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The Natural History

BULLETIN

Volume IX SEPTEMBER, 1938 Number 1

OBSERVATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF LOCH RAVEN

III Mammals

By C. Haven Kolb, Jr,

The serious study of mammals, especially of the smaller kinds,
demands thorough collecting and the examining and analyzing of many
specimens. Chances for observing this class of animals alive and
in the wild are comparatively infrequent. One who, in this vicini¬
ty, should take a day's excursion with the single purpose of ob¬
serving living mammals would very likely be badly disappointed.
Nevertheless, to those who are in the field a great deal on other
matters there often come opportunities for observation of a casual
type which are always quite interesting and sometimes of impor¬
tance. The bird observer is particularly favored in this regard
because the daily activity of birds is such that the best time for
studying them is during the few hours immediately preceding the
full rising of the sun. The ornithologist, therefore, is frequent¬
ly in the field at the most favorable tine for encountering re -
tiring nocturnal creatures or diurnal ones when, being hungry they
are most active and noticeable. And consequently he acquires ’ over
a period of years a number of memories of encounters with mammals.

It was under such circumstances that the greater part of the follow¬
ing observations were made.

In all I have observed twelve different species of living wild
mammals in the Loch Raven Area,* exclusive of bats. They are:

1. Opossum (Didelphis virginiana virginiana)

2. Short-tailed Shrev; (Blarina brevicauda talpoides)

3. Otter (Lutra canadensis canadensis)

*For boundaries of this area see Bulletin of September 1936 Volume

vn p . 3.

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4. Red fox (Vulpes fulva fulva)

5. Groundhog (Marmot a monax monax)

6. Chipmunk (Tamias striatus fisheri)

7. Red squirrel (Sciurus hudsonicus loquax)

8. Gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis)

9. White -footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus novebora censis )

10a Muskrat (Ondatra zibothica)

11. Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridianus mallurus)

12. Deer (Odoco ileus virginianus virginianus)

I have record of only two species which I have not seen alive.

These are the meadow mouse (Microtus pennsylvanicus pennsylvani-
cus), skulls of which were found by Mr. Hampe in pellets of the
great horned owl (Bubo virginianus virginianus) from Dulaney
Valley and the eastern striped skunk (Mephitis nigra) several of
which I have found dead.

Rabbits and groundhogs are quite frequently seen. The bush

and tree -dotted grasslands - moors, I usually call them - which

are so wide-spread in Dulaney Valley, being merely former farm¬
lands grown wild, are natural nurseries for the former. One can
seldom take an hour's walk in this type of country without start¬
ing up at least one. Young, unsuspicious ones are o^ten seen
during the early summer months. Perhaps this is one reason why
the hawk population of this region is so high. In " rabbit season"
hunters of another kind also know this to be good rabbit country.
While groundhogs are by no means uncommon in this type of coun¬
try, they are probably more often seen in brushy areas adjacent
to cultivated fields or on the borders of woodlands. On the whole
groundhogs are one of the easiest mammals to watch, for they are
quite unsuspicious if they are approached slowly and cautiously
with no sudden movements or noises. Possibly being to leeward
might also be of advantage, although I have no notes on this
point. They can often be seen sleeping at the doors of their dens
in the spring sun, or foraging in clover fields or among other
succulent green plants. On cold winter mornings one can usually
see on weeds or grasses hanging in front of their holes heavy
frost which is formed by the freezing of the moisture in their
respiration .

Somewhat less frequently seen are the two squirrels. Gray
squirrels cannot be said to be uncommon. They vary considerably
in abundance. In deciduous woods they are frequently seen or
heard. They are seldom found singly. Quite often they occur in
what seem to be family groups. They apparently have little diffi¬
culty in gleaning a living. I have seen them at play quite as
frequently as at work. While stalking some birds I once ran into
a group of about six young ones. I had been rather quiet for the
past ten minutes and they seemed to have no inkling of my presence.
I sat and watched them for quite a while. They raced all about,
chasing each other, chattering, and tumbling about me, indeed
almost against me, without apparently recognizing in me anything
more than another stationary and innocuous portion of the vege¬
table kingdom. Red squirrels, however, are definitely shy and
much rarer. Moreover, they regularly inhabit quite a different
niche. Throughout their range, red squirrels are associated with

3

coniferous woods and in such a habitat have I f ound then in the
Loch Raven Area. One group lives among rocks on a bank under
some old white pine trees near the old dan. The only other group
that I know of lives in one of the young plantations of white
pine in Dulaney Valley. They are only occasionally heard and be¬
have quite differently from the ones I have observed in the North,
where they are very obtrusive and self-advertising. They apparent¬
ly take more kindly to cooler climates, for I have found then very
common and typically loquacious in the hemlock groves of Western
Ma r y la nd .

Chipmunks are present but not common in the type of country
I usually work. Howeve r I have seen individuals along the rocky
hillsides near the tracks of the Maryland and Pennsylvania Rail¬
road. I am told that they are common on some of the hillsides in
the valley of the Gunpowder between the railroad and the Harford
Road. For some reason I have never run across fox squirrels in
the Loch Raven Area »

I have seen the rod fox only once. Some years ago I was ex¬
ploring one of the wooded peninsulas which jut out into the lake
and had stopped to xvatcb some ducks on the water, when I heard an
animal going leisurely through the bushes. A few minutes later a
red fox trotted out into view not many yards away , loped down an
old woods road for a short distance and then turned off into the
bushes aga.in . A more congenial habitat for this species would ap¬
pear to be the moors of Dulaney Valley. Although I have never
chanced to see a fox in that vicinity I an sure they are to be
found there. Certainly a local hunt club occasionally rides en¬
thusiastically after something in this district and I have ob¬
served dens which could very possibly belong to this species.

With such a wide expanse of water at Loch Raven the presence
of water loving mammals is not surprising. Muskrats are apparent¬
ly common. I have seen then several tines swimming about in
marshy coves. They must use ground burrows much more frequently
than lodges. I have seen very few of the latter but the banks in
places are honeycombed with tunnels lending from the water. Dur¬
ing the past winter I found but one lodge. This was quite near
the road at Fitzhugh Branch and must have been seen by hundreds
of people. I found no evidence of trapping, however.

For some time I have been told by the employees of the Water
Board of the presence of otters. It was not until fairly recent¬
ly, however, that I saw one and then it was on the opposite side
of the lake , two miles or more away from the place where they had
been reported. Early one spring morning, with the sun still be¬
low the horizon and only pastel shaded clouds In the east, I
quietly descended an abrupt slope to the head of a body of water
which I call the Fiord.. It is a long, steep-sided, and very
narrow ravine, which the lake has half filled with water. The
upper end is surrounded by woods and even at midday the place
seems wild and remote. At this time of the morning it was still
filled with chill night air and the trees on the encompassing hills
were silhouetted against the pale sky. White mist was rising from
the surface of the water which was glassy-still. Soon I noticed

4

quiet little ripples corning from behind a patch of dead cattails.

I had heard no fish leap so I watched the place with curiosity.
Presently a small black knob appeared from behind the plants and
forged steadily toward ray side of the inlet. As it drew near I
could make out" a sleek dark brown head with beady black eyes and
small ears. All the rest of the body was submerged, but through
the water I could see a rather long, powerful-looking tail.
Progression seemed to be mostly by a sculling motion of the hind¬
quarters, especially of the tail. About twenty-five yards from me
the animal disappeared among some willow bushes. The ripples died
out without a sound.

White-footed mice and shrews are no doubt very common but they
are seldom seen. The former is a species chiefly nocturnal in
habit. On the lower Gunpowder, below the limits of the Loch Raven
Area, I once uncovered the nest of this mouse among the duff in
the hollow of a large rock. There were several young in it and
my companions and I watched the female carry these one by one in
her mouth to another niche in the rock several yards away. This
last spring I found a young one which somehow had wandered out in
full daylight onto the bare, exposed stones on the track of the •
Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad near Loch Raven Station. I
scampered after it and had it cornered several times, but each
time I was so busy watching its movements and making out its color
pattern and form that it escaped at last the fate of a museum skin.

A live wild short -tailed shrew I saw just once under a culvert
while I was examining a phoebe's nest.

May of 1938 was a rather cloudy month with several rather
heavy rains at night. One morning after a particularly heavy
downpour I found a 'possum resting high in a willow above a
flooded swamp. It was in a thoroughly drenched condition and lay
extended on a limb paying no heed to its surroundings, apparently
grateful for the light and warmth of the rising sun. Its tail
had been somehow injured so that at least a third of it was miss¬
ing. However it was not dead, for when I thumped on the trunk it
raised its ears and turned its head toward me but made no effort
to change its location. Two weeks later I found the remains of
a 'possum about two hundred yards away. The animal had been dead
more than a week. The tail indicated its identity.

The elements are not the only enemies of wild life at Loch
Raven. Even the largest gene does not escape man.

The sun came up behind clouds on the morning of May 22, 1938.

I had gone to a small swamp, formed where a brook called Kelly
Branch empties into a long estuary on the western side of Loch
Raven. In spite of the clouds there was plenty of light when I
arrived there at five o'clock that morning. As I worked down one
edge of the marsh, watching red-winged blackbirds I noticed that
the clouds were breaking in the west. Glimpsing a female red-wing
which was acting as if she might have a nest, I directed myself
out toward the middle of the swamp. I had scarcely started to
crash through the young cattails when I was startled by a loud
splashing similar to but much louder than that made by flushing
ducks. Looking up just at the moment that the sun burst from be-

5

hind the clouds, I saw a largo door looping heavily through the
muck on the opposite side of the marsh. For some distance I
watched it appear here and there between the trunks of the in¬
tervening willows, its body gleaning tawny and white in the
golden morning sun. Even after it had disappeared I could hear
the sucking sounds made as it pulled each leg up from the mud,

I was not too surprised to notice1 that it lacked antlers, but
this is not especially significant at that time of the year.

The next week was rather wet and when I again visited the
locality on May 28th deer tracks were common at several places
along a nearbv bridle path. The same morning I noticed three
men cruising about the rough dirt roads on the property of the
Baltimore City Water Board. The muzzle of a large powerful rifle
obtruded from" one of the windows of the car. After that I saw
neither deer nor tracks anymore. A dry spell set in and perhaps
tracks would not register. But I have doubts concerning this ex¬
planation. A shot early on a Sunday morning would never be
noticed in that locality. At any rate, for a. while a wild deer
was res i ding scarcely ten miles from the center of Baltimore City.

BIRD OBSERVATIONS
By W. Bryant Tyrrell
Birds of the Sea Shore

Several journeys have been made by me to the sea shore to
photograph the gulls, terns, skimmers and shorebirds which frequent
the wide sandy beaches, but one will always stand out from the rest.
It was about noon, on the 15th of June, 1935, that three of us -
F. C. Kirkwood, a noted Maryland ornithologist, my son Arthur, and
I arrived at Ocean City. We left the car to the north of the city,
and started up the beach in the broiling sun, which, with the re¬
flected heat from the sand and water made it still hotter. The
first birds we saw were a small flock of shorebirds, sanderlings,
ruddy turnstones and black-bellied plovers, which followed the
advancing and receding water as each wave came and went. These
birds are not usually found here in summer, for their nesting

places are far to the north of us. About three miles up the beach

we found a small colonv of nine nests of the delicate least tern,
but no large colonies as we had hoped. Somewhat discouraged, yet
realizing that we could work with this small group, if we could
not find a larger one, we returned to Ocean City, and there after
questioning some of the fishermen learned that there was supposed
to be a large colony to the south of the city. We made arrange¬
ments for a boat to take us down there at 5; 00 in the morning, and

then went back north of the city among the sand dunes, prepared

our supper, and as a full moon rose out of the ocean, fixed our
beds, crawled in and were soon asleep.

In the evening there had been a slight, cool breeze off the
ocean which made sleeping quite comfortable, but during the night
it changed, and early in the morning, before dawn, we were awakened

6

by drovos of mosquitoes, making life miserable for us. A refresh¬
ing dip in the ocean, a hearty breakfast and we wore on our way to
the boat. But our skipper was not there. After waiting a short
while, we went over to his house and found him still in bed. The
trip down the Sinepuxent Bay, in the quiet early morning hours
was uneventful. Laughing gulls and common terns, - strikers as
the fishermen call them - were everywhere, hunting over the sur¬
face of the water for minnows or other bits of food; two double-
crested cormorants were seen on some net stakes, and on a small
man-made island there was a congregation of gulls and terns.

Further along on top of a tepee of net stakes an osprey had built
its nest, and protested as we came by.

Landing at a point below where the birds were said to be
nesting we deposited our cameras and other equipment on the ground
and then separated. It was not long before all three of us found
the colony, which contained hundreds of nests of the common tern.

We made no attempt to count them, they were too numerous. We also
saw about seventy nests of the least tern, and to our great de¬
light, a few nests of the skimmers - the flood-gull of the fisher¬
men. The birds were everywhere, crying and scolding us, and as
we approached their nests which ware merely a slight depression
in the sand they would swoop down at us, as if they were going to
strike our faces, but as we ducked, they would swing off, rise and
repeat the same operation, with more and more vigor as we came
closer to their nests. Some actually brushed our hair or knocked
off our hats. In places the nests were so close together and the
eggs so nearly blended with the sand that we had to walk with cau¬
tion or we wo uld have stepped on them.

We erected the blind in a spot from which several common
terns' nests, two least terns' nests and one skimmer's nest could
be seen. Then I took my equipment, went inside the blind and pre¬
pared to wait for the birds to quiet down and return to their
nests. I have been in hot places, but I do not believe I was ever
in such a hot spot as on that day, and never do I hope to be in as
hot a place again. The sun beat relentlessly down on top of the
canvas blind, and the reflected heat from the hot sand came up, and
I sweltered and squirmed as I waited for the birds, which were re¬
luctant to return while that odd looking contraption was near their
nest. It was one of the longest and hottest two hours I ever spent.
Yet the photographic results were gratifying.

Suddenly pandemonium broke out , and looking out of the peep
hole, I saw my son approaching to inform me that the boat had re¬
turned and that it was tine to pack up and go home.

A Canoe Trip Down the Patuxent River

On May 13th and 14th, 1933, Gilbert K1 ingel and I had an ex¬
tremely interesting canoe trip down the Patuxent River, where we
photographed a number of birds. We put the canoe in the river about
10:00 p.m. at Hills Bridge near Upper Marlboro, and in the foggy
darkness paddled blindly down the river for an hour or more ac¬
companied by a chorus of croaking frogs. In places they must have
been legion, for their croa kings sounded like a low rumbling. Now

7.

and then the call note of a rail was heard and once we heard the
faint, far-away call of the whip-poor-will. About 11:00 p.n. we
found a little pier, landed, made our beds on the ground and were
soon asleep.

It was still quite dark, though there was a faint glow in the
east, when a whip-poor-will started calling near by and woke us up.
As we lay half awake, listening to its incessant calls, the night
gave way to dawn, and the dawn to day. By the tine we were up
robins had begun to sing, the beautiful, bell-like song of the wood
thrush was heard, and by the tine the savory smell of our bacon and
eggs filled the air the woods rang with a beautiful chorus of bird
voices. It was still very early when we rolled up our blankets,
gathered our few belongings together and started off in the canoe.

The river at this point is wide and sluggish, bordered on
either side by extensive growths of wild rice, cattails, and other
water plants - excellent feeding grounds for birds, particularly
in the fall. But as we paddled out on the quiet water, compara¬
tively few birds were seen. However, a crow or two flew over, a
buzzard was lazily circling high overhead, a spotted sandpiper
called and flew as we approached too close to the muddy bar on
which it v/as feeding. An osprey v/as seen perched on a dead stub
near the water's edge, two great blue herons were feeding at the
edge of the marsh, a few red-winged blackbirds were seen, and a
long-billed marsh wren was singing somewhere among the reeds. As
we glided noiselessly along a water snake crossed the bow of our
canoe, and after several attempts to catch him we went on, realiz¬
ing that there were easier ways to catch one than to be chasing
it in the water.

As we neared a railroad bridge a kingbird with nesting ma¬
terial in its bill attracted our attention. It flew to an old
pile, busied itself f or a few minutes and then v/as off again. On
examining the pile we found the beginning of a nest in the rotten,
cup-shaped top of the pile, v/hich was only slightly above the high
water level. The nest was no doubt washed away before the young
were out of it. Beyond the bridge two pair of osprey wore seen
circling high above the water in their incessant hunt for food,
possibly at the same time hunting for a suitable nest site. A
pair of blue-winged teal flew over on rapidly vibrating wings,
and were soon lost to sight. As our canoe glided noiselessly
along towards a point of land that jutted out into the water, a
kingfisher made its presence known by its rattling call, dove in¬
to the muddy v/ater and came up with a sparkling fish in its bill
and then went off down the river. Beyond the point v/as a rather
high wooded bank, at the base of v/hich several great blue herons
were feeding among the tangle of weeds and fallen branches. They
saw us before we saw them, and flew up into the pines on top of
the bank. Hoping that v/e might find a colony of them nesting up
there v/e piloted the canoe among the snags, fastened it securely
and scrambled up the sandy banks where v/e found ourselves in a
beautiful natural forest garden, with an abundance of bird life,
though no rookery of herons. The woods were composed of a mixed
grov/th of pines and deciduous trees. Azaleas, dogwood and red¬
bud were in full bloom; anemone, spring beauty and violets were

8

everywhere , and here and there were clunps of the beautiful pink
lady 1 s-slipper , one of our native orchids. It was an inviting
spot where we would have liked to spend considerable tine, but we
felt that we must go on, for we still had a good distance to cover
before we reached Lower Marlboro, our destination.

By the middle of the morning we were well along on our jour¬
ney and being thirsty we decided to stop at the first likely
looking place we saw. We soon cane to an old wharf, back of which
were several neat looking houses, which, no doubt, in the heyday
of the river must have been a regular stopping place for the steam¬
ers that plied up and down the stream exchanging supplies for
tobacco, but now it was a dilapidated affair, its two large sheds
fallen into decay, their roofs half rotten away. Barn swallows
were flying back and forth from under the wharf , where on investi¬
gating, we' found eight nests , two of which contained eggs. In a
clump of tangled sumac near the pump from which we quenched our
thirst, were a. number of white -throated sparrows, a towhee, and a
pair of cardinals. From a nearby tree a beautiful song was heard,
and a flash of bright orange and black in the bows revealed our
State bird, the Baltimore oriole.

From the old wharf the river wound through wide expanses of
tidal marshes, with the green fields beyond dotted with farm houses,
or the more pretentious homes of some old Maryland families. As the
heat of the day increased very little bird life was to be seen.

Here and there we saw a few red-winged blackbirds, a marsh wren or
two, and now and then heard the booming of a bittern or a gallinule.
But for the most part the rest of the journey was uneventful as we
were borne quickly and quietly along on the sluggish, muddy waters
of the river. By mid-afternoon we had reached Lower Marlboro, and
there loaded the canoe onto the waiting car and were soon on our
way h ome .

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

One of the most popular exhibits at the Museum is that of the
reptiles. It is rather strange that man seems to fear snakes more
than any other small animals, and yet, whenever snakes are ex¬
hibited either alive or mounted, crowds of people can be seen look¬
ing at them for long periods at a time.

Among our exhibits at the National Flower Show, held in 1937
at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore, was a display of several
snakes which attracted considerable attention. The aisle was near¬
ly always blocked and on several occasions it was necessary to
secure the aid of the police to keep the crowds moving - all be¬
cause of some harmless snakes.

But the reason for the crowds is obvious - snake displays
fascinate man. Man feels secure so long as the snakes are in cap¬
tivity or dead, but when they are free he keeps at a respectable
distance, or tries to kill them if possible.

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Most persons are not aware that snakes are valuable to man,
especially to the farmer. Even the copperhead and rattler, though
poisonous, live mainly off rats and mice.

There are approximately twenty-five species of snakes in Mary¬
land of which only the two mentioned above are poisonous. These
poisonous snakes can be easily identified from the others. An
excellent aid to the knowledge of snakes is a book written by Dr.
Howard A. Kelly, entitled "Snakes of Maryland," published by our
Society. This book gives a graphic description of the life his¬
tories of our snakes with special keys for their identification.

The exhibit in the Museum is an outline of our reptiles,
poisonous and harmless, so presented that the public may become
better acquainted with the harmless types which should be protected
inasmuch as they are beneficial.

E.B.F.

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 1958

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

August 2 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Earl H. Palmer, "Value
of Our School Loan Service".

3 - Meeting of Mineral Club.

5 - Meeting of Bird Club.

9 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "Our
Nature Summer School".

12 - Meeting of Plant Club.

16 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Frank Yingling, "Struc¬
ture of Teeth, Jaws and Beaks of Fish".

23 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Edward McColgan, "Nature
Photography of Birds".

50 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Harry Robertson, "Ven¬
omous Snakes and Their Poisons".

Junior Divisions

August 6 - Joint Meeting for girls and boys for Photographic Course
conducted by Mr. Edward McColgan and Mr. Edmund B.Fladung,

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August 13

20

27

Lecture s

August 3

11

15

104

- Boys* Meeting. Talk by Mr. Sidney Gaylor, "Crocodiles"
Talk by Mr. Wilraer Davison, "Tropical Fish".

- Boys' Meeting. Talk by Mr. Elias Cohen, "The King
Snake and the Copperhead".

- Boys' Meeting. Lecture by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "Niagara
Falls" .

to Outside Organizations

- Lecture to Baltimore Girl Scouts' Day Camp, Herring Run
Division, by Mr. C. Haven Kolb, "Some Connon Birds about
Balti more" .

- Lecture to Chesapeake Marine Biological Laboratory by
Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel, "Shipwrecked on Inagua " .

- Lecture to Baltimore Girl Scouts' Day Camp - Gwynn3' Fall
Division by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "Maryland Trees, How to
Study Them, and Forest Conservation".

Other Services and Activities of the Society

August 3 - Completion of Nature Summer School. Awarding of certifi¬
cates by the President and Director of Education. The
School was conducted for a period of three weeks under
the direction of Mr. Elra M. Palmer, Director of Educa¬
tion, assisted by Mr. C. Haven Kolb and Mr. Earl H.
Palmer.

4 to 28 - Nature Art School sponsored by the Society in coopera¬
tion with the Federal Arts Project of Maryland. Di¬
rected by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, Mr. Aaron Kameny -
Instructor, assisted by Mr. William Moorefield.

17 - Trip of Plant Club to State Patapsco Park. Conducted by
Mr. Earl H. Palmer, Assistant Curator, Department of
Botany .

Special Notice

Below is the schedule of meetings of the Society's Nature
C lubs :

First Wednesday - Mineral Club

First Friday - Bird Club

Second Friday - Plant Club

Third Friday - Insect Club

Any member interested in any of the above clubs is cor¬
dially invited to join as many of these clubs as he or she cares
to. There is no extra charge for participation in the club ac¬
tivities.

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MARYLAND TODAY - THE RESULT OF
AH ANCIENT YESTERDAY

By Gilbert C. Klingel

Geography should be a science of three dimensions. The first
dimension should be length, the second breadth and the third, like
the fourth of Einstein, should be time. But to fully understand
the meaning of this statement we must journey a few miles out of
Baltimore to a place south of Bodkin Point where the Patapsco
merges into the cleaner waters of the Chesapeake, To be more pre¬
cise we must journey to Pinehurst, that odd assortment of beach-
side houses perched in varied assemblage on a number of high bluffs.
However, we must forget the houses, for they will not transport
us into the geographical third-dimension. Instead we must scramble
down the bluffs, or choose one of the more substantial stairways
that ramble down to the water’s edge. Here we vail find a great
and diversified number of bulkheads, some concrete, some wood,
some a mixture of both — all erected to save the ever receding
bluffs from the onslaughts of the tumbling waters. A few houses,
belonging either to the careless or the none-too-opulent, lack
bulkheads and it is to these that we must go to see geography in
its fullest. To the uninitiated this first glimpse of third-
dimensional geography will be disappointing and not very inspir¬
ing but these unbulkheaded bluffs expose one of the most interest¬
ing stories in Maryland,

Protruding from the banks are great tangles of root and
stump, intertwining fibers and blackened knees. Drop to a crouch¬
ing position and examine these roots and stumps carefully. If
you know anything about wood grain and wood structure you will
soon note that there are no trees bearing graining like this near
Pinehurst today. They ere cypress stumps, and cypress knees,
remnant of what once was a magnificent cypress forest. Measure
the buttresses o. better yet saw them in half and count the
grerth rings, Y -v will find that the rings go well up into the
. i-d reds — mute evidence of great age and arboreal dignity. You

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Yet today, fully fifty feet of yellow clay and sand lie above these
fallen giants. Fifty feet of silted earth and debris and on top of
this a deep sandy humus and the houses of a new world culture. What
happened that this stately forest should have been overwhelmed and
buried, lost for a million years to the sunlight and air? The story
of what happened is what we are pleased to term three-dimensional
geography.

Cross the narrow peninsula on which Pinehurst is located and
examine the banks' along the M ago thy River. Close to the water and
in some places dipping beneath the soil is a narrow band of blackish
earth, moist but yet charcoal-like in its consistency. Buried in
this charcoal earth and part and parcel of it are numerous strips
of soft substance which once were wood and leaves, trees a.nd lush
shrubbery. Even today the distinct silvering of the original grain
may be seen and occasionally one recognizes a knot where a branch
broke from a trunk or where nature healed some wound inflicted long
ago. Some of these long dead wood-pieces are beautifully crusted
over with iron pyrites, fool’s gold, percolated from the overlying
beds and crystallized during the years.

Likewise, from a spot near Westport not so many months ago
some of the Society’s geologists unearthed a round earthy object
which at first appearance seemed but a big nodule of yellow clay.

But later in the laboratory, cleansed of its encrusting matrix, the
object revealed itself as a symmetrical ovoid, pitted every inch or
so with diamond shaped holes. The object was a cycad stump, a palm¬
like plant that flourished in the days of the dinosaurs.

Hancock, Maryland, is to most folks just a little town sprawl¬
ing lengthwise in the narrow valley of the Potomac midway between
the cities of Hagerstown and Cumberland. But to the writer Hancock
is a place of absorbing interest — not because of any industry
that flourishes there, not because the people are any different but
because only a few hundred yards from the center of town is a spur
of rock. The spur of rock is hidden between two wooden houses and
is nearly obscured by a chicken shed. But it is one of the most
interesting features of the entire town -- although probably not
many in Hancock are aware of its existence. In a narrow ledge on
that spur are clustered hundreds, nay, thousands of little sea-
shells, or rather the impressions of these sea-shells, for their
substance has long since been wasted away. And in these sea-shells
reposing in their flattened ledge of red sandstone we have a link
with the long forgotten past, with an ago so long gone that it is
difficult to even count the years since its passing. The site of
Hancock was once a rolling sea in a day when only the lowliest forms
had their being, when man was not even a dream, when not a moving
thing stalked the barren land.

And across the Potomac River barely two miles away is a great
quarry, source of the white sand from which glass is made. That
quarry is many hundred feet deep and its workings have carved away
nearly half of the mountainside. And from that quarry for a distance
of several miles exists a section of eight more quarries as large or
larger, and each of these quarries, like the first, is composed sole¬
ly of the impressions of countless sea-shells, the fallen bodies and
body coverings of a million million sea creatures, curled-up molluscs,
the long fragile stems of extinct sea-lilies, crinoids they are
called, and the fused material of a billion micro -things. Think of
iti A whole mountain of sea-shells and their fused pressure crushed

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remnants. Think of the countless centuries that this mountainside
lay beneath the waters of an ancient sea to accumulate these billions
of shells, to have accumulated these hundreds of feet of shell-laden
rock. Consider too that this rock was pressed tight by the weight
of great pressure before it reached its present flint-like state.
Before evidence such as this we can only stop breathless, silent,
somehow dimly aware that the entire history of human activity is
but a momentary flicker in the f ac£ of time. And as we gaze down
on Hancock, and the little towns and houses in the valley, we cannot
help but be aware, if we are conscious of three-dimensional geo¬
graphy, that if these little towns exist to last a thousand years
it will be as nothing to that which has gone before.

Beyond Hancock and Cumberland, towards Frostburg and the west
are the great coal beds of Western Maryland. The story of coal is
too well known to recount here but we cannot ignore the fact that
the bituminous industry owes its very existence to the long gone
ages. The narrow beds of coal are nothing but the carbonized re¬
mains of riotous swamps that had their being when Western Maryland
was a warm tropical land replete with the most luxurious vegetation
the world has ever known. It was an era of great fern-like plants
and huge mosses that sprawled over the soil in great green profusion.
Today these swamps are tightly compressed between the soils that
went before and those that came after, an historical sandwich, so to
speak, or to use a better simile, a crushed and blackened page in
the geological book of Maryland history.

The story of Maryland past and its relation to geography of to¬
day might well be made into an epic if we could only have all the
facts in our hands. It would be a story of magnificent struggles,
of how great hordes of creatures battled with time for their right
to live; it would be a story of victories and tragedies, inter¬
mingling one with the other, as race after race reached its climax
and passed into the limbo of defeat. And the epic would be staged
in the grand manner with ponderous shifting of scenery. And in
this shifting of scenery itself would be material for still another
epic, of how the forces of land and sea fought for mastery, of how
first one prevailed and then the other, of how in the titanic strug¬
gle the land crumpled and was broken and was covered over by the
silt washed down by the sea that sent the rain to gnaw away at the
rocks and the soil. And again the epic would describe how the land
would rise again and push the sea back whence it came, and of how
the land would take with it as tribute part of the sea-bottom which
the sea had covered with its creatures in countless multitude. There
would be intermissions in the great play when for a thousand, thou¬
sand years all nature would be quiet, when only the still waters
would lie over the place called Maryland.

And then there would be other thousands of years when the great
forces that made the mountains would be assembling their powers for
the work to come. There would be storms and earthquakes and great
bendings and twisting of the earth’s crust. Rivers, mighty streams
and little brooks would come and go, would make valleys and destroy
them again. Some of these rivers would flow for a thousand years,
would flow until the great ocean would creep up their valleys and
drown them, gathering them to its substance, just as in our own age
the ocean has crept in and drowned the lov/er river of the Susque¬
hanna .

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But we do not have all the facts in our hands, for these ti¬
tanic struggles have destroyed the fossils, the recording script of
the mighty play. Only here and there, like scraps of paper in a
deserted theatre hall, are the fragments -- dinosaur bones and
sequoia cones from Muirkirk near Washington, D» C., crocodile
teeth from Charles county, whale skulls from Calvert, crustacean¬
like trilobites from Frederick, mud cracks and algae marks in the
stone slabs of Conococheague Creek, the remarkable find of a cave
full of extinct mammal remains on a cut in the Western Maryland
railroad, — these and a few others are all that is left of the
great multitudes that have slipped down the passages of time. The
wonder is not that the vestiges of the ages are so few but that they
are so many. Consider that our Appalachians are but worn and eroded
fragments of what once were probably magnificent mountains, consider
again how the rocks have been folded and twisted nearly beyond recog¬
nition, consider that in these foldings and twistings great heat and
pressures have fused and melted the rocks, and consider how the con¬
stant seeping of waters has sculptured the hills and carried away
the records a grain at a time. Nearly all that is visible today as
a record of the great Miocene age are a few cliffs, fossilized ex¬
posures fronting on the Chesapeake in Calvert County, Stand on any
beach near these cliffs and watch how the bay waters are breaking
them away, every year taking a few feet, a few yards, destroying the
little that remains. Then consider that this has been going on for
countless centuries and you will understand.

Far out in the ocean, nearly sixty or seventy miles from Ocean
City and the sandbars on which Ocean City rests, the floor of the
ocean slopes gently out, undulating very slightly, dropping easily
away towards the center of the sea. And so the bottom continues for
a few miles -- until suddenly it disappears into the depths of ever¬
lasting night. It is the edge of the continental shelf. From this
point on the sands and gravels of the shelf give way to the abysmal
oozes and slimes of the deep sea. Why this sudden drop in bottom
level, why do the sands change to ooze and slime? And why does not
the ocean drop off immediately beyond our coasts, why this long
gentle deepening for nearly a hundred miles before the plunge into
the unknown depths? Because this is the true edge of Maryland, the
Maryland of third -dimensional geography. Many many centuries ago,
so some geologists believe -- and there is good reasoning for their
belief -- the sea was lower than now ; a change of sea level had oc¬
curred which was general throughout the world. But before this time
for countless other years the streams and bays had been scouring the
land far to the west, breaking away the soil and carrying It out to
sea. Grain by grain the land was torn away, and grain by grain It
was carried to sea and dropped gently down on the ocean floor. And
though in all these years the earth was not still -- but was gently
rising and lowering, breathing easily as it were -- the great de¬
position continued until there was built up a great wedge-shaped mud
pie with a thin edge lying to the west and a thick edge to the east
where the ocean water lay quiet. Even today, on a small scale we
can see the same thing happening at the mouths of brooks and streams.
The thick edge of this great deposition is nothing more than the
edge of the continental shelf, and at one time the coast of Maryland,
for in the age of the great lowering of sea level the ocean retreated
to the outer slopes. Thus we have a new definition for the Eastern
Shore and all the level land that lies between the ocean and the
hard crystalline rocks at the beginning of the plateau country that
begin on a line drawn between Baltimore and Washington. This low
country. Eastern Shore and the bay counties, is nothing more than a

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fertile sand and mud flat whose outer edge lies beneath the depths
of the sea. But lest one thinks this a slur on the low counties,
consider the great antiquity of their making and consider that
though nature has, in the passing of the years, poured the ocean
again and again over these counties, they have, Phoenix-like, always
risen again.

It is difficult to picture Maryland in this age of temperate
climate weather as a land fit only for Eskimos, a land where for
most of the year icy blasts and thick accumulations of snow were
the normal rather than the unusual. But such was the Maryland pic¬
ture during the glacial ages when the ever advancing ice caps crept
southward, moving inexorably on their way, sweeping slowly all forms
of life before them. True the great ice cap did not reach Maryland
but it came perilously close. In New York and Pennsylvania only a
hundred or so miles distant the movements of the great ice sheet
are today plainly visible, records in the form of sculptured rocks
and great mounds of boulders brought down from regions miles away.

We may picture Maryland in that time as a passing ground for the
great hordes of animals driven year by year southwards, individual
creatures and vast herds trickling down from the north as through
the centuries the ice was accumulating.

We may picture mammoths and mastodons, great bears, deer and
all the race of carnivores moving down through Pennsylvania, stopping
momentarily at the great valley of the Susquehanna,- for then the
river mouth was miles further to the east, crossing the river at
the fords or swimming the quiet pools between the rapids. We may
picture this vast assemblage of living things as having passed on
to more equable lands, while only the more hardy stayed to brave
the bitter winters. It is not unreasonable to believe, with the
polar ice sheet only a hundred miles away, that Maryland was "farth¬
est north" for animal life. And Maryland in that time must have
been a dismal place indeed with the Susquehanna frozen in the winter
down to the very bottom, and the Potomac likewise, and only a few
green lichens to enliven the bleakness of the winter snow.

When the first ice age passed v/e may picture the great return
migration when plants and the creeping, crawling things and the
winged birds followed the melting ice back to its northern home.

We may further picture the slow replenishing of the land with flowers
and green growing things. One by one they came back, some in
changed form, some as they were before. Some failed to return and .
these vanished forever. There is little left to tell of this com¬
ing and going of the great ice ages. We only know that the sea
rose and fell upon the land as the water accumulated or melted on
the thousand foot thick ice sheet; we know that this rising and
lowering of the sea left a series of contours or terraces across
the Maryland Coastal Plain, successive remains of sea beaches that
marked the fluctuations of ocean level. The Capitol at Washington,
by the way, rests on the edge of one of these terraces. We also
have evidence in the form of huge boulders intermixed with the soils
deposited during these times, boulders that cou3.d only have been
carried by ice and floating bergs. But we have little more,

Maryland today is the result of what yesterday it was. On
every hand, if we have the knowledge to interpret, are the signs
of the forgotten ages. The hillside on which your house rests may
be but the eroded contour of an ancient sea beach, the soil beneath
your back yard may have been laid down by some long forgotten river.

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16

and the stones that form the foundations and walls of your dwelling
may contain the remains of long dead creatures. Only recently, on
the corner of North and Guilford avenues, close to the street level
the writer noted a stone window ledge. The stone was grayed with
the soot and grime of the city streets but etched by the weather in
delicate filigree against the gray background was the lace-like
tracery of tiny coralines, minute shells and feathery sea creatures.
The story of that one window ledge might well carry us back into
the dim hazes of antiquity.

MARYLAND NATURE LOG
BARE HILLS

The Bare Hills truly deserve their name. Composed of ser¬
pentine, a green rock containing large amounts of magnesia, and
covered by a thin soil containing much of this element, these hills
lying on both sides of Palls Road, less than a mile from Baltimore,
and not very far from the suburb, Mt . Washington, stand alone, un¬
inhabited, unploughed, and except for a road or two and some tunnels
and holes representing old mining efforts, very much as they were
centuries ago.

Hayden’s somewhat exaggerated description of these Hills
written in 1811 is still of interest; M ...The mind seems involun¬
tarily to feel the impulse of melancholy. For the thinly scattered
soil, which has been, perhaps for ages, slowly accumulating from a
few decayed vegetables which some friendly breeze has borne upon
its barren surface is scarce sufficient to nourish a few scattered
tufts of grass. A gloomy silence pervades around .... (it seems as
if) it had been subjected to perpetual sulphurous exhalations or
steams of subterraneous fires. If a fratricidal Gain had here
committed his Heaven insulting deed, we need not wonder; it bears
so much the appearance of having experienced the unappeased wrath,
the eternal curse of an offended Deity. Scarce a solitary lizard,
or a creeping ant is here seen ... seeking among the mouldering ser¬
pentine to deposit its daily spoils, or screen its tender offspring
from the chilling blasts of winter winds which sweep in triumph
over this dreary waste.”

Animal life Is not altogether absent, however, - four foot
black snakes, as well as other species, guarding, it would seem,
mineral deposits no longer wanted, have been found near the chrome
holes hereafter referred to.

To visit the Bare Hills, motor or walk out Falls Road, pass
Mt, Washington, cross the bridge over the railroad at Bare Hills
station and continue approximately a half mile until you reach the
quarries at the juncture of Falls Road and Old Pimlico Road. Turn
left on Old Pimlico Road. Before you have gone very far you will
note several large excavations on your left - old chrome holes,
relics of the days when much of the world’s chrome was supplied
from this region - reminders of the period when Isaac Tyson con¬
trolled the world’s chrome supply. In those days (the second quarter
of the nineteenth century) chrome was used for paint and not for
its present purposes. If you will walk over the hills you will see

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a number of chrome pits not discernible from the road; many of these
are filled with water. Here and there in rocks lying about the pits
will be found small black metallic dessimmated particles of chromite
in the serpentine.

H. C. M.

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KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

Because of lack of space at the Museum there are only two wood¬
peckers on di splay , the red-head woodpecker and the flicker. As
common as these birds are, it is astonishing how little is known of
their habits and life histories. Since the Society has received
many inquiries regarding woodpeckers in general, the writer thought
a brief account of this useful bird would be of interest to our
readers .

As their name implies, the woodpeckers are noted for their
habit of pecking at the bark of trees. This the bird does to dis¬
lodge grubs and other insects of which its food is composed. For
this purpose nature has equipped it with a strong bill or beak,
having a chisel-shaped point which forms an effective cutting in¬
strument. The tongue which is one of the peculiar parts of the
bird's anatomy and an aid in dislodging grubs, ants, etc., is cyl¬
indrical in form, terminating in a hard point with barbs upon the
sides. The tongue can be extended several inches beyond the tip of
the bill.

Another characteristic of the bird’s anatomy is the position of
its toes. Whereas on most birds there are three toes on the front
of the foot, and one on the rear, the woodpecker has two toes on the
front and two upon the rear of the foot. This arrangement, plus the
sharp claws and relatively short legs enables the bird to cling to
the bark of a tree.

The tail which is composed of stiff feathers, terminating in
sharp spines is also an aid in bracing itself against the sides of
trees.

The bill winch enables them to secure food is also an effective
tool in excavating deep cavities in the trunk and branches of trees.
In these cavities the nest is built. The bird lays from two to
nine eggs, depending on the species) whi ch are in all cases white and
oval.

There are eight species of woodpeckers native to Maryland, two
of which are comparatively rare.

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
Meetings and Lectures at the Society

September 6 - General Assembly, Talk by Mr. Herbert Moorefield,
"Species Formation in Drosophila (Fruit Fly)".

7 - Meeting of Mineral Club.

9 - Meeting of Bird Club,

13 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr, A. Llewellyn Jones
"Yellowstone Park Wonders",

16 - Meeting of Plant Club.

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18.

20 - General Assembly. Talk by Mr, T. Milton Oler, Sr.,
’'Beauties of Nature”.

