Fergus County Democrat., 1907-07-09
Interesting Work Being Done BY
Students at Biological Station On
the Flathead.
RESEARCHES BY SILLOWAY
Lewistown School Superintendent
Making Important Ornithological
Investigations.

the D1Ologlcal station OF the state
university, has made the formal an
nouncement of the summer school
for 1907, to be held at the station on
Swan river. This will be the ninth
session of this summer school, whose
work has been so notably successful
in the past. The term of 1907 will
begin July 7and will continue until
August IS. The faculty this year will
be: President Oscar ]. Craig, lectur-
er; DR.. Morton ]. Elrod director and
instructor in general zoology and
botany; Superintendent p NJ. Sillo-
woy Of Lewistown, Montana, bird
study and the forest; Principal
Maurice Kicker of West Des Moines,
Iowa, nature study and photography;
Mrs. Edith Kicker, artist; G. H.
Scherf, of the Flathead county high
school, physiography
The courses of study will cover
wide range, and an opportunity will
be afforded for special research along
the lines Of problems presented in
the general biological work. In past
years some notable scientific discov-
cries have been made at the university
biological station and the work car
ried on there has attracted the at
tention of scientists all over the
country. New species have been
found in floral and faunal life and
important discoveries have been made
regarding species formerly known
elsewhere.
The courses will include zoology,
botany, geology, physiography and
nature study.
The university of Montana biologi-
cal station was opened in 1899. For
the past eight summers the station
has been occupied from June until
September or October During this
time some Is states have been repre-
sented The station has become we'll
known to many American naturalists
and all are enthusiastic in their praise
of opportunities offered in the vicin-
ity of Montana's large inland lake.
"For scenery the vicinity cannot be
surpassed" says the Announcement
Few places offer more varied points
of interest The roaring rapids of
Swan river are at the door of the
building. Flathead lake, covering
more than 800 square miles OF ter
ritory with its beautiful islands and
precipitous shores, has great attrac-
tons. The Mission range, beginning
on the burnt hills by the laboratory
and rising higher as they extend
southwark, eliminate in snow-capped
: peaks 10000 feet in height. A few
miles to the east is the Swan range,
its high SUBMITS constantly i'll view.
These two mountain ranges afford
some of the most beautiful panoramas
to be seen in the Rocky mountains
and rival the Alps III magnificent
scenery Farther to the east, reach
ed in short time by pack train, the
main chain of the Rocky mountains
and precipitous SUBMITS. Untrod
SUBMITS invite the courageous ma
turalist who seeks the unknown ami
NAL and vegetable life. West of
Flathead lake are the almost unex-
plored Cabinets Within a few miles
are many lakes-Swan, Echo, Rost
and others-while many ponds and
swamps are in the immediate vicinity.
The waters of Swan and Flathead
lake, the former at the laboratory
door, the latter but two miles distant
East and south of the laboratory the
forests extend unbroken for hun
dred miles with here and there set
tiers cabin. Such a combination OF
lakes rivers, mountains, forests, at
elevations ranging from 5000 to TO-
600 feet one will find in few places in
America.
THE present site of the station was
chosen because of the advantages
mentioned above. The seaside will
always have its attractions and its
devotees. But there are those who
love the mountains, who delight ir
craggy heights, and who find abund
ance of material for study because
it is new and the field unexplored
There are many who cannot take
long trips to the sea shore. other:
who wish to spend summer on the
inland lakes. in the primeval forest
and among the snow-clad hills. Ther
there is the home field. Montan;
needs wider dissemination O