February 1930

The Yosemite Museum Volume IX

FEBRUARY, 1930

Number

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

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

Published monthly Volume IX February 1930 Number 2

A RARE MUIR ENTRY FOUND IN YOSEMITE

By C. A. Harwell John Muir made his first trip to the region. the Yosemite in 1868. From that On one of his trips, September 29, year the valley became his moun1873, he stopped at La Casa Nevada tain home and the Sierras the obbuilt in 1870 on Table Rock, just beject of his greatest interest. He low Nevada Falls, and operated by explored their every corner. His Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Snow. His sigtravels afoot through steep cannature occurs several times in a yons, to the summits of the master valuable old register now on exhibit peaks of the range, and the intiin the history room of our Yosemmate experiences of these long and ite Museum, which shows the regisvaried tramps are well known tration of guests at "Snows' House" through Mr. Muir's own published from April 28, 1870, to June 9, 1875. accounts of them. He was a thorOn this particular visit a full twoough scientist. The geological story page entry in his own very distinct of the formation of the range and handwriting was made. This, not the mighty erosive forces which previously published, follows: had carved out lake basins, broad "September 29, 1873. valleys, steep-walled canyons and "Mrs. A. G. Black, Yosemite. rounded domes fascinated him. On "John Muir, Oakland, Calif. his every trip he gathered new evi- "A. G. Black, Guide, Yosemite. dence and new data to support his "Made delightful trip around theory that mighty glaciers of the from Glacier Point across the valice age were responsible not only ley of Illiouette and down through for the deep carving of the YoLittle Yosemite to the main valley semite canyons, but for the roundvia Nevada and Vernal Falls. ing and polishing of the many won- "Glacier Point commands a noble derful granite domes of the region. and instructing view of the Tenaya He believed a glacier deep enough Canyon, down whose ample chanto extend several thousand feet nel descended the great Tenaya above the top of Half Dome covered Glacier which played so important

a part in the excavation of Yosemsummits of the Lyell Group. Long, ite Valley. The less regular, bent tresses of rain descended from crooked and dome-blocked channel the base of a dense, bluish-black of the South Lyell Glacier is also cloud in which some of the peaks well seen from here, as well as were outlined dimly, while others those of Yosemite Creek, Hoffman, were wholly obscured down to their and Illilouette Glaciers. These five shoulders. Above the dark rain principal Yosemite glaciers, now cloud a series of fine-grained, lightfeebly represented by the streams colored cirri were laid in exquisite of the same name, united in the upcombinations and these, again, per end of the great valley as a fowere surmounted by white, bossy cal point, concentrating their erosun-filled cumuli glowing upon the sive energy and flowing down and tranquil azure. We watched the out of the valley as one grand glamotions of the storm as it swept cier. leisurely northward, bathing the "From Sentinel Dome a still more grateful mountains in its path, setcomprehensive view of the cha ptling down upon each in turn with nels and foundations of these, old a fondling gentleness of gesture ice rivers is obtained. The knotty that is utterly indescribable. Nor domes and ridge waves of Yosemwas there wanting the majestic ite creek—the steep descending tones of the lightning falling in groove-shaped valleys of the Hoffdeep, rumbling explosions and revman, the bold, simple furrow of the erberating from peak to paak with Tenaya, the broad, irregular pathgreater and greater faintness. way of the Nevada or South Lyell, "After dark, looking back tointerrupted with domes as a water wards the head of Little Yosemite, stream is by boulders, and the wide a belt of cloud appeared drawn flash-shaped basin of Illilouette across from wall to wall that shimridged with moraines and manimered with lightning in every pore. festing its noble ice-wombs in sub- "The autumn tints of the rubus, lime simplicity among the boundmaple and wild cherry were most ing peaks of the so-called. 'Merced enchanting, the latter covering the Group.' banks of Illilouette with a mist of "While we lingered upon Sentinel yellow. We reached Snows' weary Dome a fine storm was observed in with delight and the Nevada sang progress among the black, jagged us asleep." Some of the Invertebrates of Yosemite