23 *- Meeting of Insect Club,

27 - General Assembly. Illustrated lecture by Mr. Gilbert
C. Klingel, "In Quest of the Lost Flamingo Colony of
Great Inagua Island".

Junior Division

September 3 - Meeting. General Discussion.

10 - Talk by Mr. James Leake, "Enemies of Snakes".

17 - Lecture by Mr, Edmund B. Fladung, "Nature Photography".
24 - Talk by Mr, Joseph Schreiber, "The Minerals of
Crystal Hill",

Lectures and Exhibitions to Outside Organizations

September 15 - Nature Art School exhibit at Baltimore Museum of Art.

17 - Enoch Pratt Library, Branch No, 11, plant exhibit.

28 - Lecture to Baltimore College of Commerce by Mr.

Edward McColgan, "Telescope and Photographic Lenses".

Other Services and Activities of the Society
September 2 - Conclusion of Nature Art School.

16 - Trip of Plant Club.

16 - Loan of Indian Artifacts to School No. 34.

30 - Loan of Minerals and Wood Specimens to School No. 34.

Gifts Received by the Society

Three Mounted Moose heads, two Deer heads, one Eastern Caribou
head, and one Black Bear head from Mr. D. W, Kleinhans.

One mounted Marlin measuring eight and one half feet from
Mr. J. D. Steele.

Magazines and Pamphlets from Mr. W. Bryant Tyrrell,

Bird and Mammal Skins from Mr. W. Bryant Tyrrell.

A Mounted Heath Hen from Mr. J. Hammond Brown.

SPECIAL NOTICE

Below is the schedule of
Clubs ,

First Wednesday
First Friday
Second Friday
Third Friday

meetings of the Society’s Nature

Mineral Club
Bird Club
Plant Club
Insect Club

Any member interested in any of the above clubs is cordially
invited to join as many of these clubs as he or she cares to. There
is no charge for participation in the club activities.

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The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume IX

NOVEMBER, 1938

Number 3

NOTES ON THE WATERFOWL OF
GARRETT COUNTY, MARYLAND

By MAURICE BROOKS

In the Bulletin of The Natural History Society of Maryland,

Vo Tome VII, Nos. 2 & 3, 1936, the writer published a series of
notes on the land birds of Garrett County, Maryland, the list in¬
cluding comments on 146 species. The present paper presents notes
on the waterfowl of the same region.

Garrett County, comprising the extreme western portions of
the State, has had considerable ornithological study, its moun¬
tains and heavy woods having been, for a long time, attractive to
bird students. Merriam and Preble published a list of the birds
of the region in 1900, this work being followed by the extensive
studies of Reverend C.W.G, Eifrig in 1904 and succeeding years.
Many other ornithologists have paid the area occasional visits.

Since these earlier papers were published however, Garrett
County has undergone a number of changes which profoundly affect
the status of waterfowl. Chief of these has been the construction
of a power dam on Deep Creek, a tributary of the Youghiogheny
River. This dam creates Deep Creek Lake, an extensive body of
water which is, in migration, attractive to water birds of many
species. The much smaller lake near Mountain Lake Park also
attracts waterfowl, and there are some other small bodies of
water which have shown themselves worthy of study.

In 1934 a systematic study of the birds of four Allegheny
Lakes, Lake Lynn and Lake Terra Alta in West Virginia, and Deep
Creek Lake and Mountain Lake in Maryland, was begun by a group
from West Virginia University. This study has been carried on
for five years, with Messrs. I. B. Boggs, A. S. Margolin, J. L.
Poland, Karl Haller, James T. Hand lan, and many students of the
Oglebay Nature Training School taking part. Dr. George Miksch
Sutton has also done some collecting in the region. During mi¬
gration seasons regular trips to the area have been taken, and

20.

numerous observations have been made at other seasons. The per¬
manent camp of the Oglebay Nature Training School at Lake Terra
Alta has been a center of interest.

To understand what the creation of these artificial lakes has
meant to the bird life of western Maryland, it is only necessary
to state that the present paper wi 11 list no less than twenty-
six species of waterfowl which were unknown from the region to
Merriam, Preble, and Eifrig. In addition, many of the species
which they found to be very rare, or of only accidental occurrence,
are now common at certain times. Heavy flights occur at times of
unusually severe storms on the Atlantic Coast, and, in autumn,
when there have been storms with heavy winds on the Great Lakes.

Deep Creek Lake, because of its fluctuating water level, is
not suited to the breeding requirements of most waterfowl. It is
used chiefly as a resting place, although many shorebirds use its
mud flats in late summer and autumn, and many ducks find food in
the numerous inlets during the spring periods of high water. Moun¬
tain Lake offers considerable good feeding territory, but the area
is much visited by humans, and is not extensively used by wrater
birds as a nesting place.

1. Common Loon (Gavia immer). Rather common migrant in
spring and fall, the birds in autumn remaining on Deep Creek Lake
until it freezes over. Flocks of thirty to fifty individuals
occur at times on both the bodies of water studied. Thus on the
morning of October 24, 1956, Mountain Lake was visited by thirty-
six loons.

2. Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata). One of the region’s
ornithological surprises was the discovery that this northern
species is not rare during migrations. Three individuals, in com¬
pany with a number of Common Loons, were noted on Nov, 11, 1936.

This species was called accidental by Eifrig.

3. Holboell’s Grebe (Colymbus grisegena holboelli). Noted
only a few times during autumn migration. Not listed by Eifrig.

4. Horned Grebe (Colymbus auritus). This species is often
abundant during migration, large flocks occurring at both lakes.
Eifrig does not record it.

5. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilyrabus podiceps podiceps). Common
in migration, but not known to breed in the territory. Its breeding
Is a distinct possibility however.

6, Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), Eifrig regarded this as
a breeding bird, but I know of no recent nesting records from the
region. It is fairly common during migration.

7. American Egret (Casmerodius albus egretta) . Found in
late summer and early autumn. So far we have recorded neither the
immature Little Blue Heron nor the Snowy Egret, both possibilities.

8. Green Heron (Butorides virescens). Fairly common breed¬
ing species throughout the territory.

9. Black- crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli).

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Occasional in migration. Not known to breed locally,

10. American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus ) . The pre¬
sence of American Bitterns in the marshes at the head of Moun¬
tain Lake in summer indicates the local breeding of this species
but I do not know of a nest’s having been found.

11. Least Bittern ( Ixobrychus exilis). Another species
which may breed sparingly, although corroborating evidence is
lacking. Not uncommon during migration.

12. Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus ) . Recorded from
the region by Eifrig, but now present in considerable flocks at
times. Swans and geese often rest and feed on the mud flats along
some of the Deep Creek Lake inlets.

13. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). Present in good
flocks as a migrant.

14. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos ) . Common in migration at
Mountain Lake, where a few may breed. Not so common at Deep
Creek Lake.

15. Black Duck (Anas rubripes). The most common dabbling
duck in the region. May breed sparingly* Many of the autumn

and winter birds have conspicuously red legs, and would probably be
referable to the race, A. r. rubripes . Summer birds are presumably
A. r, tnstis .

16. Gadwall ( Chaulelasmus streperus). Noted in small num¬
bers every year of the study at Mountain Lake. Not often seen

at Deep Creek Lake, where conditions do not favor dabbling ducks.
Not recorded by Eifrig.

17. Baldpate (Mareca amencana) . Fairly common in mi¬
gration, when considerable flocks may sometimes be noted. More
common on Deep Creek Lake than are most dabbling ducks.

18. Pintail (Dafila acuta tzitzihoa) . Common ip. spring and
fall. Individuals often remain for some weeks at Mountain Lake.

19. Green-winged Teal (Nettion carolinense ) . Regarded by
Eifrig as very rare, but now rather common in migration at Moun¬
tain Lake. The autumnal migration is usually early in the season.

20. Blue-winged Teal (Querquedula discors). Common migrant,
and a possible breeding species*

21. Shoveller (Spatula clypeata) . This handsome duck is
often found in some numbers during March and early April at
Mountain Lake. We have autumnal records from Deep Creek Lake.

Not recorded by Eifrig.

22. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) . Small numbers breed in Garrett
County, but the birds are most often seen in migration.

23. Redhead (Nyroca smericana) . Large flocks are occasional¬
ly to be found on Deep Creek Lake. I. B. Boggs noted a flock of

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eighty on April 6, 1935. Smaller numbers at Mountain Lake.

Eifrig does not list this species.

24. Ring-necked Duck (Nyroca collaris). Another so-called
"western” duck vhich is to be found during migration in good
numbers at both lakes. Not in Eifrig’ s lists.

25. Canvas-back (Nyroca valisineria ) . Not so common as the
last two, but noted occasionally. Twenty-one were seen at Moun¬
tain Lake on October 24, 1936, Not recorded by Eifrig.

26. Greater Scaup (Nyroca marila) .

27. Lesser Scaup (Nyroca affinis). Under ordinary con¬
ditions we find it impossible to distinguish between these two
species in the field. At certain times however inlets on either
side of the highway along Deep Creek Lake (U. S. R. 219) are
flooded, and under such circumstances it is often possible to
observe the ducks f r cm a car at a distance of only a few feet.
Iridescence on the he>ads is plainly visible, and we are certain
that both species occur. Specimens taken also confirm this. The
commonest diving ducks.

28. Golden-eye ( Glaucionetta clangula americana). Found
occasionally during migration. Individuals sometimes arrive in
September, and we noted one that remained at Deep Creek Lake un¬
til early May*

29. Buffle-head ( Chari tonetta albeola). Flooded inlets
mentioned above are suited to the needs of these handsome little
ducks, and they are sometimes surprisingly common and tame. Easy
to observe from an automobile. They remain until well along in
May.

30. Old-squaw. (Clangula hyemalis). Not uncommon in mi¬
gration at both the lakes in the territory.

31. White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi). I. B. Boggs
noted the first individual of this species seen in Garrett County,
a male at Mountain Lake on October 23, 1936. Since that time

we have found them at both lakes on a number of occasions. Not
recorded by Eifrig.

32. Ruddy Duck (Erismatura jamaicensis rubida) . Rather
common in migration, sometimes appearing in large flocks at
Deep Creek Lake. Its early occurrence in autumn (the last week
in August) may be partially explained by the fact that these
birds now breed as near our area as Pyma tuning Reservoir, in
Pennsylvania. Not on Eifrig’ s list.

33. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). Sometimes
in good numbers during migration, but never seen in large flocks
as is occasionally the case with the next two species.

34. American Merganser (Mergus merganser ameri canus ) ,

Eifrig records this as a winter visitor, but it is occasionally
common during migration, and I have no winter records from either
of the two local lakes. Both bodies of water are usually frozen
over after the middle of December, and there are few feeding places
for mergansers then available.

23.

35. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator). As noted
above, sometimes in considerable flocks during migration. We
have often noted a tendency for the sexes to separate ^ many flocks
being made up of birds of only one sex. It is interesting to
find this segregation, common along the Atlantic coast, carrying
over into a mountain lake region.

36. King Rail (Rallus elegans elegans). Apparently an un¬
common migrant, but there Is excellent breeding territory at the
head of Mountain Lake, and it would not be surprising to find the
birds nesting there m small numbers. Not recorded by Eifrig.

37. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola limicola) . Remarks ap -
pearing under the last species apply exactly to this one. Both
birds have been found in summer at nearby Lake Terra Alta in West
Virginia.

38. Sora (Porzana Carolina). 'Common in migration at Moun¬
tain Lake, and in other glady parts of the area. Not known to
breed, but such a thing is a distinct possibility.

39. American Coot (Pulica americana amencana) . Eifrig
considered this merely an accidental visitor to the region, but it
is now fairly common in migration. Not known to breed, but, like
the last, a possibility.*

40. Semipalmated Plover ( Charadrius semip almatus ) . This is
one of the more common shorebirds in autumn along the Deep Creek
Lake mud flats. In spring the region has very little suitable
feeding territory for shorebirds, and we have not noted the
present species.

41. Killdeer (Oxyechus vociferus vociferus). The commonest
breeding shorebird, present at all times except the coldest winter
weather. Killdeer s may be seen in open weather during all the
winter months.

42. American Woodcock (Philohela minor). A locally distri¬
buted breeding species. Eifrig listed it as common, but such a
statement would hardly hold true today. There are small areas
where two or three pairs may be found during breeding season,

43. Wilson’s Snipe (Capella delicata). Of this species
Eifrig considered that it must breed, although we are still with¬
out positive evidence of such an occurrence. The birds are lo¬
cally common during migration, and have been noted in summer d;
nearby points in West Virginia.

44. Upland Plover (Bartrarnia longi cauda ) . Another shore-
bird which may breed sparingly in the region, although corrobor¬
ative details are lacking. Most often seen during spring mi¬
gration.

45. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) . Common-
summer resident throughout the area.

46. Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitana) . The presence of
small numbers of these birds during summer at Deep Creek Lake sug¬
gests that they might possibly breed locally, although such sum¬
mer occurrences are not to be taken as evidence of nesting. Com-

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mon migrant,

47. Greater Yellow-legs (Totanus melanoleucus ) . Eifrig
simply lists "Yellow-legs” from the region, and his notes pre¬
sumably relate to the next species. The present bird is an oc¬
casional migrant, from our experiences most often found in spring.

48. Lesser Yellow-legs (Totanus flavipes). Somewhat more
common than the last, seemingly about equally distributed between
spring and fall migrations. Statements as to the relative abund¬
ance of the two birds published m a former note (Auk: 55; 1, p.

127) have not held true in more recent years.

49. Pectoral Sandpiper (Pisobia melanotos). One of the more
common migrant sandpipers, arriving, early and remaining late. Not
listed by Eifrig.

50. Whi te-rumped Sandpiper (Pisobia fuscicollis) . We have
noted a few individuals, mostly in autumns, and never more than
two birds at any one time. Apparently one of the rarer sandpipers,
as might bo expected. Eifrig does not note it.

51. Baird’s Sandpiper (Pisobia bairdi). Single individuals
noted by a number of observers on October 18 and again on October
24, 1956.

52. Least Sandpiper (Pisobia minutilla) . Occasional in
migration, but not nearly so common as the Semipalmated Sandpiper.

53. Red-backed Sandpiper (Pelidna alpina sakhalina) • Re¬
corded during late autumn migration at both lakes. Not more than
two individuals seen at any one time.

54. Stilt Sandpiper (Micropalama himanotopus ) . One in¬
dividual carefully identified at Deep Creek Lake on September 20,
1936.

55. Semipalmated Sandpiper (Ereunetes pusillus). The
commonest of the "Peeps", being found during both migrations,

56. Western Sandpiper (Ereunetes rnauri'i ) . Two individuals
noted on September 20, 1936. None of the six last- listed species
are recorded by Eifrig.

57. Northern Phalarope (Lobipes lobatus). Eifrig records a
specimen individual taken on May 23, 1901. This is our only
record for the species.

58. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus smithsonianus ) . Follow¬
ing early spring storms gulls of several species are often to be
found in numbers at Deep Creek Lake. Some hundreds of the present
species have been noted on several occasions.

59. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delav^arensis ) . Seemingly about
as common as the last species, although it was not noted by Eifrig.

60. Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla). A single individual
noted following a storm during the autumn of 1936. This is our
only record for the species.

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61. Bonaparte’s Gull (Larus Philadelphia). Sometimes present
in considerable numbers m early spring. We have noted flocks of
fifty or more. Occasionally seen in autumn.

62. Common Tern (Sterna liirundo hirundo). A migrant which
is occasionally present in small numbers. I have never seen it
common at either lake. Not listed by Eifrig.

63. Black Torn ( Chlidonias nigra surinamensis ) . Denmead
(see bibliography) records these birds in summer from the
neighborhood of Grant svi lie, where he believes that they may
breed. We have seen them most frequently in late summer and
early autumn.

Since ’’Notes on the Land Birds of Garrett County, Maryland”
appeared in 1936 we have had a number of opportunities to ob¬
serve these birds, and some new species have been recorded. These
additions to the former list seem pertinent to the present paper,
and they are accordingly given below.

Duck Hawk (Falco peregrinus ana turn ) . We noted this fine
falcon during the autumn of 1936, near Deep Creek Lake.

Barn Owl (Tyco alba pratincola) . Prom reports, breeds
sparingly in the Oakland section.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax f laviventris ) . Found
during early September in the Oakland region. We have insufficient
data on which to base a Statement as to how common it may be.

Marsh Wren ( Telmatodytes palustris). Noted a number of
times near the head of Mountain Lake, especially during autumn
migration.

Migrant Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus ) . Shrikes are apparent¬
ly rare in the neighborhood under consideration, but one was noted
on October 16, 1936.

It will be seen that this paper, in combination with the one
mentioned above, lists 214 species from Garrett County, irrespect¬
ive of races which arc, in many cases uncertain as to their status.
Work in the area is continuing, and progress of the study will be
reported in this journal from time to time.

Literature Cited

Brooks, Maurice

Waterfowl on Four Alleghany Lakes. Redstart, Vol, III,

No. 10, p. 71-76 ; No. 11, p. 82-85, 1936.

Notes on the Land Birds of Garrett County, Maryland, Bulle¬
tin of the Natural History society of Maryland, Vol. VII, Nos.

2-3, p. 6-14. 1956.

The Autumnal Waterfowl Flight in the Morgantown Area. Red¬
start, Vol. IV, No. 3, p. 15-17. 1936.

Solitary Sandpipers in Sumner in Western Maryland. Auk, Vol.
LIII, No. 4, p. 444, '1936.

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26

Shorebirds at a Western Maryland Lake. Auk. 55, No. 1, p.
126.1938.

Denmead, Talbott

Black Tern in Maryland. Auk, Vol. 54, No. 2, p. 206. 1937.
Eifng, C. W. G.

Birds of Alleghany and Garret Counties, Western Maryland A
Auk, Vol. XXI, No. 2, p. 234-250. 1904.

Merriam, C. PI, & E. A* Preble.

Tho Summer Birds of Western Maryland. Maryland Geo¬
logical Survey, p. 291-307, 1900.

Division of Forestry,

We st Virginia University,
Morgantown, W. Va.

MARYLAND NATURE LOG
II

THE SQUIRRELS OF MARYLAND
By Irving E. Hampe

The hunting season brings before the public some of our most
interesting mammals. Squirrel hunting has always been a favorite
pursuit of many of our outdoorsmen and while in such cases the
cooking pot and later repast usually ends all interest in the
squirrel, one will find much of interest if the gun is laid aside
and the notebook and binoculars are used in the pursuit and study
of these interesting creatures.

The Gray Squirrel (Sciurus c. carolinensis ) is the most
common squirrel in Maryland. Every park has numbers of these
handsome animals. They become quite tame and lose the wild grace
and charm of their woodland kin. They are tree-dwelling squirrels
and are not found away from woods. Their homes are in hollows in
trees or bulky nests of leaves and twigs in a forked crotch. Some¬
times the old nests of crows and hawks are roofed over and lined.
About March or April the young are born, usually four to six in a
litter. A second litter may be raised the same year.

Larger than the Gray Squirrel, less common, and restricted to
the deeper' woods is the Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger neglectus).

Its large size and dark, coarse pelage will serve to distinguish
this squirrel from the Gray Squirrel. The habits of this animal
are similar to those of the Gray Squirrel, although there is not
much evidence to indicate that more than one litter, of from two
to four young, is raised in a season.

Found only in Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore, is the
most handsome of all the fox squirrels, the Bryant Fox Squirrel,
(Sciurus niger bryanti). Larger than the typical fox squirrel, it

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is bluish gray, thickly grizzled with black on the back, white
underneath, a white nose, and a tail w ith a pronounced black stripe
on the outer edge. Its habits are similar to the common fox
squirrel .

The Red Squirrel ( Sciurus hudsonicus loquax) is a denizen
of the forests, seldom found in thickly populated sections. Its
small size (about 12 inches in length) cud rusty red upperparts,
coupled with its inquisitive habits and scolding voice will
serve as distinguishing characteristics. The home of this crea¬
ture is in old woodpecker nests, decayed hollows, or is built of
twigs and leaves In some convenient crotch in the limbs. Only
one litter, usually four or five young, is born in late spring.

Red Squirrels are the most carnivorous of this family. They have
an unsavory reputation as robbers of birds* nests.

Unknown to most people, due to its nocturnal habits, the
Plying Squirrel ( Glau corny s volans volans) is the most beautiful
of all our squirrels. It does not really fly, but glides from
tree to tree, using the broad lateral folds of skin extending
from wrist to ankles, as a sort of parachute. Its tail is broad
and flat, and is used as a balancing organ. Its favorite retreat
during the day is in hollow trees and if such a tree is found,
the squirrel may be driven out by rapping against the trunk. It
makes its nest in cavities in trees and raises from four to six
young in a litter every year. On several occasions I have known
of Flying Squirrels invading houses, and the occupants have been
forced to trap them as they raised, such a racket at night no one
could sleep.

The Gray and the Fox Squirrels are the only species con¬
sidered as game animals although the Red Squirrel is sometimes
taken. Without a doubt these animals furnish a lot of sport
during the hunting season, but one will find more pleasure if
some attention is given to the study of their habits and their
niche among the creatures of our woodlands.

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

The preparation of specimens in the Museums for display and
exhibition purpose has developed into a science all its own, as
well as an art. This is especially true with respect to the
mounting of fish in their natural poses and particularly their
coloration.

Fish in times past were mounted anything but natural. The
skins were sometimes stuffed with plaster of Paris and even with
straw. They were then varnished.. Naturally the color was want¬
ing, with the result that the fish was generally a brownish color,
much shriveled up about the fins and tail.

Today the whole technique has changed. Through modern methods
the underlying color with its silvery sheen is reproduced and the
shape and form of the animal is maintained, imparting to the whole
specimen a lifelike appearance. The process is somewhat costly,
but it is truly worth it.

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Our fish display is naturally small because of the limited
size of our Museum. The specimens exhibited were chosen chiefly
to bring out the various types of fish to be found in Maryland
waters .

From these an excellent idea can be had of the vast fish
population of this state. Also, the plans for the completion
of the fish exhibit include their structure and anatomy.

Now with the nearby Municipal Aquarium, in combination with
our exhibits, there is an excellent opportunity for the study of
fish life.

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

Meetings and

October 4 -

5 -
7 -

11 -

14 -
18 -

21 -

25 -

Lectures at the Society
General Assembly. Talk by
servation on Wasps5’ .
Meeting of Mineral Club.
Meeting of Bird Club.
General Assembly. Talk by
’’Hydro Electric Plants and
graphy”.

Meeting of Plant Club.
General Assembly. Talk by
’’Observations on Crabs".
Illustrated Lecture by Dr.
Realm of the Honey Bee".
General Assembly. Talk by
"Squids and Octopi".

Mr. Elmo Masters, "Ob-

Mr. George Maugans,
Their Relation to Topo-

Mr. Milton Oler, Jr.,
Lloyd Bertholf , "The
Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel,

Junior Division

October 1 - Talk by Mr. Albert Seitz, "Rocks and Minerals".

8 - Lecture by Mr. C. Haven Kolb, "Observations Made
at Loch Raven".

15 - Talk by Mr. Irvin Neserke, "Experimenting With Rats".
22 - Talk by Mr. Elias Cohen, "Snake Venom in Medicine".

29 - Talk by Mr. Irvin Schloss, "Rayon".

Lectures to Outside Organizations

October 3 - Lecture to Park School by Mr. L. Bryant Mather, Jr.,
"Things We Get Out of the Earth".

4 - Lecture to Boy Scout Troop No. 178, "In Quest of

Lost Flamingo Colony, British West Indies"by Mr. Klingel.

17 - Lecture to Baltimore College of Commerce, "Value of
Paleontology in Science" by Mr. Elra M. Palmer.

28 - Lecture to Maryland State Teachers Convention, Science
Section, by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "The School Loan Ser¬
vice of tile Natural History Society of Maryland".

Exhibitions and Loans

October 8 - Loan of Minerals to Baltimore College of Commerce.

21 - Three Loans of Birds to Maryland State Teachers
College .

21 - Loan of Mammals, Central Branch, Enoch Pratt Library.

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- Exhibitor of Insects, Branch No. 7, Enoch Pratt
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25 - Exhibition of Indian Artifacts, Branch No, 11,
Enoch Pratt Library.

25 - Loan of Fossils to Baltimore College of Commerce.
28 - Exhibition to Maryland State Teachers Convention,
TPiree Habitat Croups, and Three Demonstration
Exhibits .

28 - Loan of Woodcock Habitat Group to Manchester High

School, Carroll County.

29 - Loan of Caribou head to School No. 92.

-Jr 3H<r -Jr U -Jr-Jr

SPEC1AL NOTICE

Below is the schedule of meetings of the Society’s Nature
Clubs ,

First Wednesday
First Friday
Second Friday
Third Friday

Mineral Club
Bird Club
Plant Club
Insect Club

Any member interested in any of the above clubs is cordially
invited to join as many of these clubs as he or she cares to.
There is no charge for participation in the club activities.

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OBSERVATIONS IN PROTEIN SHOCK
By Taylor H. G-reenfield

There has in recent years developed a considerable interest
in the subject of protein shock or anaphylaxis, this interest being
stimulated by the discovery of a very definite relation between
that phenomenon and a number of diseases which had previously been
of obscure etiology. Anaphylactic shock "means that an animal
already immunized to a protein may die when additional protein
of the same kind is injected.'' Small amounts of the protein egg
white may be injected into the body cavity of a guinea-pig over a
period of several days with no ill effects. When these injections
are stopped, however, a pathological sensitivity to that partic¬
ular protein is developed with the result that the introduction
of a very minute amount of the same material into the animal at a
later date will produce what is known as "shock".

The same pattern of reaction as roughly sketched above is
apparently the prime factor in many human ailments. The quite
common and distressing symptoms designated as hay-fever or rose-
fever belong in this group. In some manner the individuals af¬
flicted with hay-fever have acquired the unfortunate distinction
of being hypersensitive to the protein found in the wind-borne
pollen of some plant or groups of plants. During the winter
season when no pollen is in the air there are no untoward signs.

No sooner does spring arrive in early March than the trees start
scattering their pollen to the distress of the comparatively
small percentage of hay-fever victims who are sensitive to this
special protein. The principal offenders arboreally seem to
be the oaks and maples, but the pines emitting Immense quantities
of very fine light pollen are luckily mild causative agents.

As the season advances the "rose "-fever group, a much larger
and more audible type, begin reacting to the spring grasses such
as timothy, orchard grass and June grass. The symptoms (irri¬
tation of the eyes, sneezing, etc.) occur only during the pollen-
ization of the particular species of grass to the protein of

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which the individual is sensitive; and these symptoms cease im¬
mediately upon the air becoming pollen-free. It follows* if
the patient leaves an area heavily contaminated with pollen and
goes* for instance* on an ocean voyage he will be promptly rid of
his symptoms.

With the maturing of the ragweeds about middle of August
the most severe protein reactions are elicited. The ragweed
pollen is wind -borne in tremendous quantities and due to its
extreme lightness is transported for long distances and to
great heights. It is present even in the air lanes* having been
collected at altitudes of from eight to ten thousand feet. The
reactions to the protein in this pollen are much more intense
than to others and the patients not infrequently develop an as-
tirma tic condition.

It has been found possible in many instances to alleviate
the sufferings of pollen sensitive patients by injecting pro¬
gressive doses of the very highly diluted proteins causing the
difficulty. If this dosage is watched very carefully a tolerance
is built up to greater concentrations of the offending material.
Should an overdose be given, symptoms will be elicited and 111 the
event of a gross overdose of protein the patient will be shocked.
A very rapid collapse has been witnessed by the writer from what
was apparently an overdose of ragweed antigen and no doubt a
fatal termination might have resulted had not the condition been
promptly controlled by the administration of intravenous adren¬
alin.

While the above form a large and striking class of protein
sensitivity there seem to be many proteins other than that of
pollen which can cause such symptoms as sneezing, asthma* urti¬
caria* eczema and possibly other more obscure disturbances.

Foods occasionally give rise to any or all of the foregoing re¬
actions and these reactions are frequently quite selective. The
writer recalls a young negro girl who complained of asthma and
hives upon eating frankfurters. It was demonstrated by dermal
tests she was actually sensitive to the protein of mustard seed.
As a matter of fact* even a small amount of protein extracted
from mustard and used in the intraderrnal test caused her a
marked generalized reaction. A medical friend developed eczema
between the fingers following the ingestion of egg albumen in any
form and reacted positively when skin tests were made with this
substance .

The proteins which can be extracted from feathers* es¬
pecially duck and goose* sometimes are the origin of asthmatic
conditions. The dermal exhalations of various animals* that is
the finely divided dandruff suspended in the air* can likewise
become extremely toxic to the individual conditioned to react to
the particular protein contained therein. One of the most
sensitive patients the writer has ever met was a country child
who suffered intensely from continual asthma. She was found to
be reactive to horse dander and her symptoms were largely cleared
up by moving to the city.

An interesting aspect of sensitivity is the fact that it is
extremely specific. If a piece of smooth muscle is taken from a
guinea-pig sensitized with horse dander suspended in a bath of

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physiological salt solution and attached to an indicator so its
tonic and clonic rhythm may bo recorded on a chart a distinct
contraction will be shown upon the introduction of a small amount
of horse dander solution into the bath. After one introduction of
this material, however, the muscle is desensitized and will not
again react upon contact with further amounts of the same horse
dander solution. It has been found possible bo break down the
protein from horse dander solution into various fractions preci?-
itched. at different hydrogen ion concentrations. These fractions,
or meta-proteins, each give a separate definite amount of reaction
and when the muscle has reacted to all of the fractions it would
no longer react to the original stock d.ander solution. Conversely,
if it reacted to the original stock solution it would not react
to any of the fractions.

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to be quite unusual. One of our patients complained of severe
asthmatic attacks every time she heard a mouse in her homo. Her
difficulty was attributed to psychic disturbance although her his¬
tory gave no other evidence of mental instability. At that time
no protein of mouse dander was available, but it occurred to one
of the technicians to bring a mouse into the room without the
patient being aware of its presence. The animal was secured and
after a very short space of time the -woman began having asth¬
matic symptoms which became increasingly severe until the mouse
was removed. Protein solution was later made from mouse dander
and the finding was confirmed by marked skin reactions.

Another interesting, although doubtful case in the writer's
mind, was that of a research worker who indulged in big game
hunting. This gentleman claimed to be hypersensitive to elephant
hair. He stated that long before his native guides could discern
the presence of an elephant he began experiencing irritation of
the eyes and sneezing.

It should not be understood from the foregoing that every
case of asthma, eczema, or urticaria is amenable to desensitation
with a specific protein. The causes, while they may be of protein
nature are in many cases still elusive and it is well-nigh im¬
possible to trace every foreign protein with which the human body
may come into contact. Sometimes household dust will give the
answer, but in other instances such as urticaria caused by heat
and cold or by touch, the difficulty appears to be mechanical.

The fact still remains that causative agents have been determined
m many diseases and a fertile field for further research has
been opened up.

GOLD IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND
By Charles W* Ostrander

In Montgomery County, Maryland, near Great Falls one is much
surprised to hear tales of gold and gold mines. Five mines of
particular note have been operated m this area: the Montgomery
Mine , tho Sawyer Mine, the Huddleston Mine, the Maryland Mine,
and the Ford Mine. Gold is found in its native state in veins
of quartz and chlorite schist, and associated with it, and some-

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times containing it, are pyrite and a little galena. Veins are
located by the outcropping of the quartz upon the surface. Early
m the Nineteenth Century, Professor Ducatelle, a famous mineral¬
ogist, claimed that this region was capable of producing some gold.

The first legend of Montgomery County and its gold refers to
1848 when some Federal troops erected a tower on the property-
later to be the Maryland Mine. Washing in a nearby stream they
noticed grains of gold *in the sand. Their plan was to keep this
a secret, and return at the end of the war to work the location.

It is said that at the close of the war these men did return,
aroused the interest of others, and began operations. From this
time on the gold mines of Montgomery County were intermittently
productive until about 1917. According to reports of the United
States Mint at Philadelphia a fair amount of gold was produced
and a few individuals were believed to have become very wealthy
although many more lost their money by faulty prospecting and
wasteful mining methods.

Of the Montgomery County gold mines, the history of the old
Montgomery Mine is probably the most interesting. Nowadays the
remains may be found about 150 yards off Persimmon Tree road,
surrounded by bush and other growth. What now appears to be an
open pit was once five shafts sunk approximately 100 yards apart,
connecting on the lower levels. The ceilings have fallen in, ac¬
counting for the mine’s present appearance.

It was in 1871 that the Montgomery Mine was discovered. It
is said that one of the colored boys working on the farm then
belonging to Robert Davidson was helping to drive home the cows.
Reaching down he picked up a stone to toss at them, and noticing
a peculiar glint on it, showed it to one of the Davidson's. This
glint in the rock proved to be free gold and was sold for $165.45.

A frantic search for more gold followed, and another rock about
three times the size of the first was found containing $700.00
worth of free gold.

Davidson is supposed to have mined on his place until 1875
when, further results proving unsatisfactory, he sold 65 acres to
a firm for $7,000.

Work was continued for a time but later the firm sold the
land to the Montgomery Mining Company, a Baltimore concern which
made much more progress. The come any employed about 30 men and
sank five shafts from 20 to 80 feet deep. A stamp mill was set
up, and thousands of tons of ore were removed by two steam en¬
gines supplying power for the stamp, hoist, and pumps. A miner
of many years experience in the western gold fields was in charge
of the mine* The gold procured was melted into bars and sold to
the Philadelphia Mint.

At this time the mine again changed hands, the new company
bringing with it additions to the machinery already in service.

Ore was hoisted by buckets to the surface, or dragged out in cars
by mules. Richer specimens of ore were hand picked; the pieces
containing free gold were broken in a hand mortar, and the gold
extracted. The remaining ore was dumped into crushers, which in
turn emptied it into the stamp mill, where the fragments were
pounded into a powder by power driven pistons . The crushed mater-

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ial was then flushed over copper plates previously coated with
mercury, which absorbed the fold and allowed the waste to pass
off. After a very rich running it has been said that by noon
of a working day there would be a quarter inch of mercury-, fold
amalgam on the plates . Placing the amalgam in a distilling ap¬
paratus, the mercury was distilled off, condensed, and used over
again. The gold remained m the distilling crucible in the form
of a button. Some of the gold missed by the amalgam process was
saved by running the left-over’s across a concentrator, - an in¬
clined table crossed by numerous narrow strips or riffles which
caught the heavy gold particles. The Companies working the mine
found their greatest difficulty was that the gold was found in
pockets and small veins which often disappeared due to faulting
or other causes, and much time and money was spent in relocating
the vein.

Later the mine was operated by another man whose theory was
that the gold was to be found in the gravel of the stream beds.

He constructed sluice boxes and concentrators for washing the
stream gravel. One is told that he became quite prosperous and
returned to his home in Chicago.

The last operator of the mine now came upon the scene. By
this time' the mine was in rather bad shape as a result of cave-
ins, and had to be timbered throughout. One of the most interest
mg incidents concerning the mine occurred at this period. In
attempting to fit a cross beam in .the shaft the workmen found
that a large projection of quartz obstructed them. A worlonan
seized a sledge hammer and knocked it off* In the light of the
carbide lamps it was found to be very rich in free gold. The
superintendent was called, and he not wanting to lose a grain
of the gold obtained an armful of bedding. It Is. claimed that
the free gold from this specimen yielded $2,200*

Of all the mines, the Maryland Mine is til® .most accessible
at the present time. It is located at the end of the new con¬
crete road which stretches from Potomac to the Conduit road.

The old office building, w ater tower, and other miscellaneous
buildings and machinery still stand. Large sums of money were in¬
vested in this mine, and a few people managed to make their in¬
vestments profitable.

Most of the mines are now quite difficult to locate since
they are covered with small growth. However, If one has the
agressive interest necessary he may obtain information as to the
location of the various mines from the local inhabitants.

MARYLAND NATURE LOG

CROSS COUNTRY BOULEVARD, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

A bridle path, a stream with its ponds, branches and springs
and the Cross Country Boulevard constitute a very wholesome stamp
ing ground for a naturalist. This region is north to northwest
of Baltimore, beginning at Jones Falls at Falls Road and extend¬
ing north of Mount Washington along the Cross Country Boulevard
to the Curtiss Wright Air Field, a distance of about three miles.

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35

Water draining off the hillsides to the north of the stream^
finds its way by springs to a pond. Soggy stretches are not un¬
common as one approaches the bottom of a hillside. Where stream¬
lets are formed, the water flows directly into the main stream.

In the soggy regions, honeysuckle climbs up the trees to
great height, following poison-oak or bittersweet. In the less
dense places, wild ginger is abundant. The run of flowers is
from orchids to skunk cabbage. In the ponds we find two kinds
of Lobelias, as well as the Monkey-Flower and the yellow water-
lily, ferns, cresses, algae and mosses clog up the springs and
small ponds.

The forest is moderately wooded, chiefly beeches, ashes and
oaks as the top layer of trees and spice-bush, witch-hazel and
dogwood as the second layer. Besides abundant flora and fungi
the year round, animals, insects and parasites add to the natural¬
ists’ interests.

In 1935 the writer saw a Great Blue Heron iishing out dace
in the stream. Again in July, 1933 a small Green Heron was seen;
a few ducks have also been noted in the ponds. The Bluebird,
Cardinal, Blue jay. Gold Finch, Wrens, Sparrows, Owls
and Crows constitute the feathered fauna of the region.

Mammals' are scarce, there being only rabbits, squirrels,
mice , moles, shrews, opossums and skunks.

The herpetologist would find as the author has, the ring-
necked snake, the milk snake, the common vrater snake ( Jj^sipedon),
the black snake, the Brown Queen snake and DeKay snake . In the
ponds are newts and several species of frogs and salamanders.

Toads and tree frogs are found up hill from the marshes and ponds.

The best fields for observation and collection are for the
entomologists. In dead logs, he finds larvae of beetles and
wasps; in the ponds and streams, larvae of flies, dragon-flies
and dobson-f lies ; also in streams live worms and nematodes. In
flight, the insect kingdom parades itself in nearly all its orders
and in trees and on smaller plants, are found galls and other
types of nests of insects.

No matter in what branch of Natural History your interests
lie, at the Cross Country Boulevard Region you can find something
to attract you.

C. R.

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

Very few museums hayo exhibitions in plant life although
plant life is all around us. Plants affect every living creature,
directly or* indirectly, yet strange as it may seem the public
concerns itself but little with this important subject.

The reasons that most museums have little or no exhibits
on plants are several.

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First, plants cannot be properly preserved. Secondly, dried
plants do not present a very attractive and life-like appearance.
Moreover, pressed or dried plants lose their color when exposed
to light. Lastly, to reproduce plants artificially so that they
will appear natural is very costly. Yet some important lessons
relative to plants can be shown which should be of interest to
the public and especially children.

We have tried to convey this idea by showing common seed
plants, grouped by the agency by which the seed is spread around
and carried often to great distance.

The four agencies by which seeds are dispersed are first:
mechanical, in which the pod by some power of its own suddenly
cracks or explodes and by sheer force sends the seed some distance
from the parent plants.

A second method is by animals. This is accomplished in
several ways. Seeds which are stored in the ground by such ani¬
mals as squirrels may sprout. Furthermore, seeds are scattered
in the undigested food of mammal s and birds, or may be carried
afar when they have become attached to the fur or feathers.

The third form is very simple. The seeds drop into the
water from plants growing on the edge of streams, ponds, etc.

Here the seed is carried for some distance by the stream, which
finally deposits it somewhere along its route.

The fourth and last means is by the most important agency,
the wind. More seed is blown by the wind and carried by its
force to great distance from its place of origin than by any other
of the above agencies.

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER

Meetings and Lectures at the Society.

November 1 - Talk by Mr. Irving E. Harape, "The Cow Bird".

2 - Mineral Club.

4 - Bird Club.

8 - Talk by Mr. Richard E. Stearns, "Linguistic
Stock of the American Indian".

11 - Meeting of Staff.

15 - Talk by Mr. Andrew Goss, "Ducks and Geese".

22 - Lecture by Dr, william H. Brown, "Forests of the
Philippine Islands".

29 - Talk by Mr. John B. Calder, "Mound Builders of
Ohio . "

Junion Division

November 5 - Talk by Mr. Carl Oertel, "The Osprey".

5 - Meeting of Herpetology Club,

12 - Talk by Mr. Ralph Powell, "Mica".

12 - Meeting of Herpetology Club.

19 - Lecture by Mr. Herbert C, Moore, "Petroleum".
19 - Meeting of Herpetology Club.

26 - Talk by Mr. Burtis Bennett, "Dragon Lizard of
the Comodo".

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November 26 - Meeting of Herpetology Club.

