September 1929

The Yosemite Museum Volume VIII

SEPTEMBER, 1929

Number 9 Department of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary National Park Service Horace M. Albright, Director

official publication of the

YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSN.

Membership $2.00 annually Yosemite Nature Notes with

AMERICAN FORESTS AND FOREST

LIFE $4.00 annually American Forests alone, $4.00 annually Yosemite Nature Notes with NATURE MAGAZINE, $4.00 annually Nature Magazine alone is $3.00 annually Yosemite Nature Notes with both of the above monthly publications, $6.00 annually

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE CLUB OFFERS

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

Published monthly Volume VIII September 1929 Number 9

MARIA LEBRADO IS A GUEST AT MUSEUM

By Mrs. H. J. Taylor Maria Lebrado, aged 88 or 90 and shadows that play over her years, last survivor of the Yosemite face, she radiates an atmosphere Indians driven from their Ahwahin which we live by gone events nee by the Mariposa Battalion in and feel history that cannot be 1851, was a distinguished and interesting visitor at the museum on "Long long, long 'go" is followed July 3, 1929. Seventy-eight years by a silence more expressive than had elapsed since, as a little girl sound Her hands relaxed upon of 10 or 12 years, she went forth her knees, her eyes, looking afar from this valley with her people. mirror the reflection of many without food or clothing, never years. again to know the tie of tribe re George Wright and his friend, band Henceforth, the Yosemites Ben, endeared themselves to Maria were a scattered people by their kindliness and their ability Maria is granddaughter of Chief to speak to her in Spanish he Tenaya. Physically she is bent, accompanied us to the old cemebut there is no trace of feebleness, tery to visit the grave of her cousin She is possessed of alert, strong Lucy. She consented to visit the mental powers. Her memory is museum The Indian room, full of remarkably clear. Her whole nerelics so familiar to her from earli ing expresses vigour. In her wrinest childhood quite overwhelmed kled face the history of life s exher. In silence she extended her periences is more clearly and hands to the familiar objects about deeply written than words can conher There was no sound save her vey. The eyes, somewhat dimmed, own deep drawn breath as she hold a deep reflection Her speech gazed about in bewilderment Inis laconic and powerful Her words dividual objects drew her attention are Indian, Spanish and English - The spirit of youth seemed to re In the tone of her voice, in the turn to her. Her face lit up with gesture of her hand, in the lights merriment as she stooped over a

metate and with the pestle showed Much as her children desired it, how the acorn meal was ground Maria had never allowed her pieHer interest was keen. Her ease ture to be taken. She had become of humor was delicious and refreshvery fond of "my boys" as she ing as she laughingly took a baby called George and Ben I told her carrier, "Kelley," strapped it across how much they wanted a picture, her forehead to show how she carhow much I wanted one, how much tied her papooses "Long, long go' her daughter longed for it I told long 'go all gone." her how much Mr. Russell hoped "With George Wright and Ben, for one to place in the museum. we took Maria and her daughter We sat on the ground eating in Grace over the valley None of silence the dish of acorn mush will ever forget the Indian lore and that Maria had cooked. We had history that fell from her lips, nor nearly finished. She looked afar can we ever forget what lay too off and was silent Then she looked deep for words as she stretched into my face slowly she laid one her arms in silence to El Capitan hand on my shoulder, the other and again to the everlasting rock she laid first on her breast and and whispered 'Loya!', a silence, then on mine and said. "You, take then a reaching forth as if she pictures. ' must touch it she called aloud Joseph Dixon has produced not a 'Loya' Loya!' With hands folded picture, but a wonderful portrait to her breast she again whispered of Maria Lebrado, lone survivor of 'Loya" " the Indian band driven from the What loss to history that we are valley nearly four score years ago not preserving the Indian names! This portrait is in the Indian room There are Sentinel Rocks, Bridal of the museum History that can Veil Falls. Half Domes, and Vernal never be put into words is written Falls in abundance all over the in the lines of that face On lookworld Yosemite alone has a ing at the first picture from his "Loya," a 'Po-ho-no," a "Tis-sa negatives, Mr Dixon remarked ack," a "Py-we-ack." Why lose "Her life history is expressed - In these to the world? that face. It's all there."