VIRGINIA WEIGEL

This study of fresh water biology follows : restricted to invertebrates was.. : 1. Phylum—Protozoan.

made from life forms found in the Class—Infusoria. swamps of Sentinel Meadows on Sub-class—Ciliata. the floor of the valley on July 22.. Order—Halotricha. 1929. Genus—Paramecium. The classification of these, as Species--Candatum. nearly as could be determined, is as 2, Mesozoan (Given various classt-

ll fications by different scientists). bined to produce a spiral course Class—Rotifera. The organism has various reactions 3. Platyhelminthes. to stimuli which may be summed Class—Turbellaria. up as follows: "Whether a given Genus—Planaria. change shall produce reaction or 4. Phylum—Annelida. not often depends on the completeClass—Herudenea. ness or incompleteness of the perGenus and species not known formance of the metabolic pro- (two kinds found). cesses of the organism under the 5. Phylum—Mollusca. existing conditions. This makes Class—Gastriopoda. the behavior fundamentally reguSu b-c I as s—Euthy n eu r a. latory. Order—Pulmonata. Rotifers Genus—Ancylis. A number of rotifers of various Planoibis. types were collected. Some of the Class—Pelecypoda. rotifers are of the fresh water in6. Phylum—Arthropoda. habitant type and some are marine, Class—Crustacean, while a few are parasites. Ciliata, Genus—Ceredaphnia. whose cilia cover the entire body, Cyclops. but are larger and stronger about Daphnia. the mouth opening than elsewhere. Eurycerous. are numerous among these. The Macrothrix. adoral ciliated spiral consists of A Nauplius. rows of cilia fused into momSimocephalus. branelles and lead into the mouth. Sub-class--Brachniopods. Platyhelminthes Phyllopoda (Brine Shrimps). No Planarians were found in These brine shrimps were found in Sentinel Meadows but on stones in Evelyn Lake creek en route to some fresh water as Sentinel creek, Tuolumne Meadows. one finds many and this type of Class—Arachnidis. Platyhelmfnthes has a free living Water mites, habit. Its body is bilaterally sym Paramecium Candatum metrical and dorso-ventrally flatParamecia are unicellular anitened. This type is also charactermals visible to the naked eye if the ized by being rather blunt at the proper background is provided. anterior end and the posterior end They are found in fresh water and more pointed. It nas peculiar dark also in stagnant water. ened eye spots at the broader end. The Paramecium is the well An extraordinary feature of Pla. known cigar shaped animal with a naria is the power of regeneration. depression extending from the forIf an individual is cut in two, the ward end obliquely backward, endanterior end will regenerate a new ing just posterior to the middle of tail while the posterior part dethe body. This animal, being thus velops a new head. A cross-piece unsymmetrical, is able to swim in will regenerate both a head at the a straight course through a medium anterior end and new tail at the which allows deviations to right or posterior end. The head alone of left and up and down. Through a planarian will grow into an entire rotation the forward movement and animal. Pieces cut from various the swerving to one side are corn parts of the body will also regener•

