 annually Nature Magazine alone is $3 0o annually Yosemite Nature Notes with both of the above monthly publications, $6.00 annually

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

Published monthly Volume VIII August 1929 Number 8

ODDITIES OF NATURE IN YOSEMITE

By P. J. White Everywhere we find freaks or few feet from a road which until reoddities in nature and Yosemite is cently furnished nlentv of dust. not the exception. These peculiar examples draw and hold our atten tion and make us endeavor to dis cover the causes for such strange growths or forms. Often they make us wonder how and why they con tinue to exist. Has a Gooseberry Bush Turnerl Parasite? The ranger-naturalist in taking a party from the Yosemite Lodge on a nature walking trip never misses the opportunity to point tc a most unnatural phenomenon--a gooseberry bush growing high up ir, a great black oak tree. It never fails to bring expressions of astonishment from the members of the group, nearly all of whom have seer many gooseberry bushes growing but not on the limb of a tree. Several years ago, it is believed the seed was carried and deposited there by a bird. There was perhaps but one chance in a millin g that this seed would find enough damp soil in the hollow of the oak Evidently the tiny plant found suf so that it could germinate and start ficient nourishment in the accumugrowing. The tree stands only a fated soil and enough moisture

YOSEMITE NATURE. NOTES

from the heavy dews to grow into a foretold accurately but probably the sizeable plant. Its roots went deep oak will win the fight to smother down into the cracks in the bark and kill it as it so often does when and, perhaps, found a hole bored attacked by mistletoe. there by a bark beetle or pushed The Heartless oak their way through, finally reaching On the Lost Arrow trail near the the growing layer of the tree. Haw foot of Yosemite Fails stands what ing found a new and never-ending is left of a once great and proud supply of moisture it grew into a black oak tree. Adversities such as large full-grown bush about five fire and destruction by insects folfeet across. It is possible that the lowed by a rotting away of nearly hollow stub of the oak above acts as nine-tenths of the trunk left a semia reservoir of moisture. circle of bark and a thin layer of wood in many places not one inch in thickness. This remaining piece, twisted and leaning, is now but twelve feet high as the original trunk has been broken off at this height. At the very top is now flourishing a new growth of large sized branches, spreading out at all angles, making a pretty umbrella-like canopy of. green foliage. In fact, the new growth has fast become so luxuriant that with the heavy snows it will make the tree top-heavy and finally break it down within a year or two. This part of a tree which persistently continues to grow in the face cf such difficulties forms a most excellent example of tree growth. It :shows that heart wood is not necessary to a tree except to hold it upright. It shows that the growing part of a tree lies just between the bark and the wood, and that an _ inch of sap-wood will fulfill the reThe Heartless oak quit ements of bringing up water The oak tree, in trying to overand minerals from the roots as well come this strange parasite, has now as reinforcing the stump enough to grown entirely over and inclosed stand. Then, too, we 'learn that as the roots of the bush. The fruit of long as a tree has not been enthe gooseberry never fully matures, tirely girdled and a strip of bark indicating that the shrub does not with the cambium layer left intact get.as complete a food suppiy as there is opportunity for a tree to one growing in soil. continue to grow and try to heal over The future of the shrub cannot be :es scar. S

Girdled Incense Cedar is obtaining sufficient food from About one hundred yards below :the root of the growing Douglas fir the Pohono bridge there stands an standing nearby to continue slowly incense cedar, now dead; from its growth. To be sure, it is not which the bark has been cut and growing higher, but it is growing stripped from the ground to a larger in diameter and is also grad height of four feet. This removal dally covering over the top with of bark entirely around a tree usunew wood and bark. ally kills in a short time, but here Growing Under Difficulties is the exception to the rule. The Most of us have seen trees growdrawing on this page shows how ing in narrow cracks in solid this tree looks today with a new granite and in other seemingly imgrowth of wood and bark, wh i ch. was added after the act of vandalism was performed nine _years ago. A cross section of the new wood shows distinctly nine annual rings gradually becoming thinner as the tree slowly died. No doubt but that the foliage received enough moisture from the roots for food making through hte sapwood and was able to live until this wood became _ too dried and dead to perform its, natural function. A Stump That Grows An even greater sight than a tree

growing after being entirely girdled-. is that of a stump which continued to live and grow year after year.

