September 1940

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES VOL. XIX

September 1940 No. 9 Big Trees Lodge in Mariposa Grove

THE PUBLICATION OF THE YOSEMITE NATURALIST DEPARTMENT AND THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION

Published Monthly

VOL. XIX SEPTEMBER, 1940 NO. 9 CENTENARY OF THE GLACIAL THEORY

By Ranger-Naturalist Carl W. Sharsmith The story of the glaciers and the features was first clearly understood. -art they played in the formation of Prior to 1840, several writers had Yosemite Valley is familiar to most ventured an opinion that glaciers visitors to the park. Evidences of had once been more extensive, but past glaciation are everywhere patit remained for Louis Agassiz first to ent to the eye; the hanging valleys formulate what is now known as the with their great waterfalls, and the Glacial Theory. In 1840, his "Etudes ::_ape of the valley itself are exsur les glaciers" was published, a pressions of past ice action on a landmark in the field of glaciology; k_ge scale. In higher altitudes bein it he presents the evidence to ycnd the valley's rim are great show that at a geologically recent eas of polished and striated grantime Switzerland was covered by a e, and countless perched or erratic great ice sheet. With these and ulders. Extensive moraines mark other observations he concludes e extent of the ice, and evidence that "great sheets of ice, resemblindicates a succession of glacial inling those now existing in Greenrasions. This succession of glacial land, once covered all the countries vasions, or stages, is probably corin which unstratified gravel (bouldlated with glacial stages elseer drift, moraines) is found." here in North America and in EuSince the time of Agassiz, the acpe during the Ice Age or Pleistocumulation of evidence proving his ne. theory has assumed overwhelming Confronted with such obvious inproportions. Passed into the realm cations of past glacial activity as of fact the tracing of the extent of e presented in Yosemite, any other the ice sheets, the discovery of dis- :erpretation as to the origin of crete phases of glaciation separated se landscape features is not posby non-glacial intervals, the length 'le. That they are attributable to of time involved during all these ciation is now accepted without phases and since the disappearance stion. Yet it is only one hundred of the last ice sheet, as well as the rs ago that the origin of such growing body of fact supporting the

correlation of all these phases tion leads down to the present in throughout the northern hemisphere, which a phase of glacial retreat is is a triumph of geological science. observed the world over. Careful This knowledge has made possible glacial measurements from year to a theoretical reconstruction of the year are being carried on in nuclimate during the last million years merous points, those in Yosemite of earth history, the most marked of having been continuous since 1931. which oscillations in temperature It is of interest to note in this con or precipitation, or both, the changes nection that measurement of glacial movement and retreat was begun in from one peak to another taking Switzerland under the genius of place during many thousand-year Agassiz, in 1840, one hundred years intervals. This -climatic reconstrucago.

BILEDO MEADOW FLOWER GARDEN

By Ranger Naturalist Arthur Carthew On July 18, members of the Yosethe forces of time and decay. Bemite School of Field Natural History yond a gate along the trail are to be visited the Biledo Meadow at that found the Washington Lilies (Lilium time when floral display was at its washingtonianum), lending a patch height. Biledo lies at an elevation of beauty to the otherwise drab of seven thousand feet on the southchaparral in which the plants are ern slopes of Mount Raymond. Alconcealed. The trail finally merges though not within the boundaries of into a road which serves the mines Yosemite, it is readily accessible in the Biledo area. The meadow isfrom the museum in the Mariposa self is fenced to prevent the grazGrove, three miles by an almost ing by stock although in times past level trail following the pipe line considerable damage has been which conveys water from the done to the flowers by cattle and meadow to the grove. After leavhorses. A few rustic log cabins of ing the Sequoias the trail winds the miners working on the slopes of through a virgin forest of Sugar Mount Raymond lend a note of Pine, Incense Cedar, and Jeffrey beauty rather than detract from the Pine for a mile or more. Then a sudappearance of the meadow. den change brings one into a logged The floral display in the meadow and burned area beyond the park was beautiful beyond the ability of boundary. What was once a beautimere words to describe. Unlike ful forest is now a chaparral covered many meadows where a few speslope, overgrown in manzanita, ceacies dominate, Biledo was a quiltnothus, and other shrubs with an ocwork of color, with a great variety casional burned snag still defying of flower, enriching small areas

with their particular hue or shade. Those members of the Field School interested in plant classification identified seventy species in three hours ' time. Undoubtedly many more could have been found if time permitted. Not only were the species numerous but the plants themselves were particularly luxuriant, invariably approximating or exceeding the maximum size for the species assigned in Jepson's Manual of the Flowering Plants of California. On approaching the meadow the freyi), the Sierra Rein-orchis (Habenaria leucostachys), the smaller and daintier orchid (Habenaria sparsiflora), an occasional Columbine (Aquilegia truncata) or the Monkshood (Aconitum columbianum). Several gorgeous clumps of Coneflowers (Rudbeckia californica) were the most conspicuous flowers. The bees were quite active on this species, making the flowers almost seem audible in their beauty. In sharp contrast with the Coneflowers were the Lupine (Lupinus longipes) growing on the outer margin of the meadow. Close by the tiny rivulet draining the central portion of the meadow were to be found the moisture loving plants—lovely Sierra Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon jefScarlet Mimulus (Mimulum cardinalis) added a rich scarlet to the color pattern of the meadow, helped in this regard by the brilliantly-colored Paint Brush (Castilleja miniata). Outstanding in size and luxuriousness was a large cluster of Mountain Larkspur (Delphinium glaucum), the stalks exceeding eight feet in height with flowers in racemes over two feet in length. No cultivated Larkspur could exceed this wild flower in beauty and luxuriousness. In addition to the particularly showy flowers were many smaller plants content to bloom beneath their dominant neighbors, but hardly less lovely in form and color. Bordering the meadow was the typical forest of the Canadian Life Zone, and be-