ate completely. No difficulty is blood supply or one most accessible, experienced in grafting pieces frum or was it b cause the foot of the one animal to another. frog was the part with which the Annelida leech came in contact more treSeveral types of leeches were quently. After a leech nad become found. One type about three inches attached to the foot of the frog the in length was collected from the frog made violent struggle to get meadows as we returned from away. In most cases the frog was Eagle Peak. The type obtained able to throw off the leech but as from Sentinel Meadow were much time was short this could not be emalier. The former were swimstudied properly. ming in an open pool of water eonMollusca. taining only a few logs and stumps There were many small clams, a while the latter were found on the type of which get about one-fourth under surface and also inside dead inch at the longest These were lily pond leaves that were floating found attached to stems and underalong the surface. surface of.floating leaves and many Leeches being Annelida are defion the bottom. These clams are nitely segmented. They too are very numerous. They are very flattened dorso-ventrally but differ small but active. extremely from flat-worms. The snails were found attached to The larger leeches had been in leaves and stems in the water the museum in a large jar for sevAncylus has a flattened shell or oral days when we found a frog and covering which forms an apex at put it in the jar to study results. the uppermost part. Some extremely interesting fenThe Planarbis has its shell tures were first of all the sudden coiled in one place like a watch reaction of the frog and the many spring. It lives in brooks and useless attempts to evade the ponds and feeds on vegetable matleeches. When one of the leeches ter. In dry weather many snails became attached for the first time have the power of secreting a muthe frog gave a desperate lunge to coos epigram over the mouth of the get away. After a while the frog shell so as to prevent the evapolashowed great signs of being very tion of moisture from their bodies sensitive to touch. We noticed this Arthropods particularly since there was a piece Many microscopic forms of Crusof paper in the jar and from the tacean were found. Their names many quick movement' of the frog have been 1.sted but they have and leeches the paper.roved about similar habits..These crustacean in the water. Frequently the paper live in fresh water, salty water. on would glide throughthe water and land, or as parasites on other Finithe instance the paper touched the mats The enormous numbers of flog the frog jumped. these little creatures may be ascer Time limit made it impossible to tained by counting the specimens make desirable study and find out that are captured if a fine gauze how long a leech would or could net is drawn through the waters of stay attached, if the frog was inlakes or streams. jured at all by the sucking disc. These small crustacean are of lltetc. Other interesting factors were tle if any economic importance to that most times the leech attached man, but indirectly they are of,ion. itself to the toe of the frog. Why? siderable value, since they form the Is it because there is a greater chief food of many edible fish,

Animal Friends at Glacier Point By C. H. Oneal The confidence and trustfulness Yosemite National Park. Her sumengendered in wild animals by promer coat is very light in color and longed kindness and feeding is requite glossy. She is softly rounded markable. As they learn you are and plump due to. all the goodies their friend the wild stare of fear continually fed her by visitors at leaves their eyes and they no longGlacier Point, and her eyes are the er are startled by the slightest largest and gentlest I have ever sound or quick motion. They heseen in a deer. Evidently no one come your companions. The kindly has ever betrayed her trust in man.

attitude toward all animals at One can take her head between his Glacier Point for many years has hands and hug her. She seems to shown them to have characteristics be bringing up each year's offand traits just as distinctive and spring to have the same confidence. individual as found in people. DarShe is one of the few mothers who ing seven weeks spent at this point bring their' fawns into camp when as ranger-naturalist of the National they are 'but a few weeks old. Park Service this past summer I One day last summer as I sat at noticed a few individuals that the table of our outdor dining town especially endeared themselves to by our camp at Glacier Point writall corners by their friendliness ing NATURE NOTES on the deer of the "Bill," a handsome five-point region, "Fanny," the mother of buck, was beloved by all. Almost many of the deer at this place, any day while the other bucks were watched patiently for choice morhiding out in the brush he might be -sets. A bullet-clipped ear indicated seen about the hotel begging for that the lust for blood by man had food. His method was watchful almost cost her life. Her interwaiting rather than forceful aggresest was vividly manifested in the sion. His great, gentle, soulful eyes Process of spreading bread with pleaded so eloquently that one jam. Her anticipation caused the could seldom resist sharing peanuts, flow of saliva. She licked her nose chocolates, raisins or sandwiches. in' order to better smell the dainty He was particularly fond of having and her eyes fairly sparkled in apthe base of his ears scratched, and preciation of the offering. Who he would stand patiently for the would not be glad to share his best process as long as the endurance of food. with such loving friends" the scratcher lasted. One of the i ','ll'I ckey~{ is a beautiful goldenmost distinctive habits of "Bill" was,, prip.,ntled ground squirrel. Almost the licking of hands extended to-. any, clay he could be seen sitting in ward him. Possibly he liked the front of the hotel. Perched on his taste of the salt found in perspirahaunches, his front feet folded in a tion. Big, powerful, handsome, and prayerful attitude, he eagerly withal gentle and kindly, he was the scanned the guests, hopeful that most popular male at Glacier Point. they would throw him salted pea- "Annie," the sister of "BilI," is nuts. After his appetite had is:en one o: the most beautiful does in sharpened by a few kernels lee