Lectures, Exhibitions

November

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18

and School Loans

High

Western High. School. Loan of Insects.

Baltimore City College, Loan of Insects.

School No. 34. Loan of Birds.

Outdoor Life Federation. Window display. Duck
Group.

Maryland conservation Commission, Exhibition
of Maryland Ducks.

Baltimore City College, Loan of Insects.

School No, 34. Loan of Flicker Habitat Group,
Towson High School, Science Group. Museum Tour.
Maryland State Teachers College. Loan of Birds.
Federated Womens Garden Clubs. Loan of Birds,
Lecture at St. Johns Lutheran Church, Hagerstown
by Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel, "Travels of a Naturalist

in Greater Inagua Island".

18 - Nature Photographic Exhibition in conjunction

with the Camera Club of Baltimore at the Maryland
Institute .

CLUB NOTICE

As there are many members who would like to pursue the
study of one or more nature subjects, the Society has inaugurated
a series of Clubs for this purpose.

Mineral Club - First Wednesday of each month.

Bird Club - First Friday of each month.

Plant Club - Second Pi? id ay of each month.

Photographic Club - Third Friday of each month.

Herpetology Club - Every Saturday at 7:00 P. M,

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Stolonif erous , Pedal Disk and Somatic Budding in the
COMMON SEA N2TTLS, Dactylometra quinquec irrha , L. Agassiz

By R. V. Truitt, Director,

Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
Solomons Island, Maryland

The sea nettle, D. quinquec irrha , L. Agassiz, is exceedingly
abundant throughout the Chesapeake Bay and in many other sounds
and bays along the Atlantic Coast. Observations made on this
form, both under controlled conditions and in the natural habitat,
have disclosed three types of asexual reproduction, all of which
are common to the scyphistoma, or polyp stage, of the alternate
generation of the metagenatic cycle of the species.

(1) . These polyps have been observed to develop stolon-like

runners upon which buds may develop to produce new
polyps. In this fashion polyps may develop from
more than one stolon and become numerous around the
parent polyp.

(2) . A common type of asexual reproduction, in this form,

is that of the formation of pedal discs in which the
polyp seems to slough off a small segment, less than
one-twentieth the size of the original polyp, and
move away from this attached segment which, in turn,
proceeds to develop tentacles and a mouth , and to
produce a normal polyp, both in size and completeness.
Several of these pedal buds may be produced by a single
polyp ,

(3) . Somatic budding, the third type, is less common in

the polyps of this form than is reproduction by a
pedal disc. The nature and form of somatic budding
is similar to this type of asexual reproduction in
other polyps.

39

It has been observed that following strobil izat ion the basal
element or "stem-mother", of the scyphistoma of Dactyl ometra does
not die. To the contrary, this element typically develops new
tentacles and other members to become a complete new scyphistoma
which lives over the winter into the second year to produce ephyra
and to complete strobil izat ion again. The number of ephyra pro¬
duced in the second year, by this schphistoma, is the same, name¬
ly five or six, as that produced from the same individual during
the previous year. The ephyra produced under such conditions
are vigorous and normal in every way. Regeneration in the same
stem-mother has been observed over a period of three successive
years in which, when mature, there seemed to be no dimunution
in size, in functiqn or in reproductive capacity. Such polyps,
now in their fourth year of age, are still under observation.

Not only do they live long periods of time and continue to re¬
produce by ■ strobil izat ion, but repeatedly these old polyps have
reproduced by the other asexual methods.

Considering that there are three methods of budding in the
polyp of the common sea nettle, and in view of the fact that the
stem-mother of a strobilizing group does not die but, to the con¬
trary, becomes reinvigorated and reproductive, while every polyp
produced by these several methods produces, in turn, through
strobilizat ion, five or six ephyra or larval jelly-fish, there
is suggested an explanation for the appearance of the extraordi¬
nary numbers of jelly-fish in Chesapeake Bay waters.

COLLECTING INSECTS IN WINTER
By Clyde F. Reed

The busy metropolis of swarming insects, rising to its peak
in July and August, gradually becomes depopulated as the mean
temperature crawls under the freezing point. By January the
entomologist may put his cyanide jars away and set his net in the
corner to catch dust instead of insects; and he may shove the
mounting boards a little fur her back on the table and throw the
aquatic equipment thereunder, and may even hibernate his in¬
terests until the thermometer shadows 40? F again.

On the other hand the energetic entomologist may, if he
wishes, find a broad field in which to enjoy a different type of
collecting, A pocket knife, a cyanide jar, and a few paper sacks
will be sufficient equipment for this purpose.

The collector in winter is faced quite naturally with very
different conditions than he is in summer. Snow may be on the
ground, or maybe it is only freezing and no snow has yet fallen.
In any event he may find himself in a wooded area with fallen
trees, some old stumps and a thickness of leaves, newly fallen
last Autumn, and if there is an open field bordering the wood¬
land, he will quickly note innumerable insect nests; galls in
the stalks of Goldenrod and Blackberry brambles, caused by
living larvae of minute wasps, the eggs having been laid in the
stalk the preceding summer; "Oak-apples", which are galls on Oak
leaves, caused by wasps of the superfamily, Chalc idoidea ; the

40

remnants of "leaf -miners " , common in leaves, a "leaf-miner" being
a very small insect, some Coleopterous, some micro-lep idopterous ,
which lives between the epidermal layers of leaves; these also
live in stalks of plants; bees' nests a few feet above the ground,
in a thicket, well protected, yet accessible; also on twigs at
the same level are found clay nests of ants and the mud pottery
of the "mason wasps", Eumenidae, along with the nests of the
praying-mantis. Up in the trees the white-faced hornet, Vespula
maculata, has built its grey paper-like nest, a very durable
residence. Occasionally among the twigs of a tree the entomolo¬
gist finds a cocoon of a moth, while under logs and leaves, he
must look for the chrysalids of butterflies. One lepidopterous
insect, the Bagworm, is commonly found hanging in its nest of
Cedar or pine needles, especially in trees of the Black Locust,
Robinia pseudacacia.

But, why the knife and cyanide bottle? Brushing the snow
aside from a log, the "winter" entomologist finds a haven await¬
ing him. With the log fully exposed, the first operation is to
slide the knife under the bark at a convenient place, and loosen
it. Immediately under the bark is a layer of pulverized wood,
caused in part by bacterial decaying of the wood fibre, and in
part by the masticatory action of various types of larvae.

Beetle larvae are the predominate type found under bark in
winter. They have a pair of cutting mandibles, by which they are
enabled to chew the wood fibre, and form tunnels behind them. Some
species of beetle larvae will make a chamber at the end of the
tunnel where they remain until they transform into an adult. Be¬
sides well-formed mandibles, the beetle larva can be identified
by its yellowish to yellowish-brown cylindrical or flattish body,
and of course, the six true legs on the anterior portion of its
segmented body.

Along the tunnels hibernate many species of insects, in¬
cluding beetles, wasps, flies and he teropter ous insects. Micro¬
scopic insects infest these tunnels also, chief of which belong
to the following orders, -- Homoptera, Lepidoptera and Thysanop-
tera .

Among the beetles the following families are usually found
in hibernation under the bark of trees: Carabidae, or ground-
beetles; Scarabao i.dae,the scarab beetles; Passalidae represented
by its lone passalus cornu.tus, a large black common beetle;
Carambycidae, the long-horn beetles; Buprestidae, the metallic
wood-boring beetles; Elateridae, the click-beetles; C icindel idae ,
the tiger-beetles; and innumberable minute beetles and weevils,

In water soaked logs in streams may be found Hydr ophil idae , the
water beetles.

In the order Hymenoptera, including wasps, bees and ants are
to be found green and blue wood-boring bees, all stages of de¬
velopment from egg to adult being present in cup like capsules
under the bark of dead trees and stumps. In hibernation are
Vespula maculata, the white-faced Hornet; Vespula diabolica and
relatives, the yellow- jacket s ; as well as innumerable wasps of
the superfamilies Vespoidea, Ichneurnonoidea , Sphecoidea and
Chalc idoidea . Of the ants, Formiciodea, the solitary varieties

(Natural Size)

Cocoon of Sarnia Cecropia Cut Open to
Show pupa Inside.

This large silken cocoon is frequently found by
the collector in winter. Because of its size, it is
easily seen after the leaves of the tree or shrub to
which ii* is attached have fallen.

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42

hibernate alone; while the social varieties cluster together in -
a cavity under the bark and hibernate there. Ants may also be
found feeding in beetle tunnels, on fungi growing there, even
in winter.

The larvae of flies or Diptera are not common under bark,
few of these creamy fat worm-like creatures dark-faced, soft-
bodied being found there. Of the adults few are found in hi¬
bernation.

Also various species of the true bugs, Heteroptera, hiber¬
nate as adults under the bark of stumps and logs and associated
with them are cocoons and adults of moths. Inside rotted trees
can be found termites, Isoptera, along with all their castes.

Under thin barked trees, like Sycamore, hibernate cucujid
beetles, and spiders. While spiders are not true insects, since
they have eight legs and not six, the entomologist may make the
following observations concerning their nests. Of those under
bark there are two predominate types. One is the silk capsule
which surrounds its inhabitant and usually hangs free along the
bark; and the other is a semi-sphere, attached as if it were a
concave watch glass fixed by means of silk to the bark. Inci¬
dentally, out in the open, in the field, the winter spider’s
nest is globular to jug-shaped suspended by silk fibres to shrubs
and dead plants like the ground-cherry , Solanium. To return to
spider nests under bark, often one finds silk woven nests with
stones or sticks used to strengthen the capsules.

In an old stump where the lower portion is water soaked,
the insect hunter may find other forms related to insects such
as centipedes, myriopods, and sow-bugs.

I have explained many of the insects and related forms the
collector has found, but I did not mention what he does with them
The nests he puts in paper sacks, later to be placed into boxes
and labeled appropriately. Larvae, eggs and pupae are put in
another sack along with some of the log, all of which are trans¬
ferred at home to glass jars. Dormant or living insects are put
into the cyanide bottle; they will be mounted and pinned later.

Forms of insects may also be found in winter by digging.
Larvae of butterflies, grubs or June bugs, or the Japanese beetle
or grasshopper and cricket instars, as well as those of the
annual Locust will often be uneartned.

Sometimes, a dip of the hand down among the leaves in the
bottom of ponds will bring up nymphs of dragonflies, Odonata.
Although dormant, after lying on the collector’s hand for a
few minutes, they will move, and finally jump off, back into
the water. In the pond, small water beetles will also be seen
moving about.

It is evident from the above notes that the entomologist
need not stop collecting activities in the winter. Over five
hundred insects collected this winter by the author bear witness
to these facts.

a /» /v

43.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
THE GREAT WILDLIFE REFUGE

By A, Llewellyn Jones

Many of us 'who have never visited Yellowstone Park, think
of it as a land of spouting geysers. Few, if I may hazard a
.guess, realize that Yellowstone National Park is one of the largest
and most successful wildlife refuges in the world. For this
reason it is also an excellent and accessible field for nature
study.

Its 3,437 square miles of mountains and valleys remain near¬
ly as nature made them. The more than 300 miles of roads, and
the hotels, lodges, and auto camps are as nothing in this immense
wilderness. No tree has been cut except when absolutely neces¬
sary for road, trail, or camp. No herds of domestic animals
invade its valleys. Visitors for the most part keep to the
beaten road, and the wild animals have learned through the years
that they mean them no harm. To be sure, they are not always
seen by the people in automobiles which move from point to point
daily during the season; but the quiet watcher on the trails may
see deer and bear and elk and antelope and he may even see moun¬
tain sheep, moose, and bison by journeying on foot or by horse¬
back into their distant retreats. In the fall and spring, when
the crowds are absent, wild deer gather in great numbers around
headquarters to crop the grass.

Thus one of the most interesting lessons from the Yellow¬
stone is that wild animals are fearful and dangerous only when
treated as game or as enemies. Even the big grizzlies, which
are generally believed to be ferocious, are proved by experience
in national parks to be inoffensive if not molested. When at¬
tacked, however, they become fierce antagonists.

It is not only dangerous but contrary to the park regu¬
lations to feed, molest, touch or tease the bears. The brown,
cinnamon, and black bears, which are the color phases of the
one species- the blondes and brunettes of the same family so
to speak- are numerous in the park. While apparently friendly,
it should be remembered that these bears, too, are wild ani¬
mals and should be treated as such.

This wild animal paradise contains several thousand elk, a
few hundred moose, many deer and antelope, number ous bands of
mountain sheep, and a herd of approximately a thousand bison.

The buffalo range is in the extreme eastern section of the
park away from the main traveled highways and is not accessible
to the summer visitors, except those using the trails for horse¬
back trips. In order that the visitors may see some of these
animals a special show herd is provided on Antelope Creek.

Yellowstone is an excellent bird sanctuary also, where more
than 200 species live natural undisturbed lives. Eagles may be
seen among the crags. Wild geese and ducks are found in pro¬
fusion. Many large white swans and pelicans add to the pictur¬
esqueness of Yellowstone Lake.

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44

Bears are seen daily in the summer at the feeding grounds
at Canyon and occasionally along the roads. Moose are seen
quite often j especially in the evenings. Mountain sheep are
seen sometimes on Mount Washburn. Elk remain in the mountains
above 8,000 feet and can usually be seen on hiking or horse¬
back trips. Deer are frequently along the roads and trails and
antelope may nearly always be found near the north entrance.
Beaver may be seen in the evenings along the ranger nature trail
at Mammoth Hot Springs and at other sections in the park.

In winter, elk, mule deer, antelope and mountain sheep may
be viewed at close range along the north line of the park and a
lover of wild animals may be well repaid for taking a trip to
the Gardiner Entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs to see them. Many
persons find the animals more interesting at this season than in
summer .

Note: This is the first of two articles on observations made

by the author on a recent trip to Yellowstone National
Park.

MARYLAND NATURE LOG
MARYLAND'S PRIMEVAL FOREST

Virgin hemlock forest, where ancient trees lift their lofty
heads high above the cool damp forest floor, where one walks on
soft springy humus among straight branchless boles which stand
like the columns of some temple, - can this be Maryland? It is.
Along the west bank of the Youghiogheny River at Swallow Falls
in Garrett County lies this pitiful remnant of our heritage.
Thither must you go if you would know something of ’what this
State of ours once was.

Here you are really in the woods. Wood stands all about
you and towers above you. Trees are dominant. Even the ground
is carpeted with the dead needles. The living ones filter the
light, letting into these grand aisles only a soft subdued glow
upon which the slender, upward- stretching saplings, depend for
food. In this dusk evaporation is slow and everything is damp.
These are ideal conditions for mosses and every low thing has its
coating of greenery. Ferns fill in the spaces.

Through this page from the past you walk downward to the
river and to the falls. Out into the bright dazzle of the sun
on foaming water -- and out face to face with the glaring facts
of a more recent past you come. Opposite you, on the east bank,
above the weathered rock of the stream's natural channel, a
great raw gash has been torn in the hillside. An old mine
tunnel with sagging timbers tells the reason. And above, stretch¬
ing back over the hill, a dense scrubby growth reaching scarcely
above a man's head scantily clothes the thin rocky soil. This
is the result of clean cutting. How far this particular tract
extends I do not know, but its type ranges far eastward. The
same thing can be seen in Allegheny County, in Washington,
Frederic.:, Howard, across the bay in Queen Anne's, and doubtless,

■ . , •

45

right on through Worcester down to the naturally treeless dunes
of the ocean sands.

Scrubby acres, with patient care and time they will some¬
day grow once more into forests. But these forests we shall
never see. For us remains only the hemlocks of Swallow Falls.

C. Haven Kolb, Jr.

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

With the exception of the deer and a few remaining bear
there are no large mammals in Maryland, and because of the
limited space in the Museum these two cannot be exhibited. How¬
ever most of the well known medium-size mammals of Maryland are
shown.

Of these the Muskrat is very important as there have been
built around it a considerable industry which today is larger
than the once famous oyster industry in this State. Yet strange
to say but little seems to be known about this animal by the
average person.

Although the muskrat is a rodent, it is not a true rat.

The animal is practically speaking a vegetarian, its main article
of diet being the three-square sedge and cattails, although a
small percentage of animal matter is eaten; sometimes spotted,
painted and musk turtles, blue crab, small fish and mussels.

The muskrat lives mainly in the water and prefers swimming
to walking. It is mostly nocturnal in its activities, and when
it does feed in daylight it is usually between sunset and dusk.

The animal will thrive where there is abundance of suitable
vegetation, with plenty of fresh or brackish water and a bottom
with at least six inches of peaty remains. Ordinary cold weather
does not affect it, though severe winters, when the marshes are
frozen over for a month or more, have serious results.

Muskrats build two general types of houses depending on the
topography of the land. In open marshes they build a more or
less dome-shaped house. In uplands they dig burrows in the sides
of banks of streams. To these homes is a runway into a hole
underwater, but which terminates in a series of rooms above the
water line. In these rooms the four to seven young are born
and reared. This apparently is the only purpose the rooms serve,
as the muskrat does not store food for the wint er like .some of
the other rodents .

The house is built of rushes and cattail stalks, on some
firm foundation, such as a stump of a tree, or a clump of packed
down vegetation.

There are two color phases in the muskrat, - brown and
black .

E. B. F.

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46

NOT 33 FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

December Z - Bird Club.

6 - Talk by Mr. Herbert C. Moore, "Petroleum".

7 - Mineral Club.

13 - Lecture by Dr. Howard A. Kelly, "Diversity of
Interests " .

16 - Plant Club.

20 - Talk by Mr. Elias Cohen, "Snake Odours".

27 - Talk by Mr. Price Piquett, "The Part that Insects
Play in the Conservation Program".

Junior Division

December 3 - Open discussion on the Jones Falls area.

10 - Lecture by Mr, Clyde F. Reed, "Geysers of the
Yellowstone National Park".

17 - Lecture by Mr. Walter E, Price, Jr., "Minerals in
the Growth of Civilization"*

Meetings discontinued during Christmas Holidays.

Lectures, S

December 2

5

5

6

7

11

11

12

13

28

xhibitions and School Loans

- Manchester School, Carroll County, Loan of Bird
Habitat Group.

- Baltimore City College - Loan of Birds,

- Southern Evening School, General Science Demon¬
stration and Loan of Bird Habitat Group.

- Fish Culturists of Maryland. Lecture at Municipal
Aquarium by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "Fossils of Maryland
with Particular Emphasis on Fossil Fish".

- Western High School. Lecture by Mr. John B. Calder,
"Fossil Life of Maryland".

- Field Day for Bird Study.

- First M. E. Church Epworth League. Lecture by Mr.
Elra M. Palmer, "Prehistoric Life of Maryland".

- Baltimore College of Commerce, Loan of Insects.

- At Society. Exhibit of School loan displays in
Insects .

- Patterson Park Junior High School, Loan of Fossils.

CLUB NOTICE

As there are many members who would like to pursue the
study of one or more nature subjects, the Society has inaugu¬
rated a series of Clubs for this purpose.

Mineral Club - First Wednesday of each month.

Bird Club - First Friday of each month.

Plant Club - Second Friday of each month.

Photographic Club - Third Friday of each month.
Herpetology Club - Every Saturday at 7:00 P. M.

The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

mrr^

MAY 2 0 1933

&rtof llS£^

'4/

Volume IX

FEBRUARY, 1939

Number 6

THE MYSTERIOUS MIGRATION

The Strange Midnight March of a Species of Tropical
Land Crab Which Ends in Death and New Life

By Gilbert C. Klingel

Because of a wedding in which I had neither part nor interest,
it came to pass that I saw a very wonderful thing. The wedding
began, like so many tropical island weddings, early in the even¬
ing and ended in the early hours of the morning. It took place
in a little stone and thatch hut on the lonely island of Inagua
in the Bahamas where I was spending time doing some research for
the Society, and celebrated the climax of a romance, somewhat
gone stale, between a native woman called Celestina and a black
boy named George.

Although I had no interest whatsoever in the affair, the
noise of the celebrants, augmented by a pair of monstrous drums
and an accordion, kept me awake until the small hours of the
morning. Finally I could stand the din no longer; and, weary
from hours of tossing to and fro listening to the brain-fever
repetitions of the drums I donned shoes and shorts and went out
into the moonlight. For a time I wandered aimlessly about and
then turned into a little trail that wound down to the seashore.

Presently I emerged from a great bed of cactus and prickly
pear near a huge mound of rocks on the very edge of the sea.

Here the surf was sliding up very gentle, slithering in long
creeping fingers between the rocks, etched in vivid highlight
by the gleam of the moon. Far away I could hear the pulsations
and shouts from Celestina's wedding but these sounds were no
longer of any importance. Instead the roar and sigh of the gently
rising surf occupied my half conscious hearing. Swish and sigh,
it said, swish and sigh again, steadily, like a faint watery
metronome beating away the time. For the first time that evening;

I felt soothed and dropped into a heavy sleep, ,

43

On and on I dozed and did not stir for nearly an hour. But
presently into my half conscious senses there crept a multitude
of little sounds that I had not heard before — faint scratchings
and clatter ings , queer little noises barely audible above the
surf. Once a mockingbird in the bay-lavender^ back of the beach
broke into liquid melody, trilled half-heartedly, and then lapsed
into silence. But the scratchings continued.

Presently they became more frequent, more pronounced. I
raised my head. Up on the white beach, gleaming silver in the
moonlight, were moving small shadowy forms. In long windrows they
were gliding out of the dark bushes and creeping down to the surf.
Down to the furthest reachings they went and did not pause. Faint¬
ly I could see the glisten of the salt water as it reached their
bodies and drenched them with its coolness. Fbr a second their
forms showed half smothered in foam and then they disappeared.

It was their clattering over the seashells that had awakened me.

It was some moments before I realized the full signifigence
of what I was watching. The shadowy forms were crabs -- not the
crabs of the beach or the dark blue water -- but land crabs, queer
round bodied creatures that lived in holes far back in the in¬
terior. They did not belong on the seashore but had their being
on those dry portions of this tropical island where big cactii
reared their heads above the soil. There were two kinds of land
crabs on the island -- small purple crustaceans about as big in
body as a clenched fist and big yellow fellows with tremendous
saffron claws. I ^ad seen them miles from the seashore rambling
about the jungle at night seeking the twigs and bits of green
vegetation on which they feed. But they had not been visible
lately -- it had not rained for some time and they were keeping
close to their holes, sleeping away the hours in drowsy somnol¬
ence. Back in the interior it had become very dry and the dust
rose as one walked.

Strange that they should be here on the beach, I looked
again. In a continual stream they were pouring out of the bushes
and sidling down to the sea. There must have been hundreds of
them; and there seemed to be an air about, them of something very
important, something that would not be brooked. Even when I
jumped to my feet and strode up to the sand they did not pause
but merely sidled to one side and continued down to the surf.

Then I knew.

Far back in the hinterland of the island, miles away, it
had rained that day, a downpouring drenching tropical rain that
filled the dry salinas to overflowing and had flooded the hollows.
The rain had lasted for several hours and had turned the feathery
dust into slimy slippery mud. This then was what the crabs had
been waiting for, hidden deep in the cavities of their holes.

And when the precious water came down, wetting their bodies and
turning the land into a miniature sea, these crabs knew in some
inexplainable way that their hour had come. In the countless
thousands they deserted their underground houses and ventured
forth into the open air. And a sudden urge had taken hold of them,
all at once, an urge that with magnetic power turned them all in
one direction. It was time to return to the sea.

Many moons had passed, a full year had gone since they left

49

their mother ocean and it was time to return. But not as they
came. They were returning in the countless hundreds, pouring
out of the jungle in droves, but they had come in the thousands.

The beaches and bush trails had swarmed with them that July a
year gone, so thick that one could scarcely walk without crush¬
ing their bodies.

They were very tiny then, barely an inch in length, and the
big brown cuckoos had held joyous revel and had stuffed them¬
selves with young crabs until they could hardly fly. They had
seemingly come out of nowhere; for a few days they had swarmed
and then little by little they disappeared into the jungle,
into their lonely retreats into the interior. Creeping over
boulders and stones, threading between the lignum vitae, under
the tangled masses of the prickly pear they had made their way,
meeting death and disaster in a thousand forms, growing the while
-- some of them -- until the inland country had swallowed them up.

In the moonlight I cornered one of the advancing crabs --
a purple one with yellow spots -- and picked it up. Beneath the
body was a great purplish mass tucked under the shelter of the
apron. The crab was female and the purple mass was her eggs.

She struggled to get free, bit at me with her claws. I dropped
her to the sand and tried to make her go back into the bushes.

But an instinct stronger than fear possessed her that night.
Stepping daintily forward, moving each of her legs in consecutive
precision, she menaced me with her claws and ran to pass between
my feet. I let her go and she dashed the remaining distance to
surf and was swallowed in the bubbles.

There, I knew, though I could not see it, a wonderful thing
would happen. In the cool depths, in the shelter of some dark
crevasse safe from hungry fishes, just beneath the area of the
surf where the bubbles churned the water into silvery spray, the
eggs would hatch casting forth their spawn. And the mother, ex¬
hausted by her long journey, by her year of life on dry land
would die, her hour of labor finished, her destiny fulfilled.

And I also knew that in a few hours or days the sea near
shore would be afloat with countless millions of tiny micro¬
creatures, the spawn from the purple -colored eggs. Queer,
gargoylish, outlandish looking spawn, that in no way could be
conceived to be a crab. Scientists call these spawn Zoea, which
means life; and smaller than the head of the smallest pin these
transparent mosquito-like apparitions would float through the
water, invisible save under a strong lens.

For days their function would be little more than to drift,
vigorously kicking with feather-like legs, peering into the
water with a big black eye, seeking the light, and devouring
everything that came within reach. Hundreds would disappear down
the craws of other creatures, larger than themselves and equally
voracious. Other hundreds would be cast ashore to perish miserably
on the dry sand, still others would be carried! out to sea and be
lost. But in the end there would still remain, many thousands to
moult their skins and change to a new formb

In this new form, retaining none of their original character¬
istics, they would be known as Megalops, which is to say, they

50

FEMALE, SHOWING EGGS ATTACHED TO APRON

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51.

would still be outlandish looking creatures. But in this new
shape they would bear some faint resemblance to a crab, although
a horrible misshapen sort of crab with a wriggly tail and a pair
of claws in proportion to nothing except its appetite.

In this Megalops stage the crab-to-be turns cannibal and
greedily devours its younger brothers and sisters which, not
so fortunate at itself, have not yet attained full megalops-
hood. Nor does it satisfy itself with young zoea but munches
its grotesque way through life devouring everything in sight;
shedding its skin and growing the while until it moults for the
last time and emerges, wet and ever so tiny, on the beach as a
perfect crab.

But not yet is this midget a land crab, for that is a mat¬
ter of training. Its ancestors, back in the remote centuries
took a few hundreds of thousands of years to accomplish the
transition from sea to land, at first clambering on the rocks
of some ancient sea, poking their heads into the air and then
dashing back again.

So these baby crabs repeat the history of their ancient
relatives. In the dark of the evening, for they are now noc¬
turnal and no longer seek the light, they creep up on the pure
sand of the beach. But not very far. The sea is still their
mother and like chicks around a hen they dash back to her for
protection. And they need protection for death stalks the beach
in a thousand forms. But the greatest danger is that of drying
up.

Tucked away under their eighth inch bodies are a set of
diminutive gills, tiny little fringed tissues hidden ingeniously
away where the gritty sand may not reach and injure them. In
the deeps of the water these gills had served them well, gather¬
ing the oxygen from the brine, distributing it through their
tissues. And in all their babyhood these gills had been com¬
fortably wet, nor was dryness thought of. But when the epic
moment arrived when the baby crab, drawn by some unaccountable
instinct struggled its way through the last inch of foam and
stood wet and dripping in the open air, it must have felt a
surge of well being. The gills which before had laboriously
separated the water-clinging oxygen must have drunk in the free
air, soaking it up in quantities. It is a cosmic thing to
suddenly step from one world into another . But it is1 probably
that the baby crab did not think it cosmic at all, for baby
crabs function solely by blind instinct.

And instinct coupled with activity caused the cra'i>let to
struggle further up on dry land, fully six inches out of the
surf. It must have been a terrific struggle, for remember the
infant is but an eighth of an inch in length. Tiny sand grains
must have been as great boulders, a half buried sea shell a
veritable mountain.

But presently, back in what served the creature for a- mind,
comes a feeling that all is not well. There is a tight feeling
around the gills, a dry, uncomfortable, oppressive sensation#.
Panic stricken it dashes back to the sea. Good old mother ocean
damp and cool she brings relief.

52 P

But only for a time. Soon there is a desire for the air
again, for the warm wind that glides over the beach rustling
the leaves bach of the sand. And so, for a period the tiny
creature repeats the story of its ancestry, the stepping on dry
land and the returning to mother sea again. But little by little,
the dry land gains ascendency in the instincts of the tiny mite;
only it is not so tiny now, for it has moulted a number of times,
casting aside its shell and increasing in stature. And the gills
have become accustomed to the air, though they must still be kept
moist .

But in time there comes a day when in a vast horde the
swarming beach crabs desert the shore and step back into the
dark mystery of the jungle. For them it is the crossing of
their Rubicon. For a full year they will not see the ocean
again, and when they return it will be to die. Many would never
see it again. But dauntless they move ahead. Go inland, their
instinct says, go inland to the very center of the land.

Hundreds fall by the way. Some are killed by birds, some
perish by accident, falling into deep holes from which there is
no escape. These die of starvation and thirst, for the islands
are places of little water. Thorny cactii rear their heads
above the barren rocks, and there are great areas where there
is no shade at all. Only by nibbling on little twigs and on
green vegetation can they secure the water they need so badly.

The gills must be kept moist. Should they dry, ever so slight¬
ly, death will quickly follow.

Above all they avoid the sun. Ten minutes full exposure
in the sun means certain disaster. Crabs have no sweat glands
to keep them cool and when the tropical rays beat down on their
purplish backs their shells become so hot they can scarcely be
touched. But the crabs do not live that long. With the first
sudden rise in temperature they become drowsy, their legs fold
wearily under them and they fall to the ground. Once fallen they
never rise again.

I discovered this quite by accident one day when I cornered
a crab in an open glade. Frantically it tried to reach the shade.
It even lost all fear of me and tried to scramble between my legs.
But I did not know the reason for its panic and kept it in the
open. Hardly three minutes had passed before its claws fell
weakly to the ground and it toppled on its face. A moment later
it was dead .

*

But out of the thousands that die by the way a certain num¬
ber reach the appointed place and distribute themselves over the
land. In the shade of the bushes and around the roots of the
trees they excavate deep holes, long curving cavities into the
soil. With their claws they dig out the loam, roll it into
little balls and carry them, one at a time, to their doorways.

In the warm tropic nights they go forth to feed, clipping the
succulent jungle twigs and carrying them back to their dens.

In the montns that follow they grow, casting aside their
shells, becoming more and more gargcylish in appearance. By
November they are fully adult -- purplish creatures with gro¬
tesque gnome-like faces. And to make them even more weird their

53.

eyes are set on stalks and their mouths open, not up and down but
sideways.

The rainy season passes and in the weeks that follow the sun
shines with tropical fierceness. The ground dries out to powdery
softness and great cakes of hard mud take the place of lakes and
ponds. The vegetation withers, loses its succulent greenness and
becomes dry and dull. And these are the grey days for the land
crabs, for they dare not venture forth to feed. Only in the cool
of their holes is there moisture enough to keep alive. February
glides into March and March into April. The sun becomes more in¬
tense and only the cactii appear to remain green and fresh.

Particularly do the females need the damp for they have be¬
come laden with eggs. In great purple masses they hang beneath
their aprons. There are hundreds of them, each about the size of
a pin head, all glued together in viscid mass. It is time to go
-- if only the rains would come.

A female stirs in her .burrow. There is a feeling in the air.
Off in the distance great dark clouds are forming, gathering in
sullen mass. Thunder rolls fitfully and dies away. The trade
wind is gone and the air is still -- very quiet and heavy. It is
terribly hot; across the salinas the heat waves are dancing making
queer images. The clouds pile up, higher and higher, jet black
in the middle. Thunder again. The sun drops towards the horizon
tinging the world with refulgent gold. From the direction of the
clouds a new odor drifts across the jungle. It smells fresh and
green and cool. Suddenly from the gathering darkness there comes
a rush of cold rain and in a pouring drowning deluge the water
beats into the soil.

Down in their burrows the crabs are frantically removing
the walls of their dens. Hastily they roll aside the little
pellets of brown soil and carry them away. Through the newly
formed openings the water seeps in in an ever growing stream.

It soaks into the soil turning the round pellets into oozy mud.

The time has come at last.

In vast hordes, from far and near, the crabs break out of
their dens and creep through the rain soaked vegetation. Their
shells glisten with the moisture and the lightning throws their
bodies into high relief.

It is the hour for which they have been waiting, day after
day, week after week. Nothing turns them aside. Over rocks and
vegetation, through slimy mud and tangled vines. Nor is there
any mistake about direction. Somehow in some unaccountable man¬
ner each purplish bod}/- has become polarized towards the ocean.

Nor does fresh water deceive them, nor the brackish pools left by
the rain. It is sea water they want, the bitter salt ocean and
the crashing surf. Possibly they recall in some unknown way the
scenes of their grotesque babyhood when as zoea and megalops they
had their being in the blue ocean. Hour after hour they move on¬
wards nor do they stop to feed. The eggs must be spawned before
the ground dries up again, the eggs that carry the whole hope of
the race .

I stirred on the rocks and looked up again. Far in the east
was a faint glimmer of grey and I noticed that the moon was very

54.

low. For nearly four hours I had sat watching the crabs pouring
out of the interior. Wave after wave had marched out of the
jungle and had flung themselves joyously into the foam. In a few
days they would all be deads all these vast hosts of rushing crabs.
Strange old mother ocean ‘ What queer power did she hold over these
errant children of hers that she should call them forth to die
that they might give life again. And by what means did she guide
them the weary miles out of the jungle? Was it the roar of the
surf, the swish and sigh of the breakers, or some vibration too
fine for human ears?

I listened intently straining for some hint. The grey in
the east began to turn pink, gently, softly. Then for the first
time I became aware that the drums from Celestina's wedding had
ceased .

MARYLAND NATURE LOG
PURPLE GALLINULE IN MARYLAND

On October 12, 1938, R. B. Smithers shot a gallinule on the
Patuxent Marsh in lower Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The bird
was sent in the flesh to the Natural History Society of Maryland.
The specimen proved to be an immature female, and although we
were not very familiar with gallinules in this plumage, characters
of tarsi and nostrils indicated it to be a Purple Gallinule
(Ionornis martinica). In January, 1939, we were able to have
this identification verified by Dr. Herbert Friedmann of the
United States National Museum. The coloration tallies very close¬
ly with the description given for the juvenal plumage by Bent
(Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus . No, 135, p. 342). There is no indication
of the dark purplish feathers which appear on the underparts in
the post juvenal molt. Thus, according to Bent's statements, the
bird was probably less than two months old.

Although there are numerous records of the casual occurrence
of this species north of the breeding range, it appears that no
specimen has ever before been taken in Maryland. Kirkwood,- in
his list of Maryland birds (in Trans. Md . Acad. 3c i,, 1895, p.

281) speaks of one reported by Richmond to have been seen in
Centre Market in Washington, D. C., from "down the Potomac some¬
where". However, Cooke makes no mention of this species in her
careful review of the "Birds of the Washington, D. C., Region
(Pro. Bio. Soc. Wash., Vol . 42, pp.1-80). Bent (op. cit., p.

345), in a long list of casual occurrences, has no record from
Maryland. Hence, it appears that this species can be added to
the still inadequately inventoried avifauna of Maryland.

Haven Kolb, Jr

55.

NOTE’S, ,'FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

January 3 - General Assembly.

4 - Mineral Club.

6 - Bird Club.

10 - Lecture by Dr. Littleford, "Life History of the
Common Sea Nettle".

13 - Plant Club.

17 - Talk by Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel, "Adventures in
Santo Domingo".

24 - Talk by Mr. Henri Seibert, "Relations of Body
Structure to Health".

28 - Meeting of Board of Trustees..

31 - Talk by Mr. Charles Ostrander, "The Universe About

Us".

Junior Divi
January 7 -

7 -

14 -

14 -

21 -

21 -
28 -

s ion

Talk by Mr. William Moorefield, "The Damage of
Mound Building Ants".

Meeting of Herpetological Club.

Talk by Miss Justine Moulton, "Quartz".

Talk by Miss Helen Klinke, "Some of Our Fall Wild
Flowers " .

Talk by Miss Janet Byrns , "Domestic Cats".

Meeting of Herpetological Club.

Lecture by Mr. John B. Calder, "The Mound Builders
of Ohio".

Meeting of Herpetological Club.

Talk by Mr. Louis Hughes, "Insect Adaptation".

Talk by Mr. Francis Groves, "Maryland Lizards".

Lectures

January

, Exhibitions, and School Loans

11 - Hochschild, Kohn & Co., Loan of Birds and Mammals
11 - Branch No. 1, Enoch Pratt.. Library, Exhibition of
Minerals .

17 - Western High School, Loan of Birds.

18 - Outdoor Life Federation. Exhibition of Maryland

Birds .

18 - Baltimore Federal Savings and Loan Association,

Loan of Bird Group and Mammals.

19 - Wymans & Co, Loan of Birds.

19 - Bonwit -Lennon. Loan of Birds.

23 - Lecture to Young People's Club, Hampden Baptist

Church by Mr. George Maugans , "Reptiles of Maryland
27 - Lecture to Boys and Girls Scout Troop at Gatch
Methodist Episcopal Church by Mr. Elias Cohen,
"Maryland Snakes We Should Know".

27 - Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company fi Loan of
Birds and Mammals.

ft

CLUB NOTICE: As there are many members who would like to pursue the
study of one or more nature subjects, the Society has inaugurated
a series of Clubs for this purpose.

Mineral Club - First Wednesday of each month.

Bird Club - First Friday of each month.

Plant Club - Second Friday of each month.

Photographic Club - Third Friday of each month.

Herpetology Club - Every Saturday at 7; 00 P. M.

73

5§SSpMI *$///^:

fc, TENTH ANNIVERSARY 1

THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF MARYLAND

AFTER TEN YEARS

(Part of Address Delivered by the President
of the Society, Edmund B. Fladung, at the
Tenth Anniversary Celebration, March 25, 1939).

Today this Society commemorates its tenth anniversary. It
was on this day, Maryland Day, ten years ago that the Society was
f ounded .

In its charter the newly founded organization promised the
State to increase and diffuse knowledge of Natural History, to
establish a Museum and reference library, to protect wild life
from needless destruction, to provide facilities for research
and publication, and to pursue and foster allied sciences and
endeavors ,

Let us go over the work of these past ten years and see how
well this Society has lived up to its promise.

Today we have a Museum. Though small, it is patterned after
the larger and famous Museums of the Country. Here we have a
story of Maryland, beginning with the structure of its surface,
its prehistoric life, its mineral resources, its animal life in all
its. forms, and ending with the early inhabitants of the State.
Adjoining the main hall is a beautiful group room, which when
completed will teach many lessons, and will be a delight to Nature
lovers. Our Museum was visited last year by 82,045 persons, a
26^ increase over any previous year, and classes of school children
and other organizations availed themselves of its exhibitions for
study. Nature Summer Schools have been conducted ever since its
opening three years ago. Through Baltimore's broadminded and
farsighted Board of Park Commissioners these efforts were attained
and are now bearing fruit a hundredfold.

The School Service inaugurated by the Society two years
after its inception has served 48,325 children this year alone,
and has reached through its various educational mediums over
794,815 persons. Courses in Nature Study have been offered to
the public for the cost of materials only. A division for boys
and girls has been maintained to give an outlet and impetus to
endeavor in fields somewhat new to Baltimore. This division
has been the beginning of Science careers for a number of young
men who today are working in other institutions.

To date the Society has published besides the monthly bulle¬
tin, various leaflets and t ransact ions . These publications have
passed to nearly every State of the Union, as well as to Europe,
Asia and Africa.

One of the chief key notes of this institution has always
been conservation. It was one of the original founders of the
Maryland Outdoor Life Federation, whose main object is conservation
and the Society has never passed an opportunity to impress upon
the public the importance of wild life protection.

The Municipal Aquarium was conceived and realized by members

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58.

of this Society along with the Conservation Department of Mary¬
land, the Board of Park Commissioners, and other public spirited
organizations .

In every movement in which nature education or conservation
was concerned the Society participated. Exhibitions were held at
Flower shows, Outdoor Life shows, State Fairs, and Schools. Many
ribbons were won and commendations were received for our excellent
displays .

The relationship with the Enoch Pratt Library has been one of
mutual cooperation and good will. Exhibits in the form of window
displays have been a part of our yearly program.

In all these endeavors we have sought the good will of City
and State agencies of every kind engaged in educational work or
having control of our natural resources.