THE GIFT OF MEMORY

By Floyd E. Dewhirst When you have watched the rainbow And seen the snow capped ridges In the mist of Vernal Falls, Over glacial lakes of blue. Have seen the glowing splendor You'll always carry visions Of the fire on Glacier's walls; Which will be precious be to you When you have met the sunrise On the marge of Mirror Lake, When you have seen the Valley Your memory will cherish From the top of Eagle Peak. These as treasures none may take. From Half Dome, glimpsed Tenaya, As a slender winding streak. When you have walked, enraptured Looked down upon the cascades On a breezy upland trail, Of the Merced, flowing free. Have skirted granite ledges Your heart must thank its Maker Far too steep for you to scale, For the gift of memory.

YOSEMITE BIRD REPORT FOR JULY

By Enid Michael In the Yosemite Valley the month green-backed goldfinch. Among the of July wore away under an unexpected birds that failed to appear broken stretch of sun-filled days. were meadow lark, white-crowned Not once until the very last day of sparrow, tree swallow, goldenthe month was the atmosphere crowned kinglet and bushtit. Also washed by refreshing rains A torthe Lincoln sparrow, almost missed rential downpour came at the upbeing on the report, as but a single per end of the valley and water bird was seen. falls came rushing off from Half At the end of the month, all inDome and from the cliffs above the dications pointed to a bountiful Royal Arches. During this downautumn season for bird and beast pour the valley proper received in Yosemite Valley. A survey of heavy showers which washed the the fruiting shrubs and trees made trees and helped to lay the dust at the end of July disclosed a heavy Nesting birds suffered but little acorn crop to come on both chryduring the storm as robins and solephis and Kellogg oaks. The wood pewees were about the only rhamnus bushes were loaded with birds that still had young in the fast ripening fruit, and the few nest. cherry bushes that still manage to As the month came to a close maintain a toe-hold on the floor of the falls and streams had sadly the valley are also heavy laden dwindled. The Yosemite Falls was Ceonothus, manzanita and elder almost dry, Vernal and Nevada berry indicate a most fruitful seaquite subdued, and the Bridal Veil son. Some of the rhamnus berries was but a wisp to be tossed about were ripe by the middle of the by every breeze. The Merced river month; the evening grosbeaks were moved lazily and often paused to first noted feeding on these berries reflect in long silent pools, where on July 16. water buttercups floated pearly On the morning of July 26, 1929, rafts of blossom. The toll I wandered along the trail that blackbirds found the broad gravel skirts the eastern margin of Sentibars much to their liking, and along nel meadow Many times I stopped the margin of the stream was ocwith the early morning sun at my casionally seen the charming little back to gaze westward across the spotted sandpiper. The flood that meadow, and as I gazed I thought came to the Merced and Tenaya that there were sections of the watersheds on the last day of the meadow that approached the oldmonth gave these streams a new time floral glory. There was not a lease of life and Mirror Lake could great variety of flowers, but certain once more reflect the rising sun for species had massed their blossoms the edification of the few early ris in a most effective manner. The ing tourists. And also once more saint John's wort spread patches of did the photographers lie in wait to solid golden bloom, and above those photograph the early tourist at the golden splotches of color was lifted lake. on long, wavering stems of filmy Fifty-two different species of veil of Queen Ann's Lace. Patches birds were noted during the month of red-top grass, blue-green rye which number is five below the July grass, and stalks of plumy velvet average for the last nine years Of grass fraternized to blend their the fifty-two species noted the fox varied colors into a most bewitch sparrow was the only unexpected ing color scheme. And over the visitor, this bird having not pro meadow there came flying directly viously been noted on the floor of toward me a red-winged blackbird the valley during July. Two of the Evidently he had begun to molt, for post-nesting birds arrived during he was quite without a tail How the last week of the month; these ever, he still presented a glorious

fiery epaulets held high. missing from the lower air lanes Evidently on the morning of July and now they suddenly appeared in 28 there must have been swarms numbers, to comb the atmosphere of some sort of winged insect leav around this certain oak. There were at least fifty birds that wildly ing one of the Kellogg oaks opposite the postoffice. For days the Maypole dance" close about the oak white-throated swifts had been that rained manna.