would stand on his hind legs and where it found a pile of peanuts in motion with his right front paw as a corner. Each day thereafter it if thereby to hurry the process. came. One day the supply of food When the supply was withheld he was exhausted and the chipmunk might be coaxed to ascend a tall voiced his disappointment in loud boulder to the porch. Then, if descoldings, almost resembling that liberate, a person might entice of a bird. His feelings were finally "Mickey" to his lap, where he would soothed by a generous supply of sit until his stomach and interior other morsels. cheek pouches were filled almost to The Sierra grouse is quiet, pabursting. Then he would scamper tient, friendly and lacking in nerto his nest, eject the store from his vousness. "Fool hens, " they have cheeks and return for another supbeen called by hunters. However. ply. He became so tame that he I am inclined to believe this lack would take peanuts from a person 's of fear is born of trust rather than lips. If one held a kernel with his of stupidity. One came to our tent teeth "Mickey" would place his each morning during the past sumpaws against one 's face and pull mer for breakfast. She was so with his teeth until the peanut was tame that she would readily eat secured. He was the ruler of his from our hands. One morning her kind. If another one approached breakfast was delayed by writing too close a sharp metallic squeak of some NATURE NOTES. As a sugwarned him of his encroachment. gestion to me of the lateness of the Round and round they would go hour she flew upon the table at my until the invader had vanished. arm and looked at me as if to say. "Mickey" was so fat that after such "Where is my breakfast?" One a chase he had to seek the shade Sunday morning we failed to arise of a rock where he flattened himat the accustomed hour. As we lay out until he had regained his dozing something heavy alighted self composure sufficiently to again on our tent. It was our pet grouse seek Pood. Sliding, scratching, and beating her wings she made so much noise we The Tahoe chipmunk, next to the were immediately aroused and gave golden-mantled ground squirrel, her some breakfast. Were these most interested the Glacier Point incidents the result of stupidity or guests. They are keen, alert, neraccident or was it premeditation vous and almost continually on the born of inteligence? move. The least quick motion will The blue-fronted jays seldom fail send them scampering. The alterto attract attention because of their nate white and dark red stripes wonderful coloring. However, their coming almost to a point at the aggressiveness and harsh metallic nose heightens the appearance of voice divert from their attractivesensitivity. Their gait is largely a ness. A Mason jar contained some springy gallop. When frightened small bits of beef at our Glacier they often climb trees with the Point camp this past summer. Yetagility of a Douglas squirrel. '1'0 low jackets entered the jar and get one to eat from your hand rewere devouring the contents. These quires a great amount of patience. insects in the jar were seen by a After many overtures one was injay. Up he came and tried to pick duced to enter the Curio Store. at one. Again he struck the glass

YUSt.~I!'l t! MATURE NOTES I5 a resounding b 1 o w. Seemingly the first opportunity in order to somewhat stunned at his inability satisfy a primitive hunting instinct, to reach the insects he eyed them but become individuals capable of carefully and once more endeavored inducing much interesting study. to capture one. For several minTo know and understand their utes the activity was repeatedcharacteristics and habits gives Then evidenly disgusted but still much more enjoyment than is mystified he gave up the attempts. found in their slaughter. They The closer a person comes in contact with wild animals, the greater readily put their trust in man and becomes his enjoyment. They then he is not worthy of friends who beare no longer prey to be killed at trays that faith.