From these facts you can see how well the Society has kept
its promise. You will also note that prior to the advent of the
Society, these educational advantages did not exist in Baltimore.
We had no aquarium, no school service, no popular nature publi¬
cations, no conservation organization, no nature summer schools,
no nature courses, no museum wholly devoted to the Natural History
of Maryland.

These past ten years though busy and in some instances
trying, have nevertheless been pleasant. All our contacts,
whether Federal, State, City, private associations, or private
individuals, have given us a kindly word and lent a willing hand,
and today we have a host of friends too numerous to mention. The
progress thus made is due to two important factors, a broadminded,
business like, progressive Board of Trustees, and an enthusiastic,
nature loving staff of workers.

The policy of our Board of Trustees has been one of good will
to all, with definite aims, honesty of purpose and a pay as you go
financial plan. The Board has seriously felt the trust that is
placed in it and in consequence it has built up a Staff of in¬
terested and willing workers within the organization, and has
made contacts with outside institutions to aid and further the
aims of the Society,

Our Staff, a non-paid body, has labored most heartily to
build up a representative collection of nature specimens of our
great State, and has published its findings and results for the
public in leaflets, bulletins, and transactions which have been
sought by institutions famous for age and learning.

As a result today this Society ranks with such public insti¬
tutions as the Enoch Pratt Library, the Baltimore Museum of Art,
the Peale Museum and others of like nature.

Ten years seem a long time. To us it was a short time.

What the next ten will bring I do not know, but one thing I do
know, and that is, we will pursue the same policy adopted ten
years ago, because it has worked well for the Society, the City
of Baltimore, and the State of Maryland.

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59.

TENTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

The members and friends of the Society who were present at
the Tenth Anniversary Celebration Banquet held in Sears Community
Hall on March 25th, Maryland Day, enjoyed a very pleasurable
evening. Of particular interest was the address of the President
of the Society, Mr. Edmund B. Fladung, who reviewed the achieve¬
ments of the organization during the past ten years and pointed
out how the members had worked together to carry out the purposes
of the Society as set forth in its Charter and Constitution. To¬
wards the close of the Address the President called upon the
curators, associates and assistants of the various departments
of the Staff to stand, which they did to the hearty applause of
their fellow members and friends.

Among the shorter addresses of the evening were those of
Mr. John Brandau and Mr. Richard Baker, members of the Park Board,
Mr. Karl Pfeiffer, Assistant State Forester, Dr. Anita Dowell,
State Teachers College, Tow.s on, Mr. F. Stansbury Haydon, one of
the seven founders of the Society and Mr. Elra M. Palmer, Director
of the Society !s Department of Education.

Dr., Howard A. Kelly, who was in Florida, Dr. Joseph L.
Wheeler, Mayor Howard Jackson, and Dr. R. Vo Truitt : fellow mem¬
bers, who were unable to attend the Celebration, sent letters or
telegrams of regret and felicitation, which were read by the
Toastmaster, Mr. Oscar Helm.

The program of entertainment included, in addition to group
singing in which all participated, piano solos by Mr. Clyde F.
Race, of the Department of Entomology, several selections sung
by Mrs, John Bailey, accompanied by Miss Henri kka Whelan, a
violin solo by Mr. Elias Cohen, accompanied by Miss Janet Byrns ,
Doth representatives of the Junior Division of the Society, and
several unique Indian dances by Mr* Andrew Goss and Mr. Jack
Zeiler, who were arrayed in Indian finery.

An interesting lecture, "Indian Tribes of North America"
illustrated with motion pictures, by Mr. Benjamin Kurtz of the
National Museum, concluded the program,

SOME QUESTIONS ON E.UMECS3 IN MARYLAND
By William H. McClellan, S.J.

The following notes may suggest some questions for further
observation.

How should English names be revised?

Until rather recently a species of stcink then known as
Eumeces quinquel ineatug (Linn.) was commonly thought to be the
only member cf its genus occurring in Maryland. The study of the
subject was but little advanced, even in the phase of field work.

The first basis of distinction - comparative size - was thought

to be only regional. In 1908 Ditmars, describing a supposed ex-

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60

ample of this species as 9-J- inches long, remarked that "it is
only in the Southern States that the species attains such large
proportions." To the writer of these notes (never a "full time"
herpetologist) the first misgiving came in 1932, through a St.
Mary's County specimen whose coloration as well as size was at
variance with the whole experience of ten years' collecting.

By that time, however, technical herpetologists were already
better informed. All are now aware that Eumeces is represented
in Maryland by two certainly indigenous species, and also that
the name quinquel ineatus has been abandoned. Of the two native
forms E. fasciatus it Che smaller and commoner, E. lat iceps the
larger and less familiar. . . . *

Professor E. H. Taylor's monograph "The Genus Eumeces" is
now the standard work on its subject. Besides recognizing
fasciatus and lat iceps as certainly native to Maryland, his records
of "distribution suggest as possible the occasional intrusion of
two neighboring species, E. inexpectatus , which is known from
Norfolk County, Virginia, ana~~ETant hr ac inus , which seems to
follow the highlands of Pennsylvania as far south as Carlisle,
and is once recorded from Allegany County, Maryland. Since this
last has a very restricted localization in the Atlantic States, and
since inexpectatus has not yet been recorded as far north as the
Potomac, we may for the present leave them out of consideration for
Maryland as a whole.

As lat iceps and f asc iatus now divide the familiar field be¬
tween them, it may not be idle to discuss some revision of English
names for ordinary reference. "Five-lined" was formerly adopted
as the obvious translation of quinquel ineatus , but the latter
designation has been dropped. It is simple enough to call lat i-
ceps "the broad-headed skink" for general purposes. The problem
is that of an appropriate name for f asc iatus . Apart from the
abandonment of its Latin original, the name "five-lined" should
hardly be retained. Taylor's phylogenetic tree shows no fewer
than thirty species of Eumeces characterized by five longitudinal
lines, so that the older name is not distinctive. To translate
f asc iatus as simply "striped" would be even less so.

However, f asc iatus seems to enjoy the distinction of a wider
distribution than that of any other in North America. Hence, for
common parlance the name "Common Skink" would seem appropriate
enough. Its fitness even transcends the genus Eumeces . The
latter by no means exhausts the scincoid type in North America,
or even in Maryland; yet in both together E. fasciatus must be
the most widely known of skinks.

Winter quarters of Eumeces fasciatus

In 1937 I hunted the Common Skink so early in the spring that
the specimens found were in all probability still hibernating. At
Leonardt own, St. Mary's County, three adult males were taken under
these conditions.

The first I did not see when actually uncovered. Two Boy
Scouts took it on March 28, during a windy afternoon with a
temperature of 48*. The head and body measured 73 mm. The total
length remained 6 inches after about 1 inch (by inference) of the
tail had been lost in capturing. I inspected the splintered

remains of the stump, a small one of red oak, which seemed to have
stood originally about 18 inches high and 8 or 10 in diameter.

The lizard had been found within the pulp, a few inches above the
roots, on the southeastern side of the stump, but how deep within
it I cannot say.

The next day, March 29, was clear and windy, about 40* to 45#
in temperature. At about 10.30 a. m. we found another male
f asc iatus in a decayed red oak stump about 2 feet high by a foot
in diameter. The stump was riddled with burrows of larvae of the
stag beetle; most of its wood was decayed, but some very firm, and
most of its exte'rior still covered with bark. Again the lizard
was on the southeastern side when uncovered, but active enough to
crawl through a burrow to the support of some bark on the opposite
surface. This specimen was intact, measuring 6|- inches, the head
and body 60 mm.

Late in the afternoon of this date, in a temperature of about
60*, the third was found. It measured 6| inches in all, the head
and body 65 mm. Its shelter was a long red oak log fully 2 feet
in diameter. The shell of hard wood, denuded of bark, was almost
filled with soft pulp, but was split in many places, and its bot¬
tom perforated by one large cavity where the lower surface was
raised a few inches above ground. The lizard lay near this cavity,
at the very bottom of the interior pulp.

It should be remarked that a spell of slightly warmer weather
had already come and gone, the cooler period setting in on the
evening of the 24th. Hence it is possible that these three situ¬
ations were all temporary shelters taken up after hibernation had
ceased and some activity begun. That they had been the winter
quarters is only probable. As such, they would have exposed their
occupants to almost freezing temperatures. The pulp of the log
last mentioned made our hands ache after a few minutes’ digging.
Considering, however, the earliness of the date, the fact that
the season ha£ been backward, and the apparent absence of other
serviceable wintering places in the immediate vicinity (especially
of the first case), this account of the circumstances may be worth
present ing .

Does the color pattern of laticeps
vary with t'fte season?

Unlike that of f asc iatus , the mature form of lat iceps (at
least in southern Maryland) is strongly striped in both sexes.

The male has the typical red head together with the longitudinal
lines of the body. The first specimen I ever handled* on July
18, 1932, is recorded with "some tendency to a dull red about the
head, though the body lines are too distinct for any but the fe¬
male" (of f asc iatus ) . When the red had deepened later in the
summer, the lines remained as distinct as ever. "The dorsal line,"
continues the above record, "is obscure against a rather pale
background, while the second and third lines on each side (dorso¬
lateral and lateral) enclose an area of rich dark brown." This
specimen measured 10 inched. Two years later a female 10^ inches
long, secured by one of our students, and recorded by photographs,
exhibited the same pattern without any redness of the head. This
specimen was also taken in the middle of July.

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This conspicuous striping in both the sexes has occasioned
some perplexity in identifying a later specimen now preserved at
Woodstock College. The head is faintly red, as of a male just
about mature. Head and body measure 98 mm., and the total length
is 10 4 inches even with the lasts. -• inch of the tail regenerate.

In addition to these proportions, which seem to exclude f asc iatus
decisevly, the most conspicuous diagnostic characters seem to
point to laticeps. But the stripes are totally absent, as well
as the strong variations of ground color between them. The whole
dorsal and lateral coloration of body and tail is uniform olive

brown - as in the normal adult male f asc iatus - with only a very

narrow and faintly pale marginal line between this and the ventral
hue .

This lizard, taken in St. Mary's County in 1933, would seem
to be a specimen of lat iceps (though the decision is still sub
jud ice ) . The absence of the characteristic stripes suggests a
question or two. It was captured on May 8, on a cool and cloudy
afternoon in an exceptionally backward season, and was dug out of
thick pulp at the bottom of a large red oak log in advanced decay.
It was chloroformed and preserved the same day to facilitate
transfer. It is possibly an old male lat iceps in what might be
called a "winter moult", and would the normal stripes have re¬
appeared, with successive sloughing, as the summer advanced? Or

- as an alternative hypothesis - does the male of lat iceps in its

earlier maturity pass through a color stage resembling that of
the mature male fasciatus, and was this a young male laticeps,
with its growth accelerated by abundant feeding, and destined
only later to acquire the striped pattern of full maturity?

Perhaps better informed collectors may be able to bring more
abundant data to bear upon these questions.

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM
MARYLAND HAWKS

Of all our birds, the hawks and owls are considered by persons
generally as enemies. To acquaint the public with the special
merits of these birds, especially the hawks, an exhibit has been
placed in the Museum, with reference to their good as well as
evil to mankind.

There are sixteen species of hawks in Maryland . Of these,
five are comparatively rare and consequently of little economic
importance .

We will discuss the merits and demerits of the others. Of
the eleven common members of this hawk group, two are entirely
scavengers; namely, the vultures. The Bald Eagle is chiefly a
scavenger, eating carrion, some fish and small animals, mostly
those that ar'e sick or crippled. Another, the Osprey, lives
chiefly on non-commercial fish.

This brings us to the seven remaining common hawks. Of
these, two, the Broad-winged Hawk and the Sparrow Hawk do not
kill poultry. Their main diet consists of insects, snakes, rats,

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63.

mice, frogs, and a very small percentage of small birds and game.

The next hawK, the Red-shouldered, attacks poultry to the
extent of 1.4#, game birds 1.8# and small birds 6.5#. In the
same category should be placed the Red-tailed Hawk ’with 6.3# of
poultry and 9.2# of small birds. This gives these birds a large
percentage of good to their credit, 90# and 73# respectively.

This leaves three Hawks; the Marsh Hawk with 36# good to
its credit in the form of rats, mice and insects consumed. Of
the damage done by this bird 57# is to small birds and game, with
only 2.3# to poultry. So this bird is not a serious menace to
man, although it is not as beneficial as some of the other hawks.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk with only an average of about 3# good,
affects man directly to the extent of .2#. Its chief damage is
done to small birds (96#).

The last hawk, and the one most injurious to man is the
Cooper's Hawk. This has to its ill repute 10# of poultry, nearly
14# of game, and 55# small birds.

From these notes one can see that the hawks as a class show
a greater balance in their favor than otherwise and should be
protected .

Chart Showing Per Cent of Good and
Evil Done by Seven Common Hawks

Benef ic ial

To Man

| Not Directly
i Affecting Man

Injurious

To Man

HAWKS

wO Q UJ

K

iX 2-

INSECTS

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TOTAL %

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SPARROW HAWK

20.3

63.5

83.3

7.3

I

0 i 8.4
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j

0

0

0

BROAD- WINGED
- HAWK

23.

39.7

1

62.7

30.9

2 , j 3 . 4 1

I 1

36. 3|

1

1.

1

1 - - -

0

1.

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...HAWK .

2.6

.7

3.3

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0 j 96 . 4 jj 96 . 5j

i il ....

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.2

RED- SHOULDERED
HAWK

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32 •

60.

! 25.

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!

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i

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3.2

RED- TAILED

HAWK

55.

10.5

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9.2!

i

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11.4

j

6.3

17.7

MARSH HAWK

33.

3.31

36.3

1 4 1

.1

41.

. ... J

45.2

_

16.2

2.3

18.5

COOPERS HAWK

17,

3. -3

i

_

20.3

1

1

L ....

0 155. |j 56.
i i!

! is |

13.7

10.

23.7

AVERAGES

!

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25.5

i

21.81

i

1

147.3

|

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o

t — I

; J

1.3 j31.3lj43.-3;

_ ! _ H _ 1

6.3

3,

9.3

E. B. F.

64.

A NOTE ON THE HOMING- INSTINCT
OF THE MOURNING DOVE
AT THE CATONSVILLE BANDING STATION

One of the most remarkable notes made at our banding station
in Catonsville, Maryland, is the instance of the well known homing
instinct shown by the Mourning Doves.

About five years ago twenty-four birds of this species were
banded at the station. Of these, twelve returned the following
year. To show how remarkable this was, it may be mentioned that
the usual average of returns, all species, is one bird in twenty.

Unfortunately a plague broke out among the doves and swept
the old flock off. Four banded birds were found dying at the
stat ion.

Since then the returns from the more recently banded birds
have been nearly as good, the best being a bird which has returned
four times, besides several repeats having returned regularly for
four years.

Edward McColgan

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY

Meetings

February

i

and Lectures at the Society

7 - Lecture by Dr. 3urton E. Livingston, "Ways of

Watering Plants".

8 - Mineral Club.

10 - Bird Club.

14 - General Assembly

17 - Plant Club

21 - General Assembly

28 - Talk by Mr. Howard Owens, "A North Canadian
Exped it ion" .

Junior Division

February

3

4

4

11

11

17

18

18

25

26

"Amethysts " .

Herpetological Club - special meeting.

Lecture by Mr. George Maugans , "Energy in
Nature " .

Herpetological Club.

Talk by Miss Ruth Fishpaugh,

Herpetological Club,

25 - Outdoor Life show - First
nests won by Theodore Mat tern;

Insects, won by James
General Discussion on
Herpetological Club.

Herpetological Club.

Lecture by Miss Mary Anne Douglas, "Astronomy".
Lecture by Miss Katherine Paila, "Fossils", for
Natural History Group, State Teachers' College.

prize ,
second
Benzinger ,
Biological Survey

Birds'
prize ,

A

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Lectures

February

Exhibitions and School Loans
3 - Fork School j Loan of 'Minerals.

9 - Lecture to Parents’ Teachers’ Assoc iat ion,

School No. 63, by Mr. Irving E. Hampe, "Our
Winter Birds".

17 - 25 - Outdoor Life Show. Five Exhibits of Insects,
and Bird Group entitled, "First Snow Fall". Six
First prizes awarded Society.

24 - To St. Anthony's Parochial School, 'Loan of Indian
Art if acts . .

26 - To St. Anthony's Parochial School, '-Loan of

Insects .

27 - Troop 13, Boy Scouts America, Loan of Birds.

CLUB NOTICES

As there are many members who would like to pursue the
study of one or more nature subjects, the Society has inaugurated
a series of Clubs for this purpose.

Mineral Club - First Wednesday of each month.
Bird Club - First Firday of each month.

Plant Club - Second Friday of each month.
Photographic Club - Third Friday of each month.
Herpetology Club - Every Saturday at 7:00 P. M.

X

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The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume IX

APRIL, 1939

Number 8

GROWING- ORDINARY PLANTS WITHOUT SOIL,
IN SOLUTION CULTURE

By Burton E. Livingston
Director, Laboratory of Plant Physiology
The Johns Hopkins University

Foreword

Although most growers of house plants have long been familiar
with the forcing of hyacinth and narcissus blooms from bulbs sup¬
ported over glasses or in pans of water, and with the occasional
indoor water culture of English ivy and some other plants, it is
only within the last decade that the growing of many kinds of com¬
mon plants in solution culture has attracted extensive public at¬
tention in this country. The sudden awakening of general interest
in these simple operations was due largely to popular accounts, in
newspapers and magazines, of Dr. W. F. Gericke’s first large-scale
solution cultures, which he carried out near Berkeley, California.
Engrossed in his exciting experiments (and apparently without too
much encouragement from other people at first), Dr. Gericke has
thus far published very little about his cultures, and profession¬
al students of horticulture as well as plant growers and amateur
gardeners were at first dependent upon popular accounts for most
of their information. An increasing number of commercial growers
and some agricultural experiment stations soon started large-scale
experiments of this kind and a number of stations eventually pre¬
pared circulars on solution culture, to be sent out in reply to
the thousands of enquiries that were received. Because popular
writers, unacquainted with the history and fundamental principles
of solution-culture, had made some extravagant and unwarranted
predictions for both the commercial and domestic future of this
novel technique, many plant physiologists were inclined to assume
a general attitude of skepticism. It thus came about that many
of the few writers who were familiar with small-scale solution
culture in laboratory experimentation seemed to oppose the spread
of this new popular enthusiasm and emphasized the difficulties of

67.

solution culture, while a number of people without special know¬
ledge or experience in this field gained the mistaken impression
that solution culture (called hydroponics --Greek for water cul-
ture--by Dr. Gericke) was something basically new and might lead
to a great revolution in agriculture and horticulture.

To understand the principles of solution culture it is first
desirable to appreciate the fact--well established since about
1860--that ordinary plants with their roots in soil derive water
and mineral nutrients from the soil solution rather than directly
from the solid soil particles. Naturally the dissolved mineral
salts of the soil solution are mainly derived, in turn, from the
solid particles, but substances must of course be in solution be¬
fore they may enter plant roots, and therefore the solid particles
are of no immediate and direct importance as far as plant nutrition
is concerned. When fertilizers are added to a soil they may im¬
prove its structure and its capacity to absorb and retain water
but their main effect is frequently to increase the concentration
of nutrient substances dissolved in the soil solution. In the
ordinary sense productive soils are commonly three-phase systems,
the solid phase being represented by the solid particles while the
liquid phase and the gas phase are represented by the soil solution
and by whatever gas bubbles or gas masses may be present. When a
mass of soil is completely saturated with water there is no gas
phase and when it is air-dry there is no liquid phase. A jar or
tank of nutrient solution may be regarded as a soil without either
gas phase or solid phase; the entire volume of such a "soil" being
occupied by the soil solution.

Waters of wells, springs, rivers and lakes are essentially
natural soil extracts, which hold as solutes various substances
derived from solid soil particles. When they carry undissolved
solid particles these tend generally to settle out, and contained
gas bubbles tend to escape upward into the atmosphere. Some kinds
of plants--notabiy various algae and such small flowering forms as
duckweed (Lemna, etc . ) - -thr ive in natural ponds and lakes without
any contact with the saturated soil below. Colonies of these
represent natural solution cultures. A floating plant or duck¬
weed is supported by its bouyancy at the surfac© of watery solution
and its roots extend down into the solution, deriving mineral
nutrients therefrom.

That plants which commonly grow with their root systems in
moist or wet. soil might thrive in solution culture was surmised
as early as 1699, when Woodward described experiments in which
he had grown such plants as spearmint, potato and vetch in clear
water from several natural sources. About fifty years later
Duhamel du Monceau grew beans to maturity in filtered water from
the River Seine and cultured an. oak seedling in that medium for
at least eight years, at the end of which time it was about 18
inches tall. In 1304 de Saussure published an account of solution-
culture experiments with spotted knotweed (Polygonum persicaria)
and other plants. By 1870 the method of solution culture was

•"-•Some interesting references to very early studies are the follow¬
ing: Woodward, J. Thoughts and experiments on vegetation. Phil.
Trans. Roy. Soc. London 21; 382--39S. 1699 , --Duhamel du Monceau,

H. L. La physique des arbres, Paris, 1758. --de Saussure, Th,
Recherches chimiques sur la vegetation. Paris, 1804.

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generally employed in numerous studies on the mineral nutrition
of plants, especially in the hands of such pioneers as W. Knop,
Julius Sachs and F. Nobbe , and the employment of that method has
continued to give an ever-increasing fund of valuable information
in the hands of physiologists and agricultural chemists.

It was early pointed out that, although field experiments
and cultures in pots of soil were most useful for practical pur¬
poses (when one wished to find out how to grow healthy plants
rather than how healthy plants growT, yet solution culture offered
the only means by which an experimenter might have satisfactory
knowledge about his experimental root environments. Therefore,
those whose main interest lay in physiology were likely to use
dist illed-water solutions of various known salts in various known
proportions and concentrations, while those whose studies were
directed more toward improvement in agriculture and horticulture
frequently worked with soils to which various substances were
added. Practically minded people tended to regard solution cul¬
tures as largely waste of time and energy, holding that no one
ought to care very much about the growth of ord inary plants in
liquid media, since plants are not thus grown in general practice.
On the other hand, phsyioLogists were aware that the fundamental
principles of their science cannot be studied satisfactorily un¬
less the influential conditions of experimental root environments
are quantitatively known and specified to a considerable degree
of precision, and that such precision may be much more nearly ap¬
proached for liquid media than for soils. Both of these experi¬
mental methods nave been valuable, each in its place; one is
generally suitable for studies undertaken with the aim of improv¬
ing the art of plant husbandry as commonly practiced and for gain¬
ing knowledge concerning the influence of soils on plant growth,
while the other is suitable for studies in the scientific field
of plant nutrition. Cultures in more or less nearly saturated
sand or fine gravel, to which definitely specified artificial
nutrient solutions may be supplied, serve as a sort of compromise,
not so "practical” as soil cultures and not always s o "sc ient if ic "
as solution cultures.

It was also soon realized that, while the ordinary soil
solution continually receives additions of soluble substances from
the solid phase, as the solutes in the solution become depleted
through plant absorption or through leaching, any artificial
nutrient solution must be frequently renewed to avoid effective
depletion and alteration of acidity due to plant absorption. Ac¬
cording to the size of the culture vessel used, according to the
plant or plants growing in it and according to prevailing cli¬
matic or weather conditions, a jar of nutrient solution is emp¬
tied and refilled with a new charge of solution every few days,
every week, etc., and water or solutes are sometimes added in the
intervals between renewals. For most satisfactory maintenance of
the nutrient solution, continuous flow through the culture jar is
frequently employed, new solution being allowed to pass slowly in¬
to the jar while the liquid level within the jar is maintained by
means of an overflow tube. Culture jars vary in size, sometimes
quart bottles are used, sometimes earthenware crocks holding as
much as ten gallons or more. It is interesting to note, in pass¬
ing, that students of root physiology have recently developed re¬
fined solution-culture methods for growing tiny excised root tips
of ordinary plant forms into large root systems, in the complete
absence of stems and leaves; this development has been wholly in-

69.

dependent of the development of hydroponics.

It is thus clear that no new principles are involved in large -
-scale solution cultures such as those of Dr. Gericke, but the de¬
tails of hydroponical technique are naturally less exacting than
those of small experimental solution cultures. The relatively
simple and generally satisfactory methods of hydroponics now offer
to plant growers and amateur gardeners a new means for simply
growing plants, for applying the principles of mineral nutrition
in interesting ways and for the comparative study of the nutrient
requirements of different kinds of plants under various conditions
of light and temperature.

The new gardening technique is now welcomed by every one, as
a valuable and interesting addition to soil' and sand culture for
the growing of common plants in garden and greenhouse. Still in
the experimental stage, it has already proved highly satisfactory
in the commercial growing of tomatoes and other vegetables and of
ornamentals, in greenhouse and out of doors at many places in this
country. Whatever may be its future in commercial practice, it is
of special promise for amateur gardeners who wish to secure ex¬
cellent garden or greenhouse plants by novel and interesting
methods. It allows home gardeners to experiment in small space
and at small expense, it is more interesting than ordinary cul¬
ture, it involves less hard labor and more intellectual activity.

It provides ready means for better control of root environments
than can be secured in soil culture, especially with respect to
water supply and the use of fertiliser salts; it allows the garden¬
er to carry on in the absence of fertile soil and without risk of
drought effects. As hydroponics becomes better and more generally
mown and appreciated, the old notion that solution cultures are
"Only scientific," and not "practical," is on its way to oblivion.

Amateurs and commercial growers need to realize, however, that
hydroponics offers no easy cure-all for garden troubles. Although
it relieves the gardener of the labor of spading, cultivating,
weeding, etc., it requires frequent testing and occasional renewal
of the liquid medium throughout the growing season. It also re¬
quires special equipment to replace the ordinary garden bed, but
that equipment should last for many years. Fungous and bacterial
diseases and insect infestations must generally receive as much
attention as when soil is used--perhaps more attention in some in¬
stances, for a physiologically healthy plant is sometimes more
susceptible to insect attacks, for example, than is a less vigor¬
ous plant of the same kind. In so far as methods for combatting
these diseases and insect infestations in hydroponics are to be
different from the protective methods employed in soil culture,
such differences are to be worked out by experiment; but many
"physiological" diseases or malaises (due to unsuitable supply of
requisite minerals) should be combatted much more readily in the
absence of the solid soil phase. The climatic relations of light
and temperature must receive due attention in either form of cul¬
ture. But hydroponics-grown plants may advantageously be spaced
much more closely than soil-grown plants (since room for culti-
vation--and weed growth ’--is not required), and it is much more
feasible to control root temperature in a hydroponics tank than
in open soil beds. Suitable electric heaters in the tanks have
already been found to be very effective. It is well known that
greatly improved growth may be secured, in many cases, by suitable

70

warming of plant roots without attempting to alter the natural
fluctuation of air temperature, but the interesting relations thus
suggested have never been much studied for either soil cultures or
solution cultures* On the whole, the technique of hydroponics is
in many respects intermediate, as it were, between the extremely
special technique of physiological experimentation (with its
definitely specified solutions) and the more superficial methods
of soil cultures in ordinary gardening.

For outdoor application in temperate regions, the new garden¬
ing technique is best suited to the growing of annual plants or
plants whose bulbs, conns, tubers or rhizomes may be conveniently
stored during the winter. Thus far, perhaps tomato has been grown
in large-scale solution culture more frequently than any other
plant, but a very large number of other garden forms have given
excellent results with this treatment, both in the open and under
glass. As in other forms of gardening, a beginner may expect to
encounter some partial failures, until experience shall have shown
the different requirements for success with various plants in
various regions.

The gardener must keep his plant roots supplied with a water
solution containing the requisite mineral elements --nitrogen,
potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulphur, magnesium, iron, manga¬
nese, boron, copper. and zinc. In artificial nutrient solutions
these elements are generally supplied as simple inorganic salts,
each of which must have its own proper concentration; in other
words, the salt proportions and the total concentration of the
nutrient medium must be suitably adjusted to the needs of the
plants. Furtnermore, the acidity of the medium must also be suit¬
ably adjusted. Fortunately, however, ordinary plants are not ex¬
tremely particular about salt proportions, solution concentration
or solution acidity, and these adjustments need not be made or
maintained with extreme precision if our aim is simply to grow
fine plants. Students of plant nutrition have recommended many
different formulas for nutrient solutions, with respect to the
particular salts used and their proportions, and it is clear that
the proportions of the elements may vary widely, but not too wide¬
ly. In general, nitrogen and potassium are found to be required
in largest amounts; calcium and phosphorus, in intermediate amounts;
sulphur and magnesium, in small amounts; iron, in very small amount;
and manganese, boron, copper and zinc in exceedingly small amounts.
Traces of such additional elements as commonly occur in productive
soils should be harmless, perhaps sometimes beneficial. As to the
total c oncentrat ion of a good nutrient solution, it should general¬
ly be greater than that of the soil solution in productive soils
but its osmotic value should generally be not much above one at¬
mosphere. As to acidity, its pH value may generally be between 5.0
and 5.8; the color reaction of the indicator chlorphenol red should
be orange or reddish orange, that of bromcresol green should be
bluish green or greenish blue. These statements should apply in
most cases, but they are not intended to be more than general ap¬
proximations .

Because the plants act to deplete the nutrient solution and
to render it less acid, the main things that require special at¬
tention in hydroponics are: (1) the occasional addition of water
or solution when necessary to maintain the solution level in the

71

tank; (2) the frequent testing of the solution for acidity and its
adjustment by addition of acid; (3) the renewal of the entire
charge of solution from time to time. The solution level may
fluctuate between 1.5 or 2.0 inches and 2.5 or 3.0 inches below
the tank rim. The whole solution should be removed and discarded
after about 4, 3 or 2 weeks, according to size of plants and
volume of tank, renewals being more frequent as the plants grow
1 arger .

Culture Tanks

Tanks are to be horizontal, about 3--10 inches deep, 2--4
feet wide, of any desired length; they may be of wood, sheet metal
or concrete. '7hatever material is used, the inside is to be
thoroughly covered with asphalt paint or waterproof varnish. Paint
must first dry thoroughly in air and then the tank should be kept
full of water, with several changes, for a week or more before
being used. An inexpensive and satisfactory tank for small cul¬
tures is a square galvanized- iron wash-tub (holding about 18 gal¬
lons), provided with an emptying outlet close to the bottom and an
overflow outlet about 1.5 inches from the top; outlets are con¬
veniently installed by drilling and reaming, each opening being
provided with a tigntly set 1-hole rubber stopper bearing a few
inches of 3/8-inch iron pipe. For the emptying outlet a male hose
coupling may be used instead of pipe, to which garden hose may be
attached to carry discarded solution away. The overflow opening
remains open at all times and the other is closed with a rubber
stopper except when solution is to be withdrawn.

Plant Beds

Suitable plant beds, to support the plants above the solution,
may be arranged somewhat as follows. A wooden frame built like a
shallow box with t ightly-st retched 1.5- inch wire netting ("chicken
wire") for bottom rests on the tank top, the sides of the box being
about 4 inches high and 7/8 inch thick. The bed itself may con¬
sist of a layer of wet excelsior (about 1 inch thick, pressed firm¬
ly on the netting), topped with a 2-inch layer of garden peat moss
mixed with sand (about equal proportions by volume). An opening
for adding water or solution and for removing solution samples
without disturbing the bed is conveniently provided by means of
a "tin can" with both bottom and top removed, which stands on the
netting and extends somewhat above the bed surface. Supports for
frames or bars to support the plant tops may be bolted to the sides
of the bed frame. A suitable wooden prop will be needed from time
to time, so that one edge of the bed frame may be raised a foot or
more and held thus while the solution in the tank is stirred with
a wooden paddle. The bed should never touch the solution below;
open-mesh cloth between netting and excelsior may be used to keep
strands of excelsior from reaching down to the solut ion. --Other
arrangements may be devised; straw has been employed in place of
excelsior, rice hulls have been used instead of peat moss. It is
well to avoid the use of ordinary soil unless one is certain that
it carries no injurious organisms.

Placing the Plants

Seedlings are best grown as for transplanting to an ordinary
garden bed, A generally satisfactory seed bed is a 7-inch flower

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pot waterproofed with spar varnish inside and out, nearly filled
with clean moist sand (with bit of cloth over hole) into which
1--2 grams of powdered potassium nitrate (KNO3) has been thoroughly
mixed. A level teaspoonful of KNO3 may be dissolved in a half-pint
of tap water and the resulting solution may be thoroughly mixed
into the sand. These pots should stand in good light in a shallow
tray in which water is kept about 0.5--0.75 inch deep. Pots may
be covered with paper or cloth till seedlings emerge. Seedlings,
larger plants or bulbs (gladiolus, etc.) are planted in the bed
in the ordinary way, being watered from above only till the grow¬
ing roots reach the solution below. Plants are spaced more close¬
ly than in open ground, but not too closely for them to have good
light when they become large. Gladiolus corms have given excellent
results when placed about 3 inches apart in each direction; three
or four tomato plants per 18-gallon washtub should be satisfactory.
A good support for a culture of gladiolus is a horizontal wooden
frame of 2-inch wire netting, resting at first on the top of the
bed but gradually raised as leaves elongate through it, till it
is just below the bases of the flower spikes at blooming time; this
support is conveniently held in place by means of uprights from the
bed f rame . --After plants such as tomato are well started, the bed
surface may well be covered with asphalt roofing paper cut so as
to project laterally somewhat beyond the tank, with openings for
filler can and for plants; this retards evaporation and prevents
or limits entrance of rain water through the bed into the tank.

If too much rain penetrates, diluted solution naturally overflows
through outlet pipe.

A Simple Nutrient Solution

A. Mix very thoroughly in an earthenware crock the following
s a 1 1 s ■'» 1 — —

Main Salts

Potassium nitrate (KNO3) . . . 2000 gm.(70.4 oz.)

Calcium nitrate (Ca(NC>3)p) . . . . 300 gm.(10.7 oz.)

Mono-calcium phosphate (CaOigPO^g) .......... 500 gm.(17.6 oz.)

Magnesium sulphate (MgSO^g.) .t. . . . 500 gm.(17.S oz.)

For such small cultures it is best to use chemicals from a drug
store or chemical supply firm; fertilizer grades are just as good,
but may be difficult to obtain in small quantities. The druggist
will weigh these out accurately enough. Their water contents are
to be neglected; weigh the salts as they come; they need not be of
highest purity, a cheaper grade being really preferable because
impurities may be beneficial to plants.

Salt mixtures for hydroponic cultures are already appearing on
the market in this country, under various trade names and at very
high prices. Their use avoids some trouble, but one is likely to
be uncertain about their chemical content and one must of course
pay for packaging, etc., as well as for advertising. No miracles
are to be expected from the use of such preparations.

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73

Extra

Salts

• « • • •

Ferrous sulphate (FeSo4)
Copper carbonate
Zinc carbonate
Borax „ . . . . „ .

Manganese sulphate

• • • • • o

50

2

2

4

4

gm,

gm,

gm,

gm,

gm,

(1.8 o z . )
(0,07 oz . )

(0.07

(0.14

(0.14

oz . )
oz.)
oz . )

Total weight . . 3.362 kg.

portions of this mixture are to
make nutrient solution, which should

be dissolved in
contain the six

tap water to
main nutrient

units in approximately the following percentage proportions: NO-?

A. T r r-r -r— \ /-S rv !— f-. r-r P«. -n w r~y *■»» J. ^ I • ^

, K , 3 7 ; r vj 4 j

42

traces of
boron and

P04, 7.5; Ca, 6; S04, 3.7
the extra (or microtrophic )
manganese .

Mg, 3.7. It also contains
elements; iron, copper, zinc,

Many other sets of proportions of these main salts, or of
other suitable ones, have been found useful and many different
solution formulas have been recommended by experimenters, as has
been said. Nitrogen is sometimes partly supplied as ammonium
sulphate CCNHUgSO^ , being generally used along with nitrate
(NO.,). At the rate of 1 gram per liter (which gives a good con¬
centration for many plants), this salt mixture should care for
3362 liters of nutrient solution,

3. To prepare a culture tank of nutrient solution: (1)

First fill the horizontal tank with tap water to within about 2
inches of the top, measuring the water required. (2) Weigh out
as many grams of the salt mixture as there are liters of water
in the tank. (One liter is about 1.08 quarts.) (3) Remove about
half of the water from the tank and dissolve the weighed-out salt
mixture in the remaining water, stirring with a wooden paddle.

(4) Add tap water to refill the tank as before, with more stirring;
a water jet from garden hose gives automatic stirring. (5) Adjust
acidity of solution by adding sulphuric acid (HoS04,5-per cent, or
10-per cent, solution) little by little, with thorough stirring, till
the acidity value (pH) is 5.0--5.4. (See below.) For use when
the solution is to be renewed, keep a record of the amount of
Hg304 thus required for each tank of nutrient s olut ion . --It is
well to add some clean common nails to each tank at the start, to
give better assurance that the supply of iron may not become in¬
adequate, and new nails may be added from time to time.

Acidity Tests

Unless adequate care is exercised, freshly prepared nutrient
solution may be either not acid enough or too acid for healthy
plant growth. On the pH scale (used for measuring acidity) neu¬
trality is represented by the value 7.0, and acidity increases
progressively with decreasing pH values. For most plants and
climates such solutions as the one described above should have a
pH value not greater than 6.0 and not less than 5.2--5.0. The
pH value of a solution is most conveniently estimated by means
of a suitable indicator dye whose color changes with the degree
of acidity present. It is convenient to use strips of standard
paper that have been impregnated with the dye and then dried.

(These may be obtained from chemical supply firms--e.g., from
La Motte Chemical Products Co., of Balt imore--or one may purchase

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74

standard dye solution and prepare one's own paper therefrom.)

For testing the acidity of nutrient solutions, one needs a sup¬
ply of paper strips (about 0.25 inch x 3 inches) impregnated with
the dye chlorphenol red, or a supply of strips impregnated with
bromcresol green. BoTR" are good.

The color of a chlorphenol red strip is buff at pH 5*0,
slightly orange at pH5.2, distinctly red-orange at pH 5.4, and
increasingly red at pH 5.6, 5.8, 6.0, Dip the paper slip in
the solution to be tested:: if the color reaction is yellow, the
solution is too acid; if it is only slightly reddish yellow
(orange), the solution acidity is about right; if it is red,
the solution requires addition of acid.

A bromcresol green strip is green or slightly bluish green
at pH 5.0, bluish green or slightly greenish blue at pH 5.2,
definitely blue at pH 5.4, and increasingly blue at pH 5*6, 5.8,
6.0. If strip dipped in solution is yellow or green, solution,
is too acid;' if reaction color is slightly greenish blue, the
solution acidity is about right; if it is distinctly blue, the
solution requires addition of acid.

Freshly made nutrient solution is likely to require addition
of acid (depending on the pH value of the tap water used), and a
solution in which plants have been growing for a week or more is
almost certain to require acid; plants generally reduce the acid¬
ity of the solution. In adjusting solution acidity, add weak
solution of HgSOq, little by little and with thorough stirring,
until color of dipped chlorphenol red strip is buff or only
slightly orange (not red); or until dipped bromcresol green strip
is somewhat more blue than green (not clearly blue). Disregard
the line of brighter color that develops along the margin of the
wet region of the strip as that margin advances by capillarity.

In short, color reaction of adjusted solution should be
reddish yellow (chlorphenol red) or greenish blue (bromcresol
gre en) .

When solution is made up in the tank (at start and at times
of solution renewal), the acidity test may be applied in the tank,
but tests for intervening adjustments may best be applied to
samples taken from the tank. But a test may be made at any time
by attaching a slip of test paper to the end of a slender wood
stick (or glass rod or tube) and thrusting it down into the
solution through the filler opening. Whenever acid has been added,
mixing must be very thorough before the following test is applied.
If too much acid has been added, the acidity is to be reduced by
adding solution of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCOj).

Maintaining the Culture Solution

Nutrient solution is placed in the tank and adjusted for
acidity just before the plant bed is installed and the plants
are started. Test the depth of solution in the tank (with slender
wood stick passed through filler opening) from time to time and
add tap water when the level descends about an inch. The original
charge of solution should be drawn off and discarded after about
a month, and thereafter at intervals of about 3 or 2 weeks. The
growing plants remove salts with increasing rapidity, especially

7 5 .

KN0,3> and it is more convenient to renew the solution as a whole
than to attempt to add salts to it. If at any time plants ap¬
pear unhealthy although acidity of solution has not been too low
(i.e., if pH value has not been too great) , and if the trouble
cannot be traced to diseases or insects, then it is advisable to
renew the solution. (Discarded solution will not harm plants
growing in soil; it may be conducted to lawn or ordinary garden
bed . )

After emptying, the tank is refilled just as it was filled
at the start, but the amount of H2SO4 required may be estimated
from the first experience; add somewhat less acid than was needed
at the start and then add more, little by little with thorough
stirring, till the test paper gives the required color reaction,
(if this limit is passed solution may be brought back to required
acidity by addition of solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking
soda, NaHCOs), with thorough stirring.)