neath the trees the dainty bell-flowbecause of its function as an alter ered Pyrola (Pyrola picta). Close note host for the blister rust, was along the road encircling the mead innocent of any potential harm in w were the gooseberries (Ribes this area devoid of sugar pines. o Biledo with its rustic log cabins roezli), the prickly fruit beginning set in an unrivaled wildflower gar to turn color. This plant, slated by den is indeed a meadow as lovely man for extinction in certain areas as its name.

THE VOYAGE OF A DRY-LAND SUBMARINE

By Ranger-Naturalist A. Lee Haines Rare is a day in July when one pelage of silky-plush-like hairs was can see a live mole, let alone see slightly matted by its recent bath. a mole actually swimming; yet, this Grinnell and Storer record in their was the experience of a group of Animal Life in the Yosemite, pp. 43 forty people who were passing by 46, that the Yosemite Mole (ScapaMirror Lake on their way to Snow nus latimanus) habitually stays beCreek Falls. low the surface of the ground and At 2:20 p. m. on July 19, 1940, that even when it is making its bur one of our party of hikers cried, rows there is never any direct open- "Why! there's a mole swimming in ing to the exterior. It was indeed a the lake." By the time that everyone rare sight for us to see this partichad reached a vantage point on top ular Yosemite mole swimming in two of the large granite boulders that feet of water. Since the northeast lined the lake, the mole had stopped corner of Mirror Lake is lined by swimming and had climbed comlarge boulders that are partially pletely out of the water onto a piece submerged, it is probable that the of talus which sloped into the water mole had traversed thirty to thirtyat an angle of thirty-five degrees. five feet of open water before com David Dunn, a member of the ing to rest. How did the mole get Yosemite School of Field Natural into the water? How did it know History, climbed down upon the rock there was only one particular rock. and captured this curious little mamin the immediate vicinity with a gen mal by grasping it by the back of tle enough slope to allow its emergthe neck. The mole was then held once from the water? The answers aloft by the tail so that each of us to these and many other fascinating could get a good look at its long questions will have to wait until fur pointed nose with its covering of nuther observations and study can be merous fine sensory bristles and its made upon these seclusive "Drytwo large spade-like fore feet. The land-submarines."

FAWN OBSERVED ABOVE TIMBERLINE

By Ranger-Naturalist George A. Petrides On August 1, 1939, it was the unthe tree line, it was a distinct surusual experience of several memprise to encounter a fawn in such a bers of the Yosemite School of Field location. At the altitude at which Natural History to discover a young the fawn was first seen, no trees spotted fawn in its hiding place were present and but a few widely among huge boulders at an altitude scattered specimens of Shrubby Cinof approximately 11,500 feet on quefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) and a Shepherd's Crest. Immediately uphigh mountain Penstemon (Pensteon its discovery the surprised animon menziesii) were apparent. This mal, which was probably only two location was more than a thousand or three weeks old, dashed down feet above the trees, shrubs, and the steep slope at a great speed, twisting and dodging among the habitat. No reason was apparent boulders. for the presence of the spotted Inasmuch as adult deer are but youngster in such an unusual siturarely seen at an elevation above ation.

OBSERVATIONS ON A PAIR OF FAWNS

By Ranger Naturalist Vincent Mowbray While driving through the Tuolfinally went back up above the road umne Grove of Big Trees on July 8, and kept up a continual bleating 1940, I was surprised to come upon sound which I could hear from a disttwo very small fawns in the center tance of at least 50 feet. This seemed of the road. The doe was up a short to have no effect on the fawns as distance above the road, and as my they remained in the middle of the car approached the fawns, she came road. I managed to herd the two of down and apparently tried to get them off the road without touching them off of the road. The fawns rethem. They were barely able to walk fused to get off the road, so she and one of them appeared to be still

wet, which would indicate that they had been born only a short time before. I estimated them to be about 12 inches in height at the shoulder and about 24 inches in length. Their weights should not have been over six pounds each, but I can give no accurate estimate on that point. One of the fawns was a much darker brown than the other and was probably a male, while the lighter colored one was a female (Dixon). A forested region, such as this area, is not the usual place for fawns to be born. The mother generally chooses a grassy meadow where she can hide the fawns as soon as they are born.

