The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-08-08
Gained at the Summer School of Biol
ogy at the Lake.
MAKE ASCENT OF HALLS PEAK
And Profitable Trip to Swan Lake.
Arrival of a Party of Seven From
the Chicago niversity-lnterestin
Lectures on Birds, Plant Life and
Fish.

The second week at the University
of Montana Biological station opened
with lecture by Principal Maurice
Kicker of Burlington, Iowa, on the
subject "The Life History of an Oak. "
This was illustrated by water color
drawings by Mrs. Kicker, and was
intended as a general introduction to
botanical study, either as nature
study subject or as the beginning of
work in botany. 1t was also intended
to be guide for the preparation of
similar topics on other trees.
The growth of the stamens and pis-
ills on the tree was described The
pistils grow in the axis of the leaf,
maturing the second year. requiring
two years for their complete growth.
The acorn soon loses it's cup, as after
separation from the tree the cup is
useless. Squirrels recognize this by
hulling the acorn, refusing to carry
the useless cup.
When the acorn begins to grow,
the first or radicle root pushes down
ward, later the aerial branch pushes
upward. remaining attached to the
acorn until the second year, when it
has vitality enough to live alone.
Among the points brought out was
the fact that more than 1000 pollen
cells are developed by the plant for
every one ovule. The lecture was in
structive, and offered many sugges-
tions for study.
The next lecturer wos Professor M.
J. Elrod, on Inc subject "Daphnia
Pond as a Place of Study of Environ
ment."
Daphnia pond lies close to the pub
lie road, about a mile and half from
the laboratory. It is a small. land
locked pond, covering some 10 or II
acres. 1t is of glacial origin, lying
in a small pocket between two ridges
Its outlet in spring is to Flathead
lake, hundred feet lower in altitude
The pond is shallow, with a few
acres of clear water in the middle
remainder overgrown with r, '2os
moss, water lilies and other forms of
aquatic life
The name Daphnia was given be
cause of the great numbers of ento.
mostracan daphnia pulex found in
the pond.
In the pond there is abundance of
entomostracan life, few species ex.
listing in large numbers. The alb
sence of fish leaves them with few
enemies, so they have multiplied rap.
idly. The masses of vegetation give
good hiding places for protection
Daphnia pulex holds sway, and is
practically absent from the waters OF
the lake. Shells are not abundant
but three species living in the waters
of the pond. There are many larval
insects, including species of dragon
flies, May flies, beetles, mosquitoes and
flies. These hide in the weeds and
grasses. On the shores, within 10C
yards of the pond, over 40 species oil
birds have been found nesting. The
different ways in which changes in
water, the vegetation, or the life in
the pond may affect the abundance
of a species was fully dwelt upon
The pond offers fine field for study
Principal P. M. Silloway of Lewis
town gave the next lecture, on
Types of Bird NestsS In this be
explained the methods employed by
birds in building their nests, the ma
terial used, and use made of different
kinds of material. Each species o.