The bed frame is raised at one edge and propped up while
renewal is in progress, but one tries to avoid, as far as possi¬
ble, exposing roots to wind. In stirring solution, avoid me¬
chanical injury to roots.

In the intervals between solution renewals the solution
should be tested frequently (weekly or oftener) for acidity, and
adjusted when necessary. Acidity adjustment without renewal is
accomplished by removing a measured sample (1 liter or 1 quart)
of solution-- by means of a- rubber-tube siphon through the filler
opening or by dipping while the bed frame is temporarily raised
--and applying test paper to the sample . If sample is not acid
enough, add 1-per cent, solution of HgSC^ to it, with stirring,
till color reaction is right. This is best done from a burette
or with a pipette. Note amount of 1-per cexnt . acid required,
compute amount of acid to be added to solution in tank, lift bed
frame and add somewhat less than that amount of H2SO4, stirring
thoroughly; add more acid, little by little and with thorough
stirring, till color reaction is right. For testing a sample
(1 liter or 1 quart) use 1-per cent, acid, but stronger acid
may be used for the tank, according to requirements. (10 milli¬
liters of 1-per cent, acid carries the same amount of HgSOq as

1 milliliter of 10-per cent, acid, etc.) Sulphuric acid stronger
than 10-per cent, should not be used; a solution of that strength
may be diluted with tap water to give weaker solution. (1 ml,
of 10-per cent, solution and 9 ml. of water give 10 ml. of 1-per
cent, solution, etc.) Danger 1 To make a 5- or 10-per cent, so¬
lution of H2SO4 from concentrated acid exercise great care; intro¬

duce the strong acid little by little into a large volume of water
and stir thoroughly meanwhile.

For all tnese tests it is almost necessary to have a 25-ml.
or 50-ml . burette (reading to 0.1 ml.) and a suitable support,
also a graduated cylinder (100 ml. or larger). A 'graduated
pipette holding 10 ml. and reading to 1 mi. is very convenient.

vC'Vf'Vi

76

SOME FLOWERS OF APRIL
By C. Haven Kolb, Jr.

March had it
skunk cabbage, he
small dandelions,
the tiny white bl
pendent catkins o
at all by the car
the first days of
under way.

s flowers, lowly and little noticed -- the fet
Id close in the embrace of the ice-rimmed swam
fearing to raise their heads into the chill a
ossoms of chickweed and Whitlow grass; and the
f the alder and poplar, scarce considered bios
eless woodland stroller. But it is only now w
April that the real season of blooming gets

id

ir ;

s oms
ith

Etched into the ancient rocks the deep gorges of the Patapsco
and Gunpowder trace sinuously across the piedmont and debouch
upon the coastal plain a short distance south and north of Balti¬
more. Upon the steep south and westward-facing slopes of these
wooded canyons the wild gardens of April are to be found. Here,
protected from the cold northeastern winds of early spring and
fostered by the warm afternoon sun and long rains, tthe loved
blossoms lift their tender heads from the pre-formed buds in the
ieaf-rnold with startling rapidity.

The ground is springy under foot, the sky is baby-blue above,
while round about us shimmers the light green haze of budding
trees. Along the floor of the little ravine the green spears of
garlic stand in squads among the brown leaves and close by the
water the more yellowish green swords of the day-lilies are push¬
ing upward in clumps.

A little farther and we find our first flowers. Strewn care¬
lessly along the path, their weak stalks leaning upon each other
or half -recumbent upon the moist ground, the fresh stars of the
spring-beauty look up at us from random constellations. Some are
white with delicate pink lines traced upon the five petals, others
nave a pale blush throughout, and a few range from pure white to
light rose. They love the moisture and we shall leave them be¬
hind as we presently climb the hillside. But before we ascend we

are att

r acted by

the strik

ing

flower

of

the dog's-t

ooth vi

olet or

adder ' s

-tongue .

A golden

be

11

when h

alf

opened, th

is flow

er is

eas ily

recognized

1 as a tru

e

li

ly when

the six yelio

w petal

s and

sepals

are fully

recurved ,

c

on

spicuously

reveal ing

the lar

ge,

dark br

own stamens. The w

id

e

leaves

are

nearly as

interes

t ing

as the

flowers .

They are

da

rk

green,

bo

ld;ly mottled

with r

ich

brown.

Wow we come to the first slope of the hill and new blossoms
are spread out before us. The four palest-pink petals of the
toothwort form little crosses in a cluster above the jagged leaves
which give the plant its name. Its stalks are sturdy, but beside
it, rising to an equal height, are the slim stems of the anemone,
the windflower, so called because the slightest air current sets
the delicate plant to trembling. Its five-parted flowers are
white or faintly pink as they nod continuously on their threadlike
stems .

No

p e t a 1 e d

blush mars the immaculate purity of the bloodroot's many-
flower. This gold-filled chalice of swan's down white

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77.

gives no hint of the sanguinary dye which stains its inner tissues
and betrays its name.

Upward now, among the gray outcrops of rock. The earth is
no longer sticky with mud; it is soft and crumbly and smells
strongly of warmth and life as we scrape away the musty leaf-mold
in search of upland plants. In little bits of soil cupped in the
rocks, the tiny flowers of the saxifrage stick their heads up on
short hairy stalks, bringing with them the breath of bleak northern
tundras, ancestral home of their clan.

Almost a stranger now is this little creeping plant. Love
has been the doom of the trailing arbutus in many localities.

The chaste pink clusters of flowers against the leathery bronze-
green leaves, the ineffable fragrance vaguely suggesting the whole
of springtime yearning, these properties have caused it to be
ripped ungently from the earth for use as a sign of human gentle¬
ness.

And last, here are the trilobed leaves of hepatica. From
the center of a clump in the crevice of a rock rise the soft and
simple flowers, white, pinkish, and the cleanest, fairest lavender
in all the world.

There is a tenderness, an innocence, a virginity, in the
pastel shades and delicate textures of these April flowers. Of
diverse habits, all share alike the aura of newness. Color will
be more vivid later, forms more complex, but never again in the
rolling of the year will we have among flowers the simple, child¬
like charm of April's flora.

April, the month of opening, of the first display -- far back
in antiquity Latin herdsmen, watching the flowers spring up along
the Tiber gave us that name. And today, we, ’walking beside less
time-hallowed waters, once more may see this awakening.

■vr-rifwr

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH

Meet ings
March 1

3

7

10

14

21

25

28

and Lectures at the Society

- Mineral Club.

- Bird Club.

- Lecture by Rev. John H. Brosnan, S.J., "Volcanoes in
General, a Few in particular with Special Color Reel
of Kilauea in Action".

- Plant Club,

- Talk by ’ . Wilmer Bell, "Chemistry of Rhythmic
Band ings . "

- Talk by Mr. Edward Crosby, "New Methods in Developers
and Developing Negatives in Regard to Natural History
Subjects " .

- Annual Meeting and Tenth Anniversary Celebration.

- Talk by Mr. Price Piquett, "Be e Keeping" .

Junior Division

March 4 - General Assembly ,Mr.E . B. Fladung, Discussion of
Annual Meeting.

11 - Talk by . William Norman, "Turtles of Maryland",
Mr. Joseph Bures, "Art in Natural History".

•9 V. 1:3

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18 - Talk: by Miss Helen Klinke, "Water Conservation".

25 - Annual Meeting and Tenth Anniversary Celebration of
Society.

Lectures ,
March 6

6

8

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13

Exhibitions and School Loans

- Junior High School No. 1, Lecture by Mr. Elra M.
assisted by Mr. Jarne.s Leake, '"Maryland Snakes".

- Troop 13, Boy Scouts of America, Loan of Birds.

- Maryland State Teachers* College, Lecture by Mr.
C. K1 ingel, "A Naturalist’s Quest in Inagua".

- Maryland State Teachers' College, 'Loan of Birds.

- Branch 11, Enoch Pratt Library, Exhibit of Birds
Bird Nests.

- Patterson Park Junior High School, Lecture by Mr.
Oscar Helm, "Shells and Their Structure".

Palmer

Gilbert

and

15 - Pimlico School, Loan of Insects.

17 - Hagerstown Girl Scout Troop. Exhibit of Insects.

17 - Elkridge High School. Loan of Birds.

19 - Hagerstown High School. Exhibit of Insects.

20 - Field Stone Garden Club. Lecture by Mr. Irving E.

Hampe, "Our Winter Birds".

School No. 215. Loan of Birds.

21 - Public School Exhibit, Loan of Insect Habitat Group.

Also gift of Insects.

24 - Maryland State Teachers' College. Loan of Lantern

Slides .

25 - Tenth Anniversary Celebration of Society, Sears

Community House, Banquet, entertainment and lecture.
Lecture by Mr. Benjamin Kurtz of the National Museum,
"Indian Tribes of America". Illustrated with motion
pictures .

CLUB NOTICE

As there are many members who would like to pursue the study
of one or more nature subjects, the Society has inaugurated a
series of Clubs for this purpose.

Mineral Club - First Wednesday of each month.

Bird Club - First Friday of each month.

Plant Club - Second Friday of each month.

Photographic Club - Third Friday of each month.

Herpetology Club - Every Saturday at 7:00 P. M.

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The Natural History

Society of Maryland

INS/7/7/

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Volume IX MAY, 1939 Number 9

GROWING AND TRANSPLANTING
SOME NATIVE FLOWERS

By Andrew Simon

(Note: For some years Mr. Simon has been growing and ex¬

perimenting with nearly one hundred varieties of wild
flowers . )

Firepink

Firepink (Silene virginica), is a rather uncommon and much
sought for little plant, which grows in loose, gravelly soil or on
the open cliffs. The dense tuft of foliage with the bright pink
single flower an inch broad grows from the thick surface of the
root stalk to a height of four to six inches. It is one of our
best wild flowers for sunny rock planting.

The Firepink will propagate freely from cuttings taken in
early fall and put in mixtures of peat moss and sand. Moreover it
will also grow very well from its own seed dropped in crevices in
the rock garden. Its roots are from twelve to twenty-four inches
long and grow best in between fissures and disintegrating rocks.

Since the roots go so far to feed, the plant should not be mulched,
but should be grown in quite poor and gritty soil, and not in clay
or deep rich soil. And the plants should never be watered, as this
tends to rot the crown. Nature provides the Firepink with sufficient
water .

In transplant ing only the younger plants should be dug up;
the older ones have their roots in too deep. Lift the small young
plants out of the ground, free of soil, and as much of the roots
as possible (which would be about eight to twelve inches long) and
replant them in rock gardens as deep as they were in nature, so
that the crown always rests on stone or grit.

BULLETIN

Pink Moccasin Flower
(Cypripe&ium acaule )

80.

The Firepink never "dies back" as most perennials do. Instead,
every year it adds to its growth, increasing about one-half inch to
an inch. August and September are the best months for transplanting
this wild flower.

It should be remembered that the Firepink cannot thrive if
planted near other plants or trees; consequently it must be placed
in the open away from them.

Pink Moccasin Flower

The Pink Moccasin Flower (Cypripedium acaule) is an inhabitant
of our woods and forests, where it grows in the thick leafmold, as
well as in the thin poorer soil under Baltimore County conifers. Of
singular beauty is its single large pink flower which grows on a
stem ten to fifteen inches high. Two dark green basal leaves com¬
plete the picture. It is in flower in late May and early June.

This species must live in an acid soil, for the plant cannot
thrive in an alkali one. Also while it will grow in drier places
than other species of Ladysl ippers , in t ransplant ing it must be
kept moist until it has a foothold.

In Baltimore County I have found the plant commonly under Oak
trees, Pine trees, near Laurel, Rhododendron, Blueberry, Cedar,
and Shad bush, and Dogwood. These species are likewise partial
to acid soil.

By the end of June, the plants have completed their growth for
that year, and they can be safely transplanted in July, August, and
September .

It is of interest to note that the roots of the Pink Ladyslipper
grow sideways about eight to ten inches from the stalk, and must
not be cut, since roots once cut have no power to continue grow¬
ing; all roots must start from the base.

In transplanting, young plants should be used which can be dug
up like sod (from eight to ten inches across and three inches deep)
and once transplanted they should never be watered although in
very dry season they may be given extra mulch.

Striped Pipsissewa

The Striped Pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata) is generally
found growing in dry pine woods, or near old Chestnut stumps and
under Oak trees. It has white flowers, and leaves which are
splotched with white along the midrib. Frequently the plant forms
colonies of from one stalk to several hundreds, for its root
stalks creep along, spreading this way and that. Acid soil is
best for this plant. A covering of Pine needles on a heavy mulch
of Oak leaf mold is therefore beneficial.

Pipsissewa should be transplanted in late summer or early
autumn and should be mulched heavily to keep from heaving as it
will freeze if it heaves. When transplanting this species, one
should treat it like sod. Use a spade or shovel, and cut out

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81.

pieces of soil about twelve inches wide and twelve to fifteen inches
long with a depth of two or three inches.

Every fall these plants should receive an extra amount of mulch
as they would in nature when the leaves fall. Actually Pipsissewa
will grow in a very shallow' soil no deeper than a few inches lnas“
much as - it procures its food from these decaying leaves, roots,
and needles that lie near the surface.

The best way to propagate the plant is to allow it to seed,
thereby starting small colonies, and these may be dug up as de¬
scribed above.

Birdsfoot Violet

The Birdsfoot Violet (Viola pedata), one of our lovliest
native violets, is not quite so common as several of our other
species of violets, although it will be found abundantly in some
places where there is dry, sandy soil and open woods.

This neat compact plant of beautiful foliage ■ grows
about three inches tall and in late April and early May is covered
with large blue flowers an inch or more across.

The Birdsfoot violets are the easiest of our finer native
flowers to transplant, if supplied with the necessary sun, soil
and slope condition. The roots which need a very deep soil not
rich but very gritty, sandy and stony, will go down to about eight
to twelve inches. These plants will seed freely so that the seed¬
lings may be dug up quite easily.

Near Sweet Fern, Dwarf Blueberry, and Laurel, the Birdsfoot
violets grow prolif ically, but they cannot withstand the roots of
any large trees and must grow in the open and receive abundance of
sunlight. Frequently they will be noticed growing on _ slopes con¬
taining quartz gravel, on hillsides consisting of disintegrated
feldspar and weathered quartzite.

It is interesting to note that the Birdsfoot violet is an
evergreen aril winter but it is without leaves all late summer and
early fall. Consequently summer and early fall are the best times
to transplant this flower in the type of soil referred to above.

It is always best to transplant wild flowers in that period when
they are not actively growing.

This plant is another that should never be watered after it is
established as nature takes care of it very well.

THE MYSTERY OF BIRD MIGRATION
By Gorman J. Bond

With the coming of spuing and the presence of many birds which
have been absent throughout the winter, it is quite natural that
we should give some thought to the great mystery of bird migration.

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For more than two thousand years, this great phenomon of
nature has interested if not bewildered all those who have witnessed
it. Then too, there was much speculation as to just where the birds
spent the winter months. There were those who thought that they
hibernated in the mud, while others contended that they flew to
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have been learned.

Why do birds migrate? At least two theories have been advanced
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the United States and Canada, before the Ice Age, were located in
a lush and semi-tropical climate; therefore migration was not neces¬
sary, but as the glacial era approached, the cold weather produced
a slack in the food supply. This caused the birds to go farther
south to obtain their food, or starve for lack of nourishment. As
this transition was very slow, the ice approaching and then re¬
treating gradually, the continual advancing and retreating of the
birds caused them to develop a kind of habit which was adopted as
an instinct in the succeeding generations. At the height of the
Ice Age the birds were confined almost wholly to Central and South
America; but the instinct of migration has been so inculcated in
the birds over a period of years, that when the ice finally retreat¬
ed to its present position, the birds continued to go north at the
retreat of cold weather and south as the icy winds of winter ap¬
proached .

In this theory, you see that the bird’s strongest instinct is
the love of home and the impulse to get to the place of its birth
as soon as possible; some birds being so compelled to come north
that they face icy winds and starvation rather than return to the
South. Those who oppose this theory say that if the love of home
is the reason for migration, why do some birds leave their homes
for the south as soon as nesting is over, some even leaving so
early that their young are forced to shift for themselves.

According to the other theory, the south has always been the
real home of the birds, but as over production causes over-popu¬
lation, the birds set out for breeding grounds further north as
the retreating ice left vast areas of uninhabited land. But as the
south was still their home, they left their breeding grounds as
soon as nesting was completed. This explains, as the proponents of
this theory claim, why so many birds leave for the south as soon
as their breeding and nesting duties are over.

Whichever theory is accepted, we must realize that it is a
physiological force from within more than anything else which
prompts these birds to start their great exodus northward when
Spring begins; because in the sultry jungles of the Amazon, there
are no temperature changes to tell that Spring is beginning in the
north.

Why some birds migrate by day and others by night may be
easily explained if we note the birds which use these different
mediums. The great families of birds which include the Orioles,
Flycatchers, Thrushes, Tanagers, Warblers, etc,, are night migrants.

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83.

The night migrants include to a great extent all those small birds
to which darkness offers a protective cloak from the predatory
hawks which are so prevalent during migration. On the other hand
the day migrants may include the Nighthawks and Swifts, but these
fast flyers have little trouble eluding their predatory cousins.

It appears then that protection is the main factor in migration,
to small birds. Such birds as Ducks, Geese, and Hawks to which
food supply rather than protection is the main factor, migrate by
day .

The spoed of birds in migration is very slow, averaging rough¬
ly 25 miles per day. There is, of course, a great variation in
this rate according to the species. Those species migrating at
night average greater distances than those migrating by day.

Migration causes many unusual occurrences in the bird popu¬
lation of a certain area. Many species are seen at migration
time which are seen at no other time of the year. As an illus¬
tration, note the R obin which is found throughout the year in
the middle section of the United States, but in Florida only in
the winter, and in Canada only in the summer.

An account of migration would not be complete without men¬
tioning, that champion of migrants, the Arctic Tern, which flies
11,000 miles from its home in the Arctic to its winter home in
the Antarctic, and back again in Spring. This trip takes about
ten weeks in each direction. Another unusual migrant is the
Golden Plover, wnich launches out over the Atlantic at Nova Scotia,
and flies over the open ocean to the West Indies, across the Gulf
of Mexico and into South America where it comes to rest on the
pampas of Argentina.

Over a period of years a great amount of information has been
collected as to the migration of birds, their routes, destinations,
winter habitats, impulses, and other useful and interesting miscel-
lania. However, much is to be learned even about the most common
species. For instance, the winter home of the Chimney Swift has
remained a mystery to science for many years, and it has only
been recently that the breeding grounds of the Blue Goose have
been noted, a nest being finally found on the southwestern end of
Baffin Island. With the spread of bird-banding by the government
and by individuals, it is to be hoped that more genuinely useful
information can be obtained which may clear up some of the myster¬
ies of migration that have been existing for years.

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM
Butterflies

On almost any Sunday or Saturday, when one goes to the Museum,
can be seen boys and girls standing before the exhibit on Maryland
butterflies and moths.

The collecting of butterflies seems to have been the beginning
of interest in nature study for many of our naturalists. It was

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84

so with the writer and most of our members who are now engaged in
other branches of Natural History.

One can easily see why this is so. Butterflies are attract¬
ive. Their coloring and airiness fascinates the young and the
possession of a number of these specimens is truly a delight and
never ending source of pleasure.

Maryland is fortunate in that there are so many species and
such beautiful ones. There are approximately 125 species -- from
the lordly Tiger Swallowtail measuring approximately five inches
across the wings to the tiny Tailed Blue with a wing expanse of
about o/4 inches. Between these two extremes we have every size
and many colors. Butterflies are on the wing sometime in April
and even earlier if we chance to have a warm day. On such a day
the Mourning Cloak, one of the few butterflies to over-winter in
the adult stage, leaves its hibernation. Often a premature
Cabbage Butterfly or Checkered-white is seen flying about in the
warm sunlight. In May more species may be seen and by the middle
of June and July the height of the season is on. This continues
to late October when suddenly they all seem to have disappeared.
Sometimes in the very early fall one car^ witness the migration
of the Monarch. Thousands of these airy creatures can be seen
flying to where no one knows , because they never return.

Much can be written about this most interesting insect, for
each species has a life history which is of interest, but space
does not permit.

A collection such as we have in the Museum
butterflies commonly seen. They must be replace
as the strong light from the sun causes them to
Nevertheless a Museum without such a collection

consists of those
d at intervals
lose their color,
would be incomplete.

E . 3 . F .

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL

Meet ings
April 4

5

11

14
18

21

25

28

15

and Lectures at the Society

- Talk by Mr, Joseph White, "A Visit to Mt . Katahdin".

- Mineral Club.

- Talk by Mr. Clyde Reed, "Lichens".

- Bird Club.

- Talk by Mr. Allen Bonwill, "Bird Houses •- A Lesson
in Conservation".

- photographic Club.

- Talk by Mr. Andrew Simon, "Our Native Perennials".

- Plant Club.

- Annual Meeting of Board of Trustees. The following
officers were elected: President, Edmund B. Fladung;
Vice-president, Gilbert C. Klingel; Secretary, John B.
Calder; Treasurer, A. Llewellyn Jones. Trustees for
Class 1939 were reelected to Class 1942: Dr. Howard A.
Kelly, Howard W. Jackson, and John B. Calder

Junior Division

April 1 - Talk by John Norman, "Spring peepers"

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85

April 1
1
8
8
15
15
22
22
29

- Talk by Norman Black, "The Cicada Killer."

- Herpetological Club.

- Talk by Ralph Powell, "Semi-Precious Stones".

- Herpetological Club.

- Talk by Elias Cohen, "Catching Poisonous Snakes",

- Herpetological Club.

- Talk by Wilmer Davison, "Fish".

- Herpetological Club.

- Parents night. Lecture by Mr. Howard B. Owens and
Mr. Allen Bonwill, "Muskeg - Two Expeditions into the
North of Canada".

Lectures
April 1
3

11

13

22

22

24

Exhibitions and School Loans .

- Baltimore City College, Loan of Shells.

- Baltimore City College, Loan of Fluorite Minerals
and Arsenic Ore.

- School 99, Loan of Habitat Croup.

- Baltimore City College, Loan of Fossil Shells.

- School 99, Loan of Birds.

- Biological Teachers Convention at Eastern High School
Exhibit of Habitat Groups, Birds and Minerals.

Miss Helen Besley was elected to the Council and also
Secretary. Miss Besley and Mr. John 3. Calder repre¬
sented the Society on the Council.

Next year's convention will be at St. John's College,
Annapolis, Maryland.

- Eastern High School, Loan of three Habitat Croups.

CLUB NOTICE

As there are many members who would like to pursue the study
of one or more nature subjects, the Society has inaugurated a
series of Clubs for this purpose.

Mineral Club - First Wednesday of each month.

Bird Club - First Friday of each month.

Plant Club - Second Friday of each month.

Photographic Club - Third Friday of each month.

Herpetology Club - Every Saturday at 7:00 P. M.

AC- '(.v

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7 lie Natural History

Society of Maryland

Volume IX JUNE, 1939 Number 10

VARIATIONS IN CERTAIN SPECIES OF CLUPEIDAE
POSSESSING- A WIDE ENVIRONMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

By David H« Wallace
Assistant Fishery Biologist
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
Solomons Island, Maryland

Variations due to environment have been observed in widely
diversified animal groups. Among the several papers dealing with
variations in molluscs, mention may be made of the contribution by
Adams (1915) who found conspicuous downstream increase, with re¬
spect to weight and spinocity, in the shells of the genus Io .

Rensch (1930) brought the European literature up to date, and in
1936, Newcombe and Kessler (1936) who studied weight variation
in the soft-shelled clam, May arenaria, on the Atlantic Coast
(Bay of Fundy to Che s ap e aFe” "Bay ) f ouncT that shell weights were
lighter in the more southern latitudes* Additional invertebrate
studies in this field include the contributions of Woltereck (1932),
on certain Cladocera, and Tower (1918), on the beetle Leptinotarsa *

Fishes show variations in certain meristic characters such
as fin rays, vertebrae, gill rakers, and ventral scutes as well
as in body proportions. Present knowledge does not warrant
attributing all these variations to environmental factors alone,
or, with rare exception, to any single variant. In reviewing
certain aspects of the subject (Vladykov, 1934) concluded that
only three factors are of major importance, namely, temperature,
space and salinity. These do not always work In the same di¬
rections, and thus the results are sometimes obscured. Schmidt
(1917-1930) probably has done the best and most striking investi¬
gations on fishes.

Much of Schmidt's work was done on Zoarces, in which an at¬
tempt was made to correlate meristic v a r i at ions with hydro-
graphical changes. In 1930, his results on the North Atlantic
cod correlated strikingly with temperature, and led him to attach
major significance to this factor. Hubbs (1934), mentions the
possible importance of siltiness of water as a modifying factor.

BULLETIN

Our results, based upon the examination of over seven hundred Shad
(Alosa sapidissima) , from along the Atlantic Coast, definitely
show the existence of local fish populations. The variations
follow the general rule that in a north- south direction the number
of vertebrae and fin rays are higher in the north, decreasing -
toward the south. Additional meristic studies have shown that
more than one striped bass (Roccus saxatilis) population exists
within the confines of the Che s ap e ake~Bay". “in twenty-five hundred
specimens of bass, the number of vertebrae was found to be constant
at twenty-five. However, in the northern part of the bay, the fish
have a higher number of rays in the dorsal and anal fins than those
in the southern part (James River).

The findings on these two species seemed to indicate that
variations could take place in anadronomous species along the
Atlantic Coast as well as within the Chesapeake Bay river systems.

A small number of specimens of herring (Pomolobus pseudoharengus
and P. aestivalis) from Now York, Chesapeake Bay and North Carolina
a 1 s o' were examined for variations in numbers of vertebrae, and
ventral scutes as well as in body proportions. Chesapeake Bay
samples were collected from two river systems, namely, the Susque¬
hanna and the Choptank. The fish from the former area were hatched
in all probability, under conditions of temperature higher than
those from the Choptank area. Since spawning took place in fresh
water, salinity does not play an important part. The waters from
the Susquehanna River, flow swiftly and contain small amounts of
silt and suspended matter in comparison with the Choptank, which
drains large areas of flat, sub-marginal land and acquires large
amounts of suspended matter. All specimens examined were of a
comparable size, ranging from 40-90 mm in length, measured from
the tip of the snout to the end of scales on the caudal fin.

The specimens were stained in.jtp.to in a seventy per cent alcohol
solution saturated with alizerine and the vertebrae and ventral
scutes counted with the aid of a low power binocular microscope.

All body proportion measurements were made in the standard manner.

The results from the data accrued bear out the findings on
Shad and Striped bass. The herrings of New York exhibit a higher
average number of vertebrae and ventral scutes than those of cither
Chesapeake Bay or North Carolina fish while the depth of the body
was greater In the more southerly sample than in the two more
northerly ones. Less consistent variations occur in the head
length and eye diameter bearing out observations made by other
workers (Vladykov, 1934). Even within the Chesapeake Bay this
variation seems to hold true for two of the larger river systems
examined. Specimens from the Susquehanna Region possess a higher
average number of vertebrae and ventral scutes than the Choptank
River section v/hile in the latter area the fishes have slightly
deeper bodies. This strongly suggests characteristic schools in
the various river systems, and it would seem that the two somewhat
markedly different environments would be at least partially re¬
sponsible. The factors stated above which probably contribute
most toward variation in these fishes are temperature and the sus¬
pended matter in the water. The establishment of these apparent
trends toward speciation, seemingly so active in the Chesapeake
Bay, must await further study before final conclusions may be drawn

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■

A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE REPTILES AND
AMPHIBIANS OF CA TOC TIN NATIONAL PARK, MARYLAND

By H. Charles Robertson

This great National Park is situated in Frederick County
in the Blue Ridge Mountains about seventy-five miles from Balti¬
more. It is more popularly known as the Catoctin Recreational
Center, and is but a few miles from Thurmont . During the early
spring of 1938 I decided to make a survey of the reptiles and
amphibians of this section, and to give special attention to the
life histories and habits of the more common species.

Upon entering the Park, when coming from Thurmont, the road
for some distance runs along the foot of a mountain and is quite
rocky. Winding alongside the road flows Hunting Creek, a crystal
clear mountain stream, which during the trout season lures many
f ishermen.

When I started my survey the Park had not yet been opened to
the public. The picnic and parking areas were still being cleared
and these made ideal places to make observations after the workmen
had left. Their clearing and leveling off of the large patches of
woodland left hardly an unturned stone, so that a number of rep¬
tiles and amphibians which ordinarily would hardly have been seen
were making their way into the dense surrounding forest. Many
snakes, especially the Mountain Blacksnake (Elaphe obsolete obsoleta)
were destroyed by the workmen. Had the men been better informed
about the economic value of certain snakes, this useless slaughter
would hardly have been committed. However it is true that the
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and the Copperhead Snake
(Agkistrodon mokasen) are fairly abundant throughout the Park,
and constitute a hazard for men doing such work there.

On my first trip to the picnic area I found that much grading
had been done that day leaving the clearing with a blanket of
soft fresh earth. Turtles and salamanders were still crawling
about in a confused manner, apparently looking for shelter. The
remains of a number of Mountain Blacksnakes were found scattered
about, the reptiles having been caught in the machinery used to
level off the ground.

Listed hereunder are most of the amphibians and reptiles
collected or observed during the season of 1938.

Red Eft. (Triturus vir idescens viridescens) - Fig. 1

Two specimens of the terrestrial phase of this species were
collected. Both were found in a heavily wooded area where the
sunlight rarely, if ever, reached the ground. The ground was damp
and the rocks on the forest floor were heavily carpeted with moss.

These specimens were slightly under three inches in length
when measured. The coloration above was bright red with two rows
of dorso-lateral dark red spots outlined with black; the under¬
side was lighter, almost orange and was stippled with black. The
eyes were golden yellow, and the pupils were jet black. No costal
grooves were present as on other salamanders.

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FIG-. 2 SLIMY SALAHAUnSR

Pletiiodon glutinosus
(natural )

FIG. 1 RED EFT

Tritiums viridescens
(natural size)

v.

RED SALAL.L4NDER
Pseudotriton ruber
ruber (natural size

Red-backed Salamander

:o,

- (plethodon cinereus)

Only one specimen, which was found under a flat stone, was
recorded. The altitude was about 2,000 feet. A slender species
and the neck much narrower than the head. The ground color was
brownish black, and the sides were specked with white. A wide
brick red dorsal stripe was present. Costal grooves numbered
nineteen.

Slimy Salamander - (Plethodon glutinosus) Fig. 2

A number of these salamanders were found in the trunk of an
old decayed tree. When the tree trunk was broken open at least
a dozen specimens went scurrying about. Expecting a sight such
as this, I was ready to catch as many as possible, which was
finally one 1

These salamanders are very quick of movement and almost
immediately disappear into the soft wood pulp. An abundance of
food in the form of grubs wqs in the old trunk and time and
again when the wood pulp was turned over I usually found a speci
men. The sizes ranged from two inches to six inches in length,
depending upon the age of the creatures. Taken elsewhere in the
Park, a slimy salamander measured seven inches, over-all length.

The ground color of this salamander is jet black, and is
speckled on the dorso-lateral area with small irregularly shaped
silvery white spots.

A few slimy salamanders were observed on trails at night,
which suggests nocturnal habits.

The Red Salamander (pseudotriton ruber ruber) - Fig. 3

One adult specimen was found under a stone. Elevation
about 1,900 feet. Length of this specimen five inches.

The body was bright red with small black spots scattered
over the dorsal area. The underside was lighter, almost pink.

Also recorded were several specimens of the very common
Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus fuscus), and three Long-
Tailed Salamanders (Eurycea longicauda).

The toads and frogs collected will merely be listed, inas¬
much as a detailed article concerning them will be published on
a later date.

(Bufo arnericanus) (Holbrook)
(Bufo fowler i) (Garrnan)

(Rana clamitans ) (Latreille)
(Rana pipiens) (Schreber)
(Rana palustris) (LeConte)
(Rana sylvatica) (LeConte)

The amphibians listed
everywhere in the park.

The American Toad
Fowler's Toad
Green Frog
Leopard Frog
Pickerel Frog
Wood Frog

above were fairly abundant, and found

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FIG. g EASTERN PAINTED TURTLE

Chrysemys picta (natural size)

FIG. 5 WOOD TURTLE

Cleiamys insculpta (X 1/3)

The Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta.) - Fig. 4

One of the most beautifully marked turtles In Maryland- - -
was found to be abundant in ponds and streams in the Park. Actu¬
ally their distribution is State wide. The carapace of this
species is smooth and the edges are rounded. On old specimens
the carapace is dark brown or black. The large shields are
bordered with yellowish green, and the outer or marginal shields
are marked with crescent -shape d blotches of brilliant red. The
plastron is wide, and uniform orange in color. Close examination
of very old specimens will disclose that the red markings on the
outer shields have faded and are indistinct. Young specimens
are much more vivid in coloration.

The adults reach a length of six inches. These turtles feed
only while submerged, taking hold of and swallowing most of the
aquatic insects and also feeding upon small fishes, tadpoles and
some aquatic plants. All food is devoured while the turtle is
under water; tadpoles and the like are torn to bits by the sharp
claws of the fore feet. Out of water the turtle cannot swallow
its food.

The painted turtle deposits whitish eggs about 3/4 of an inch
in length by about 7/16 of an inch in diameter.

Not all of their time is spent in the water, for they may be
found wandering about a long way from a pond or stream. They
make attractive specimensin the aquarium.

The Wood or Sculptured Turtle (Clemmys insculpta) Pig. 5

This turtle is one of the first reptiles I observed in the
Park. Rarely was it found in or near the water. In the heavily
wooded areas where the ground is damp one will likely find Wood
Turtles .

One adult specimen collected measured eight inches in length
which is large for this species. The average length of the Wood
Turtles found throughout this area seems to be nearer to five
inches .

The carapace is brown and the plates are roughly sculptured
with concentric lines. Hence another popular name, the Sculptured
Turtle. The plastron is smooth and is yellowish orange. A large
blotch of black is present on the outer edge of each plate. The
head and upper side of the limbs are black. Underneath the legs
and other fleshy parts are brick red.

Plants comprise the chief food of the Wood Turtle. Leaves
of plants, grasses, and berries seem to be preferred. Snails,
young frogs and salamanders are sometimes eaten. I found that
when in captivity they are fond of raw beef, which they savagely
tear into shreds with their powerful legs and sharp claws. Soon
after capture these turtles seem to quickly become adjusted to
their new surroundings, and will take food from one’s hand.

Seven to ten eggs are deposited during the latter part of
June and as late as the middle of July. They are deposited singly,

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and the average size is about 32 mm. long and about 21 mm. wide;
sever®,! were 35 mm. long and 23 mm. wide. During the early part of
the incubation period the outward appearance of the egg changes
but little. The rate of growth of the eggs I checked, seemed to
be very slow at first, compared with eggs of equal size from other
species. Many nests of eggs were found containing eggs which I
believe were Wood Turtle eggs. All of the nests were shallow,
being about three inches deep, and had been crudely scooped out by
the females. In some cases the loose earth barely covered the
eggs. Most nests were found in clearings and were on the south
and southwest slopes of the mountains. Other than in this Park
the only place I have found the Wood Turtle in Maryland is farther
west in the Allegheny Mountains, near Oakland and Swanton in
Garrett County. A young specimen said to be collected in Washington
County was given to me about four years ago.

The Wood Turtle seems to be able to withstand much cold. One
morning in November following a night when there had been a heavy
frost, I observed a specimen crawling slowly through the woods.
Apparently hibernation takes place in the mud along the banks of
streams; two specimens were dug from the bank along Big Hunting
Creek.

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

In our Museum is an excellent display of Indian pottery.

This consists mostly of fragments or portions of pots, and parts
of a rim and bottom of a bowl. Sometimes a whole side has been
saved. Only one complete pot is exhibited in the Museum and this
is from South Carolina. We have collected none nearly so complete
in Maryland, and are using this example to illustrate an entire
pot.

Why is it so difficult to show unbroken Indian pottery? On
visiting our Archaeological laboratory one will see heaps upon
heaps of fragments of pottery from various localities throughout
the state. Here the job of assembling is under way. Here is a
veritable jigsaw puzzle. These fragments are fitted and cemented
together. This is an almost endless job, for the pieces are all
shapes with all sorts of designs. Many times the worker spends
hours without being able to fit two pieces together. How many
vessels these pieces represent is hard to tell, but they must
certainly represent many. Seldom is a whole pot found.

In the collection of the Society is one small pot from Mary¬
land nearly complete and another much larger pot with a large
portion missing. Even the large pot on display from South Carolina
has parts missing, which are filled in with plaster, as can be
seen.

This is due to many reasons. One is that pots are fragile
and easily broken; another is that many of the Indian Village sites
are upon farms, and the plows have broken up the larger pieces.

Also our Maryland Indians moved from place to place, seldom re¬
maining in one locality for any length of time, and all broken
and unusable utensils were left behind. The pots were not glazed

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and since many were not well fired, they were easily broken.

Last but not least, civilization gradually encroached upon
the village sites, and the contents were disturbed and distri¬
buted before the archaeologists could get to them.

Anyone interested in Indian pottery can obtain a good idea
of its use in Maryland by studying the exhibit in the Maryland
House. E# Bo Fe

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF MAY

Meetings

May 1T~ -

3 -

5 -

6 -

9 -

12 -
16 -

19 -

20 -

23 -

and Lectures at the Society

Lecture" 'by Dr". ’Mark’" Seen s' t , "Are the Continents Drifting"?
Mineral Club Meeting.

Bird Club Meeting.

Herpetology Club Meeting.

Talk by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "Conservation from One Point
of Education" .

Plant Club Meeting.

Talk by Mr. Frank Yingling, "Fly Casting" .

Photography Club Meeting.

Herpetology Club Meeting.

Talk by Mr. Richard Stearns, "Photo Engraving".

Junior Division

May 6 - “Talk by Mr. Carl Oertel, "My Experiences in the British Isles"
13 - Talk by Mr. Erwin Raabe, "The Trapdoor Spider in Maryland".

20 - Talk by Miss Edna Jurgens, "Science Exhibits at the New

York World’s Fair." Talk by Mr. Carl Oertel, "Rock Hall, Md."
27 - Talk by Mr, Clyde Reed, "Wasps".

Lectures,
May T -

2 -

3 -

4 -

10
10

11

11

11

13
16

17

18
22

Exhibitions and Schoo l__Lo an s
Equitable' Trust Company - "Loan of Mammals.
Hagerstown High School - Loan of Preserved Snakes.
Baltimore City College - Loan of Minerals and Tree
Biology Club, Eastern High School, Talk by Miss
Byrns, "Maryland Reptiles".

Pimlico School #223 - Loan of Dragonflies

Specimens •
Janet

Baltimore

"Maryland

Baltimore

"Maryland

Baltimore

"Colonial

Baltimore

"Colonial

Evening High School,

O

Lecture

by

E.

Lecture

by

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Insects" .

Evening High School,

Insects" .

Evening High School,

Forms of Insects".

Evening High School, Lecture by Mr. E. M.
Forms of Insects".

School #51 - Loan of Birds.

Baltimore City College P. T. A
Groups, four Insect:.- Exhibits, Photographs, Fossils.
Baltimore Evening High School - Loan of three Habitat
Groups, four Insect' Exhibits, Photographs, Fossils.
Baltimore Evening High School - Loan of three Habitat
Groups, four Insects Exhibits, Photographs, Fossils.
Biological Teachers’ Convention - Loan of Sixteen Cases
of Insects, Birds, Zoo Circulars distributed.

Palmer,

Palmer,

Lecture by Mr, E. M. Palmer,

Palmer,

- Loan of three Habitat

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BULLETIN

VOLUME IX

JULY, 1939

Number 11

BOTANICAL PHOTOGRAPHY
By EDWARD L„ CROSBY, JR.

This set of notes, while essentially dealing with photographs
of plants can obviously be applied, in principle, to other natural
history photography. By reason of the relative difficulty ex¬
perienced by the average photographer in obtaining more than pass¬
able natural color results, this material will place emphasis on
"black and white prints" as the goal of the botanical photographer.
Plant photographs taken in the studio or other unnatural surround¬
ings are generally considered useless from a natural history stand¬
point .