Near the Vernal Falls bridge is such a stump. This tree does not stump-sprout nor naturally remain alive after being cut down, but this stump has actually lived and put on annual rings each year for about Girdled 1NiceNae Cedar thirty-five years. Having no leaves with which to possible places. We have seen how manufacture food, it is necessary these trees have gained a foothold for this stump to receive nourishand in growing have slowly widrnent from some other source It ened the Cracks in the rocks, disjust so happened that several Dougplaying an enormous and almost las fir trees were growing close toirrisitible power. But aa even gether in the racks and by chance stranger example of force was the roots of this tree crossed -arid noticed by a ranger in the fireMuhl-red the roots of another. As house. There he saw tiny seedlings these.•orossed-'reotsgrew they we•-e of the black oak pushing up the squeezed together-.tightly--`and finasphalt floor, some just peeping ally grew together. Now €hestump through and six or more already

8o 1'Uai1Alt1'kt NATURE NOTES through and showing several leaves. rolled flat by a heavy roller. During the early spring when it Even under such adverse and was decided to change the garage impossible conditions the acorns into a fire station, the ground floor sprouted and with an almost unbewas covered deep with dust. In orlievable force the seedlings worked der to raise the level of the floor and pushed their way upward a quantity of dirt was shoveled in through three inches of pavement. from under a large oak tree nearIt was found by experiment that it by. It was natural that many was necessary to use a chisel and acorns were contained in this fresh considerable effort to dig through dirt. Then this was wet, packed the floor to the roots of one of the down, and over all was laid three tiny trees. inches of crushed rock and asphalt

YOSEMITE BIRD REPORT FOR JUNE

By Enid Michael The month of June in the Yofor rise of the river brought dissemite valley started off with fair aster. And by the way, speaking weather. A change came June 6 of willows, the thickets of salix which brought showers. The fedlemmoni are sadly stricken and lowing three days heavy rains fell the few remaining stands are rapalmost continuously. June 10 was idly being exterminated through cloudy, then a few fair days and the agency of the oyster-shell scale. another storm which started on the It is not unreasonable to predict afternoon of June 15 and continued that all willows and cottonwoods unceasingly for forty-eight hours. of the valley are sooner or later At this time heavy rains fell over to follow the wav of salix lemmoni. most of the Merced watershed, with Vegetational chn 'as must affect snow on the higher peaks. Both the lives of certain species of birds the Merced river and Yosemite and it is really amazing what creek reached the peak flow for changes have taken place in the the season. June 17 the storm flora of Yosemite valley during the cleared and then followed an unlast.en years_ broken stretch of warm weather Fifty-one species of birds were with the thermometer hovering noted during the month, which above 90 degrees. number is four below the June The downpour of rain, no doubt, average for the last nine years. Of brought misery and disaster to the fifty-one erec°e a noted there is many birds, especially the groundnot a single species that has not nesting species. Three pairs of been known to have nested in the Brewer blackbirds made an unusual valley some time (luring the last and unfortunate choice in selecting ten years. nest-sites These birds built thei' Ornithologically this June month nests in a thicket of dead willow anpremimated the normal. There stems o n an island in the middle were no surprises and no excepef the river. It appeared as a very Lionel observations. safe home-site. but the unlocked