SPECIAL YOSEMITE MUSEUM VISITORS

By C A. Harwell Dr. John C. Merriam, president be built and suitable labels installed of Carnegie Institute of Washingto make these two locations of ton, D. C., was in the park July 16, glacial polish available to those in17 and 18. He addressed the educa terested. Dr. Merriam took several tional staff meeting July 17, giving photographs down the canyon beus the benefit of his long experience low El Portal, which he is sending in educational work and his findto us with suggestions for suitable ings as chairman of the national signs and labels. committee making a study of the Dr. Ralph W. Chaney of Carnegie educational possibilities for na Institute of Washington, D. C., and tional parks. His discussion with the university of California was in our group was informal and most here July 1 and 2, assisting profitable to members of the staff. the Yosemite School of Field NatPresent at the meeting was our chief History in paleontology and naturalist, Ansel F. Hall, who hapbiology. pened to be in Yosemite with three George Root, Park Department of Agriculture, in a trip through several national charge of blister rust control of parks. Dr. Merriam, Dr. Bryant, California, was in the park at our Ansel Hall, Mr. Perry and the park invitation July 23 and 26, during naturalist, made an extended trip which time he helped the school in down the Merced Canyon, stopping tree diseases. He also contributed at the glacial polish near Rocky greatly by delivering lectures on Point, at the terminal moraine, at tree diseases at Camp Curry, the El Capitan and at several places Ahwahnee, and the public campbelow El Portal where the story fires. told by the metamorphic schists was Wallace M. Hutchinson, assistant evident, to see in what way to the park district forester in charge of derected to observe these most interpartment of public relations, U. S. esting evidences of glaciation and Forest Service District No. 5, and mountain building. A trip was also his assistant, Paul J. Fair, were made to the glacially polished gran visitors at the museum July 26. ite near Mirror Lake. It seems They made valuable suggestions for highly desirable that trails should improving our tree room exhibits.—

AFIELD WITH RANGER NATURALISTS COYOTES AT

peated from a slightly different

GLACIER POINT

place. It is perhaps significant that the barking was heard each eveRALPH TEALL ning just about the time that the Mountain coyotes (Canis latran moon was at its best on the slopes, lestes) have been barking or sing before was full moon. ing on the slopes just below the noticeable the night Glacier Point Hotel for several eve nings. Mr. Facie, the hotel man COLOR IN GLACIAL LAKES ager, does not remember ever hay J. S. SMITH ing heard them so close to the hotel before, but there is no reason why they should not be there. The patron of art exhibits occaOn the first night they were sionally comes upon landscapes of heard, several of the hotel guests snow-patched, serrated peaks and were certain that the sound was granite slopes enfolding a lake of the scream often attributed to the such an unusual blue that he mountain lion, though with insuffidoubts the artist's sincerity. Alcient evidence. The story was given though familiar with the marine wide credence because one of the blue of ocean and bay when the ladies present had seen during the skies are right, he questions the day a large animal near the hotel, degree of color and the opaque but could not identify it, and sup quality of the blue attributed to posed it to be a lion. The charac these mountain lakes. However, if teristic barking notes were suffi the skeptic will "follow the trail of cient to completely identify the an the open air" to Mount Dana and mal and allay the lion stories. view there the opalescent lake at On subsequent nights it was sug the foot of Mount Dana Glacier, gested that the animals were hot in his confidence in the artist will be the chase of a deer The number restored, for the beauty of the of coyotes needed to make the noise coloring is not possible of exaggeraheard would at first seem to have tion. been large, but such choruses have The explanation of the phenomebeen described as coming from only non, which is to be found in one or two animals. Moreover, it is physics, is based on the same not the custom of these animals to principle as that which accounts travel in packs, one or two being for the color of the sky. Light rays seen much more often than larger vary in length. the blue being numbers. They may, however, coinshorter than the green, yellow and bine and co-operate in the hunt, red, and therefore more easily difand they are known to take occafused. The sky appears blue be sional deer or other large animals cause the blue rays are interrupted It is probable that he feeds more and scattered by the invisible dust commonly on smaller mammals, in particles which float about in the sects, and plant seeds, and that he atmosphere. The stream from the is seen eating the carcasses of those melting glacier carries down with killed by lions This is also true of it the powdered granite or glacial the black bear Carrion is not, flour which is the result of the patently. distasteful to him. grinding force of the ice The The notes actually heard are powder is so fine that it is held in much more suggestive of the song suspension in the water of the lake, ing fests described by many writers settling slowly, and the blue rays Beginning with a short series of of light are refracted by it as by barks. the song came out as a se the dust in the air, producing the ties of high pitched musical notes pleasing color of the lake and justi which gradually faded away into a fying the artist in his conception series of short barks, and then after a short silence, the notes were re-