The experts in the field of botanical photography generally
agree that there are three classifications into which all plant
pictures can be easily divided. Briefly these groups are: (1)
landscapes, or portions thereof, in which the photographer wishes
to convey the general appearance of a site or location in which
further studies or photographs were made; (2) a plant, or small
group of plants, shown as they grow in their natural environment,
and, by means of sharp definition in the back and foreground, to
show what plants constitute the neighborhood of the plant being,
photographed; and (3) a plant or plants or portions of such, e.g.
flowers or leaves, in which the photograph clearly Indicates the
precise appearance of the plant Itself without showing the back¬
ground sharply - thereby putting emphasis on the subject of the
picture and at the same time producing simplicity and artistic com¬
position.

The preceding sentence brings up another point. Plant photo¬
graphs serve two very different purposes, namely that of pictorial
works, or that of scientific records. It can be readily seen that
while the two purposes are quite opposed to each other, a compromise
is easily possible. There Is no reason why a pictorial print can¬
not be scientifically useful, nor why a photo, made for study pur¬
poses should not possess what is generally called "Print quality".

96

A minority of plant photographers hold that the best photo¬
graph of a particular plant is one which falls into the third of
the above groups. That is to say, the best photograph of a violet,
for instance, is one which clearly shows the flower, leaves, stem,
and immediate foreground of the plant, but which omits or obliter¬
ates the tangles mass of grasses, earth, fallen tree-leaves, and
other distracting details. Another and somewhat larger group of
workers prefer these details, declaring that they comprise a set of
data without which the photographs would be incomplete. It is
generally agreed by both sides, however, that the two extreme views
should be somewhat compromised; and it is interesting to note two
things ; first, that the maze of background details more often than
not tends to destroy the beauty or pictorial appeal of the print,
and second, that the conditions under which the picture is taken
will often dictate to 'the photographer that he must be satisfied
with the photo as best he can take it.

We must now concern ourselves with the apparatus and materials
involved in plant photography and the primary necessity, besides
a plant, is a camera. We feel that our tastes in
apparently following a modern, scientific trend, have
frowned-upon by the more experienced workers . So, in
avoid any biased or editorial material in this paper,
not what cameras could be used, but what cameras have
in photographing botanical subjects. It Is possible,
has been accomplished) to get a fine plant photograph
focus or box-type camera. Such a photograph must, of
have been made under nearly Ideal circumstances. For
intend to take plant photography seriously, a more versatile in¬
strument is strongly recommended. Indeed, modern cameras have
made every previously existing branch of photography Infinitely
more satisf actory and have made possible the taking of photographs
under conditions which have been hitherto considered impossible.

cameras, while
been openly
order to
we will state
been used
( and the feat
with a fixed-
necessity,
those who

The camera preferred by plant photographers Is one which has
the inherent ability to focus u close-up” , whether by bellows ex¬
tension or by extra objectives, and one which has a ground glass
screen. The size of the camera seems to be quite Immaterial since
there are famous plant photographers to be found using the extreme
sizes. Dr. Waiter Effenberger prefers a 5 x 7 view camera, while
Dr. Rudolph Ochs uses a 35 mm. Leica. The 5 x 7 view camera, if
fitted with a n sharp-cutting" anastigmat lens, has the advantage
that only part of the negative need be used. The 35 mm. camera,
on the other hand, due to its short focal-length lens, permits ex¬
posures under far worse lighting conditions (and faster exposures
under the same conditions) as its big brother, because it possesses,
by comparison, far greater depth of focus and therefore can be
used effectively at much wider apertures.

The general concensus of opinion in regard to "what camera",
especially for the photographer who does not do plant photography
exclusively, is this: The 5x7 is too large and too expensive
to operate (films costing about ten cents each) and the initial
cost of the 35 mm. is too great for the worker who does not make
his living by Its use. (good 35 mm. cameras can cost )200 or more).
A compromise is inevitable, and the sizes In widest use range be¬
tween 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" and 4" x 5". It can be stated that cameras
restricted to the use of roll film, because of their inherent limi-

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tations, are not the best cameras for plant photographs.

Having dealt v/ith cameras (we hope, sufficiently), let us in¬
vestigate the film situation. Before we do, however, it is as¬
sumed that some method of arriving at correct exposure values is
available to the photographer. There are, here again, several basic
facts to be considered. Films, are, very broadly speaking, of two
types. The first is the fast film with the rather long halftone
scale and generally weak contrast. The second is the slow film,
possessed of fairly short scale and great contrast or brilliance.
With the same amount of effort an inexpert photographer can make
a far better final print if he uses a film in the latter group.

This statement is one of the utmost importance and if the pictures
that you have been producing fail to satisfy you, change your film.
This does not mean, of course, that you must "change your brand".

It Is often very easy to reduce contrast while making a print, but
it Is never a simple task to coax brilliance from a negative which
has none l Since plants are colored objects it is absolutely neces¬
sary to use a film which is sensative to all colors- a panchromatic
f i 1m .

We now arrive at a problem which is hard for most amateur
photographers to understand, but which Is capable of very easy
solution if we remember two rules. The problem Is that of render¬
ing colored objects in the desired lightness or darkness on the
finished print. The rules are:

1. A light tone on a print indicates that the film responded to
or recorded the color of that object, while a dark tone in¬
dicates that the color of the original was dark, or the
film did not "see" the color strong enough to record it as

a light tone.

Example; A red poppy Is photographed with a film which is
very sensitive to red. The finished print would
represent the poppy as a light gray. The same
poppy, if photographed with a film that was much
more sensitive to green that to red, would be
represented on the final print by a dark gray.

2. A filter transmits its own color and absorbs best the com¬
plementary color.

Example: We wish to photograph a flower colored yellow-

orange, with leaves a vibrant pea-green color.

The film we have on hand Is equally sensitive to
. yellow-orange and to green. If we picture the

plant without using a filter, we will probably
see the flower and the leaves represented by the
same gray halftone. If we use a green filter, we
accentuate the brightness of the leaves and dim
the brightness of the flower, A print from this
negative would show the flower darker than its
leaves, and would therefore be unsatisfactory
because it is unnatural. If we use an orange or
light red filter, we see in the print that we
have darkened down the leaves and "jacked up"
the brilliance of the flower. The result is what
we have s ought •

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98.

Space docs not permit a lengthy treatment of the monochrome
rendering of colored objects, but let the reader understand that in
plant photography a knowledge of the use of color filters is a
prerequisite if the photographer is to produce pictures that are
technically good.

After having made a negative which meets with our approval,
we become interested in the various printing techniques which will
make a pleasing final result. In the matter of print making, there
is nothing to be said applying exclusively to plant pictures.

There are, to start with, three general types of papers which are
used in photographic printing; slow, chloride papers, for contact
printing; fast, bromide papers, for projection printing; and medium-
speed chloro-bromide papers for prints by either method. All skilled
print-makers use the chloro-bromide papers almost exclusively be¬
cause of their delicate gradations and pleasing tonal warmth. It
must be understood, however, that it is absolutely futile to ex¬
pect superior results from one of these papers unless the manufactur¬
ers recommendations are religiously followed, especially with re¬
gard to the developer. There Is a developer, advocated by Leo S.
Pavelle, who incidentally, is probably the foremost exponent of
modern printing technique, which seems to be the ideal formula for
use with paper of this type. Contrary to similar advice In other
lines, the best way and the fastest way to master the art of print¬
ing Is to observe the technique of someone who is experienced, and
not to learn the thing oneself. There are a few topical remarks
that seem "a propos" at this point. Any of the control processes
of printing, which, by the way, seem to be a dying fad, (gum print¬
ing, BrcriDll, Autotype) are quite unsatisfactory for any type of
nature photographs intended for scientific purposes. Daper sur¬
face is largely a matter of taste. For technical reasons dead
matte paper is a bit more difficult to use. In that it has a notice¬
ably short scale on the black end, i.e., it is not capable of re¬
cording as deep a black as other papers and consequently lacks
brilliance. Glossy paper is generally not preferred but has the
longest scale of any, and will produce the best print technically.

The question of composition is difficult to deal with abstract¬
ly; furthermore it Is part of photography which Is best taught by
experience. We can but hope the data herein contained will be of
some value.

The following are some recommended materials.

MAKE

FILM

PAPER (Projection)

PAPER DEVELOPER

Eastman

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KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

The Squid

Of the many marine invertebrates in Maryland waters, I doubt
if there are any more interesting than the squid.

The squids or sea- arrows are molluslcs, although they do not
in many ways resemble them in outward appearance.

Naturally when one speaks of mullusks one thinks of a soft
bodied creature covered with a hard shell. In the squid the shell
is degenerate and reduced to a mere internal scale imbedded in the
mantle, called the upenn on account of its shape.

Ten arms or tentacles surround the mouth of the creature,
eight of which arc furnished with two-rows of suckers on their
inner side* The other two or fourth pair of arms are much longer
and have suckers only upon their expanded tips where we find four
rows of this organ of adhesion. The eyes are large and have no
lids .

The squid usually swims backward. This is done by the water
which is sucked in through the mantle- slit on the sides of the
neck, and is discharged through the siphon which projects outward
from the mantle cavity under the head.

The squid feeds upon small Crustacea, fish, and even young
squids which it seizes with its tentacles. It in turn serves
as food for many fish.

It can change Its color to match its surroundings. These
color changes are produced by contracting and expanding pigment
cells beneath the skin.

In the summer time the squids lay their eggs, which are gel-
ant inous and somewhat finger shaped, upon weedy bottoms. Often
they measure five to six Inches in diameter.

E. B. P.

FIDDLER GRABS

Mr. Elra Palmer of the Society’s Staff, who Is studying the
distribution and habits of the Fiddler crabs (Genus tf.ca)' In
Maryland, requests information as to the location of colonies of
members of this genus in Maryland.

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100

MARYLAND NATURE LOG
THE CYPRESS SWAMP

One usually associates the cypress tree with the Disnal Swamp
of Virginia. But, why go to Virginia to see this stately conifer?
Here in Maryland, the cypress (Taxodiun distichum Linne") may be
seen growing in its natural setting-a swamp.

In Calvert County, about a mile or so below Prince Frederick
is a hard surface road marked Bowen. Turn right and proceed about
a mile to the dirt road (hard packed) bear right on this road about
a hundred feet. On tho left sid.e of the road, at this point, is
the cypress swamp.

You need not venture onto the wet ground to see this wonder
of the plant world - as many fine specimens may be seen from the
roadway. However, by crossing a slightly dry field and following
what appears to be a cowpath around the edge of the swamp one will
get a much better view of the famous cypress knees.

In some instances the trees tower above you fifty to one hun¬
dred feet and may vary from ten to sixty inches in breadth. I have
counted as high as sixty knees clustered around one of these forest
giants .

This species of conifer (Taxodium distichum) is related to the
fossilized cypress tree found in the Pleistocene of Maryland.

The cypress trees as found in Calvert County are secondary
growth. The trees are cut for lumber and shingles, the latter
being the more important.

Maryland is the furthest north that cypress is found in natural
habitat and the station described is the most northern on the
Western Shore.

Earl Palmer

NOTES FROM FIELD AND LABORATORY
Grasshopper Sparrow

On June 17, 1939 while observing birds in Loudon Park Cemetery
I discovered the nest of a Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savann-
arum australis) containing two young. The female flushed from the
nest as I trod near it. One of the young ran into the surrounding
grass but it was captured and put back into the nest. It immediate¬
ly left again and was followed by its nest-mate. Neither young
used their wings, making good their escape on foot.

The nest was in a slight indentation in the ground near the
middle of a large field. The surrounding grass was arched over
the nest giving it a domed appearance.

The 'Grasshopper Sparrow is a fairly common summer resident
in suitable localities about Baltimore, but the nest is so seldom
found that any observation is deemed worthy of recording.

I. E. Hampe

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101

Little Blue Heron

Three young of the Little Blue Heron were sighted over north¬
east Baltimore on July 1, 1939.

A. Selcknann

Ruddy Duck At Baltimore in Summer

On July 12, 1939 Mr. Irving Hainpe and I visited the Patapsco
Marshes within the city limits near Brooklyn to investigate the
summer concentration of herons there. While engaged in this work
we were surprised to see a male ruddy duck (Erlsmatura janaicensis
rubida). This species of duck normally departs from our territory
before" the end of May. The bird we saw was actively engaged in
feeding by diving and showed no signs of any injury. However, we
made no attempt to flush him and he may have been crippled in the
wing. This at least is the most reasonable explanation of his
presence here in mid-summer. There can be no doubt of the identifi¬
cation for he was in typical male summer plumage and we were able
to watch him for nearly fifteen minutes at a distance of less than
one hundred yards .

C. Haven Kolb

Downtown Birds

Sometimes one is inclined to doubt the effectiveness of the
bird protection measure. However if one recalls the days when
nothing but English Sparrows were seen In downtown sections, a
sight such as wo observed on the side lawn of the Catholic Cathedral,
Mulberry and Cathedral Streets, is reassuring

On April 25th we observed three White-throated Sparrows, Two
Starlings, a male and a female Cow Bird and about half a dozen
English Sparrows; all peacefully feeding together. The birds seemed
to realize that they were in safe territory and allowed one to get
with ten or twelve feet of them.

Edward McColgan

NOTES DOR THE MONTH OF JUNE
Meet lugs and Lectu res at the Soci et y

June 13 - Talk by Mr. W. Bryant Tyrrell, ’’Experiments with
the Bob White”.

20 - Talk by Mr. H. C. Robertson, "'Reptiles of Frederick
County” .

27 - Talk by Mr. Elias Cohen, "Snake Venom in Medicine".

Junior DI vi s I on

5 - Talk by

Burt is Bennett,

"Force :

10 - Talk by

Fred Bensinger,

"Frogs

States"

m

Talk by

James Bensinger,

i,TUr Mil

17 - Talk by

Joseph Bures, "M

:y Exper

Fields"

•

Talk by

Wi liner Davison,

"Human

Expedition" .

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102

June 24 - Talk 'by Miss Janet Byrns, ’’Wildcats".
Lectures, Exhibitions and School Loans

June 1

3

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12

21

Biology Clubs of Eastern High School, Lecture hy
Mr. E. M. Palmer, ’’Insects as a Hobby".

W. B. A. L. (Rosy In Terhune) Talk by Elias Cohen.

Enoch Pratt Free Library, Branch $11 - Loan of Insects.
Pimlico School #223 - Loan of Muskrat.

Fork School - Loan of two Habitat Groups, Minerals, six
cases, Fossils.

Baltimore City College, Biology Class, Talk by William
Miller, "Snakes of Maryland".

Baltimore City College, Biology Class, Talk by William
Miller, "Snakes of Maryland".

Baltimore City College, Biology Class, Talk by Romeo
Mansueti, "Snakes of Maryland".

Mayfield Herring Run Garden Section, Lecture by Mr. C.
Haven Kolb, Jr., "Birds".

Enoch Pratt Free Library - Loan of Birds.

Biology Club, Western High School, Talk by Romeo
Mansueti and William Miller, "Snakes of Maryland".

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The Natural History

Society of Maryland

Volume IX

BULLETIN

AUGUST, 1939

Number 12

GHOSTS OF THE SEASHORE
(Ocypode albicans, Bose)

By Elra M* Palmer

The casual visitor to the ocean shores seldom sees the
ghost crabs. This- is particularly true if he visits a crowded beach
resort .

But an observant person strolling along the beach away
from the crowds, where the sand has not been trampled, will soon
notice a number of holes dug into the sand. Around one edge of
each opening will be a neat pile of sand with innumerable tiny
prints in it. Upon Investigation it will probably be found that
every hole seem to be unoccupied.

One may sit quietly about three or four yards from one of
these openings and watch it closely. Soon he will be rewarded
for his stillness. There will emerge, cautiously and slowly, a
yellowish-grey white shadow, a mass of sand up and moving. The
smallest movement on the part of the observer will cause this
shadow-like creature to suddenly stop and squat so close to the
sand, that It seems to disappear. By closer observation one will
notice at once two large brown and relatively large stalked eyes
standing erect in the front of this shadowy square of grey, sur¬
rounded by hairy, flat legs. If the observer moves to get a
better look, the little creature, with great dexterity rapidly
disappears down its tunnel In the sand. The movement is so fast
it leaves the impression of an illusion - a veritable ghost.

After one has seen his first cr
becomes aware of much movement and
or sand crabs, as they are commonly
ing their homes, bring out virtually
on the beach, look around, and then
prance around on the sand in a radiu
their holes in search for food. All
ly sidewise for their burrows on tho
ambu 1 a 1 0 ry legs.

One may try his speed and agility by attempting to race a sand
crab to its burrow. It was very amusing to watch a number of bathers

ab on the beach he suddenly
ees many more of these ghost
called. Some, busy excavat-
an armful of sand, toss it
scamper back for more. Others
s of three or four feet from
, if startled, will run rapid-
se four pairs of fast moving

104-

Figure 1.

Dorsal Views of Male Ghost Crab (Ocypode
albicans) Showing Characteristic Pose, Flatness
of Ambulatory Legs, and Stalked Eyes.

105 •

trying to do this. In all races observed the crabs were de¬
clared the winners without a photographic finish.

These crabs are partly nocturnal and usually remain in their
burrows, or within a short distance of them during the daytime.

They are most plentiful on the beach at dusk.

The burrows which Mr. A. Llewellyn Jones and I observed at
Dewey Beach, Delaware, were nearly all above high tide. The
openings varied with the size of the inhabitant. The smallest
burrow observed had a diameter of 6 mm., while the largest
measured 42 mm.

The tunnels were not vertical to the beach but placed at a
slight angle, some tilting toward the ocean, others toward the land.
All of the burrows which we dug out ended In wet, hard packed
sand. There were no Indications of any branch tunnels or chamber¬
like structures. The deepest burrow was two feet eight inches.

(R. p. Cowles (1908) reported a burrow of 4- feet, 2,5 inches near
the Tortugas Laboratory, Florida..) In every burrow which we
excavated one specimen was found, except In four burrows where
we we re unable to locate any inhabitant. The crabs dug up were
covered with wet sand, and were motionless, with legs folded,
apparently to escape detection. The entrances to all the tunnels
were well surrounded with innumerable tracks.

At Ocean City, Maryland, few burrows were noted on the beach,
even at night, but quite a few were found under the boardwalk, where
the crabs undoubtedly collected much refuse which fell through
the planicing •

At dusk, and during the night as well as in the early morning
the sand crabs were most active and hundreds could be observed con¬
gregating along the drift-line of the beach in search of food. These
crabs are true scavengers of the beach, as they feed on vegetable
matter as well as animal material. Several times we saw them claw¬
ing vigorously at a large mass of brown algae. Tearing some strands
loose from the mass, they scampered up the beach and down their
burrows .

A small smooth dogfish, which we had caugh surf fishing and
thrown upon the beach, was promptly pecked at by a ghost crab. But
apparently their commonest diet as far as we could observe, both at
Dewey Beach, Delaware and Ocean City, Maryland, consisted of the
"sand bugs", or mole shrimp, Hippa t alp or ia . The crabs would advance
out on the beach to where the waves were washing in, and as a wave
would break in they would scamper around, seize a "sand bug" and run
up on the beach to either eat it there or carry It to its tunnel.

Early one afternoon two or three ghost crabs which had been
shot with a .22 rifle were seen lying on the beach. At dusk we
noted two or three crabs devouring these scattered remains of
their brethren.

We found it comparatively simple to collect the crabs at dusk
or during the night as they venture much further from their burrows
at such times, and by using a flashlight, which when turned on the
crabs caused, them to stand still and stare at the light, we could
easily approach and pick them up with a net or gloved hand.

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Figure 2*

(a) Male (b) Female with. Sponge

Ventral Views of G-host Crab (Ocypode albican
Showing Apron Structure ; and Hair-fringed Orifice
between the Bases of the Second and Third Pairs o
True Legs.

ca go

rj IT>

106

The crabs, when startled will first attempt to run up the
beach to their tunnels but if cornered, will dash right out into
the surf. They are rolled around usually for a few minutes and
then cast up on the beach, where they scamper away just as good
as ever. A large male cornered by Mr. Jones, at Dewey Beach,
Delaware, ran out into the surf four times, and was chased up
and down along the drift-line for eighteen minutes before it ap¬
parently became exhausted. When picked up the crab was quite
limp and it was nearly five minutes before it resumednormal ac¬
tivity .

Thirty- seven specimens were observed carrying food. With
the use of the flashlight and a pair of long forceps we attempted
to take the material away from the crabs. In twenty-nine cases
as soon as we had the material by the forceps the crabs released
their hold. Eighteen of these individuals ran away immediately
after the surrender of the food. In eight cases observed the
crabs held on to the material tenaciously, two of these individuals
grabbing the material out of the forceps after we had pulled it
from them. Twenty- six crabs were carrying "sand bugs" (h. talpodia )
four of which were alive. Five Individuals had fragments olr "squid,
used for surf fishing. Three had parts of the calico crab,

(£. ocellatus ) , and one had an immature anchovy. Two crabs carried
animal matter which we were unable to identify. The few specimens
which Mr, Milton Oler, Jr., and I observed at night in Ocean City,
Maryland all had "sand, bugs" or fragments of them in their chela.

A considerable variation in coloration was noted. Some speci¬
mens were sandy-yellow in color, others a dark grey. All of the
small immature specimens taken had a salt and pepper color pattern
on the carapace as well as the legs, and a yellow-orange blotch
in the branchial regions near the cervical groove. R. P„ Cowles,
after extensive experimentation, reported that the sand crabs have
the power to change color, and that it is apparently dependent
upon the intensity of light. Individuals emerging from their
burrows in daytime are dark in color, but this color seems to
fade when they are In the sunlight. Specimens kept In the shade
of the laboratory become darker than those In the sunlight.

This interesting brachyuran, Ocypode albicans, has a carapace
square in shape (Fig. 1) with distinct lateral margins. The
regions of the carapace are poorly defined. The cheiipeds are
small and quite unequal in both sexes. The larger chela has a
vertical stridulating ridge of tubercles on the inner side close
to the base of the immovable finger. The ambulatory legs are
broad and flat with pointed dactyl!. These legs are not very
granular and are fringed with long yellowish hair, the second
pair of legs being the longest. "There is an orfi orifice or
recess, the edge of which is thickly fringed with hair, between
the bases of the second and third pairs of true legs" (Rathbun) .

( See Figure 2 )

The abdomen Is composed of seven segments in both sexes. The
segments of the female abdomen are broader than that of the male.
(Figure 2). There does not appear to be any difference in color¬
ation or size of cheiipeds between the sexes.

Fifteen specimens were collected at Dewey Beach, Delaware.

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(Jones and Palmer, July 25-29, 1959): Seven females, five with
large left chela, two with large right chela, and eight males,
five with large right chela and three with large left chelipeds.
The largest female was a sponge crah, whose carapace measured
37 mm. in width and 29 mm. in length. The carapace of
the largest male measured 43 mm. in width and 35 mm. in length.

Of fourteen individuals collected at Ocean City, Maryland,
(Oler and Palmer) eight were males and six were females. Seven
males possessed large right chela, and one, a large left. Pour
of the" females had large left chela and only two, large right
chelipeds. The smallest crah caught was at Ocean City, Maryland,
August 19, 1939. Its carapace measured 5 mm. wide and 4 mm. in
length.

Bib liog r aphg ■ .

Cowles, R. P. Habits, Reactions, and Associations in Ocypoda
arena rial ' Paper #103 from Tortugas ’"Laboratory
of Carnegie Institution of Washington, vol. 2,

1908.

Rathbun, Mary, J. The Crap sold Crabs of America. .

United States National Museum, Washington,

Bulletin #97, 1917, p. 366.

PRELIMINARY REPORT ON POSSIL WHALE MANDIBLES

By 0, L. Helm

Because of their medium, and the lack of physical barriers,
whales could be expected to be widely dispersed. The fossil re¬
mains of these animals naturally would be widespread also. The
Cetaceans appear in great numbers during the Miocene Period In the
Northern Hemisphere. However, despite their numbers the skeletal
remains are found only in parts In the forms of skulls, ribs, man¬
dibles, vertebrae, etc. It is on these fragmentary portions of
huge animals that we attempt to trace the history and relation¬
ships of these water-dwelling mammals.

It many features the skeleton of whales Is highly distinctive
of the order. One of the chief facts which argue a primitive posi
tion among mammals for the Cetacea is the slight union of the rami
of the lower jaw. The rami of the mandibles arch outwards, their
anterior ends meet at an angle, and connect by fibrous tissue with
out any true symphysis. The rami are widely separated posteriorly
and have a still further outward sweep before they meet in front,
giving the floor of the mouth the shape of an immense spoon. The
shape of the mandibles, the presence and types of teeth, or the ab
sence of teeth help determine the different members of this group
of mammals.

In the Sub-order Mystacoceti the teeth are never functionally
developed, being present In the foetal stage only but replaced in
the adult by the baleen, or whalebone. During this stage of their
life the Mystacocetes have numerous calcified teeth lying in the
dental groove of both upper and lower jaws. No trace of the teeth
remains after birth.

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108

Fig, 1 - Diagrammatic Representation of Relative
Position of Mandibles of the Whalebone
Whale •

Fig. 2
Fig. 5

External View of Left Mandible Siphono-
cetus priscus (Leidy)

Internal View of Left Mandible Siphono-
cetus priscus (Leidy)

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In 1952 two whale mandibles were found by <T. C alder and
E. M. Palmer at Governor’s Run, three quarters of a mile north
of the road at Calvert Cliffs. The mandibles are complete and
are splendidly preserved specimens.

Most identifications made by early workers in the field of
paleontology are based on fragmentary arid badly damaged specimens.
Until more of the marine faunas of Mioceno formation are thoroughly
known most specimens will be determined only tentatively. When
skulls of whales are found associated with mandibles most of the
undetermined specimens can be more easily identified. Usually,
when a skull Is found, the mandibles are not present, or vice
versa. This leads to separate identification and naming of speci¬
mens that might belong to the same group. Some of the earlier
paleontologists described far more kinds of Cetaceans than actual¬
ly exist in these formations, naming every fragment that came
into their possession.

The temporary Identification of the two complete mandibles
that we have is based on a fragment of lower jaw found in associ¬
ation with Crocodilus antiquus, Pecten jef f ersonius, etc., in
Westmoreland County, Virginia. The genera of the Miocene beds
are based on the various stages of roofing, fusion, or obliteration
of the gingival groove and dental canal. The above mentioned
specimen and the two mandibles described in this article fall
into the group in which the gingival groove Is distinct from
the dental canal, with the gingival canal roofed over and per¬
forated. The tentative name given to our two mandibles is
"Siphonccetus priscus, (Leldy)".

The mandibles in our possession are quite large and came
from a comparatively large whale . The oondyle Is large with
a deep and wide groove on the external surface. A shallower and
more narrow groove Is on the inner surface. The superior border
extends obliquely inward and downward from the condyle, then
rises In a convex curve to the coronoid^ forming a roof over
the posterior orifice of the dentary canal. The internal surface
of the ramus has a convex shape posteriorly. The surface flattens
gradually anteriorly until it meets in a sharp edge at the tip of
the ramus. The external surface of the ramus, anterior to the
coronoid, is convex, but more rounded than the inner surface, and
almost completely round at approximately the middle of the mandible
This surface flattens very gradually as it approaches the tip, then
flattens abruptly for the last 5mm. to meet in a sharp edge. The
alveolae, five in number, lying externally to the superior border,
open anteriorly and downward. They are from .4 mm. to .7 mm . in
diameter and extend anteriorly as grooves from 5 to 6 mm. long.

The gingival groove opens anteriorly at the tip of the ramus in an
orifice 5 mm. in diameter. There are eleven tiny fossae on the
inner surface just below the superior border, the three most anteri
or of the group extending as shallow grooves. In general, the out¬
line of the mandible is that of a long bow flattened instead of
curved in the middle .

Mandible measurement s (left mandible complete)

Transverse diameter at point 500 mm. anterior to condyle .. .47 .82 mm
Vertical diameter !l i! n u " " " ...68,25

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Vertical diameter ” " n " n !t

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Vertical diameter " " ” n ”

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Greatest length (outside measurements) along external curvature

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Transverse diameter of condyle .....•••••••••• . . 72.92

Vertical diameter 11 ......................... 111.08

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

The Summer School Nature Art Class

This year the Society introduced an entirely new phase in
its Summer School courses held at the Society’s Museum, the
Maryland House, in Druid Hill Park.

The idea was to combine the two studies - nature and art,
and in this we had a two-fold purpose. First we wished to apply
designs or illustrations to what was learned in the field of
nature, and to make the studies more interesting to the student,
the designs were painted on plates and plaques. Secondly, wo
wished to teach the drawing of anatomical subjects in conjunction
with the nature lessons.

Besides sketching and painting, leaf casting was also taught.

Probably the most truly outstanding achievement of the Nature
Art Class was a cooperative nature mural. This work offered every
art student a part in its execution, the students expressing their
ideas in the part of most interest to them.

An exhibition of the work of the Summer School is now being
displayed at the Maryland House, and we believe the students have
done very creditably, demonstrating not only what can be accom¬
plished by young people, but also how eager our youth is to take
advantage of this unusual type of opportunity.

This year’s Summer School was the most successful ever con¬
ducted by the Society, and there was a fine spirit of cooperation
between pupils and teachers. The enrollment of all the classes
totaled eighty-seven. In addition to nature art, birds, reptiles,
insects, and trees were studied. Classes were held five days
each week from July 18th to August 11th with the exception of
the Art Class, which continued until August 30th.

The Staff consisted of; Elra M. Palmer, Director and Instruct¬
or in Plant, Insect, and Reptile Study; Haven Kolb, Instructor
in Bird Study; J. Wesley Moore, Instructor in Nature Art; Herbert
Moorefield and Edmund B. Fladung, Substitute Instructors in Insect
Study and Bird Study, respectively, and Romeo Mansueti, Assistant
in Reptile Study.

E. B. F

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NOTES FROM FIELD AND LABORATORY

An Observation on the Economic Value of the
Pilot Black snake -Elaphe Obsoleta Obsoleta (Say)

June 12, 1959, while on a field trip to Gunpowder Palls,
Baltimore County, I found the body of a two and a half foot Pilot
Blacksnake - just killed and still moving. The reptile had been
destroyed on a much used path; in fact I had traversed the spot
where the serpent was killed only fifteen minutes before I dis¬
covered it. Squashed from the snake's body were five adult field
mice that had been recently swallowed. The path where the serpent
had been killed led to a stream and the body of the reptile was
scarcely three yards from the water. I believe that the snake,
after its recent meal, was led by thirst to glide along that path
and was killed by an ignorant person. This species of reptile
is of much value to the agriculturist as it is able to capture
and destroy larger numbers of rodents than any human devised trap
- also, the Pilot Blacksnake is a "self-setting trap".

Elias Cohen

NOTES FOR THE MONTE OF JULY

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

July ’ll - "t aTk ~by Edwa rd Me C o lg an) "“Bird Banding" .

18 - Talk by August Selckmann, "Ospreys of the
Eastern Shore".

25 - Talk by Charles W. Ostrander, "Chrome and Chrome
Localities of Maryland".

Jun lor Division

July 5“- Business Meeting.

15 - Talk by Mr. Price PIquett, "Honey Bees and
Their Hives" •

23 - Talk by Albert Seitz, "Garnets", and Louis Hughes,
"Japanese Bottle”.

29 - Talk by William Moorefield, "Ant Lions".

Lectures, Exhibitions and School Loans

July" 6 - Enoch P r at E Fr e e" Library - TT Habitat Groups.

.

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The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume X

SEPTEMBER, 1959

Number 1

TYPES OP BIRDS’ NESTS

By Bruce R. Overington

In . the dim past, according to the theory. of natural selection,
it seems probable that the primitive species of birds laid their
eggs at random under varying conditions. Many of the eggs were
destroyed and others failed to hatch at all, depending on their
chance surroundings. Some, however, the best concealed or best
located, no doubt hatched and their species were continued. And
so, through succeeding generations new habits were formed, likes
and dislikes were developed, which led to the great diversity of
nesting behavior which we observe in the birds of to-day.

Food is the main drive in life, reproduction is second, There¬
fore, the marginal area of the food supply is the area of greatest
competition where weaker individuals or species are destroyed or
abnormal modes of life, such as parasitism, are developed. Nature
may have made a million experiments before developing successful
species. Even in our time less resistent kinds have disappeared,
forever. The needs of birdlife are greatest and most critical
during the first few weeks after the young ones leave the egg, and
so additions to the population must be made when food is most
plentiful and the weather most favorable.

This period when conditions are at their best varies greatly
according to the species Involved and so the nesting season lasts
from January, in the case of some of our owls, to August in the
case of the American Goldfinch, During this nesting period birds
are at the peak of their activity and do more Interesting things
than at any other time in their lives. Usually soon after their
return from the South, nest building commences and the date varies
but little from year to year. There is no set rule that will be
followed but each species can be depended upon to build a nest
that is typical of its species. Even in the same family there
may be many different architectural plans though they will be simi¬
lar in some respects. On the other hand, unrelated or distantly
related families may have some habits that are the same due to con¬
vergent adaptation to similar circumstances. Some of the causes
behind the great variety of nest-building habits arc hidden but
others are easily discovered.

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One of the most peculiar nest builders in the world is the
mound builder of Australia. The earlier explorers, on seeing the
huge mounds, (some of them fifty feet In circumference and over
ten feet high) thought they were burial mounds of the natives.

They are composed of sand, earth, and rotten vegetation. The Mal-
lee-Fowl lay their eggs on the heap and cover them, over with rotten
vegetation. The heat from this natural incubator is sufficient
to hatch the eggs. The young are hatched fully feathered and are
able to run at once. The young have never known their parents
because as soon as the eggs are laid the mother bird disregards all
nesting duties.

In our country
Swallow build holes
are laid the eg0s,
row is usually from
the top of the bank
complete. The eggs

some species such as the Kingfisher and Bank
in the ground. At the end of these burrows
which are white. With the Kingfisher the bur-
six to eight feet long and several feet from
• It usually takes from one to two weeks to
are laid on the bare earth but sometimes on

Indigestible fish bones or crawfish remains.

A great many more birds lay their eggs on the bare ground
without any covering. The goatsuckers are good examples of this
type. Their eggs are so well blended in with the spot where they
are laid that unless you have scon the bird rise at your feet and
know that the eggs are there, you may walk right over them and not
see them. The young of the Whip-poor-will is a downy red which
harmonizes and blends in every way with the dead leaves among which
they are raised.

One of the most beautiful nests is that of the Blue-gray Gnat-
catcher. Its nest resembles very closely that of the Ruby-throated
Hummingbird, but the walls are much thicker and higher. The archi¬
tecture is rather frail and the nest is usually saddled on an up¬
right limb or in a crotch. The Interior is deeply rounded and
lined with a soft cotton-like substance, horsehair, and. occasion¬
ally, feathers. The outside is very beautifully covered with lichens,
and at first glance one 'would, suppose it to be a small knot on the
tree. How many times has this artifice saved the family from
natural enemies i

Grreat numbers of birds nest in the highest branches of the
trees and still others build at the ends of branches which sway in
the wind. The woven basket of the Baltimore Oriole is swung in
the latter situation. I once saw such a nest, the greater part
of which had been made of silk yarn . The man who owned it told
me that It had been built in a tree beside a silk mill and that
the bird had collected the different colored strands and had matted
them together to resemble felt. A .number of horsehairs had been
passed through the fibre and it had been sewed together . with large and
rather irregular stitches. It was a long nest, six or seven inches
in depth, and with an opening suitable in size for the entrance of
the female. At the bottom of tlio nest a heap of soft material was
placed. Among the orioles the female is the designer of the nest.

The male brings the material but the female sometimes rejects it.

After examining such a nest I think it is impossible that the
structure could be made by mechanical instinct rather than by in¬
telligence. I believe the higher animals have Intelligence so
that by experience they can add to their instinct.

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The American Osprey builds an enormous nest of sticks to which
it adds year after year until it becomes of immense size. I have
seen these nests on telegraph poles, barns, and, on occasion, when
the nests have fallen to the ground I have seen the birds take up
their residence there and apparently seem quite at home. On one
occasion, I s aw a pair of Red Squirrels using the bottom of the
nest and owner and tenant seemed to be on very good terms. The
inside of this platform of large sticks has a cup-shaped depres¬
sion in the middle which is lined with grasses and a bit of sea¬
weed. A piece of a pine branch or anything else to which the bird
might take a fancy is sometimes added. The nest of the Bald Eagle
is usually larger. I have heard of one that had been used for
fifty years „ One one occasion I climbed an eagle's nest that was
being used by a great Horned Owl. The owl breeds somewhat earlier
than the eagle and I wondered what happened when the eagle found
the new tenant in full possession.

Some of our birds chisel into the solid trees and scoop out
quite a cavity for their home sites. Here they feel quite safe
and comfortable, protected from their natural enemies by the solid
tree. Again, other species use old holes abandoned by their makers.
Many of our large owls use natural cavities in the trees for rais¬
ing their young. The Barred Owls do this; but once in my locality
I found them using an abandoned Crow's nest. The Long-eared Owl
uses such deserted nests but the Short-eared Owl builds its own
nest in a marshy place under a bush or close to an old log and lines
it with sticks and weeds. It is hardly to be believed that a i).ore-
bird would have this habit of utilizing the discarded nests of
other species, yet the eggs of the Solitary Sandpiper were found
in an old Robin's nest some feet above the ground.

The doves, herons, cuckoos, ana some others weave such a
slight platform of sticks that the eggs can be seen from the ground
below. The California Condor uses a cave on some inaccessible
cliff for its aery. The Buck Hawk and the Prairie Falcon use a
small niche in a high cliff where they may brood on their eggs and
at the same time keep a sharp lookout for the food supply. The
Murrcs deposit their eggs in large numbers on bare rock cliffs.

One end of the egg is quite small while the other end is large, a
shape which, by causing the eggs to roll in short circles, prevents
it from rolling off the cliff.

Any location that offers hidden safety and comfort will be
found and used.

Some years ago a Robin built a nest high In a maple tree in
my yard, and I have always suspected that a Blue Jay destroyed the
Robin eggs that were laid. The following year two English Sparrows
took possession of the Robin nest and started to build their flimsy
nest on top of the substantial structure of the Robin. They gathered
grasses and feathers from the yard and worked very Industriously
until the nest seemed to be finished. Then one day I imagined that
the female was sitting on a full clutch of eggs In perfect safety.

On coming home I noticed pieces of grass coming down in a steady
stream from the maple. Looking- up I was surprised to see a Blue
Jay gradually tearing the nest to pieces. I watched It until the
work of destruction seemed to have been completed. Then it seemed
to take several big gulps of something, after which it went on its
way rejoicing.

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Cowbirds do not make any nest at all but deposit their eggs
in the nests of other birds. The unfortunate foster parents have
to hatch and feed the undesirables that are forced upon them so
ruthlessly. The young Cowbird develops much faster than the young
of the nest f s owner and in consequence it crowds out the owners*
which usually starve if they are as small as a warbler. I once
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cause as soon as a Cowbird had laid an egg in her nest she would
show much excitement and then get busy and build another nest
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an acorn is dropped In the nest she will do the same thing.

Several years ago I tried an experiment. I caught a young
Killdeer. I found a tin pan about twelve Inches in circumference
and about five inches high. While the female was hovering around
In a highly excited condition, I put the little Killdeer in the
tin pan and then moved back where I could see how the old bird would
get the young one over the edge of the pan. Very soon the old
Killdeer returned to the pan and should have seen the young one
before alighting. Round and round the pan the mother went and I
could plainly hear the old one and the young calling to each other.
Round and round, but never a thought of looking over the top.

After half an hour of this my patience gave out and I returned and
liberated the young bird.

NOTES ON THE MAMMALS OF THE PATAPSCO STATE PARK
By I r v Ing E . H amp o

The Patapsco State Park, probably the best known recreational
area in the state, is situated along the Patapsco River between
Relay and Hollofield, only eleven miles from the City Hail of
Baltimore. This tract lies partly In Baltimore County and partly
In Howard County. It contains 1,129 acres, state owned and 1,100
acres In cooperative auxiliary forest.

For almost the entire length of the park the Patapsco River
flows through a deep, broad gorge, the high hills on either side
being covered with deciduous forest. These hills rise to an ele¬
vation of 250 feet above the river. From the plateaus above flow
numerous streams which, as they tumble over rocky ledges, produce
cascades and miniature waterfalls. The river itself, hurrying
along in rapid descent for the most part, but occasionally moving
lazily, is the dominant feature of the landscape.

The writer became interested In studying the mammals of this
area while camping near Glenartney during the summer of 1934. As
a result numerous week-end trips have been made especially to trap
and observe the mammal life. Trapping is necessary to procure
and study the mice and shrews. The larger mammals are more easily
observed, and are also protected within the confines of the Park.
Much data on the larger species was secured from campers and from
farmers in the vicinity.

The following list was compiled principally from notes and
specimens collected by the writer.

