April 1941

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES VOL. XX

April, 1941 No. 4

MT. WATKINS & MIRROR LAKE

Easter Sunrise Service April 13 - 9:21 a.m.

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

Published Monthly

VOL. XX APRIL, 1941 NO. 4 THE LEGEND OF EL CAPITAN

As told by Chief Le-mee* What you white people call El so they could feed him, but he was Capitan, we Indians call To-to-konso bashful that he says, "No, you oo-lah. This valley was once all bring the food over to me." level. Two deer lived here, and they He kept agittin' closer; finally he were having a game of football got here. So the two does grabbed down in the plains. The salamander him, and tied him up in a ball. wanted to marry two sisters—two After they had the ball, they went does, and he took the nephew, to work and picked out different ani- Pechanto, the little lizard, along. On mals that was good and bad: Blue- the way to see the does, the little jay, he steals; he was no good. lizard got tired and thirsty, but its Woodpecker, he makes holes in the uncle wouldn't pay no attention to tree so the ball get lost—put him him. He was busy. He was think- one side. And the crow, he is no ing about the two does. The little good—he eats dead things. Buz- lizard he kept a singin' his wish Buzzard he is no good—he eats dead song. So the salamander told him things, and they don't want him in that he would take an arrow from the ball game. Gopher he makes his quiver (huta) and stick it in the holes; he is no good. So they went ground, and he told him to lay in to work and they took two moles the feather. He says if anything that were brothers, and told them happened to him the arrow would to watch for all the holes, and to bleed. Then he told the lizard to cover them up, so the ball wouldn't take the arrow and put it under his get lost. They kicked the ball, and arm, and take it back where they the ball went north; came back came from, and that he would go on. again; went south, and it got lost. Meanwhile, all the people had al- The moles had missed one hole ready gathered in the plain. But that was under a manzanita bush, they didn't know where they were and so this ball wished these two going to find any ball, and so the brothers bad luck. It followed them salamander he came, and the two all over. So they ran day and night does told him to come close to them to get away from this ball. They

come up towards the valley here, thinking the ball wouldn't follow. When they got up here, they were tired, hungry, hot. One of them says, "Here's a pool of water. We'll go swimming here." So they went in the water, and they said that they would lay on top of a big flat rock to rest. But they were so tired that they went to sleep, so this ball, the salamander, it was coming so fast it struck, and hit the brother, and busted, and the rock started to raise. One of the brothers woke up. He tried to wake his brother up, but the brother was dead, and he wouldn't wake. So he jumped. Then he went to work and gathered all different animals that could jump to the top of rock, that had risen very high, so they could bring down the dead brother. The lion, he jumped, but only part way up; bear he jumped part way; wolf, he was the furtherest one up. Lizard, he tried to climb the rock, but he couldn't make it. All this time the brother was crying and dancing at the foot of the rock, because he wanted his brother to be down. The tool-tok (measuring worm) was in the meadow. He saw all these people gathered, and wondered what they were doing. He went up, and he asked what they were doing, but nobody paid any attention to him. He kept a-asking and a-asking, and finally somebody said that this mole was dead up on top of this rock, and they wanted somebody to go up there, and get him down. When he said that, Tool-tok said he could climb that rock, but they said that he was too small. They walked over Tool-tok, and kicked him around, but he did n't give up, and he kept a-asking them if he could go up there. They said, "Look at these big people here who could jump, and what could you do?" The measuring worm said, "I'm the one that climbs, and I climb this rock. I sing a song. Let me try to go up there, and see what I can do." So he climbed. He sang his chant : "Tool-tok, tool-tok," etc. So he climbed. He got up there pretty near the top, and he fell, and all these people were watching him. The measuring worm says to himself, "Now, I told these people a story, and they'll never believe me. What shall I do?" He stayed a day and a half, and he climbed up the rock zigzag. Fin-

