March 1941

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES VOL. XX

March, 1941 No. 3

FAIRVIEW DOME

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

Published Monthly

VOL. XX MARCH, 1941 NO. 3 FAIRVIEW DOME

By Ranger Naturalist Carl W. Sharsmith Fairview Dome (9737 feet altitude) Tuolumne Meadows by the road, is the highest of the Tuolumne Meadows. Many bear trails are crossed, dows domes, and affords a thrilling one of which contours along the hill yet perfectly safe climb, but it has and is for some distance as graded been much neglected by Tuolumne and well-beaten as a much used Meadows hikers. This is no doubt man-made trail. Elsewhere along it, due to its sheer and unclimbable appearance as seen from the Tioga Road, in common with the other trails, deep impressions mark the footfalls, since Road along which it is adjacent. It the bears usually step each in the lies to the right when driving east, same tracks. The reasons for these dominating one's view here just before the road drops downgrade in entering the lower end of Tuolumne because of the proximity to the local garbage pits. Meadows. A day off was spent by In approaching the dome in this the writer in ascertaining the feasi- fashion, one eventually skirts the bility of leading a group to its sum- very base of the massive cliff along mit, and a safe means of ascending a natural pathway between it and it was found. Since then two enthu- fine groves of Mountain Hemlocks siastic parties were led to the sum- and occasional fine specimens of mit, with the unanimous acclaim Western White Pine and Red Fir. that Fairview Dome provides one of Looking forward or backward here the most enjoyable short hikes in affords striking vistas along the lane, Tuolumne Meadows. bounded by sheer cliff on the one The most interesting approach lies hand and the wall of forest on the in walking along the base of the other. It is a unique view not per- dome on the side which faces the haps matched in the Tuolumne Mea- road. The point of its actual ascent dows region. When the naturalist is, however, on the other side of the parties took this route in late Aug- dome, at the southwest corner. If the ust, 1940, the hemlocks were laden hike is begun at the lower end of with purple cones like long bunches

of miniature bananas--a crop without equal for several past seasons.

THE MOLE & THE ANGLE WORMS

By Ranger Naturalist Enid Michael There had been no rain in over a west shoulder. With rubber or com-month. The dry earth in front of the position soled shoes, without which tent was covered with a layer of the final climb is not possible, one brown pine needles. A mole was finds that with a little boldness he working about an inch under the can walk safely up. There is no danger of a slip—all one needs is sufficient confidence. The surface of the dome is roughened by large feldspar crystals standing out like knobs, as-long and about eight inches wide. sisting one's steps. The summit of Apparently, the mole was foraging, the dome is marked by a well built and not attempting to go places for cairn which has been there many it was not moving in a straight line. years. Who built this cairn is un- In the fourteen minutes that I known to the writer, since no other watched the up-humping of the soil, marks of previous ascents were I saw three angle worms escape found. The feldspar knobs already their enemy. referred to occasionally retain the When the first angle worm polish of the ancient Tuolumne Glas- slipped out of the loose earth, loos- cier, and remind one of the great ened by the mole, I could not be- thickness the ice sheet must have lieve that it was making a deliber- had in order to overwhelm this dome ate attempt to escape its natural en- which in itself lies over eleven hun- emy, but when a second, and then a dred feet above the floor of Tuolum- third angle worm came to the sur- ne Meadows. Fairview Dome is face, and hurriedly wormed away doubtless the "Glacier Monument" over the brown pine needles, I be- referred to by John Muir in his came convinced that the worms, charming account of it in " Our Na- feeling vibrations in the soil, became tional Parks." The 1940 naturalist aware that danger threatened. Two parties to visit it, the first to do so, of the angle worms, after moving a have highly recommended Fairview foot or so, slid under the cover of Dome as an easy, very enjoyable pine needles, and disappeared; the all-day hike, returning early in the third was "out of the frying pan into afternoon. The return can be made the fire " for on its overland journey via the south side of the dome, it fell victim of a sharp-eyed robin. through a dense pure hemlock forest And that robin surely could handle which occurs along much of the way. his spaghetti!