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1. Opossum Didelphis virginiana virgin! ana

This species seems to be rather common. Automobiles kill
many of them as they cross the roads. As many as twenty
carcasses have been found in one year. No specimens
have been taken, nor any observations made other than
those made on animals killed on the roads. Farmers and
campers report the opossum plentiful.

2. Eastern Mole Scalopus aquaticus aquaticus

Mole runways are common throughout the Park. Traps set
in the runways were merely pushed aside when the moles
made repairs to the breaks. Mice and shrews used these
runways and numerous specimens have been taken. One
mole was found dead above ground during the summer of 1934 .

3. Maryland Shrew Sorex fontinalis

This tiny mammal has been trapped in the marshy pastures
near Glenartney. Seven specimens collected by the writer
are now in the Society’s collection. An account of the
breeding of the species has been published in the Society's
Bulletin. (See Bibliography).

4. Short-tailed Shrew Elarina brevicauda talpoides

This shrew is one of the most common mammals in the Park.
Wherever traps are set the short-tailed shrew is sure to
be taken. This species is active throughout the year.

Males predominate among the specimens taken. Pregnant
females have been taken from February to November.

5. Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus lucifugus

The Little Brown Bat seems to be the most common bat in
the area during the summer. No specimens have been taken
in the Park although a number have been taken from the
surrounding territory.

6. Georgian Bat Pipistrellus subflavus subflavus

There is a single record for this species. One was cap¬
tured by the writer on January 23, 1937, among the rocks
on a hillside near Orange Grove Station. It escaped
from its cage the nest day.

7. Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus fuscus

The Big Brown Bat may be more common than the records
reveal. The difficulties encountered in deserving and
capturing bats preclude any lengthy statement about their
status. Several specimens have been taken in and around
the Park during the winter whan the bats were hibernating.
Sheds and barns are favorite places for hibernating bats.

8.

9.

Red Bat Nyctcris borealis
One specimen of the Red
It was found under a

bridge

borealis

at has been taken in the
on October 31, 1937.

Park .

Orange
is not
Also a
spring
months

Raccoon Procyon lotor lotor

A mounted raccoon in the Society
Grove,
known .

farmer in the
of 1959. The
later .

collection is labled
Patapsco State Park. The date of capture
It was killed by Boy Scouts and mounted,
vicinity killed a raccoon in the
writer examined the skin several

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Weasel Mustela frenata noveboracensis

Farmers in the vicinity report this species to be
common. The only specimen secured, is a mutilated, skin
with the head missing. It v/as found under a Ear red Owl
nest near Relay on May 10, 1959.

11. Eastern Skunk Mephitis mephitis nigra

This species has been reported many times by campers
in the Park. The writer observed one on the river road
near Vineyard on the night of August 1, 1936.

12. Red Fox Vulpes fulva fulva

Farmers report this species as uncommon. The site of a
reputed den was visited during the past summer, but it
was not occupied. In digging about the entrance a mass
of chicken and rodent bones was uncovered. The writer
has distinct recollections of several observations made
some years before the present study was started.

13. Woodchuck Marmot a monax monax

The woodchuck is very abundant throughout the Park.

Numerous burrows may be found in the hillsides along
the river. Observations are too numerous to cite.

One specimen, now in the Society's collection, was
found dead near Vineyard on April 30, 1933.

14. Chipmunk Tamias striatus fisheri

This pretty little rodent is very numerous. About the
first of March they come out of hibernation and may be
observed until late in November. A male in breeding con¬
dition was trapped by the v/riter at Glenartney on March
9, 1935.

15. Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus loquax

The Chickaree or Red Squirrel is not very common in this
area. It is usually observed in pine woods. One was
recorded near Avalon on April 3, 1938.

16. Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis

The most common squirrel in the Park. No specimens have
been taken, although observations have been made during
every month of the year. Young squirrels are numerous
after the first of July.

17 . Flying Squirrels G-laucomys volans volans

This beautiful, nocturnal creature is probably fairly
common. Due to Its nocturnal habits it is not often seen.
One was observed at twilight on May 22, 1936.

18. White-footed Mouse Peromyscus lenccpus noveboracensis

This mouse is the most common mammal found in the Park.
Specimens have been taken on every trip. The males of
this species are more frequently trapped than the fe¬
males. The species evidently breeds during the greater
part of the year, Feihalos containing as high as six
foetuses have been taken.

19. Eastern Meadow Mouse Microtus pennsylvanicus pennsylvanicus

This species seems to be very abundant although no speci-

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mens have been trapped. Owl pellets collected under
nests and roosts contain a large percentage of Microtus
remains .

20. Pine Mouse Pitymys pinetorum scalopsoid.es

There is only one record of this mammal for the Park.

A specimen was trapped at Glenartney on April 15, 1934.

21. Muskrat Ondatra zibethica macrodon

A single sight record and several reports from campers
are all the data known to date. The occurrence of the
muskrat in the Park is to be expected as it is quite
common in the surrounding area.

22. House Mouse Musculus mu s cuius mu s cuius

This introduced rodent -is fairly common and has been
taken quite frequently. One trapped on March 9, 1935
was partly eaten by a Short-tailed Shrew that was caught
by the leg in the same trap.

23. Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus

This pest is common around barns and houses in the vici¬
nity of the Park. It has been observed frequently al¬
though no specimens have been taken.

24. Jumping Mouse Zapus hudsonicus americanus

On May 1, 1937 a Jumping Mouse v/as caught by hand in
the tall grass near the resevoir at Glenartney. This
is the only record for the Park.

25. Cottontail Rabbit Sylvilagus floridanus mallurus

The Cottontail is very common in the Park and surrounding
territory. No specimens have been taken, but sight
records are numerous.

Bib liogr aphy

The Patapsco State Park (mimeographed), Maryland State De¬
partment of Forestry, May 26, 1938.

Hampe, 1. E., The Occurrence and Breeding of the Maryland
Shrew in the Patapsco State Park. Bulletin, Nat. History Soc .
of Md. Vol . VI I, No. 4.

Fansueti, Romeo, Mammals Observed in the Patapsco State Park.
Junior Bulletin, Nat. History Soc. of Md. Vol. II, No. 4.

NOTES ON THE TAXONOMY OF THE GENUS 'CHAOS'

By Henry C. Eichhorn, Jr.

The following is a complete outline of the classification of
the organisms to be discussed in this art idle:

I. Phylum: PROTOZOA (Goldfuss, 1817)

A. Class: RHIZOPODA (Siebold, 1845)

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1. Order: LOBOSA (Carpenter, 1861)

a. Suborder: AMOEBAE A (Ehrenberg, 1830)

(1). Family : C HA I DAE (Poche, 1913)

(a). Genus: CHAOS (Linnaeus, 1767)

Type species: Chaos chaos Linnaeus

Species: Chaos diffluens Mueller

In 1755, in his Insecten Belust igungen, Roesel von Rosenhof,
a German artist and amateur naturalist, described and drew a plate
of an extremely large ameba which he called ”der Klelne Proteus.”
Three years later, In 1758, Linnaeus, in the tenth edition of the
Sy sterna Naturae, catalogued the species without having observed a
specimen, and named it Vo 1 vox chaos „ This is to say, he placed It
in the same genus as the common, green colonial flagellate Vo 1 vox
globator, from which Roesel fs organism Is entirely dissimilar,
ProFabTy realizing that he had erred In placing the species in
this genus, Linnaeus later erected a new genus for the species,
and the valid name for Roesel von Rosenhof * s organism became
Chaos chaos Linnaeus. This was In 1767, in the twelfth edition
oT the’ Sy s t ema _N aturae .

In 1822, Bory de Saint Vincent renamed the ameba Amiba roeseli .
This latter name is Invalid since (1) ”Amiba" is French, "and the’”*
International Rules of Nomenclature require a Latin or a Latinized
form for scientific names; and (2) a valid genus and species (Chaos
chaos) had already been erected for Roesel rs organism.

Chaos chaos was seen again by H. V. Wilson In Chapel Hill,

North Carolina in 1900. Thinking he had found a new species,

Wilson described the ameba under the name Pelomyxa carolinensis .

This species is very similar to cSi o s chaos , and" Ts“~~gerie 'rally
considered synonymous with the latter species.

The species was observed again in Virginia by W. A. Kepner in
1916. He recognized the species as Pelomyxa carolinensis.

In 1936, Dr. Asa A, Schaeffer observed the species in Tennessee
and from a marsh in New Jersey. He recognized the valid name, Chaos
chaos since previously, in 1936, In his Taxonomy of the Amebas, he
hacPEho roughly discussed the status of the "species. He cultured the
ameba successfully and made it commercially available for study
and research under the name Chaos chaos Linnaeus.

Synonomy

1755 -- Roesel - ”der kleine Proteus”

1758 - Linnaeus - Volvox chaos

1767 - Linnaeus - Chaos chaos (Valid name)

1822 - Eory - Amiba roeseli (Invalid)

1900 ~ Wilson - Pelomyxa carolinensis (Synonym)

1936 - Schaeffer - Chaos chaos Linnaeus

In 1786, 0. F . Mueller discovered a second and smaller species
of ameba which he called Proteus diffluens which was similar in
morphology to Roesel* s Chaos chaos. The generic name of this species
is invalid since Laurent! had used Proteus for a genus of salamanders
in 1768. The specific name diffluens, however, Is valid.

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Bory de Saint Vincent renamed Mueller’s ameToa Amiba mulleri in
1822. This name is invalid since (1) the generic name is a French
form, and (2) the valid specific name had already been established
as dif f luens .

C. G. Ehrenberg, in 1838, Latinized Dory's Amiba to Amoeba
and described two species under the genus. These two species were
Amoeba princops and Amoeba dif f luens. Of the two, A. princeps
Ts~a synonym of MuelTer’s STfiTuens , and Ehrenberg’s A. diffluens
is unknown to modern investigators. Thus, at this time, the vaTid
name for Mueller’s ameba was Amoeba diffluens with Ehrenberg’s
Amoeba and Mueller’s species diffluens . ~

In 1879, in his monumental work Khizopoda of North America,
Leidy applied the name Amoeba proteus” to a species wh ose specific
characteristics fit three separate and distinct species of ameba.
Among these is Mueller’s ameba (A. diffluens), the common laboratory
ameba. This name (A. proteus) was applied to the former, and, al¬
though incorrect, became widespread and widely accepted in research
and school laboratories all over the globe. In summarizing the sta¬
tus of the scientific designation Amoeba proteus of Leidy, we find
(1) that it Is invalid since it cannot! "be "appTTed to one definitely
described species, but to three, and (2) that it cannot be applied
to the common laboratory ameba since the valid name for this species
up to this time was Amoeba diffluens Mueller.

In 1926, Dr. Schaeffer, recognizing the structural similarity
between Chaos chaos and Anoeba diffluens, took the latter species
out of the top-heavy genus Anoeba and placed it in the genus Chaos
together with Chaos chaos. Thus,"" the valid name of the species”
became Chaos diffluens Mueller.

Synonomy

1786 - Mueller - Proteus diffluens (Genus preoccupied)

1822 - Bory - Amiba muelleri (invalid)

1838 - Ehrenberg - Anoeba princeps (Synonym)

1879 - Leidy - Amoeba princeps (Invalid)

1926 - Schaeffer - Chaos diffluens (Valid)

B ib II ography

Schaeffer, A. A. 1916 a Concerning the species Amoeba proteus

Science, N. S., Vol. 44, pp . 468-469.

1916 b Notes on the specific and other character¬
istics of Amoeba proteus (Leidy), A.
discoides Nov. sp . , and A. dubia Nov. sp.
Archiv. f. Protistenk. Vol. 37 pp. 204- 228

1926 Taxonomy of the Amebas. Carnegie Inst,

of Wash.

Turtox News Sept, 1937 )

Jan. 1938 ) Articles and pictures of general interest

March 1938 ) concerning Chaos chaos.

Nov. 1958 )

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KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

The Heron

Of the twelve herons to he found in Maryland, three are on
display in the Museum; namely, the Black-Crowned Night Heron, the
Little or Eastern Green Heron, and the American Bittern.

The family of Herons and Bitterns are an unusual interest¬
ing group of birds and should be studied much more by bird lovers.

Herons are a gregarious group of birds often living in colonies.
They are solitary as to feeding habitat, but return to roost in a
kind of rookery.

On the other hand the Bitterns do not associate in flocks, one
or at most, two, are found together. Bitterns generally feed in
marshes where they build their nests or mounds of grass laying
therein three to six eggs.

The Herons on the other hand, feed along the shores of lakes,
rivers and bays. They build rather loosely constructed nests of
small twigs high up in branches of trees, where they lay three to
six pale blue or dull blue eggs. The food of Bitterns and Herons
consists of frogs, fish, small reptiles, etc.

The writer had the occasion to study closely the Little Green
Heron, over a period of weeks, and noted many interesting habits
concerning this bird. When feeding, the bird stands motionless,
and then suddenly it dips its long bill into the water and brings
up a fish. The fish, when caught, was crosswise in its bill, where¬
upon the bird, tossed it into the air, and caught it head first. This
process kept up for a period of ten minutes.

Another nest containing five eg._,s was studied. Four hatched
and were photographed. These four birds, though they had not learned
to fly, could run from branch to branch over the tree tops with un¬
usual agility. These young were fed by regurgitation.

The Herons and Bitterns are migratory arriving here in March,
April and May, and leaving in September, October and sometimes as
late as November.

To this group belong the Egrets, once so eagerly sought for
their plumes. For a time they became quite rare and it was feared
they would follow in the line of the Passenger Pigeon and some of
our other birds and become extinct, but fortunately, our Federal
Government and States have enacted laws for their protection and now
they can be seen in numbers where one was fortunate to even observe
a solitary bird.

***** E, B. F.

NOTES FROM FIELD AND LABORATORY
An Observation on the Vivacity of the
Snapping Turtle ( Che Xy dr a serpentina)

June 16, 1S39, while on a collecting trip to Gunpowder Fall$,
Baltimore County, I heard the crack of a pistol fifty feet below
the Harford Road birdge that spans the river. When I investigated
I discovered that a young Chelydra serpentina of seven inch shell

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length had been killed while it had prowled on the shallow river
bottom several feet from the south bank. The time was 3:35 P. M •
Although the turtle's head had been pierced by a .22 caliber bullet,
its body was still thrashing about. The boy who shot that turtle
used it as a target to test his new target pistol. I left to do
some collecting, but when I returned at 6:30 P. M. I discovered
the body of the reptile simply dotted with bullet holes. When I
touched a hind leg with a stick that member v/as promptly withdrawn
to the safety of the bullet riddled shell; the tail when touched
moved from one side to the other. I was not able to remain until
all signs of "life’1 disappeared.

Elias Cohen.

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

August 1 - Talk by Mr. T. Milton Oler, Jr., "Making a Relief Map".
8 - Talk by Mr. Bruce Overington, "Experiences in the
North Woods".

15 - Talk by Mr. Earl Palmer, "Ancient Man".

22 - Talk by Mr. Herbert C. Moore, "Natural History and
the Lav/" .

29 - Talk by Mr. Andrew Goss "The American Bison".

Junior Division

August 5

12

19

26

- Talk by Edwin Hurd, "Grasshoppers and Their Cousins".
Talk by Henry Eichhorn, "The Chaotic State of the
Genus Chaos".

- Talk by Richard Myers, "Design for Life".

Talk by William Miller, "Reptile Eggs".

- Talk by Miss Mary Elliot, "Our Camping Trip".

Talk by Romeo Mansueti, "Salamanders and Lizards in
and Around Baltimore".

- Talk by John Norman, "Crocodilians in General".

Talk by William Norman, "Care and Feeding of
Tropical Fish" .

Ji. $£>{'[• ^ :,b . • V !.v r ' . • . "(ft'; . )CiO

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The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume X OCTOBER, 1959 Number 2

THE MAMMAL NEST BEETLES
(Coleoptera, Family Leptinidae)

By Herbert Ho Moorefield

According to Leng, (1) there are three representatives of
the Family Leptinidae found in North America. Leptinus testaceus
Mull, is the most widespread of the' three and has been definitely
reported from New York, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, North
Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa, and probably occurs over the
entire United States, It is also reported from British Columbia
and Europe. Leptinus validus (Horn) is confined to the Hudson
Bay Territory and Leptinus aplocfontTae Ferris has been found only
in California.

The Leptinids are usually found in the nests of small rodents
and insectivora such as mice, shrews, moles, etc., and also In
the nests of bumble-bees. It is thought by some workers in the
field of entomology (2) that the natural habitat of these small
beetles was originally the nests of bumble-bees, where they fed
on honey, and that they merely make use of other nests (mice,
moles, etc.) as convenient stops in going from one nest to another.

In August, 1937, I collected a specimen of the common eastern
mole, Scalopus aquaticus aquatlcus (Linnaeus), in Druid Hill Park.
Upon returning* to The” ‘laboratory and* Inspecting the animal under a
strong light for possible parasites, I found about twelve individuals
of L. testaceus running about in the fur of the mole. Brimley (3)
mentions the occurrence of this species on moles but makes no com¬
ments. It may be possible that they use the mammals themselves as
a matter of conveyance from one place to another.

Whether the beetles are direct parasites or merely guests
of the various hosts is still an undecided question.

1. Ceng, Charles W. (1920) ’’Catalogue of the Coleoptera of

America, North of Mexico” .

2. Comstock, John H. (1925) ”An Introduction to Entomology” ,

3. Brimley, C. S. (1930) "The Insects of North Carolina”.

mk 2 1

LEPTINUS TE3TACEUS HULL

.

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14

Blatchley (4) states, "It is possible that they live upon the
eggs and young of the mites, fleas, and other forms of life found
associated with them in the nests." Charles Drury, of Cincinnati
and W. S. Blatchley have both observed them in nests that had
long since been deserted, a fact which adds further weight to the
belief that they are merely guests.

Leptinus testaceus Mull, is a small, oblong-oval beetle,
much depressed in form "and measures from 2 mm, to 2.5 mm. in
length. It Is a uniform pale yellow In color, finely and regu¬
larly punctured above, and Is rather thickly beset with golden
pubescence. The eyes are entirely wanting and the antennae are
slender and eleven- jointed . The base of the thorax overlaps the
base of the elytra and is broadly emarginate. The beetle has a
distinct scutellum. The elytra are rounded at the tip and cover
the abdomen. Its legs are short, with flattened tibiae and the
tarsi are five- jointed.

Specimens of L. testaceus are comparatively rare, but they
can be best collected by" "removing the nest of a mouse, shrew, etc.,
from its shelter and shaking it over a piece of white paper. If
the beetles are present, they will probably fall on the paper where
they can be easily seen and captured.

T7 Blatchley, W. S, (1910) "An Illustrated Catalogue of the
Coleoptera or Beetles known to Occur In Indiana".

TWO GORGETS FROM TIDEWATER MARYLAND
By Richard E. Stearns

Some five years past, the writer, while examining the
aboriginal shell deposit bordering the Chester River at Love
Point, made the acquaintance of James Marks, a resident of that
section, who possessed a collection of Indian artifacts found
on the shell fields in the vicinity.

During our day's search, the writer found three fragments
of a large gorget, which fitted together and comprised about one-
half of the complete specimen. The fragments were scattered about
ten feet apart and were no doubt broken when the field was culti¬
vated.

A few days ago Mr. Marks visited the Society and generously
presented to us two more fragments of the same gorget which,
when fitted to the other portion, completed the specimen. The
gorget, which is made of a blue grey mottled shale, is shown full
size in the illustration. It is very unusual to recover from a
plowed field a complete object that has been broken into so many
fragments .

A broken gorget of the same type and material was found on a
shell field at Booby Bar, at the mouth of Middle Riven by Mr-
Tauroza, a. resident of that locality.

MaiDS Ox sites wl lere gorgets were found

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SOME NOTES ON A RECENT TRIP TO DEWEY BEACH, DELAWARE

By Lira M. Palmer

Mr. A. Llewellyn Jones and I were fortunate enough to spend
five days at Dewey Beach, Delaware, this past July. (25th to 29th)

We were particularly Interested in the various forms of
marine life and with the kind assistance of Captain P. Hugo Wise,
of the Baltimore City College faculty and his family, our trip
was Indeed very successful.

The following is a list of specimens collected. We are In¬
debted to Mr. Frank Yingling of the Society’s Department of Marine
Life, for his Identification of the fish. At some later date
various detailed reports will he published concerning some of these
specimens, as well as those that have been collected along the
ocean front area of Maryland on our various other trips. This
work is being done with the cooperation of Mr. A. Llewellyn Jones
and Mr. T. Milton Oler, Jr.

Fish s -

Fundulus heteroclitus, (mud minnow) 5 males, 5 females, 10
— ~ . Immature; seine and dip net; Delaware Eay, nr.

Cape Henlopen. Rehoboth Bay at Dewey Beach, Del

Fundulus ma jails, (bull minnow) 2 males, 2 females, 4 im-

~ mature; seine; Rehoboth Bay at Dewey Beach, Del

Cyprinodon variegatus, (sheep she ad minnow) 3 males, 5 fe~

. . males; seine (night); Rehoboth Bay at Dewey

Beach, Del.

Lucania parva, (rain-water fish) 3 males, 1 female; dip net;

Rehoboth Bay, Dewey Beach, Del.

Menticirrhus americanus, (whiting) 2 specimens; dip net;

Del.” Bay, near Cape Henlopen, Del.

Brevoort ia tyr annus, (menhaden, alewife) 12 specimens;

seine (night) Rehoboth Bay, Dewey Beach, Del.

Leiostomus xanthurus, (spot) 7 specimens; seine (night)

Rehoboth B>ay, Dewey Beach, Del#

Micropogon undulatus, (croaker, crocus) 10 immature; seine;

Del. Bay, near Cape Henlopen, Del.

Paralichthys den tat us, ( summer flounder) 3 specimens; seine
. (night), Rehoboth 1-ay, Dewey Beach, Del.

Menidia menidia, ( silversides ) peritoneum black; seine;

Del. Bay, near Cape Henlopen, Del.

Menidia beryllina, (silversides) peritoneum silvery or dotted

T5Iack; seine; Del. Bay, near Cape Henlopen, Del

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Anchoviella mitchilli (anchovy) 100 immature; seine; ocean

surf"; Dewey Beach, Delaware.

Mustelus mustelus, (sand shark, smooth dogfish) 3 immature,
— • not m0re than 2 or 3 days old; surf fishing,

Dev/ey Beach, Delaware.

Syngnathus fuscus, (common pipefish) 5 specimens; seine;

“ " Delaware Bay, near Cape Henlopen, Del.

Gambusia holbrooki, (top minnow) 2 specimens; seine;

- - ' ReKoboth Bay, Dewey Beach, Delaware.

Cynoscion rcgalis, (weakfish, squeteague ) 2 immature; dip
~ net; Del. Bay, near Cape Henlopen, Del.

Crustaceans ; -

Libinia emarginata v (spider crab) 3 females, 1 male, 1

"* “ "carapace e Lobster pots, Delaware Breakwater,

Dele Bay.

Ovalipes ocellatus ocellatus, (lady, sand or calico crab)

— sUrf casting; Dewey Beach, Del.

Ocypode albicans (sand or ghost crabs) 7 females, 8 males,

— - on ocean Leach, night, with flashlights;

Dewey Beach, Delaware.

Pagurus longicarpus , (small or long armed hermit crab)

~20~sp. Delaware Bay, near Cape Henlopen, Del.

Pagurus pollicarls, (large hermit crab) 3 specimens, Dela-
” ware Bay near Cape Henlopen, Del.

Pinnotheres maculatus, (mussel crab, commensal) 6 females,

3' male s , in mussels (M. edulus ) ; Del. Bay,
near Lewis, Del. " ’

Panopeus sp.?, (mud crab) 1 specimen. jetties; Delaware Bay,

Cape Henlopen, Del.

Uca pugilator, (sand fiddler crab) 7 females, 34 males,

mud flats, Delaware Bay, near end of Cape
Henlopen, Del.

Uca pugnax, (marsh or mud fiddler) 2 females, 6 males.

Small colony on S. E. side of bridge #702
near Indian River Inlet, Delav/are.

Calllnectes sapldus, (blue crab) 1 female, 1 male; seine,

Rehoboth Bay, Dewey Beach, Delaware.

Palaemonetes vulgaris, (common prawn) 2 specimens; seine;

DeT. Bay, near Cape Henlopen, Del.

Hippa talpoida (sand bug) 20 specimens;

Beach, Delaware .

in surf; Dewey

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Mollusca:- (living animals collected in their shells)

Modiolus demi s sus ( plicatula ) , ( r ibbed mu 3 s el ) 4 spec linens

. ' RehoT5oth leach, attached to fucus. Delaware

Bay, near Cape Henlopen, Del.

Mytilus edulus, (edible mussel) 12 specimens, Ocean surf;

. south of Cape Henlopen, Del.

Ostrea virginica, (common oyster) 3 sp . attached on sub¬
merged hull; Delaware Bay, Cape Henlopen, Del.
(S. luciae, striped anemone a attached to
oysters^

Crepidula f ornicata, (boat shell) 12 specimens, Delaware
... Lay, Cape Henlopen, Del.

Crepidula plana, (flatboat shell) 6 specimens; found at-

- — -t-jac}ie(p g0 oysters, horseshoe crabs and large
hermit crabs. Del. Bay, Cape Henlopen, Del.

Natica duplicata (Polynices), 4 specimens, mud flats, Del.

" "Bay, Cape Henlopen, Del.

Busy con ( Fulgur ) canaliculatum, (channeled whelk) 3 specimens
- - ~ inud' flats, DeT. Bay, Cape Henlopen, Del.

(one string of egg cases found on beach).

Nassa obsoleta, 45 specimens; covered sandbars and mud flats.

. . These gastropods were devouring dead fish

and feeding on soft crabs ( Calllnectes,

Oval ip es ) Delaware Bay, Cape HenTopeii, Del.
TEgg, ‘capsules of this animal were found on
oysters, shells, stones and pilings).

Hr o salpinx cinerus, (oyster drill) On submerged hull, Dela-
' . ware Bay, Cape Henlopen, Del.

Mollusca:- (just the shells of these animals wore found)

E-usycon ( Fulgur ) car lea, (knobbed whelk) 2 shells found,

inliabited by long; armed hermit crabs. Dela¬
ware Bay.

Natica clausa, (small moon shell) 1 shell on beach.

Delaware Bay, Cape Henlopen, Del.

Llttorina litorea, (edible periwinkle) one shell on marsh

grass. Bridge #702, Rehoboth Bay, Del,

Pec ten ir radians, (common scallop) 7 shells on beach, Ocean
’ " front; Cape Henlopen, Del.

Pholas cos tat a, (angel-wing shell) fragments on beach at

ocean front. Dewey Beach, Delaware.

Anomia ephippium, (common jingle shell) 13 on ocean beach

S’, of Dewey Beach, Del.

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Cape Henlopen, Delaware.

Area poxata, (bloody clam) 2 shells on ocean beach;

Dewey Beach, Delaware.

CONSERVATION IN MARYLAND I.1AI1

RAP ID

1 vjrruii.

By Prank L. Bentz
Chief Clerk, State Game
and Inland Fish Commission

The progress made in Conservation in Maryland during the
past four years ia almost unbelievable. Among the many good
influences were the two successful Outdoor Life Shows. These
two exhibitions, held, in consecutive years, brought to the at¬
tention of thousands of Marylanders and. visitors from every part
of the country the many outdoor interests of our State and the
need for their protection and advancement. These shows advertised
Maryland as no other medium could.

Four years ago pollution in many streams and bay estuaries
was an accepted evil. Now due to a rigid enforcement of our
pollution laws, many of our abandoned waters have been brought
back to full use again as additional places to fish. Many valuable
shore properties that were untenantable because of industrial
pollution, are once again made valuable real estate.

nAn Aquarium for Baltimore" was the dream of a few, so when
the opportunity presented Itself and help came from many sources,
this dream became a reality. Dr. Howard Kelly describes the
aquarium as "Not . near as large as others, but most complete In
every detail - a little gem". Thousands of persons have visited
the Aquarium. It has been of valuable assistance to the school
children, special showings being arranged after school hours.

Prom Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Strauss the Aquarium has had wonderful
assistance, which enabled, a display of many unusual fishes.

Fishing in our fresh water streams has come back much faster
that has been expected. Due to a better understanding of the
propagation of trout and bass and the new plan of stocking, fishing
has been made more uniform during the respective seasons. In 1935
19,445 licenses were issued to anglers. In 1939 they increased to
30,000.

Bay fishing has shown a wonderful come-back. Rock fishing
will show an increase tills year of about half a million pounds.

This does not include fish taken by hook and line. It Is our
opinion that this come-back is due to the elimination of the purse
net and the outlawing of the run-around gill net.

Conservation to the writer Is a better understanding of the
many problems presented and the practicing of the right uses by
ourselves as we go astream or afield.

The enforcement of the laws Is, and always will be, necessary,

20.

but the Conservation-mindedness of the people will be the means
of making this big problem an easier one and also make the life
of the Game Warden more liveable.

NOTES ON A HORNED GREBE
By John M. Gross

On Sunday, April 23, 1939, I saw what appeared to be a duck
in the stream which, in its course to Loch Raven, runs under the
end of Seminary Avenue, but later I identified it as a Horned
Grebe (Colymbus auritus). It seemed odd that the bird did not
fly awat . My closer approach caused it to dive and swim upstream
until it was hidden by the snow-white water of a swift cascade.
Unable to pass this barrier, it suddenly popped to the surface.

I had but little trouble to catch the Grebe after cornering
it, by wading in from downstream.

At first the Grebe tried to peck me, but though its beak was
pointed, its neck was too thin to possess much striking power.

The beak was about nine-tenths of an inch long, and was black with
a white tip. When captured, the bird called like an angry crow;
that was the only sound It made.

The feet were different from any type I had ever seen. Of
the four toes, the three front ones had lobes almost half an inch
wide, and each toe was folded over the other, offering less re¬
sistance to the water when brought forward for another stroke.

The hind toe was reduced in size, and was slightly lobed. A duck's
feet are different in that they are fully webbed (except the hind
toe). Grebes have webs extending one-third of the toe length.

The Grebe was in adult summer plumage, and was on Its north¬
ward migration. The feathers on its body were rather downy and
so dense that it would have been impossible to part them to see
the bird's skin. Its belly was white; and the throat, breast,
sides, and flanks were chestnut. The back was a dark gray, or
almost black and the cro wn had long, very black plumes a On my
specimen there were buffy cream colored plumes behind the eyes.

The auriculars were also composed of long, very black plumes.

These contrasting colors of the two-inch long plumes gave the
Grebe a very striking appearance..

As for eyes they we re the brightest Cardinal Red I have ever
seen, with black pupils edged with white.

After writing do wn all I thought of significance, I lifted the
bird as high as I could and let It drop. To my surprise, it mere¬
ly flew about ten feet, even though it made quite an effort with
its rather short wings. When I walked tov;ard it, It attempted to
scamper away by using feet and wings, using the wings as though
they were a second pair of legs. However, it w as unable to make
much progress among the dead weed stalks.

I had decided to take the bird home for further observation

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21

since it appeared not to be able to take very good care of itself,
but when I trustingly set it down in a pasture with the rest of
my burden the Grebe dashed off. Another stream happened to be
nearby, and I lost the race, and this time because of the deeper
water and overhanging banks I was unable to recapture it.

NOTES FROM FIELD AND LABORATORY
Loch Raven Deer

In the Bulletin for September, 1938, I reported, among other
mammals seen about Loch Raven, a single deer observed on the west
side of the lake during May, 1938. Subsequently, I learned that
deer had been noted by others in the region. It was supposed that
a few had drifted down along the w ooded valley of the Gunpowder
from the upper part of Baltimore County. A gentleman farmer im¬
ported and released a buck in the general region also. On June 15,
1939, I observed two deer near the spot where I had seen the one In
1938. One was a doe and the other was a buck with horns in velvet
and probably not yet fully developed® On August 28, 1939, again
in the same locality, I saw a doe, a buck, and a half-grown young
one crossing a road. A, fuller account of these deer and their ac¬
tivities will appear in a later supplementary article on Loch Raven
Mammals «

C. Haven Kolb

WEASEL

On October 7, 1939, the writer chanced on a dead weasel (Mustela
frenata noveboracensis ) lying near the edge of a woods at Loch
Raven, Maryland. The skin of the right front leg had been torn away
at the shoulder, exposing the muscles underneath. This specimen was
found at 7 O'clock in the morning, and was apparently not dead more
than a few hours at the most.

This find increases Kolb's list of mammals in the Loeh Raven
area to thirteen, (See Bull® N, H. S. Md., IX, No® 1)

Henri Seibert

LIBRARY NOTES

Several notable gifts have come to the Society’s library
recently ;

From the Bureau of Biological Survey was received a nearly
complete file of the mimeographed Wildlife Research and Management
Leaflets. This is particularly valuable to students of mammalogy.

From Mr. John B. Egerton, a large number of valuable maga¬
zines. Besides a long series of the Scientific Monthly, previously
"represented in our library only by a Tew scattered copies, this
gift contains some complete early volumes of the National Geographic, ,
extending our series back to 1911*

From Mr. Irving E. Hampe, a long series of the Nature Magazine

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and a complete file of Popular Photography
being so essential to good natural history
some member may be able to continue, issue
of this periodical so valuable to beginner
alike .

to date. Photography
work, it is hoped that
by issue, the series
and advanced worker

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

Moths

It is not unusual for the average person to call a moth a
butterfly and most persons 1 conception of a moth is the clothes
moth so often found in the home.

Many times species of our large moths have been brought to
the writer as strange butterflies. This is natural, especially to
the average city dweller

who very rarely encounters our larger
understood as moths are usually nocturnal
or night fliers, whereas butterflies all fly during the day. Aside
from this there are some other differences, such as the antennae
which are feathered or thread like in the moth and knobbed or
thickened at the end in the butterfly.

moths. This can be well

is

The body of the moth is large and
slim and more or less hard.

soft, that of the butterfly

There are many more species of moths than butterflies. Most
of these are small, but Maryland is fo.rtunate in having quite a
number of large and beautiful species.

Because of limited space in the Museum there are only displayed
a very few of the vast host of moths, but most of the larger ones
are included in the exhibit.

To acquaint the public with the large and more spectacular
Maryland moths the Society has published a leaflet. "Familiar
Moths of Maryland."

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF SEPT EMBER
Meetings and Lectures at the Society

Sept. 5 - Talk by Mr. Joseph White, "A Comparison of the Fish of
the Catoctin Area and the Cypress Swamp".

12 - Talk by. Mr. Price G-. Fiquett, "The Pine Blister Rust".

19 - Talk by Mr. Join B. Calder, "Importance of Paleontology
and Its Possible Future" .

26 - Talk by Mr. Irving E, Hampe, "Maryland Bats".

Junior Division

Sept. 3 - Talk by Joseph Bures, "Lithography in Relation to Nat .Hist.
9 - Talk by Harold Levy, "Salt".

16 - Talk by Henry Eichhorn, "Protozoa".

30 - Talk by William Moorefield, "Nerthridae or Toad Bugs of. 1VH

Lectures, Exhibit i on s an d School Loan s

lept , 23 - Woodbine School, Loon of Insects.

26 - Enoch Pratt Free Library, Branch #11, Loan of Plaster
Casts of Leaves and Wood Sections.

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The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

volum:

TT?

NOVElpER, 1939

NUMBER 3

THE IMPORTANCE
MUSEUM

! OF THE NATURAL HISTORY
TO THE COMMUNITY

By Edmund B. Fladung

Until a comparatively recent date museums were only reposi¬

tories for collections and specimens of Natural History and did not
conduct tiie' additional educational activities of the progressive
museums of the present day • These older museums acre connected
with a scientific society or belonged to the State or iovernrent .

They were under the care of a curator., who was a scholarly
person and whose chief duty was the keeping of the collections in
good condition and order. He added to these collections what he
was able to secure, either by his own efforts or what was present¬
ed to the museum from other sources. The smaller specimens were
generally kept in cabinets made for this purpose; the larger
specimens in glass cases.

Rarely did persons have access to these collections except
those who were in direct contact with such institutions, and any
others had to obtain special permission or present certain cre¬
dentials to look over or use them.

Later on, many of the specimens were placed on display for
the benefit of the public at certain limited times, but the ser¬
vice of the museums did not extend much beyond this for many years.

These institutions were supported mainly through private en¬
dowments or by the State.

To-day this has entirely changed. The museum, especially
the Natural History Museum, has assumed an entirely different* role.
It is now on a par with the public library and performs in its
special field a similar function.

The age in which we live has brought about this change in
the functions of the Natural History Museum, - a change caused
by many factors. Notable ones have been the teaching of Nature in
the curricula of our schools, the participation of our youth in

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the great outdoor movements, the needs of industry for information
relative to our natural resources, the great necessity for the con¬
servation of our wild life, and the opportunity for employment of
leisure time for our youth.

The museum of to-day is a necessary adjunct to the cultural
life of a community. The modern museum presents the same busy
place as one finds in a library. Here one sees people going about
the exhibits, some from mere amusement, others to make notes for
school requirements, and others to seek information for various
uses. Classes of children, accompanied by their teachers are
seen, listening to instruction by a docent employed for this pur¬
pose, In many communities these lessons are part of a day’s les¬
son, and In some higher schools, credits are awarded for certain
work done within the museum building.

Boy and Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Girls and other nature groups
will be seen studying various displays for merit badge work.

Inquiries are received at the museum by telephone, mail, and
In person, relative to all sorts of things. Some persons want
information concerning Insects affecting various plant life about
the home and garden. Other inquiries from commercial concerns per¬
tain to mineral and rock deposits. Others again are related to
the location of fish and game about the State; also many inquiries
as to reptiles, birds, mammals and plants, are received. Even
information about taxidermy and the preservation of animals is
requested. Often questions are asked about domestic animals,
their food, health, and care.

In very large museums a department is maintained where teachers
can select lantern slides, pictures, and specimens to be used in
school class work.

Nearly every museum renders some sort of educational service.
This service varies according to the size of the Museum, but the
extent of this service Is gauged by the amount of funds available.

In such cases where the museum received no funds from City or State,
these services may be only a display of Natural History specimens
for the benefit of the public. Under such circumstances this is
all that can be expected. However, when funds are provided from
City, State or private endowments these services are numerous,
consisting of school loans of specimens and other demonstrative
materials, guides, docents, publications, classes, information
bureaus, and many other services besides the regular museum dis¬
plays •

When one thinks of these services and that they are in the
reach of every man, woman and child of a community, it is reason¬
able to expect that the cost of such services should justly be
borne by the community receiving the benefits. Such is the case
of the public library, and rightly so. Such should be the case
of the public museum.

In this United States there are about a hundred museums de¬
voted in part or wholly to Natural History, If the Natural His¬
tory collections in universities and colleges were taken into ac¬
count no doubt there would be many more. These have not been con¬
sidered as the displays or museums are in most cases only for the

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City

or Sta

Name of C

ship

Appropriate

1

The Natural Hist

2,

000,

00

2

The Maryland Aca

be

1,

500,

,00

3

Carnegie Museum

tute

37,

500,

,00

4

Boston Society c

5

Children ’ s Muscu

6

Buffalo Museum c

166,

975

.00

7

Milwaukee Public

324,

675

.00

8

California Aca.dc

te

9

Newark Museum

t e

150,

000

.od-

10

Cincinnati Socie

te

11

Minneapolis Publ

5,

000

.00

12

Louisiana State

24,

500

.od

13

Park Museum

18,

500

,0C

14

Rochester Museum

70,

000

.OC

15

Oakland Public M

8,

346

.11

16

Ohio State Museu

111,

728

.40

17

City Free Museum

City

Approp

18

Houston Museum o

4,

000

»0C

19

Colorado Mu s o urn

te

56,

000

.OC

20

Birmingham Publi

8,

100

.Od

21

St, Paul Institu

te

5,

000

.OC

22

Scientific Socie

'd

23

Witte Memorial M

18,

,000

• OC

24 The Museum of Na*
Industrial Arts

25 Children's Museur

26 Dayton Public Lit

27 Worcester Nature!

28 Virginia State Mi

29 Museum of Natural

30 Kent Scientific t

31 Paterson Museum

32 Bridgeport Sclent
Society

33 O'Rourke Zoologii

34 San Diego Society

35 Tennessee State ]

36 Yonkers Museum o:

37 Crichlow Museum <

38 New York State Ik

39 New Jersey State

40 Reading Public Mi

Denotes Institut
such as Library,
ing .

22 ',000.0c

5,657.32

8, 000 .OC
■ t 0

1, 920 *0C
72, 199*44
38, 500 .0(

8, 000 . 0C
-te

bte .