Finally, he got on top, and he hollered that he couldn't find anything. Then he found one bone. That's all he could find. And he went to work, and gathered different manzanitas and things that grew on top of this rock, and made a big bundle out of it. And then he told the people down below that he was going to roll it off. And the brother that was down below, he cried that much more harder. (Chant). And so this bundle came down so hard it made a noise, a whistling noise, and they all watched. When it got down pretty near the bottom, it came alive; flew, and turned into a burrowing owl. Tool-tok was so tickled and happy, he was going to show them what he could do. He stretched himself across the canyon; pulled one of the Cathedral Rocks down. If he didn't do that there would be a rock clean across the canyon from El Capitan to Cathedral Rock. EDITOR'S NOTE : Chief Le-mee, whose American name is Chris Brown, is one of the local Yosemite Indians. During the summer months, he performs Miwok ceremonial dances in costume at the Indian demonstration program.

BIOLOGY OF THE HIGH ALTITUDE POOLS

By Ranger Naturalist Verlin Baysinger The rush of duties during the all- cated of earthly environments, prob- too brief summer months limit true ably being exceeded by the ocean. research endeavor for the naturalist The ponds are insignificant in area, staff. However, one cannot fail to but are rich in life. Quite often see some of the outstanding exhib- these pools afford conditions for only its of nature. Throughout the sev- a transient existence of organisms. eral seasons which I have spent in Therefore, they commonly contain Yosemite National Park, I have been life which has a very rapid repro- impressed with the possibilities of duction and development; also these careful study of some of the lakes species would be adapted to carry and pools at higher levels. Of sin- through the period of unfavorable gular importance, are the small conditions. pools of brackish water which form These small water bodies are in shallow basins where the snow practically uniform with no zona- water accumulates. tion. In this way a single series of Each of these pools is a micro- organisms is to be found inhabiting cosm that is one of the most compli- the environment. Floating microsco-

pic organisms might be boundless, being dependent on many factors, and would consist of vegetable and animal type. These organisms would make the biologic environment that permits the growth of a larger variety of life. A short visit to a pool at an elevation of 9300 feet and located near May Lake, revealed a fascinating picture and a host of forms. Upon approach the first evidence of life was intimated by the splash of a frog as it dove into the water. Soon a garter snake was observed swimming after a group of tadpoles among which were several beginning to develop their legs. Further activity was exhibited by the whirligig beetles whose erratic courses were crossed by the light-footed water striders. An occasional diving beetle would come up for his bubble of air, and return to the bottom. The water boatmen roamed about through the entire water depth with agility and ease. The hiking party was attracted by the leaf-like appendages of the transparent Artemia, the well-known fairy shrimp. The pool seemed to be a massed exhibit of these phyllopod crustaceans. The whole exhibit was striking, and a momentary collection presented a species valuable to the museum collection. This specimen, a diving beetle, has been found at various lower levels; therefore, this is an indication of greater range. North American scientists have a very incomplete knowledge of the biology of our lakes. Much valuable work could certainly be done here in the undisturbed pools of the High Sierra where an unexcelled outdoor laboratory awaits the biologist.

WESTERN WARBLING VIREOS VS. BLUE-FRONTED JAYS

By Ranger Naturalist L. P. Parratt A pair of Western Warbling Vireos (Vireosylva gilva swainsoni) had established their nesting territory some one hundred fifty yards east of the Sentinel Bridge on the south side of the Merced River. On June 24, 1940, attracted first by their sweet, warbling notes and then again by harsh, hissing notes along with the strident call of a Blue-fronted Jay, I noticed the pair of Warbling Vireos busily occupied in driving away a Blue-fronted Jay that had been poking around the willows near the water's edge. One after the other they would swoop down in an arc and pick at the back of the Jay while uttering loud, hissing noises. A few days later, on June 30, another pair of Warbling Vireos went through the same performance in the area where Fern Spring empties into the Merced River. These tiny birds by their audacity and persistence both times drove away the "bully of bird land" who is many times their size.