Yt)aCi.ilTE NA I :sin a5

YOSEMITE'S BIRD MAN

H. E. Perry The Bird Man of Yosemite has a been enjoying his companionship host of fr.eads both of the feathfor two and even three years and eyed and of the human kinds. Livtheir confidence in him is astoundlug and i.,orking in his kindly maning. The skill with which ner as he has for the past seven or "Brownie" and "Old Timer" catch eight years in Yosemite valley, his peanuts in mid-air is only one eviacquired name has become familiar dence of the patience which he has to a multitude of people, his model exerted in his association with camp has offered a natural shrine these friends. It is difficult for anyto all who would turn aside to wor one to witness the activity of the ship with their feathered brothers, steller jays during one of the Bird and his work has developed to the Man's talks without gaining inpoint where it is becoming recogcreased respect for these remarknized as one of the valuable instiable birds. At the same time, many tutions of the park. other kinds of birds are pointed out Situated a short distance west of as they partake of the abundance the entrance to the Ledge Trail, the of food on their feeding trays and 13 d Man s home is an example of the attentive listener has most of order li:_ess, good management and his bird questions answered before cleanliness The cool freshness of they are asked. recently sprinkled surroundings In addition to the talents already greets one as he enters the rustic described, the Bird Man possesses gate and the exceptional neatness an artistic ability which finds exhas served to inspire many a lady pression in the clever bird caricavisitor who may have been learning tures which he creates during the the art of camping for the first winter months. These artificial time. birds are fashioned through combiThe work of the Bird Man is donations of natural objects which 'rig much to turn interest toward can be picked up along the trail bird appreciation and conservation. side, such as squirrel-gnawed pine Talking as he does to two groups cones, feathers, nuts, acorn cups. of people each day, the spirit of his etc., and they are put together in message through their aid is filterways that often expres s human ing into larger groups of society traits and characteristics. The and the resultant greater interest minuteness and accuracy of detail in bird life and animal conservation are other evidences of unusual pain general is encouraging. tience and skill. Through innate gentleness and In private life, the Bird Man is unusual patience, the Bird Man has known as Herbert Sonn, an artist developed a friendship with the who is filled with a love for the outbird population around him which of-doors and a keen appreciation of not only seems to be soul satisfying human nature. His years in Yoseto him but which is fascinating to mite valley have been filled with his audiences All of the birds in kindly labor and his efforts have that locality exhibit a rare degree brought increased happiness to all of tameness, but it is with the Stelwho have known him. In a very ler jays that his chief interest lies practical way Sonn has augmented Impossible as it may seem to the the work of the Government Nature amateur, the Bird Man recognizes Guide program and it is to be hoped the individuality in his Steller jays that as time goes on there will be and has appropriate names for a more complete real i zation of the many of them. Certain ones have splendid service he has rendered.–

YOSEMITE NATUKE NOTES AN EXPOSURE OF BASALT

By J. S. Smitf Because of their composition, venes, and the writer, desiring structure, origin and rare occurspecimens, essayed a pole vault rence, basalt intrusions are of unwhich developed into a cold plunge usual interest to geologists and a, and a scramble. few well-known out-croppings proBasalt is basic lava, probably vide some of the world 's most novel formed by the fusion and cooling of scenic features The Giant's Causeimpure slates, shale and limestone. way on the northern coast of IreSince it cools more evenly than land, the Palisades of the Hudson other similar rock formations it and, more locally, the Devil's Post' cracks vertically and contracts into Pile of the Sierra, some sixty miles regular shapes producing an intereast of Yosemite, attract visitors esting columnar structure. from all sections of the globe. In the intrusion on the Tuolumne, Not so well known, but remarkwhich is approximately forty feet able, particularly as the only one high and eighty-five feet wide, it is occurring within a large area of evident that a fissure was present the Sierra, is an out-cropping of in the overlying granite through basalt on the south side of the Tuwhich molten lava was forced to olumne river about midway bethe surface, where it cooled. At tween Tuolumne Meadows and the foot, broken fragments of the Glen Aulin. Although visible from dark, almost black, rock material the trail, the formation is not easy form a mound similar to the talus of access because the river interslopes of the granite cliffs.

