The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-07-24
Many New Students Participate in
the Work.
LECTURES BY THE PROFESSORS
Among the Subjects Handled Are
Y "The Forest Reserve" "The Ply
siography of the Region Adjacent
to the laboratory, "Adaptions in
Bird fe,"-Stereoptcon Views.

olOu u CQe university OF Montana
Biological station at Flathead lake
has passed, and the camp on the
banks of the Swan river was full of
activity Miss Gertrude Norton of
East Helena, and Nathanial Alcock
OF YanktOn, S. D., arrived early in
the week. Others who are partici-
pating in the work. in addition to
those already mentioned, are J. A.
Fossum, Bigfork; Claude McAllister,
Kalispell; Jessie Hall, Holt; O. H.
Barnhill, Holt. A number of visitors
looked in during the week, some
from the adjacent region, some from
Iowa.
Four lectures were given on Mon
day. Tuesday and Thursday evenings
in the laboratory, and on Friday
evening in the large dining room of
the new hotel. The last lecture was
complimentary to the citizens of Big
fork. 1t was given by Prof. M. J. FL
rod on the subject, THE Forest Re
serves" illustrated by the stereopti-
con. A large series of colored slides
from the region near the laboratory
was presented and made a beautiful
exhibit.
The first lecture was given by Prof
M. J. Elrod on Monday evening, on
the subject, "The Photography of
the Region Adjacent to the Labora-
tory" The lecture was given last
year, and was repeated for the pur-
pose of giving those in attendance a
knowledge of the contour of the coun-
try and the information that has
been cleaned respecting the geology
of the valley and the mountain
ranges.
The second lecture was given by
Principal P. M. Silloway. on the sub
ject adaptations in Bird Life"
Adaptation means fitness. An adapt
alton in bird life is feature of struc-
ture or a relationship which renders
own life and to perpetuate the spe-
cies in it's old or any new habitat.
The tongue of the woodpe cker is COW
cred with minute barbs, making it a
useful weapon in dragging ants and
larvae from the bark and wood of
decayed trees. The large. scaly claws
of the osprey are Alted for catching
and carrying stout fish. The long,
narrow bill Of the American Morgan
ser duck is fitted with long, backward
pointing teeth, by means of which
they secure the small fish upon which
they live. The herons and bitterns
are fitted with long, sharp pointed
after the manner of the harpoon. The
hawkes. and eagles are we'll known
because of their adaptations for cap
turing food, strongly hooked bills
sharped curved claws arming power
full feet, and unusual swiftness OF
wing. The large, heavy bill of the
kingfshar makes him look bigheaded
but it is an excellent adaptation te
his vocation. The night hawk has {
mouth that literally opens from cal
ITO ear, by means of which it catches
insects on the wing. The humming
birds have tube like bill for draw
ing nectar or tiny insects from flow
ers, while his whTrng wings hole
him in position until his visit is over
Adaptation, as generally considered
has to develop with the animals fit
ness to it's surroundings. Such adap
tations place the creature at a decid
ed advantage in the struggle for ex
istence.
Adaptation to environment is vel
Illustrated in the grebes. Their leg:
are situated so far back On the
body that the least step forward
tends to throw the body forward
This is also true in the looms. Thei1
very helplessness on land is thei1
salvation in the water, as it is onl.
natural that every step should teni
to throw the creature forward on 1T
breast. The feathers of a duck!
plumage are soft, densely arranged
forming a texture so close that waite
is slow to penetrate. The dress o
the bittern is so closely in harmon,
with it's surroundings they may spring
UP from the very place at which w
are looking without being seen unit
IT rises.
But it is among the gallinaceou
birds that one may find the most nc
ticeable instances of the form o
adaptation. The grouse may lie a
ones feet in perfect safety from dis
covery.
Principal Maurice Kicker of Bur
ington, Iowa. gave an illustrated lee
ture on Tuesday evening on the sub
iect, "The Life History of an Insect
Insects are we'll adapted to use il
the lnwtr grades in school, and ar
excellently suited as beginning wor
in geology for children.
This follows the well known rul
of starting with the known and lead
ing to the unknown. Children ca
handle an insect readily There i
an intense fascination in the subjec