RARE PLANTS IN YOSEMITE

By Ranger Naturalist A. L. Haines During the summer of 1939, I had of Yosemite, "this peculiar, thick-set the good fortune to discover several saprophyte was found pushing itself plants which I had not seen growing up through the carpet of decaying before. Upon the identification of these plants it was found that they pine and Sequoia leaves in the Mar- were each considered to be rare in iposa Grove and near Wawona. It the Yosemite region. is reported from the Pohono Trail." A cluster of eight to ten whitish Darwin Tiemann collected a spec- asparagus-like shoots were found imen of P. fimbriolata on the Pohono forcing their way through the thick Trail near Bridalveil Creek during layer of humus that surrounds the July, 1939, and it is now included in Texas Tree in the Mariposa Grove. the Yosemite herbarium. By the middle of June these leafless A mild winter in Yosemite results shoots had reached a length of sev- in a diminution in the beauty of the en inches, and had become covered waterfalls and in the abundance of with numerous, small, white blos- the spring flowers, but a summer soms. One's first impression on seeing visitor finds compensation in the ing this plant would be that it is an fact that certain flowers are forced albino Snow Plant (Sarcodes san- into blossom a month or more before guinea Ton.), so much does it re- their normal blooming period. One semble the latter plant in general of the rare plants in the Yosemite habit. This resemblance is not with- region which was thus made con- out justification, for it is in the same spicuous during the summer of 1939, family as the highly regarded Snow was Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia Plant. This saprophytic herb was palustris var. californica Gray.) Sev- identified as Pleuricospora fimbrio- eral lovely plants of this species lata Gray. Several other clusters of were seen on Alkali Creek, near the it were later found in the upper por- Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp on tion of the Grove at an elevation of August 3, 1939. Occurring on low 6500 feet. According to Hall's Flora gravel bars bordering the creek, this

saxifrage was easily identified by attractive by the network of green the slim, naked, stem terminated by veins in each of its five roundish, a single, white flower that was made white petals.

GUESTS OF THE EVENING PRIMROSES

By Ranger Naturalist Enid Michael By the first of May, there is sunshine in the Museum Garden all day long, and the garden is warm by eight o'clock. Through the day the light becomes more intense and the garden warmer till in the late afternoon the sun approaches the wall of Eagle Peak. Then the light and heat commence to abate, and when the sun at last drops behind the great cliffs, a sense of coolness softly filters in. The warmth, that all day long has wrapped the garden in its confident cloak, reluctantly loosens its folds, and a feeling of rest breathes through the flowery vistas. Now a new order of life commences to stir—the hour of Evening Primrose is coming on, and expectancy adds its stir to the charm of the cooling atmosphere. The Evening Primroses have slept all day, and the earth must be really cool before these queens of the twilight hour consent to open their pure flowers. On certain nights the garden gate opens at half-past six, and by this time several blossoms have already expanded. With the opening of the gate, those who have been waiting come eagerly in, and gather about the primroses that are now ready to do their part. The play of Evening Primroses is on: Moving smoothly, as though all had been previously arranged, the calyx jacket of a certain blossom suddenly loosens, and after a brief rest, two of the calyx fingers fold down. With this the petals begin to stir, and the four-pointed pistil-tip protrudes from the flower like a saucy tongue. Then, as the other pair of sepals relax their hold, with graceful movement the petals flatten out, and the perfect flower is in bloom. So quickly does it happen that people often say they can hear the blossom "pop. " Now come the guests, and the first is the Carpenter Bee. He pounces upon the flower, and grasping the stamens with his four, hairy legs, deftly packs the pollen in his leg pouches. In apparent excitement he

dashes from flower to flower, raking the four-pointed pistil-tip. From from the stamens their golden load. flower to flower and from pistil to Next to appear is the Sphinx Moth, pistil he moves as though he per- who noses down into the center of formed a pleasant duty. Can it be the flower as he probes the tube that the Carpenter Bee has an agree- with his needle-like tongue. Mean- ment with the flower—that in ex- time, the bee, with his pouches full change for the gift of pollen he will and his legs fairly dripping with pollen strings, returns to the original fertilize the pistil? Be that as it may, he leaves each pistil-tip dotted blossom, and deliberately sits upon with a composite load of golden blossom, and deliberately sits upon dust.