CAMPFIRE PROGRAMS ARE POPULAR

By C. A. Harwell At the request of Park Superinforms and electric lights, and equiptendent Colonel C. G. Thomson a ment for picture projection have new service is being offered in Yabeen installed. semite this summer, to aecommoThe feature of each evening's date the four thousand campers in program is an illa:strated lecture the valley Under the direction of on some phase of the natural hisrangers a bonfire is lighted each tory of Yosemite or other topic of evening in central locations and interest to our visitors, given by an appropriate program is put on. one of the ranger-naturalists of the This gives camp patrol rangers a National Park Service. This work new duty and opportunity. While is under the direction of the park making their daily rounds they innaturalist. vite campers to bring camp chairs The response has been splendid. and come out to the -evening proAn appreciative audience of 500 grams and also secure talent from to 600 gathers each evening visitors to furnish entertainment about these camp fires. Locations features. This new feature was were chosen so that a clear view of started in Camp 7, June 27, and in the fire-fall from Glacier Point can Camp 14, July 9. Suitable platbe had by these groups.

AFIELD WITH RANGER NATURALISTS

Black Bear Kills Fawn On July 22, 1929, campers in Camp 7, and members of the Yosemite School of Field Natural History were awakened at daybreak by a pitiful distressing squeal, as if someone were blowing on a blade of grass placed between the thumbs. Rising from my. bed I saw all the deer from the nearby meadow, approximately fifteen in number, come running to the vicinity froth) which the sound came, but kept running back and forth at a distance of about one hundred yards from the supposed place, keeping up a blowing or snorting Curious to know ghat was happening 1 picccedeci to find the spot from which the sound came. From behind an aseia bush along the bank of 'a meadow slough came crunching sounds, which upon closer approach proved to be caused by a large cinnamon bear sitting on his haunches and feeding on something. Chasing the bear away we observed that he was breakfasting on a fawn apparently only a few days old, which the mother had tried to hide in the grass. The meat of the fawn was still warm, which proved that the sounds we heard were the poor little fawn's cries as it was grabbed by the bear After leaving the spot the bear returned, took the remains of the fawn and carried it across the meadow into the forest and i ocks north of the Ahwahnee Hotel.-- George L. Unnewehr. Evidence of Migration Noted One of the first birds to leave Yosemite valley at the end of the nesting season is the hermit warbler- 'This bird makes its presence conspicuous during late May and June by a drawling song somewhat like the syllables leedle-leedle-leelee-lee The bird forages largely in ratherhigh coniferous trees. After the middle of July the song is no longer heard and the birds seem to have totally disappeared from the floor of the valley, No one seems to know exactly where they go unless it is to lower elevations. The leaving of the hermit warbler is the first evidence of fall migration. A little later male tanagers are less frequently seen, and by late August females and young alone are to be noted, indicating that male tanagers have begun a migratory movement A still more noticeable movement of birds froni the higher country is to be noted in late September and early October.—H. C Bryant.

JAY STORES PEANUTS RALPH TEALL

A blue-fronted jay recently gave an amusing instance of his foodstoring habits in the heart of Camp Curry A guest was giving it unshelled peanuts. As it picked up each one it flew about twenty feet and stuffed it carefully under the pine needles covering the ground It often happened that a hiding

FURTHER YOSEMITE

place only a few feet from some

TOAD STUDIES

interested spectator would be

DR F 0 EVANS

chosen Each time the jay would return for another nut to be seDr. Rudolph Stohle, exchange stucreted in a new place. The bird apdent at the University of California, parently did not notice. or chose to frcm Switzerland, is collecting specignore the fact that as each nut linens of the Yosemite toad to be was stored it was promptly reused in a research on sex determitrieved by a small boy and again nationThe Yosemite toad

is of effered to be hidden Through the unusual interest for a study of this fifteen; minutes in which it was character because of the narked watched the jay was seen to hide difference between male and female two nuts at least three difercnt jn size and coloration.,times.

