The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-08-08
FIRST AND MAIN STREETS

bird has a general method of build
ing, and the owner may in a large
number of cases be determined from
the appearance and position of the
nest, The sandpiper has only a
small cavity in the sand. The night
hawk lays eggs on rock or the bare
ground, without attempt at a nest.
The robin makes lining of mud,
smoothing it by turning in the nest
and rubbing with the feathers of the
breast. The American dipper builds
a covered nest of moss, in a position
where it is always kept moist with
the spray from a stream. The mag
pie builds a covered nest, making a
large brushy pile in the top of some
small tree. The osprey uses the
same nest from year to year, and
even permits small birds to nest in
the spaces left by sticks in building.
Most of the birds either build new
nest each nesting time, or rebuild the
old one. A number of nests were
exhibited. Some were beautifully ex-
ecuted with gossamer finishings or
covered with lichens, making them
unconspicuous in their surroundings.
The lecture was very instructive, and
brought out considerable discussion.
This was followed on the succeed
ing day by lecture by Mr.. Kicker
on "Entomonstraca, the Importance
of the Study, and the Problems Pre-
sented by Them"
The lecturer dealt largely with the
problems of fish food supply. The
game fishes live upon living food
from the time they begin to take
food, about the time of the absorption
Of the yolk sack. The small fry. as
they are called, catch and eat these
almost microscopic forms until they
grow large enough to take flies and
other insects, and later in life live
upon smaller fish quite largely, who
in turn live upon entomostraca. He
showed how important it is that
these vegetable eating animals take
have high chemical energy and put
it in form for food for the game fish.
After demonstrating their import
ance, the methods of the study of
these animals were discussed. We
must first name and classify them,
and this is a tedious study of micro
scopic characters, such as form of
the fifth foot, number of segments in
antennae, ETC., which to those not
fully informed seem the merest non
sense. The reactions to light, tenn
perature, depth and character of bot
tom, to say nothing of dissection of
the stomach of these microscopic
forms to determine food, will furnish
hard work for years for several
workers. The results of this work
may be of the most vital interest
and the truths worked out give a
basis for future control of breeding
places. that will prevent the possible
determination of our game fish.
The camp was enlivened during
the week by the arrival of a party of
seven from the University of Chi
cago, under the guidance of Harry
N. Whitford, assistant in botany.
Those arriving with him are Mr..
Barker, Pittsburg, Pa; Thomas Bron-
ser, Carey, o.. Mr.. Prayer, Streetor,
ILL.,; T. J. Fitzpatrick, Iowa City,
Iowa; Mrs. S. w Maury and Miss S.
S. Maury, Louisville, Ky. They are
devoting the time principally to a
study of forest conditions, making
extensive collections of plants at the
same time.
Friday morning, July 25, the entire
party, numbering 20, went to Swan
lake, returning the following Mon
day. This is the-.largest party that
has ever visited Swan lake, so far as
known. 1t taxed the boating capa-
city of the lake, all the available
boats being put to use. Camp was
made on the east shore of the bay,
at the upper end. The cabins of For
est Rangers Bond and Groom were
made the headquarters for the party.
The cook was the first Chinaman to
visit the lake. Perched high on the
baggage, complacently smoking a
cigar, with an umbrella for shade, he
presented an interesting and comical
picture as the boats went across the
lake.
The time was fully occupied by all,
some collecting plants, some fishing,
others chasing butterflies and beetles,