DEER ATTACKS FOX

By Museum Assistant Elwood Wolfe On November 3, 1940, at about 5 The following day the fox was o'clock in the evening, the writer prepared for the museum research received a telephone call from Mr. collection. Examination revealed Darwin Tiemann with the informa- that the left side of the thoracic cav- tion that a buck Mule Deer (Odicoi- ity had been crushed, with two ribs leus hemionus hemionus) was at- piercing the lungs. The flesh of the tacking a California Gray Fox (Uro- neck was bruised and bloody, al- cyon cinereoargenteus californicus) though the skin of that region was in back of the Lost Arrow Studio. not torn. Upon reaching the scene, I found As to be expected, at this time of that Mr. Tiemann had driven off the the year, the fox was in excellent buck, and the fox was lying on the pelage and physical condition. It ground, apparently badly injured. weighed six and three-quarters As we neared the fox, it rose feebly pounds. Measurements were : total to its feet. In pitiful efforts of self-length, 937.5 mm.; tail, 406 mm.; defense, it attempted to bite Mr. hind foot, 131 mm.; ear, 75 mm. Tiemann's legs, but lacking strength, Mr. Tiemann informed me that al-often crouched down with a sharp, though there were several other piercing cry. After we had retreated to observe deer present, the buck which at what would happen, the injured fox tacked the fox would not permit any struggled slowly off into the Muse- of the others to approach, and ca- um Garden, whimpering as it moved, ried on the fight entirely alone. as though in great pain. To put the From this incident and other similar animal out of its misery was the next records, it may be inferred that deer task, so I left Tiemann, and went to are not the timid and defenseless the museum for rags and carbon creatures many park visitors believe tetrachloride. them to be.

NOTES ON A LARGE PORCUPINE

By Ranger Naturalist George A. Petrides On September 9, 1940, a large female, yellow-haired Porcupine (Erethizon e. epixanthum Brandt) was found dead near the bear feeding grounds in Yosemite Valley where it had been struck by a car. In preparing this individual as a museum specimen, several interesting facts were noted. Although reports of porcupines weighing as much as thirty-five pounds are occasionally heard, to the best of the author's knowledge no records of individuals actually weighed appear in Yosemite literature. The individual under discussion measured 29.1 inches in total length, including the 8.6 inches which comprised the tail (total length, 72.7 cm.; tail 21.5 cm.; hind foot, 9.2 cm.; ear, 1.9 cm.), and weighed 17 pounds. The animal, which was quite well fortified with sharp, barbed quills, possessed strong muscles for the better manipulation of these modified hairs. The skin of the dorsal (back) region was underlain by strong, muscle sheets evidently capable of erecting the quills of this region. Unlike most animals whose internal tail structure is but loosely attached to the skin, the muscles of the tail of the porcupine are large and numerous. They attach directly to the skin, originating under the caudal vertebrae, and seem easily capable of swinging the tail in a club-like manner and, at the same time, erecting the many quills of this appendage. It was only with the utmost difficulty that the tail of this animal was skinned out. The feet of the porcupine possess several modifications for climbing. Strong muscles operate stout claws. These are aided by the thick, heavy sole of the foot, which possesses a canvas-like tread to further enable the animal to grip the tree to be climbed. The skull is massive in structure. Extremely stout incisor teeth and heavy molars form the dental equipment of this rodent. Strong muscles, attaching to the skull, operate the powerful jaws which are normally used in stripping the bark from trees—usually Lodgepole Pines. Although the bark of this tree is said to provide almost the sole food of the porcupine, the stomach of this specimen was distended with other plant material: Grass (sp?) formed

approximately 40 per cent of this formed the remaining 40 per cent of food; acorns comprised 20 per cent; length. while fruits and leaves tentatively The condition of the reproductive identified as belonging to Arceutho- organs indicated that a single hium americans (a mistletoe parasitic upon the Lodgepole Pine) young, a normal litter, had been its last meal. Incidentally, its ap-born much earlier in the season. pendix, containing several short side The four mammae in the pectoral branches, measured over a foot in region appeared to be inactive.