SIERRA MARMOT

By Ranger-Naturalist Russel L. Lewis Some interesting observations on the Sierra Marmot, also called the woodchuck and ground hog, were reported by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hall of San Diego. Late in June, they were camped above Yosemite Creek along the Tioga Road at an elevation of about 7,000 feet. Assistant Park Nat uralist Beatty saw four marmots in the same vicinity a few weeks previous. The marmots are more often found at Tuolumne Meadows and at higher elevations. More significant is the fact that the Halls made friends with one of the marmots which made reg ular appearances for food. It became almost as tame as some of the chip munks in the Glacier Point vicinity Between feedings the marmot sunned itself on a large rock, a trait which is characteristic for this largest repre sentative of the squirrel family in Yo semite. In resting it seemed to be sprawled out on the rock, and ap peared to be comfortably resting on its elbows. The fact that the marmot was so tame is quite unusual. Ranger-Naturalist Payne in the February, 1938, issue of Yosemite Nature Notes told how tame some of the half-grown in dividuals were. Apparently the older ones kept at some distance from the Yosemite visitors just as two did that I observed near Virginia Pass last summer where the altitude was about 10,500. These two characteristically stood up on their hind legs in the same manner as the "picket pin" and then disappeared into their burrows when we got within fifty yards. The Tioga Road and the campgrounds along the Tioga Road offer the Yosemite visitor a splendid opportunity to see flowers, trees, and animals that are not ordinarily found in the Valley due to the various altitudes represented on the road.

MOUNTAIN LION IN YOSEMITE VALLEY

By Ranger Robert Fitzgerald While on my night patrol through the evening of July 3 and the morning of July 4, I drove in to turn off the lights at the bear feeding area two miles below the Old Village at 2:30 a. m. As I got out of the car and approached the light switch box, I saw a Mountain Lion emerging from the trees across the river at the bear feeding platform. There were no bears or other animals present. I was sure it was a Mountain Lion because in size it appeared to be more than 6 feet long from nose to tip of tail. The tail impressed me as being larger than my arm, and reminded me of a kangaroo's tail held to a slightly curved position. It's head was held high, and it had all appearances of a stealthy cat. It did not stop to feed, but proceeded up the valley at what appeared a fast walk, and disappeared behind the bushes. It was in view approximately one-fourth minute. On the Fourth of July at a time when there was approximately 10,000 people on the valley floor, it was indeed a surprise to see a Mountain Lion prowling around.

MY FRIEND THE MARIPOSA CHIPMUNK

By Charles W. Michael The Chipmunk is a nice little felto see me come home, but since he low and he is a friend of mine. I like has learned where the good things the touch of his little paws as he come from he has become adept in reaches up to receive a piece of walgetting in and out of the tent when nut from my hand. As I sit at the I am away and now he rather rewriting desk he will scamper up on sents my homecoming. the screen door to attract my attenI don't mind Chipmunk having all tion. If it were not for the mosquihe can eat, yet I do not like to entoes I would leave the door open so courage his overly thrifty habits. If that he could come and go as he he had free access to the food sup6pleased. Chipmunk used to be glad ply he would soon store away more

food than any chipmunk could eat. shove them off from the shelves. Most of the things that Chipmunk To illustrate the cleverness of likes are kept in closed tins, but Chipmunk: the other day I came Chipmunk is a resourceful fellow home from a walk, hung my coat and he discovered that by throwing over a chair and went out for a the tins onto the floor they some pitcher of water and when I came times popped open. If Chipmunk was not such a cute little beast, I back I found Chipmunk sitting in would declare war, but as it is I just my chair eating chocolates that he arrange the tins so that he can't had taken from my pocket.

GROUND SQUIRREL KILLS CHIPMUNK

By Ranger Russell S. Miller On the afternoon of Saturday, "chase " for the lightning quick ChipJuly 13, there was the usual crowd munk was always easily out of the of week-end visitors at Glacier way. Point, and also as usual there was Some speculations on this incident the ever-present group behind the immediately come to mind. Was the hotel and on the porch feeding peaChipmunk a young and inexperinuts to the jays and the four species enced one? To my eyes it seemed as of rodents common there. large as the other adults. To check Then before our very eyes there this I carefully questioned the group was a sudden rush, a short struggle, of people on the porch as to whethand a California Ground Squirrel er or not it seemed to them to be a had a chipmunk firmly between its full-grown one or somewhat smaller. jaws, which it slowly carried off inAll said that it was the same size to the brush. as the other adults which checked Many times I have watched the with my observation. Also this inciCalifornia Ground Squirrel chase dent would have had little likelihood the smaller Golden-mantled Ground of occurring if a somewhat artificial Squirrel and Chipmunk, and in turn animal community had not been the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel built up by much peanut feeding chase the Chipmunk. In every case which brought the different species the smaller animal was so infinitely together and tended to break down quicker, that the larger animal the natural wariness of the smaller seemed to have no chance at catchanimals for the larger. ing the smaller. This was especially This may be another expression true whenever the sluggish Ground of the casualties that occur when Squirrel made an attempt at a Chipman upsets conditions commonly munk; it hardly amounted to a known as the balance of nature...

Digitized by Yosemite Online Library Dan Anderson