SOME UNUSUAL BIRDS IN YOSEMITE VALLEY

By Ranger Naturalist George A. Petrides On September 1, 1940, Mr. Charles while three others had come up Michael, a long-time resident of Yo- from below 3,500 feet. All were semite Valley and an amateur orni- viewed in Tenaya Canyon, except thologist who has contributed great- the Rock Wren observed at Rocky ly to our knowledge of birds in this Point, at an elevation of about 4,000 region, spent the morning with the feet. writer in searching for birds. Due In the first group, descended into principally to Mr. Michael's keen the Transition from the Canadian life powers of observation and to the tendency of birds to wander from the zone, were the Olive-sided Flycatcher, the Green-tailed Towhee and the scene of their nesting activities dur- Rock Wren. In the second group, ing the late summer and fall, a num- ascended from the Upper Sonoran ber of bird species were listed that to the Transition Zone, were the Nut- do not normally occur in Yosemite tall Woodpecker, the Hutton Vireo, Valley. and the Bush-tit. Of the list of forty-one kinds of While birds wandering from their birds seen, at least eight species normal habitats are to be expected were of decidedly unusual occur- in unusual situations during the rence. Of these the Western Tana- post-nesting season, normally these ger was present at an abnormally individuals travel to colder eleva- late date, while the Traill flycatcher, though normally here at this season, tions or latitudes rather than to the is not often observed. Of the re- reverse. On that basis, the occur- maining six species, three had de- rence of the Canadian life zone scended from their more normal birds in Yosemite Valley was quite range above 6,000 feet elevation, unpredictable.

AN ALBINO WOODPECKER

By Ranger Naturalist George A. Petrides In July, 1940, at Tamarack Flat in Yosemite National Park, California (altitude approximately 6700 feet) an albino woodpecker was found dead by an enrollee of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Upon the presentation of this bird to the museum, an attempt was made by the author to identify its species. Although the specimen had reached a rather advanced stage of decomposition, the structure of the bill and feet indicated almost certainly that this bird was a member of the genus Dryobates, but whether it was a Modoc Woodpecker, D. villosus orius Oberholser, or a White-headed Woodpecker, D. albolarvatus (Cassin), was somewhat more problematical. In general appearance the plumage of the woodpecker was entirely white except for the terminal portions of some of the feathers of the upper forehead and lower crown regions of the head. The tips of these feathers were of an orange-red color. The bill and feet, lacking pigment, were of a pale pink coloration. Internal decay prevented an examination of the sex organs themselves, but the coloration of the head indicated that the sex was male. The cartilaginous nature of the skull, as well as the distribution of the color on the head, suggested that this was an immature individual—probably a young of the year. The measurements of the albino woodpecker were: total length 8 3-16 in.; wing 4 3-4 in.; tail, 3 5-16 in.; bill, 1 in.; tarsus, 15-16 in. Similar measurements of the skins of three male and three female Modoc Woodpeckers and three male and two female White-headed Woodpeckers of the museum collections revealed no significant difference in size between specimens of the two species from this region. Judging from the color of the crown patch, the heaviness of the bill, and the general build of the bird, however, it was concluded that the albino bird was a young male Modoc Woodpecker, Dryobates villosus orius Oberholser. It is now a specimen in the Yosemite National Park Museum alcoholic collections. The cause of its death could not be determined. The finder of this bird reported to Ranger Naturalist Vincent Mowbray that in August, 1940, another albino woodpecker had been observed in the vicinity of Crane Flat.

Digitized by Yosemite Online Library Dan Anderson