Nature Guide Group Study Mountain Quail In summer the mountain quail is largely restricted to the mountainous regions above 5000 feet in the Sierra Nevada. Parties in Yosemite who climb to the rim often find mountain quail with their broods of young at this time of year. This is a common experience in visiting Little Yosemite valley, Eagle Peak Meadows, and the meadows above Glacier Point. Adult birds are occasionally seen during periods of migration, but a mother with her brood of young is seldom observed on the floor of the valley Not once in ten years of experience in guiding parties has the writer seen a mountain quail and her brood on the floor of the valley, yet on July 24 this unusual experience was encountered In the meadow grass near Old Camp Ahwahnee a mother quail and her brood of at least eight young were discovered. The parent bird concealed her young in the grass and took up her position about two feet above the ground on the limb of a willow to act as guard. On close approach one young flew. This one was followed by the parent bird and then one by one the other young birds were frightened from the grass until eight in all were counted. The young birds were about half grown and were agile fliers. Every member of the party making this observation were willing to agree that the mountain quail is one of the most beautiful California game birds.---H. C. Bryant.

DIXON PICTURE EXHIBIT

A most interesting installation of wild life photographs was placed in the club room of the museum this month by Joseph S. Dixon of the museum of vertebrate zoology, Uni versity of California, at present engaged as a special field naturalist in a study of the animal life of Yosemite National Park A great deal of interest is manifested in this special exhibit of pictures, and also in the fact that the club room lends itself so well to special exhibit purposes --C A Harwell.

SPECIAL FIELD TRIPS FOR CHILDREN C. H. HARWELL

Each summer a special effort is made to encourage the children who visit Yosemite to know and love the birds, flowers, trees and animals of the park and to learn to read a trail side as they would read an open book. Under the direction of a ranger-naturalist of the National Park Service a group of children is taken on a field trip starting at Camp Curry at 3 o'clock each afternoon. The first of these trips for this summer was taken July 1. A party of twenty-six responded to the invitation, which assures the popularity of this service.

The educational department of Yosemite considers this one of its most important responsibilities and opportunities.

VARIATION IN DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK OAKS

By Ralph Teall The Yosemite visitor who follows a nature guide early this summer has a very difficult time trying to learn to identify the black oak (Quercus kellogia) On one tree he finds complete foliage, on another only a few new yellowish green leaves, and on still another practi cally no leaves at all. At first there seems to be no reason for such variation If he observes more carefully he will see that there is a definite gradation in the development stages of the oaks corresponding to their position in the valley. These trees, with the complete foliage, stand on the north side of the upper end of the valley near the hot talus slopes, while those with few or no leaves stand under the sheltering cliffs of the south wall. Familiarity with Yosemite Valley in winter gives the clue. Throughout winter and early spring the cliffs of the south wall effectively hide the rays of the sun which should reach the south side of the valley, but have no effect on those

reaching the north side. The black oaks are deciduous, dropping all their leaves in the fall, standing stark naked throughout the winter and then in the spring clothing themselves anew with fresh green leaves. Those trees standing near the north wall receive the most sun and first feel the call of spring, hastening to clothe themselves more quickly.