YOSEMITE N.AI UR1 NOTES RECENT MUSEUM ACCESSIONS

"Illustrated Flora of the Pacific States Hutchings tourist guide, Yosemite Valley, was presented by the Stanford University 1877. Press. Mariposa Gazette, August 8, 1863. •'A Guide to the Birds of Colorado' ay Twelve Yosemite views by Fagersteen. Bergtold was given by the Yosemite

by 7 Inches. Natural History Association. Fagersteen picture of Sentinel Hotel. Willetta S. Hill gave the following : Fagersteen picture of "Pike," Yosemite "In the Heart of the Sierras'' by J M. guide. Hutchings. Watkins ' photos with Taber trademark, Painting, "The Snow Plant," by Thomas Di by 20 Inches of El Capltan, Wawuna Hill. tree, Verbal falls, North Dome, Mirror Portrait of Thomas Hill. lake Article, illustrated, on work of Thomas Arthur S. Rosenblatt presented a print Hill from San Francisco Bulletin. July from the first photograph ever taken in 16, 1899. Yoietnite by C. L. Weed. 1859. He alto Article, illustrated, on Thomas Hill and gave portraits of T G. Phelps, Ferris his Wawona studio from The Wasp. Lie Poheman, Joseph Walkup, A R Meloney, cember 30, 1905 James Anderson, Jose ph Cou'ter, E. Garter Article, "The Last Spike," newspaper John E Burch, W. S Ferguson, Isaac clipping. Allen, A. W. Taillefort. Humphrey Guef- 'Article, "The Last of the Yosemites, fetto, A. J Moulder, Gilbert A Grant San Francisco Examiner. Pachico Remmulado, Samuel A Merrit, Portrait, Mariposo county Indians, Mrs. William 1'. Lewis, Geslan Johnson, J li Jim Roan and infant Ruthie. Baker and Sam Cell Also presented by Portrait, Mariposa county Indian, Kathie Mr Rosenblatt were a number of et :1n Roan. early photos, sixteen mining scenes. Pla^erEighteen autographs as follows : W F pills street scene, giant Se;uola, two Prldai Hancock, Benjamin Folsom, Chas Dudley Veil falls. El Capltan, two Vernal falls Warner, C. Schroter, Arthur Sullivan, two Auburn street scenes, Glacier point, Kate Field, Albert Bterstadt, C Fieischvalley view, Yosemite falls, Three Broth man, Thomas Hill, J D Phelan, Chas. F ers, early city view, Half Dome, North l.umnies, Lillie Langtree, R. B. Hays, Dome-Royal arches, Iwo Nevada falls. Howard Potter, Ben C. Truman, John Cathedral rocks, North Dome-Ilalf Dome Muir, Joaquin Miller (2). two Sequoia grove pleturor. minim; tote Anna L. Johnstone presented the follow. in canyon, Sentinel rock, Yosemite, i.. 1ng : gold wash in canyon, gold slice way Photographs of Mr. Jorgensen s studio, canyon. Mirror lake, Yosemite 5 o'clock tea, trail Mrs. Lucy Milburn has loaned to us me to Nevada fall, dancers on overhanging Peregoy Hotel register of 1870. rock at Glacier point, Half Dome, going The United States Biological Survey are to Christmas dinner In Yosemite, the o! a sented us with the following: well, Yosemite valley store, Yosemite fails, A biological survey of North Dakota glimpse of the upper Yosemite falls, YoLife zone investigations in Wyoming. semite road in winter, Maxie's snow shoe Birds and mamrp als of the Pribilof lid ride, Mr. Jorgensen's studio, Nevada falls, ands, Alaska Bridal Veil falls, glimpses of Yosemite Insects, Arachnids and Ch`iopods of the chapel, overhanging rock at Glacier pout!, Pribilof Islands, Alaska. the domes of Yosemite eh Christmas morn. Revision of the American Pikas. Ing. Revision of the America n. Lemming mice The Yosemite Natural History AssoetaBiological investigations In Alaska and tton presented "The Bookman' s Glossary " Yukon territory. by John A. Holden. Revision of the mice of the American Illustrated "Family Burns " by D F Genus Peromyscus. Collier; discovery. and conquest of the Biological ir.vestigatlon i in Alaska and Northwest, two charm stones, and a glacial Yukon territory. boulder were obtained from Mrs Estelle A blological investli :ation of the AthaBerger basks-IsfacKemzie reglti)1 Mrs. Pink P. Ross made availab ` e : North American (MUMS.

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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 authoritative information on the natural history and,cientific 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, sen-,te National Park, California.

C. G. THOMSON

Superintendent