YOSEMITE ANIMAL REPORT FOR DECEMBER

By C. A. Harwell, Park Naturalist Bears — Six bears, three cubs the night of December. 23. They and three adults, were seen by the were.not seen to take food. Ranger park naturalist at the feeding platHerschler saw a large black bear al. forms December 8. None of then the feeding platform December 24 were feeding. Candy, which they Doer—This month marks the were eager for a month before, wile height of the mating season of refused by them. A cub sunning deer. Antlers are at their hardest himself on a log ran away when I and sharpest stage and are finding approached him holding out a fine the use for which they were. grown chocolate bar. I laid it on the log —fighting. Each buck is intent on for him, but never saw him return the possession of one or more does for it. Two cubs were 20 feet up in so there are frequent sharp clashes a large incense cedar, Their moth- - Though the weather for the, er was eight feet below them: They.month has been mild, no snow seemed to want to respond to my whatever on the valley floor, the invitation to come down and their deer above the rim have moved mouths very noticeably watered down to lower and warmer ridges. when I rattled the candy bag and The last deer seen at Glacier Point held large brown bars toward there. was December 12. Ranger Reymann But when they finally got their feel on a trip to camp ll counted 107 set against the trunk to come down, deer from his machine along the the mother chased them to the road December 23, all but 12 of very top of the tree in aflashI them beyond Chinquapi'n.concluded their hibernation hod

Elk—A count of the herd of dwarf really started in ' that they were elk (cervus nannodes) by the park refusing food, although they had naturalist December 8, showed 22 not yet sought out their winter's animals— 10 bulls, 9 cowsand 3 dens. A bear entered the kitchen calves--all in good condition. They at the lodge the evening of the are now being fed alfalfa hay daily, eighth, but took no food Two large as feed in the paddock is insuffibears were seen by Ranger. Eastcient. man near the lodge garbage cans Birds--A Pacific loon, (gavia

pacifica, was observed in the MerOne was seen by the roadside near ced river above the power dam on Bridal Veil Falls by the park December 6 to 10. This is the first naturalist and a party of Eagle record of this bird for Yosemite. Scouts, December 29. The clear water of the pools gave California Wildcat--A young male fine opportunity for observing the "bob-cat" was struck by an autoswimming and diving habits of this mobile on the highway near El sea bird. Capitan, December 22, He is in the A golden eagle was seen soaring process of being mounted for our above the north wall of the canyon museum, by Chief Townsley and below El Capitan, December 27. the park naturalist. One has been seen on several ocFlying Squirrel — December 15, casions above the Arch Rock checkduring a storm, lightning struck ing station. two large yellow pines at Camp Coyotes - Coyotes have been Curry. I picked up a dead flying rather commonly heard at night at squirrel from the chips of bark and the Glacier Point Hotel this month. splinters beneath one of them.

IMPRESSIONS OF A HIGH EARLY TROUT PLANTINGS COUNTRY HIKE WITH IN YOSEMITE A NATURE GUIDE

Probably the first plant. of fish We have climbed above the falls, in Yosemite National Park took we have tramped in the heat of place in the fall of 1892. W. H. dust and in the cool of woods, we Shebley, at present superintendent have trudged with pack upon our of fish culture for the California startbacks, we have eaten together beFish and Game Commission, startside Maclure glacier, we have swum ed from the old Sisson hatchery in mountain streams, we have sung with a shipment of black spotted, upon the lakes, we have glowed Eastern brook and rainbow trout. with ruddy fires. We have known Earlier attempts had met with failone another, ure because of the long trip and We have heard contentment the time necessary. songs of trees, we have smelled the On this first successful planting cool damp cleanness of the earth, the from shipment whence a it rri was ved sent at Ray istages mond, we have tasted the offering of furnished by Washburn Brothers streams, we have seen Conness of Wawona. Here the fish were mountain, holy in twilight, and the held over night in the stream and sky overturned into Boothe lake at the following morning were trans poc ted by means of government night-time; we have felt the ambulance to Mono Meadows, then baptism of the spray and the benetransported by pack trains deliverdiction of cool winds. We have ing them to Ostrander and Merced known God.—Alice Atwood, Yolakes, to other Bridal lakes Veil creek streams i and and sev-semite School of Field Natural His H. C. Bryant, Director Yosemite

tory, 1929. School of Field Natural History

This is the official publication of the Educational Depart. ment 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 Natural, Yosemite National Park. California.

C. G THOM.SON

Superintendent

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