THE BLUE GROSBEAK : A NEW RECORD FOR YOSEMITE

By Ranger Naturalist Enid Michael It was the morning of August 8, Such a flight of the rare Black 1940. There had been no rain for Swifts was indeed a thrilling sight, many weeks; wide patches of mea-but the big adventure of the morn-dow had turned brown, and the tall, ing was yet to come. Moving out velvet grass had gone to seed. How-into the meadow to get a better view ever, the late blooming thistles were of the Green-backed Goldfinches in full flower, with a few early heads that were plucking seeds from the parachuting their seeds away on the thistle heads, we came upon two wings of the wind. In low-lying sec-strange birds. At the moment I tions of the meadow were standing caught sight of them, they were pools of clear water. Thorny stems swaying on the stems of the velvet of blackberries reached up through grass, and I knew they were birds the foliage of the dense azalea thick-I had never seen before. They were et. Robins and Black-headed Gros-brown birds — smaller than Black-beaks were feasting on blackberries, headed Grosbeaks, but with the and under the berry bushes young same swollen, grosbeak bills. Dull Spotted Towhees were scratching brown wing-bars—a double bar on for food. From perches above the each wing—were the only conspic- azalea thicket, Traill Flycatchers uous markings, but when the birds dashed out now and then to pluck flew from one grass stalk to another passing insects from the air. In the there was a flash of blue on the Kellogg Oak grove across the mea- rump. With this flash of blue, it sud- dow California Woodpeckers were denly dawned on me that I was look- shouting, and coursing the high skies ing at a couple of young Blue Gros- were companies of swifts, both beaks. White-throated and Black Swifts. Of course, it is rather a pleasure The noisy chatter, the wild, erratic to add one more name to the long flight, and the twinkling wings were list of birds seen in the Yosemite the characteristics which differenti- Valley; however, I have yet to see ated the White-throated from the a male Blue Grosbeak in full plum- leisurely sailing and silent Black age, and have yet to hear his song. Swifts.

TWO NEW LOCALITIES FOR THE MOUNT LYELL SALAMANDER

By Ranger Naturalist George A. Petrides and Catherine D. Hemphill On July 31, 1940, a dead Mount Mount Lyell Salamander within Yo- Lyell Salamander (Hydromantes pia- semite National Park and the eighth tycephala Camp) was found by and ninth for the Sierra Nevada George Petrides on the Ledge Trail mountains—the only region where it to Glacier Point at an elevation of is known to occur. First collected approximately 6700 feet. The an- on Mount Lyell, 10,800 feet, on July mal was discovered in a dried con- 18, 1915, as recorded by Grinnell dition in the steep pathway about and Storer in their "Animal Life in six feet from a small stream. The Yosemite." This species has since excellent, though desiccated condi-been taken at Half Dome, 8850 feet; tion of the specimen left no doubt Tenaya Canyon 5800 feet; Upper as to its identity. Yosemite Fall, 5100 feet, and now Twelve living specimens of the near Glacier Point, 6700 feet, and Mount Lyell Salamander were col- near Triple Divide Peak, 10,700 feet. lected by Catherine Hemphill and Orlin Anderson on a Field School expedition to Triple Divide Peak on August 1, 1940, at about 10,700 feet elevation. The species was found to be quite common in this locality— the dozen specimens having been taken in an hour's search. The favored habitat was under flat, granite rocks and slabs in a small meadow some twenty yards below a melting snowslide on the ridge northeast of the peaks. The ground under the rocks was damp, but not wet. A search of the rocks in the small streams from the melting snow patches failed to reveal any salamanders in this wetter habitat, nor were any found in a second meadow at a thousand feet lower elevation. These records provide the fourth and fifth known localities for the

NATURE NOTELET

By Ranger Naturalist Vincent Mowbray The Lewis Woodpecker is of irregular occurrence in Yosemite, usually appearing after the nesting season and during the winter. On September 18, 1940, I observed five of these woodpeckers on the Big Oak Flat road at an elevation of about 5500 feet. They were all perched on a large, damp boulder next to the road, but flew off when the car approached them. When I next looked for them they were in the dead top of an Incense Cedar below the road; finally, they flew off down toward the main Merced Canyon.