NATURE-GUIDED FIELD TRIPS

A regular schedule of field trips has been maintained by a competent staff of ranger-naturalists during the month of July as follows : From Camp Curry at 8 a. m. and 4 p. m., from the museum at 4 p m., and from the Lodge at 9 :30. These trips are offered daily except Sunday. Special children's trips for the summer were started in July, and the average attendance of eighteen shown during the month proves that this service is appreci ated. The regular staff of rangernaturalists has been used with the volunteer assistance of Mrs. H C Harter in conducting these trips Seven trips to the Rim have been offered during the month with good attendance. There have been many requests for the organization of ad ditional Rim trips, but with the present staff more trips could not be given. Four parties have made the rounds of the High Sierra camps during this month with ranger-naturalist. The average size of group is ten for this month These walks take in the six hikers' camps, require six or seven days and parties returning are enthusi astic in their praise of this phase of service offered in each case the ranger-naturalist has been able to give a talk around a camp fire practically each evening during this week. The largest groups of course, are found at Merced Lake and Tuolumne Meadows During the month a number of special groups have been contracted by our ranger-naturalists Several Boy Scout groups and a party from Clark University have been given special attention. The park naturalist met the latter group at Merced and traveled with them in their special bus to Yosemite, where they were taken to all points of interest on the valley floor, including the museum. They were also conducted on a special four-hour walk from Camp Curry. This party, under the direction of Prof Burt Hudgins, is making a regular study of geography. Their tour will include three of our national parks—Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite. They were very appreciative of the service rendered them here in Yosemite.—C. A. Harwell. A Nursery Tale Yosemite National Park being a part of the Golden West, has also its native sons and daughters. These are the elite to whom registration at the administration building is unnecessary. They may be a pair of cub bears. a yawning-mouthed brood of chipping sparrows, or a brand new family of chickarees, but whatever their family they are certain to qualify as leading attractions for the registered visitors at the park. During the past season the arrivals to treat the greatest sensation were twin fawns which the mother doe discreetly concealed in clumps of tall grass about one hundred yards distant from each other They were male and female weighing respectively 5½ and 6½ pounds and marked along their backs with rows of white spots characteristic of the very young deer. The twins were the objects of much courteous attention from visitors during the few days they remained in their meadow nursery, where the mother came at approximately eight-hour intervals to feed them. Such intimate contact with the domestic life of wild creatures is made possible for nature lovers in Yosemite through the park policy of protection The prohibition of domestic pets within the national park limits also plays an important part.--By J. S. Smith.

TREE GROWTH UNDER DIFFICULTIES

By Ralph Teall The Jeffrey pine standing outlined in a small niche of rock on the face of El Capitan is a source of continual wonder to Yosemite visitors. From the valley floor it seems almost as if the tree grew on a perfectly bare granite ledge where soil must be very scarce and water at a premium. This growth of pine trees growing hardily out of the apparently bare face of the granite cliffs of the valley walls is, however, by no means rare. Nearly every cliff may be seen to have, somewhere, a few of these struggling trees, exposed freely to the elements, with little encouragement of well fertilized soil or even sufficient water. Most famous of such trees is the lone pine on the top of Sentinel Dome. Near Bridal Veil Falls a young maple, scarcely more than a foot high, although more than eight years old, stands on top of a large boulder with no more soil than may be found in a small cov ering of dried moss and with no visible water supply. A small crack serves as a point of anchorage for some of the roots. Such growth is not out of keeping with the normal physiology of tree growth. The green coloring matter of the leaves is able, with the help of the sun, to form from the carbon dioxide of the air most of the complex organic foods which the tree requires. The roots are required to obtain from the soil various mineral salts and water. The granites seem to have the essential minerals in fairly good proportion and wherever it is sufficiently decomposed that they may be absorbed, with at the same time a crack in the rock where the roots may obtain sufficient anchorage to give the tree adequate mechanical support, seeds coming down from the tops of the cliffs will germinate and develop as best they may. It would be interesting to know whether the leaves in such cases have taken over the entire function of water supply, and whether the moisture of the air is the only source of water.

WITCHES' BROOMS

Brooms that grow on trees and witches' brooms at that! The idea is redolent with fancy but the shades of Mother Goose shall not prevail, for, to nature's story with its infinite variety of romance, of plot, characters, climax and mystery, who would seek to add a jot or tittle! The fanciful name is a common one for abnormal bush growths on the branches of trees. It is so suggestive of folk lore that we suspect it was applied long before there was an understanding of the true nature and cause of the growths The bunching occurs on several varieties of trees. In Yosemite Valley it is a conspicuous feature of the incense cedar (Libocedrus decurrens) and on the yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa). Wherever found, it indicates an obstruction of the normal flow of sap, either by fungus growths or by mites or insects. In the yellow pine it is the fungus (Peridermium elatum) which girdles the branch and prevents the downward flow of the food manufactured in the needles above. The surplus nourishment accumulates above the point of interference and causes the develop ment of an unusual number of twigs, resulting in the bunchy appearance which gives rise to the name.--J. S Smith.

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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 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