The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-25
INTERESTING
EXPLANATION
Of the Glacial Formation of the Mis-
sion Range.
BIRDS AND BUGS OF FLATHEAD
And Various Other Subjects Concern
ing the Land, Water and Air, by
Our Resident Correspondent at the
Biological Station at Big Fork.

The first week of the work Of the
University of Montana Biological sta
ton has just closed. There were II
people on the grounds, mostly tent
ing. During the week the work of
those attending was started, material
collected, and apparatus put in shape
for use. Three collecting trips were
made, one to Daphnia pond, near the
laboratory; one to the beach along
Flathead lake, and one over the gla-
ciated hills between Flathead lake
and Swan river On these trips the
photographer made many exposures,
with excellent results. The botanists
and entomologists succeeded in gath
ering in much interesting material
Among the butterflies, Parnassius
Smintheus was taken in abundance.
AS this is a high altitude form, it is
very good catch - >.
Mrs. Kicker is making some excel.
lent water color drawings of flowers
and insects of the region. A class
has been organized in drawing, atten-
ton being directed to plants and in
sects. They have already made sew
eral excellent pictures. With such a
good beginning there is great hope
that many firstclass productions may
be made during the session
The work of taking entomostraca
from the lake continues. The collec-
lions are made daily, from the fol
lowing depths: Surface, feet, 25
feet, 40 feet, 90 feet, lis feet. The
collections are kept in separate Walls
with data. These are later examined
microscopically in the laboratory, tc
dtermine the species, the relative
quantities at different places in the
diurnal movements. 1t may be inter
esting to note that one day last week
the life in the lake seemed to be
rather evenly distributed from The
surface to a depth of lis feet, will
the slight majority at the surface
The following day, or, evening, The
majority were at the surface an(
down to 10 feet. Below this the,
were scarce. The explanation TO
this difference is not yet to be had
1t is interesting to note that micro
scopic organisms exist in the lake a
such depths 1t is further interest
ing to know that these organisms usu
ally dislike sunlight, remaining at o
below % feet in the day time, risin.
to the surface in the evening, or Otter
during cloudy weather. The cause o
these movements is not definitely es
tablished, however, since there ar,
many puzzling movements observed
The ornithologist is still maxim,
additions to the list of "Summe
Birds of Flathead Lake" During tn,
past week the pygmy owl was car
tured along the lake shore. the frs
yet taken. A few days later a pigeon
hawk was secured. This species ha
not before been taken. A word ma,
also be said in favor of the red-nape,
sapsucker, the only woodpecke
which Injuries orchards. One wa
killed whose stomach was full O
ants. The ant is friendly to plan
lice, and plant lice are injurious t
trees and other vegetation. A bir
that destroys ants may therefore b
called friendly to the orchardist an
gardener This bird has a bad name
and it is pleasant to record some
thing in it's favor.
Miss Katherine Roman, a gradual
of the university, arrived at the sta