DOTTED CANYON WREN NESTING RECORDS AND SONGS

By Ranger Naturalist Verlin Baysinger During the hot days of late summer in Yosemite Valley, bird songs are at a premium. Several times this past summer of 1940, however, as hiking parties trudged up the steep, dusty trails, or jumped along over the hot boulder fields, the participants were rewarded with an unusual song, that of the Dotted Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus punctulatus). The bubbling notes of the descending crescendo of this bird were so delightful and distinctive that just to hear them was well worth the climb. Some of the dates of personal observations made on the Dotted Canyon Wren are noteworthy: On July 15, a hiking party had the opportunity to observe this bird in the upper box of Tenaya Canyon. (Another hiking party had previously reported hearing one in the same location.) It was watched closely for about twenty minutes, and we were quite sure that it had a nest on a ledge about one hundred feet above the stream. On July 21, a Canyon Wren was seen by another hiking group with the writer near Devil's Bath Tub. It also was nesting, and made considerable fuss over our approach. On July 31, the song of Canyon Wren was heard while standing near the railing at Glacier Point. It apparently came up from a position down around Firefall Point. On August 7, a song was heard at Rocky Point while driving along the highway. On August 8, heard singing in the gorge of the ledge while climbing with party to Sunnyside Bench. The bird sang for some time, but was not seen. These observations are interesting, since previous reports indicated that during the past several years the appearance and song of the Canyon Wren were more or less rare occurrences in Yosemite National Park.

LOW ELEVATION RECORDS OF THE DUSKY SHREW

By Ranger Naturalist Vincent Mowbray The Dusky Shrew (Sorex obscurus seum there are two specimens of Merriam) is in most cases to be ex- this shrew which were collected on pected at elevations above 6000 feet. the floor of Yosemite Valley which In the collection of the Yosemite Mu- is about 4000 feet elevation. The

first one was collected in Sentinel at Deer Camp (elevation 6500 feet) Meadow on July 6, 1934, by R. M. on December 16, 1935, and the other Gilmore and E. O. Godwin, while at a meadow near Crane Flat (ele- the second was collected in the vation 6500 feet) on September 18, meadow behind the Rangers' Club 1940. The first two records give some on September 11, 1940, by the write- evidence that at least in Yosemite er. There are two other records only the Dusky Shrew may be found at in the collection of this species be- elevations below the level at which low the 8,000 foot level, one being it is ordinarily expected.

THE CASE OF LILIUM PARDALINUM IN YOSEMITE

By Ranger Naturalist Enid Michael Rumor has it that some thirty for the garden when the first Tiger years ago Lilium pardalinum, com-Lily bore its two handsome flowers. monly known as the Tiger or Leop-Each blossom nodded on a long ard Lily, flourished in Yosemite spreading stem, and with petals Valley. This handsome lily likes to rolled back had all the style of a grow along the banks of little jaunty Turk's cap. streams, so in the old days it may With the petals drawn out the lily have graced Tenaya and Yosemite measured about six inches across. Creeks, and the little stream that The center was yellow and the rol-flows from the spring at Happy ling petals bright red-orange. The Isles. Be that as it may, during my gay face of the flower was gener-time in the Yosemite Valley, I have ously freckled with large purple never seen the lily in the wild. spots. About five years ago a friend Since the first surprise of Tiger brought me Tiger Lily seeds from Lilies in the Museum Garden they plants growing about a spring near have been increasing along the Mather. These I scattered along the brook. This season the original plant north side of the brook in the Muse-had two lusty stalks five feet high, urn Garden. Three years passed, and produced thirty-one large blos-and the memory of this planting had soms. Three other tall stalks, each left my mind. But one morning in bearing a crown of flowers and June, when I was wandering down buds, put in their appearance, and the main path of the Museum Gar-clumps of young Tiger Lilies bore den, the sight of a thrifty Tiger Lily them company. bearing two buds brought me to a From this encouraging situation in sudden stop. A few days after the the garden, it would seem that in discovery one of the buds blos-the course of time Tiger Lilies might somed, and in a day or two the sec-be established in other parts of the and bud opened. It was a gala day Yosemite Valley.

Digitized by Yosemite Online Library Dan Anderson