(16,598.9

( ijsso.oc

Funds from SI

10, 030 . 0(
e

76 , 900 . 0C
57 , 205 • 0(
2, 500 .oj

Name of Organization

1 The Natural History Society of Maryland

2 The Maryland Academy of Sciences

3 Carnegie Museum

4 Boston Society of Natural History

5 Children's Museum of Boston

6 Buffalo Museum of Science

7 iMilwaukoe Public Museum

8 California Academy of Science

9 Newark Museum

10 Cincinnati Society of Natural History

11 Minneapolis Public Library Museum

12 Louisiana State Museum

13 Park Museum

14 Rochester Museum of Arts & Sciences

15 Oakland Public Museum

16 Ohio State Museum

17 City Free Museum

18 Houston Museum of Natural History

19 Colorado Museum of Natural History

20 Birmingham Public Library Museum

21 St, Paul Institute

22 Scientific Society of San Antonio

23 Witte Memorial Museum

24 The Museum of Natural History and
Industrial Arts

25 Children's Museum of Hartford

26 Dayton Public Library Museum

27 Worcester Natural History Society
~8 Virginia State Museum

29 Museum of Natural History

30 Kent Scientific Museum

31 Paterson Museum

32 Bridgeport Scientific and Historical
Society

33 O'Rourke Zoological Institute

^an Diego Society of Natural History
’J,:) i'onncssee State Museum

37 p°^'cers Museum of Science and Art
?p Brichlow Museum of Natural History
g New York State Museum *

9 New jersey State Museum
Reading Public Museum and Art Gallery

City

State

Baltimore

Baltimore

---Pittsburgh

Boston

Boston

Maryland
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Mao sachusctt s
Massachusetts

Buffalo

Milwaukee

San Francisco

Newark

Cincinnati

New York
'Wisconsin
California
Now Jersey
Ohio

---Minneapolis
New Orleans
Providence
Rochester
Oakland

Minnesota
Louisiana
Rhode Island
Nev; York
California

Columbus

---Portland

Houston

Denver
---B irmingham

Ohio

Oregon

Texas

Colorado

Alabama

St . Paul
--•San Antonio
San Antonio

Minnesota

Texas

Texas

Memphis

Hartford

Tennessee

Connecticut

---Dayton
Worcester
•«-Ri chmond
Springfield
Grand Rapids

Ohio

Massachusetts

Virginia

Massachusetts

Michigan

■--Paterson

Now Jersey

Bridgeport

San Diego

San Diogo
Nashville

Connecticut

California

California

Tennessee

Yonkers

Miami

•^Albany

Trenton

Reading

New York
Florida

New York

Nev/ Jersey
Pennsylvania

snnutGS institution occupies portion of building with
^n„ as Library, Art Gallery, etc. All others occupy

other agencies
entire build-

Population

Building

City or State

Type of

Last Annual

of City

Ownership

Appropriation

Exhibition

Attendance

822,340

City

2,000.00

Nature

82,418

822,340

Private

1,500.00

Mixed

No Record

818, 512

Institute

37,500.00

Mixed

787,271

City

Nature

36,000

787,271

City

Nature

151, 196

676,954

City

166,975.00

Nature

421,143

552,733

City

324,675.00

Mixed

1,000,000

645,416

Private

Nature

931,112

565,413

Private

150,000.00

Mixed

199, 363

549,354

Private

Nature

8,000

475,925

City

5,000.00

Nature

455,792

State

24,500.00

Mixed

166,000

349,380

City-

18,500.00 •

Nature

325,869

City

70,000.00

Mixed

127,105

307,100

City

8,346.11

Mixed

305,782

State

111,728.40

Mixed

330,000

304,059

City-

City Appropriation Nature

250,000

302,051

City

4,000.00

Mixed

295,623

Private

56,000.00

Nature

222,525

285,016

City

8,100.00

Mixed

115,000

275,881

Private

5, 000.00

Nature

26,101

254,562

Rented

Nature

110,000

254,562

City-

18.000.00

Mixed

254,440

City

22 ',000. 00

Mixed

52, 000

212,676

City

5,657.32

Nature

49,924

206,692

City

8,000.00

Nature

25,642

198,337

Private

Nature

6,726

182,883

State

1,920.00

Mixed

173,151

City-

72,199,44

Nature

30,000

172,654

City

38, 500.00

Nature

171,196

City

8,000.00

Nature

14,000

166,804

Private

Mixed

3,269

158,342

Private

(16,598.99 Co.
( 1,550.00 C
Funds from State

Nature

158,342

153,153

City

City

Nature

Mixed

365,000

149,506

City

10,030.00

Mixed

18,094

135,761

Private

Nature

68, 500

128,846

City

76,900.00

Mixed

200,000

122,610

City

57,205.00

Mixed

138,649

118, 211

City

2, 500.00

Mixed

200,000

Name of Organize t

E

C

41 Erie Public Museum

42 Society of Natural Pis

43 Knoxville. Academy of S

44 Portland Society of Na

45 Tbe Children's Museum

46 The Baker -Hunt Foundat

47 The Academy of Science
Museum

48 The Charleston Museum

49 Holyoke Museum of Natu
and Art

50 Davenport Public Museu

51 The Berkshire Museum

52 Fond du Lac Public Mus

53 Battle Creek Public Sc
of Na tu r a 1 H i s t o ry

54 Peabody Museum of Sale

55 Herman Museum of Natur

56 Oshkosh Public Museum

57 The Mew London Public

58 North Carolina State M

59 Audubon Museum

60 Santa Barbara Museum o

61 The Bruce Museum

62 Cape Ann Scientific Li
Historical Association

63 Framingham Historical <
History Society

64 Regar Memorial Museum

65 Buckingham Memorial Li

66 Klahhane Museum

67 Fairbanks Museum of Na

68 Vermont State Museum

69 Pacific Grove Museum

70 N. Arizona Society of

71 N a n t. u c ke t Ma r i a M i t ch e

72 Pember Library & Muse m

73 Fa i rh o pe PuT) lie Li b ra r;

74 Cranbook Institute of

75 Letchworth Park Museum

76 Highland Museum of Na. ti

•sc- Denotes Institution occi
such as Library, Art Gal

Name of Organization

City

State

41 Erie Public Museum

*-Eri e

Pennsylvania

42 Society of Natural History of Delaware Wilmington

De la wa re

43 Knoxville Academy of Sciences

Knoxville

Tenne s see

44 Portland Society of Natural History

Port land

Maine

45 The Children's Museum

--St . Joseph

Mi ssouri

46 The Baker-Hunt Foundation Museum

47 The Academy of Science and Letters

Covington

Kentucky

Museum

Sioux City

Iowa

48 The Charleston Museum

49 Holyoke Museum of Natural History

Cha r le ston

South Carolina

and Art

^-Holyoke

Ma ssachusott s

50 Davenport Public Museum

Davenport

I owa

51 The Berkshire Museum

--Pittsfield

Ma ssachusot t s

52 Fond du L? c Public Museum

53 Battle Creek Public School Museum

•-Fonddu Lac

W i s c on s i n

of Natural History

Ba 1 1 le C re e k

Mich igan

54 Peabody Museum of Salem

Sa le m

Me ssachusetts

55 Herman Museum of Natural History

---Dubuquo

I owe

56 Oshkosh Public Museum

0 shkosh

Wi sconsln

57 The New London Public Museum

•if-New London

Wi sconsin

58 North Carolina State Museum

Ra le i gh

North Carolina

59 Audubon Museum

Elgin

I llinoi s

60 Santa Barbara Museum of Natural Hist

ory Santa Barbara

California

61 The Bruce Museum

62 Cape Ann Scientific Literary and

Greenwi oh

Connect icut

Historical Association

63 Framingham Historical & Natural

Gloucester

Ma ssachu set + s

History Society

Fra minghan

Ma ssachusott s

64 Regar Memorial Museum of Natural His

tory Anniston

A la ha ma

65 Buckingham Memorial Library Exhibits

--Fa ribau. It

Minne sota

66 Klahhane Museum

Port Angeles

Washingt on

67 Fairbanks Museum of Natural Science

St. Johnsbury

Ve rmont

68 Vermont State Museum

---Mon t pe 1 i e r

Ve rmont.

69 Pacific Grove Museum

Pacific Grove

Calif ornia

70 N. Arizona Society of Science & Art

--•Flagstaff

Arizona

71 Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association

Nantueke t

Ma ssachusetts

72 Peraber Library & Museum

Granville

New York

73 Fairhope Public Library

-"Fairhope

Alabama

74 Cranbook Institute of Science

Bloomfield Hi 11

s Michigan

75 Lotchworth Park Museum

Cast i le

New York

76 Highland Museum of Natural History

Highland

North Carolina

Ponotes Institution occupies portion of building with other agencies
■^Jch as Library, Art Gallery, c + c. All others occupy entire buildings

Population

Building

City or State

Type of

Last Annual

of City

Owne rship

Appropriation

Exhibition

Attendance

115,992

City

3,051,35

Nature

55,493

107,955

City

Nature

106,307

Private

Nature

8C, 671

Private

Nature

80,944

Private

Nature

3 , 699

79,453

Private

Nature

5,613

79,212

Private

Mixed

63, 148

Pr ivate

5, 000*00

Mixed

64,937

62,166

City

2, 000.00

Mixed

34,453

60, 728

Private

Nature

20,128

49,675

City-

Mixed

48,805

City

1, 000.00

Mixed

45 , 501

City

App. Board of Ed

. Nature

5,000

43,287

Private

Nature

5V, 769

41,678

Private

Nature

40,075

4,661

Private

7 07 0 , 00

Mixed

40,000

City-

1/570 .'oo

Mixed

37 , O-

State

10,440.00

Nature

206,301

35,912

Private

1,000.00

Nature

25,000

35,544

Pri vate

Nature

25, 000

32,159

Private

City Appr.

Mixed

8,000

30,836

Private

Mixed

124

25,719

Private

Mixed

23,546

City

1,500.00

Nature

12,766

City

Nature

10,053

Private

Nature

7,884

Private

1, 500.00

Nature

34,055

7,643

State

500.00

Nature

5,554

City

900.00

Mixed

3, 962

3,891

Private

Mixed

4,065

3,678

Private

Nature

3,483

Private

City Appr.

Nature

1,529

City

Mixed

1, 127

Private

Nature

900

City

900.00

Nature

35,000

443

City

Nature

629

"benefit of the students of their institutions and not for the
public at large. There are also some private museums which have
not been considered.

In making a survey of Natural History museums only those
cities having museums whose population Is smaller than Baltimore
have been considered.

The population of the various cities and other statistics
used here were secured from various sources. A large percentage
of dats was taken from the latest "Handbook of American Museums",
published by the American Association of Museums In 1932. Some
was taken from the recent reports of the larger institutions. The
list hereto appended will give a (good Idea of what is being done
by Cities and States towards the support and maintenance of Natur¬
al History museums. Tills list also shows how well these insti¬
tutions are patronized, by the public.

Of our 48 States, 32 have Museums wholly or partly devoted
to Natural History. Within these 32 States there are 76 museums
in cities smaller than the City of Baltimore, 46 of which are en¬
tirely devoted to nature and the other 30 partly to nature. Of
these 30 some contain nature, art and history exhibits, and a few,
nature and industry. One can see that 60 f0 of the museums special¬
ize in nature only, but that all include it in their educational
set-up .

Most of these Institutions are housed in an entire building
for this purpose. A few are located in a part of a public library
or other agency, and several have rented quarters. The following
are the actual statistics: occupying an entire building for this
purpose - 55, with other institutions in the same building - 19,
rented quarters - 2.

The greater number of these buildin ,s are owned by City or
State. Of these 76 museums, 37 are owned by a City, 5 by States,
and 34 belong to the Institutions themselves.

If the museums were not a factor in our educational system,
they would not serve any purpose. But as mentioned before all
museums perform some useful educational function for the public.

Of these functions school service is the most important. This is
chiefly gauged by the amount appropriated from City or State for
this purpose. Where the City fails to provide funds, usually
there is no school service, and in the few such cases where school
service is offered it is by heavily endowed museums and some of
these are very limited. Only 2f0 of the Museums that fail to re¬
ceive City or State aid _,ive any museum service. This 2% is
represented by only 5 museums, 4 of which are endowed; the other
charges admission, enabling It to render a meager service.

Prom this report one can see that it is necessary for a museum
to receive financial support from either the City or State, unless
it is heavily endowed, If It is to perform the functions expected
of it from the community.

Within the past ten years the Natural History Society of Mary¬
land has been gradually building up every function that would be
expected of a modern museum of Natural History. Aside from its

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museum, the Society operates an annual Summer School for the
children of the City. It maintains a loan service of specimens
and Natural History objects for use in class room work. It rives
lectures, talks and demonstrations to schools and other organiz¬
ations. It publishes leaflets on the more popular forms of nature.
It maintains and operates a division for boys and girls interested
in nature, and also a Boy Scout troop. It oublish.es a. semi-
scientific Bulletin on Maryland nature and scientific proceedings.

It has made a study collection of nearly all branches of
Natural History. It participates by exhibits or otherwise, in
every movement in which nature plays a part. It contributes,
helps, and fosters all movements for the conservation of wild
life.

These

education of
by the members
operations are

things
the

the Society has done
citizens of Baltimore

and is doing to aid in the
and all this is accomplished
who receive no financial remuneration. These
carried on by the dues and contributions of the

Society’s members and friends, and a small appropriation
City of Baltimore.

the

ORNITKOLOG-ICAL OBSERVATIONS AT OCEAN CITY

By C . Haven Kolb

Ornithological knowledge in Maryland has a unique distribu¬
tion. One part of the state, the area about Washington, has been
as thoroughly worked as any section in the nation, while other
parts are almost entirely unknown. The Department of Ornithology
of this Society, after several years of effort, has been able to
pick out these "blind spots" of Maryland bird-lore and make plans
for their illumination during the coning years. Accordingly, when
it became evident that an expedition could be arranged for the
summer of 1939, there was no debate concerning the locality to be
explored. The oceanfront county of Worcester was the inevitable
choice and Ocean City was decided upon as the most convenient point
for headquarters.

Through the agency of Mr. Frederick Saffran we secured a
letter of introduction to Mr. Dan Tnmper III from Mr. Frank Bentz
of the Conservation Department. This was of great value to us
since we were unacquainted with Ocean City and its environs. By
consulting with Mr. Trimper we were quickly able to get settled
and begin work, an Important consideration when there Is but a
brief time to survey territory which is entirely new' to the ob¬
servers .

The expedition, consisting of Mr. August Selcknann and the
writer, was in the field from August 1st to August 7th. However,
work was not begun until the morning of the second. Our tent was
placed upon a sandbar on the mainland side of Sinepuxent Bay. By
automobile we could get quickly to Ocean City and to the beach,
north of it. By rowboat we could explore the shores of the bay
and also gain access to the long, deserted beach south of the Ocean
City inlet. Close behind us was a wide salt marsh with winding
channels and a broad, shallow/ lagoon which became a fine mudflat
at low/ tide.

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27

Although we were prepared to trap mammals as well as collect
birds it soon became evident that we would more than have our hands
full with the latter. We were forced to dismiss from our minds
such interesting things as mammals, fish, crabs, molluscs, insects
and the peculiar salt marsh flora, and even land birds, to some
extent, in order to concentrate on the many species of water birds,
several of which were new to us. Consequently the findings of the
expedition can best be shown by a carefully annotated list of bird
species observed.

1. Ardea heredias herodias ~ Great Blue Heron. The marshes,
extending for miles, form 'an ideal feeding place for members of the
heron family. This large species, however, was not common.

2. Florida caerulea cacrulca - Little Blue Heron. Early in
the morning of August 3rd we saw an adult and two immature birds
of this species flying over the marshes together. No others were
noted during our stay.

3. Butorides vircscens virescens - Eastern Green Heron.

This species was a common denizen of the marshes. It was usually
to be found standing along the drainage ditches or beside the
narrow winding channels. In such situations it was very Incon¬
spicuous and was usually flushed before being noted.

4. Anas rubripes tristis - Common Black Duck. Two Black
Ducks were seen flying over the marshes on the morning of August
3rd. They were the only ones noted during our stay.

5. Cathartes aura septentrionalls - Turkey Vulture, Few

Indeed were the times when Turkey ’Vultures were not to be seen in
the sky over the mainland near Ocean City. However, they seldom
seemed to be near the outer beaches where the gulls probably
usurped their sanitational functions. We were constantly on the
lookout for the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) but did not
succeed in finding any. . .

6 . Hallaeetus lcucocephalus leucocephalus - Southern Bald
Eagle. Only one adult of this species was observed. It was seen
on August 3rd near the Inlet.

7. Circus hudsonius - Marsh Hawk. These birds were seen
several times in the marshes. A large brown female was seen on
the morning of August 3rd perched on a heap of peat in the middle
of the marsh.

8. Pandion haliaetus carolinensls - Osprey. This was,
naturally enough, an omnipresent bird over the bay. Not far from
our camp there was a group of dead trees standing on a slight rise
of ground in the center of the marsh. There were two nests in
these dead trees but the young had left and were fending for then-
selves. However, the trees were favorite perching places and one
or more birds could almost always be seen in the vicinity of them.

9. Colinus virginianus virginianus - Bob-white. This was
not a bird of the habitats which we were especially exploring, but
calls of the species were heard a number of times coming from the
mainland farms west of the marshes.

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10. Rallus longirostrls crepitans - Northern Clapper Rail.
The presence of rails is very difficult to detect. They must have
■boon fairly common. Several times in the early morning they were
heard to give their rather loud and throaty kuk-kuk-kuk calls re¬
peated in varying rhythms for some time. They were flushed a
number of times when we waded through the marsh at low tide. It
was always startling to see such a large bird disappear completely
In the short marsh grass. Mr. Selcknann reported seeing them
running along the drainage ditches at low tide.

11. Charadrius semipalmatus - Semipalmatod Plover. These
little plover” wore- one^T“€Hb~ c'bnmon birds of the mudflats, where
they ran about with the "poops" in search of food. They seemed to
avoid sandy beaches while feeding. One specimen was secured on
August 3rd.

12. Oxyechus vociferus voclferus - Ki lido or . Killdeer were
also characteristic of the' mudflats although they were not seen so
frequently as their smaller relatives.

13. Arenaria interpres morinella - Ruddy Turnstone. True to
their generic name those birds cbiiitinod themselves to sandy places.
They were never seen on the mudflats of the mainland side of the
bay. Their characteristic habitat was the ocean beach, although
they were occasionally seen on the bay side of the barrier sand
island. Although noted on several days, they were not common,
only a few being seen at a time. One specimen was taken on August
3rd.

14. Phaeopus hudsonicus - Rudsonian Curlew. Several small
flocks of these birds” were seen, all flying rather high, southward,
and following the inner edge of the bay. They wore quite easy to
identify, since even at a distance their large size and long de-
curved bills wore very prominent.

15.

was not c
in flocks
was seen,
marshes .

Actitis macularia - Spotted Sandpiper. This sho rebird
omnon at Ocean City during our stay. It was never seen
as were most of its relatives. Occasionally an individual
usually along the winding channels which led into the

16 . Catoptrophoras semipalmatus semipalmatus - Eastern Willet .
Small flocks of these birds wore observed in”fli ght along the inner
margin of the bay on August 2nd and August 4th. The flashing white
and dark wings present a mark so arresting that no one could allow
these birds to go by unnoticed.

17 • Pi sob in r.iinut ilia - Least Sandpiper. This species and the

Semlpalmated Sandpiper" comprised the great bulk of the group of
shorebirds which fed daily on the mudflats. Which species was in
the majority it would be difficult to say. Both small sandpipers
were sometimes seen on the sandy shores of the bay as well as on
the mudflats. One specimen was secured on August 4th.

18. Limnodromus grisous grlsous - Eastern Dowitchcr. Some¬
thing less than a dozen Dowit chore were daily feeders on the mudflats
with the "peeps" and plovers . They wore somewhat more shy than the
smaller birds and fed closer to the edge of the water, but a gunshot

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29 .

disturbed then only temporarily and they soon returned to their
feeding. One specimen was taken on August 5th.

19. Ereunetes pusillus - Ser.iipalr.ia ted Sandpiper. What has
been said of "the Teas t Sandpiper applies to this species - it was
frequently seen on the mudflats. It is notable that neither
species was ever seen on the ocean beach where they are often
pictured. One specimen was shot on August 7th.

20. Crocethia alba - Sanderling. This was the characteristic
bird of t he Uc"ean b e a cli ." In large flocks they ran back and forth
on the sand just above the froth of the surf, dashing down, on

the edge of the retreating foam, picking hastily at the sand and
then rushing back up before the advancing tide of the next breaker.
Their shining black legs moved with a swiftness that the eye could,
not follow. Only occasionally did they get their feet wet. Some¬
times flocks could be seen higher up on the dry sand, resting,
preening, or walking about. There must have been several hundred
on each mile of beach.

The plumages varied considerably. Some individuals stood out
from among the others by reason of great rustiness, but there were
many which retained only a few rusty edged feathers on the breast.
Most, however, approached the pale winter plumage. A male and
female were taken on August 2nd and a male and two females on
August 5th. All had undeveloped sexual organs, the maximum length
of the testes being 3. mm. and the ovaries just discernible.

21. Larus argentatus smithsonianus - Herring Gull. Gulls
were very common at Ocean City. The present species was found about
the docks and. on the broader waters of the bay. Hundreds often
gathered over shoal water In front of our camp. We first estimated
eight young to every adult but later discovered that the number of
fully adult birds was considerably less than that. Prom dull brown
first year plumage, there was a complete range with decreasing
frequency up to the full adult.

22. Larus at ri cilia - Laughing Gull. This species was
probably equally as common as the last, but because the birds did
not congregate to quite the extent that the Herring Gulls did,
their numbers wore not so conspicuous. Also unlike the Herring
Gull was the propensity of the present species for the marshes.

They were frequently seen along the channels and on the mudflats.
Furthermore adults were seen nearly as often as young.

23. Sterna hirundo hirundo - Common Tern. On the bay near
Ocean City this species scorned” to be slightly outnumbered by the
following one. Search was made for S. forsteri, and S. dougalli
dougalli but none was identified with any certainty. One specimen,
an adult male, was taken on August 2nd. This bird was shot on the
ocean beach where the species was more common than in on the bay.
Individual birds were continually passing up and down the coast,
closely following a line just above the first breakers.

In the bay about two miles south of Ocean City are some low
lying islands, produced, according to local poople, by the debris
dredged from the channel. They rise a few feet above high tide (one
boro a mound about ton feet In height - nearly a mountain In this

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30 o

country) and support a very sparse herbaceous vegetation on a soil
of sand and shells. From a waterman we learned that visitors were
often taken to these islands to observe nesting "skimmer gulls",
but that the season had passed. Later we heard that there was
another nesting season in the latter part of August. Nevertheless,
we decided to investigate and so paid two rather lengthy visits
on August 3rd and August 5th.

Nests were numerous, but it was quite evident that the season
was over. A few nests were found containing eggs, usually one. It
appeared that most of these were infertile, A large number were
punctured.. One nest was found with two eggs which seemed to be
good, While we were photographing it a particular adult stayed
directly above us by heading into the wind and kept up a continuous
screaming. We were of the opinion that this nest was a very late
one. One chick, recently hatched and still moist, was found dead
in another nest with one egg. No other chicks were seen on this
island. It is possible that the whole attempt at nesting had been
a failure. However, on August 5th on a neighboring island we found
a single older chick, well able to run shout. It is quite possible
that we missed many, since they are almost impossible to sec unless
moving about .

24. S t e rn a ant 1 1 1 a n un ant ill a rum - Least fern. Near Ocean
City, the highway bridge, ' aii3~*the harbor, this was the commonest
tern. Farther down the bay the species was not scon so often.

Both young and adults were to be scon almost constantly about
our camp and beside the lagoon. Their flying was usually accom¬
panied by their high piercing screams, but when they were resting
on the mudflats they were usually very quiet. In fishing they
generally headed Into the wind to cut down their speed. Often
they hovered at a distance of ten or f if toon foot above the water.
When a certain fish had been sighted and determined upon there
was a quick, arrow-like plunge and the fish was caught. Usually
the food was only three or four inches long.

The young ones practiced fishing In the manner of their parents
but apparently without much success, for they were often fed. When
an old bird caught a fish the young would follow it about bogging.
When being fed the young one would alight on tho water briefly and
the parent would hover In front while the food was delivered, after
which the young one again would take wing. The whole transaction
consumed barely fifteen seconds.

On the islands mentioned above, no birds of this species were
seen. However, their were large numbers of the dossicatod carcasses
of fairly well-fledged least torn chicks scattered about. We could
find no evidence of the manner in which they mot their fate.

among chicks

tho

in colony -
one on herring

Wilson Bulletin

It is wci:
nesting sea birds
gulls (Dousing,
other on Arctic terns
show that wandering chicks may bo killed by adults of their own
species when trespassing on neighboring territories. Chicks are

known that the mortality

is large. Two recent studies,

51:170-175, Sept. 1939) and the
56 : 420-428, Oct. 1939)

T5

$

et tin gill,

Auk ,

lo b w

also sometimes killed wantonly by so-called

’ogue

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31

other possibilities occur in the present situation: predation by
the larger species nesting on the same islands, and destruction
by the trampling of herbivores. There are numbers of wild ponies
and half-wild cattle on the dunes of the barrier beach. Since
the water between the islands and barrier beach is often only a
couple feet deep , even though the distance is considerable, it
is possible for these animals to wander back and forth. 'There
was abundant evidence that this had occurred. It Is easily to be
seen that in the middle of the nesting season the presence of such
animals would be a great hazard to ground nesting birds.

25. C ill idonl as nigra surinamensls - Black Tern. This species
was observed in sueTT numbers whenever w c visited the ocean front
but at no other place. At no time did it occur in groups, always

as scattered individuals flying along, mostly southward, just above
the surf. The dark plumage of the summer adult was seldom seen. Most
birds were in the molt, presenting a rather odd pied effect.

26. Ryn chops nigra nigra - Black Skimmer. Skimmers are
probably the most Interesting of the summer birds of Ocean City.
Their bold coloration, their graceful flight, their curious bills,
and their odd habits combine to present a picture which catches
the eye of even the most casual visitor.

These birds were seen everyday on the bay, never on the ocean
front. They tend to be somewhat crepuscular In feeding habits.

They were most frequently noted near our camp in the early morning
and in the late afternoon. At such times they wire to be seen
cutting the surface of the water with their blade-like lower mandi¬
bles as they followed the winding channels In the marsh or traversed
the edges of the lagoon.

The Islands mentioned above were the breeding places of these
birds as well as of the terns. The skimmers were evidently some¬
what later than terns for wo found considerable numbers of young
and one set of eggs.

As we approached the island the adult skimmers could be seon
standing or sitting - their legs arc so short that there Is little
difference between the two - on the beach of the leeward side of
their island. When it became plain that we were going to attempt

a landing the

whole flock of birds rose In a single mass of flash¬

ing black and white and flew out to meet us with a harsh cacophony
of terrier-like barks. When we landed the band broke up but all
continued to circle around the island and yelp during the entire
time of our visits.

On August 3rd wo visited only the first island. We found a
good many young birds but none old enough to do much running about.
They lay flat against the sand in a shallow depression which they
created with movements of feet and body. The down was such that
it was very difficult to see the chicks against the sand. The
larger feathers were beginning to show on "some of the older chicks
and the lower mandible had already at this stage begun to lengthen
beyond the upper one, although as yet there was no sign of color.

Unlike the torn nests, those of the skimmers wore more de¬
pressions in the sand without pretense at lining. They were, in

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general, located together at one end. of the island away from the
torn nests. There was little evidence of nest mortality for this
species - no punctured eggs* and few pieces of eggshell.

We found one nest still containing eggs. There wore two eggs
and one had begun to hatch, for it contained a single chipped hole,
through which we could see the bill of the chick with its white
egg-tooth. When we returned to the island on August 5th both eggs
had. hatched and the chicks were in the characteristic procumbent
position. The eggshells had not been carried away. One chick was
noticeably larger than the other, probably a day older.

The season was further along on the second island, ho nests
wore found there and nearly all the young were old enough to run
about. Many which we chased attempted to get on the wing by facing
into the breeze . Some were much too young, some managed to got off
the ground, only to fall back again, while others sailed, off in
fine fashion. Many of those, no doubt had never flown before the
stress of our presence forced them into it. It was our impression
that they wore not always entirely conscious of what they were
doing, for several wore an air of astonishment when they found
themselves lifted from the ground. Such however, is the power of
avian instinct that they were able to maintain their stability in
the strong breeze and even to vary their maneuvers, as did the
adults, with shifts in the relative direction of the wind, though
with not quite the same deftness.

Wo saw only two such birds come to grief. They wore forced
down into the water about forty yards from shore. Immediately
they began swimming shoreward and were well able to take care of
themselves without being rescued. Wo never saw an adult on the
water ,

This is :
ornithologist

l most
as to

interesting

species of bird, as much so to the

ho idly curious public. Maryland is fortunate
in possessing at least one colony of thorn and their presence ought
to be encouraged. There is no doubt that they add. an extra touch
to Ocean City as a ro croat ory spot and those boatmen who gain some
small part of their livelihood from taking visitors to the colony
might well make the preservation <

especial concern

the colony an object of thoir

27

Antrostomus vocifcrus vocifcrus - Whip-poor-will

A

whip-poor-will was heard on the evening of August 4th from the
woods to the west of our camp. This was one of a number of species
of land birds which we heard or observed.

The following notes on land birds arc, in general. Intended

merely to complete the list of our Ocean City
stated above wo made no attempt t
they were associated with marshes
noted hereafter.

ob s o r vat i on s . As
hunt out land birds, except as
as in the case of Ammospiza.

28* Chactura polaglca - Chimney Swift, Swifts wore numerous
near the town.

29 . Colaptes auratus lutous - Flicker. Observed only once,
August 2nd.

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33

30* Tyr annus tyr annus - Kingbird. This is a bird which is

often scon on beaches along Chesapeake Bay. At Ocean City it is
also fairly common along the beach of Sincpuxent Bay.

31. Myia.rch.us crinitus borons - Crested Flycatcher. One was
seen during a brief visit "to the pine woods.

32. Kirundo erythrogaster - Barn Swallow. Very common about
the bridge an'd along the shore of the bay. This species probably
nests under the bridge as it does in all cur tidewater country.

33 o Penthestes carolinonsis carolinensis - Carolina Chickadee
Several wore seen during a brief “visit to tne pine woods.

34. Telmatodytes palustris palustris - Long-billed Marsh Wren
This abundant inhabitant of Chesapeake marshes was not common at
Ocean City. It seems to prefer cattails and these were not to be
found on the strong salt marsh. A few birds were seen in a patch

of high sedges, and an empty nest was found on the bay side of the
barri er island .

35. Dume telle carolinensis - Catbird. Noted twice on the
edge between the marsh and the pine woods.

36. Turdus migrator ius (subsp.?) - Robin. A few were found
in the pine woods.

37.

buildings

Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris - Starling,
along the road west of Ocean City.

Found among

38.

the marsh

Geothlypis trichas trlchas - Maryland Yellowthroat ,
wren this is an abundant bird on inland marshes. It

seen only once by us at Ocean City - among a tangle of Myrica
the edge of the marsh near our camp.

Like

was

on

39.
was seen
north of

Sturnella magna magna - Meadowlark,
on the grassy flats of tie bay side of
Ocean City.

On August 4th one
the barrier island

40.
noted on

Rlchmondena cardinalis cardinalis - Cardinal,
the border between marsh and pine woods.

One was

41. Amnio s p 1 z a c au da c u t a (subsp.?) - Sharp- tailed Sparrow.

This and the following species wc were especially desirous of find¬
ing since both are characteristic of marshes. Two Sharp-tails were
taken near the lagoon. They lived among the short marsh grass and
on the adjacent sandflats. In the latter places they could fre¬
quently be seen running about almost like larks. Both species wore
very shy and quite elusive. Young birds predominated; the nesting
season was probably long over. Two immature males were taken August
4 th .

42. Ammospiza maritime maritime - Seaside Sparrow. This
species dwelt in the high marsh grass and among sedges. It was
found in the marshes on the bay side of the barrier island as well
as in the marshes of the mainland . Four specimens were taken.

43, Melospiza molodia mclodia - Song Sparrow. These sparrows

34 ,

were marsh birds in the vicinity of Ocean City with the same elusive
tendencies of the Ammosplzae . We secured only one specimen. The
birds of this species which inhabit the Atlantic coastal strip are
supposed to belong to a pale race known as M.m, atlantlca . So far
as our single specimen shows, the birds about Ocean City, however,
are typical melodia. 'Nevertheless, this is, of course, far from
conclusive arid a good series of the species from this locality is
one of our greatest desiderata.

Meetings

October 3

10

17

24

NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
and Lectures at the Soc i e t y

Talk by Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel, "Some Additional Notes
on the West Indian Expedition."

Talk by Mr. Clyde F. Reed, "Plants of Dorchester
County • "

Travel Movies of Palestine and Dalmatia.

Lecture by Mr. Edward P. Henderson, United States
National Museum, "Composition and Structure of
Meteorites • "

Junior Division

October 7
14

21

28

Lecture by Mr. Gilbert C. Klingel, "The Island of the
Wind. 11

Talk by Harold Levy, "Notable Minerals around the Wyman
Park Bridge . "

Talk by Joseph Bures, "Migration."

Travel Movies of Palestine and Dalmatia
Discussion on Nomenclature and Taxonomy
Talk by Romeo Mon. suet i, "What We Should Know about
Maryland Mammals."

Lectures, Exhibitions and School Loans

October 3
3

10

17

17

27

27

Pimlico School, #223, loan of Indian
Woodbine School, loan of Insects.
Saint Ambrose School, loan of Indian
Hagerstown Fair, Exhibition of Shore
and Insects.

Pimlico School, # 223, loan of Birds.
Boy Scout Troop #165, loan of Birds.
Boy Scout Troop #165, lecture by Mr.
"Introduction to Study of Birds."

Artifacts .

Artifacts .
Birds, Ducks,

Henri Seibert,

Gifts

The Society wishes to
the gift of a case of

acknowledge

’woodpeckers

with appreciation
from Mrs. John White.

The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume X

DECEMBER, 1939

Number 4

THE RETURN OP A NATIVE
By Allan H» Bonwill and Howard B. Owens

He is coming back to the streams and ponds of his native
country once again. Castor canadensis, the beaver, is returning
to Maryland’s network of tiny inland waterways. Already there
are three colonies of these busy fellows here, and with care and
protection there is no reason why we cannot, in due time, have
many more • V,

Ecaver are important to our welfare in many little-known
ways. They give us. Instead of a fluctuating stream, destructive
in floodtime and stagnant in drought, a living pond with well
balanced flora and fauna, which is a spawning ground for fish,
an erosion-check for our valuable soil, and a reservoir for time
of drought .

As in years gone by, soon we may have this busy helper
restored to his natural habitat.

According to Cleland (2), beaver, as well as other rodents,
were first known from the Eocene Epoch. Dugmorc (3) says, "The
beaver, both American and European, had the largest range of any
animal, those in Europe having existed all over Europe, includ¬
ing Great Britain (not Ireland) and Asia as far as the Euphrates.
During the Pleistocene period they lived in Italy as far as Rome,
while the American species ranged all over North America from
the Arctic Sea to Mexico. " Bailey (1) lias a map to show that the
original range of the beaver in NorTh America nearly coincides
with the distribution of the aspen, Its principal food tree.

(See map on page 37)

When the first settlers cane to Maryland in 1634 they
probably found colonies of beaver in every likely stream and
pond. However, about a century before their arrival at St. Mary’s
the white man had learned from the Indians of the St. Lawrence
region the value of the beaver. The craze for its fur that
followed was destined to place the beaver, like land acquisition,
in the role of a great force of empire-building on this continent.
Through out a large part of the Indian country, the beaver pelt
had been the standard of value in barter among tribes. The white
man adopted this standard, and for more than a century the beaver
pelt was a common unit of barter for both Indians and whites from
New York to Quebec. Until the nineteenth century, beaver fur
furnished the material for hats. Then the manufacture of silk,
and the use of the fur of the Central American Coypu Rat, com¬
bined to force the beaver fur from Its place as a hatter’s
material, and left it in use mainly for wearing apparel, a pur¬
pose for which it is well suited, being one of the best furs we
have .

The Indians had long trapped these animals, not only for
their fur, but for their flesh, which they esteemed a luxury.
However, so systematic were they in their work, that the number
taken from each colony was seldom in excess of what would keep
the population fairly stationary. When the white man entered
the competition for beaver fur, his one idea was to secure the
largest possible crop of skins, utterly regardless of whether
or not he "killed the goose that laid the golden egg." Thus
the Indians were forced to discard their sane methods of trap¬
ping and join in the mad destruction. The result was that the
beaver soon became extinct in most of the states, and nearly so
In others, even though they originally seemed innumerable. Mary¬
land was one of the states where the beaver became extinct.

In either Pennsylvania or West Virginia, some beaver escaped
extinction because of their residence in remote sections, or were
later re-introduced. Within recent years offspring from these
colonies through their natural migrations In search of new home¬
steads have come Into Western Maryland. Mr. Porter (5) says,
"There arc three colonies of beaver in Maryland - one- on the Upper
Potomac River near Germania, Garrett County; one on Town Creek in
Allegany County; and recently a colony has been discovered by
Mr. Roland Porter, Deputy Game Warden, Millington, Kent County, Md.
located at a point where the Andover and Sewell Creeks meet at the

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38*

head of the
miles east o

Chester River in Kent County, about one and a half
f Millington on the road leading to Clayton, Del."

Wo have located and studied
Kent Counties. It is concerning

been written. The two

cut environment, must be
some future Issue.

the colonies in Allegany and
the latter that this paper has
other colonies, being in entirely differ-

n

studied thoroughly and described

During the spring of 1935,

the Delaware Board of Game and
Fish Commissioners purchased throe pairs of beaver from the
Supervisor of the National Forest, Maine • A pair of these beaver

we re liberated in

pro s ent , acc o rdin

7

each of the three counties of Delaware. At
to a letter received from Chief Warden R. C

Wilson

, V_, V-.' X

there are two colonies resulting from those liberations
one near Cheswold, in Kent County, Delaware, and the other near
Burton's Pond, in Sussex County. It is with the former colony
that wo arc concerned.

Game Warden Edward

•OOgJ

of Cheswold, took a pair of the

beaver to the farm of Mr. Harry F. Ur Ian,
a small stream- swamp known
Garrison
then, or

ke , an
later, was posted

as Willis Branch, which flows
j . Tills swamp,

Lake, an artificially formed lake. rrn

and liboratod thorn in

nrVi ri Vi *P 1 otrr c« lilt O

either

state game

management

refuge .

E

ul o U

apparently

found their intended
or they soon began felling small trees, mainly

Logs

These mammals from dow,
habitat suitable, f

willows and alders, that grow in cr beside the stream,
brush from these were placed parallel to the sluggish flow, with
butt-ends up-stream, some of the material being forced well into
the muddy bottom. Mud and gravel, obtained from the bottom imme¬
diately up-stream, was placed on these branches. Other layers of
brush were placed upon the first, each In turn weighted down with

much until the structure reached the desired height. At first

y ume m im. w uwu. v. uu o _l j. mi. _± n/ J-

the water leaked through the loosely constructed affair, but the
stream brought down sediment which helped to make It water-tight.
More mud was placed on the upper side and the top, until finally,
holding water to Its crest, a completed dam meandered from one

clump of alders to another all the way across the stream
tance of about one hundred and forty foot.

di;

Of course, the dim wc
pond was occupied, for it

.3 never really finished as long as the
ho-

to keep it In ordinary repair, but the

only required continual attention
:hc pond tended to fill up
with the silt brought in by the stream. This naturally lessened
tho depth of the water, and made it necessary for them to raise
and lengthen the dam from time to time.

This arduous work of dam-building was not for the purpose
of creating a swimming pool, as some people seem to imagine, but
to keep the water of Willis Branch at a constant level. With a
constant wate^
lodges, and

mads. A place for the safe storage and easy transportation of
their winter food supply would be provided. This pond also assures
a placo of retreat in case of attack.

J,o

W:

'Ox- level they could conceal the entrances to their
so prevent the entrance of foxes or other land ani-

On the east bank of the stream,

about one hundred and

i ' ...L ,<

v ’ ' : : " ■ :.!> v. < ..

.1.' } , M '■

m a

'

'i :

twenty-two yards above the dam, the beaver next began work on
a lodge. First they dug a canal about two feet wide, two feet
deep, and eight or ten feet long, through the shallows near the
bank. Front this canal they tunnelled into the bank for about
another ten feet, and finally brought their tunnel to the sur¬
face. Over this exit they heaped a roughly arranged pile of
brush, sticks, mud, and grass, until the whole was about six
feet in diameter, and two feet high. These materials were
brought up the bank over a snail path, or slide, which they
cleared .

Gradually, as the mound became large enough, the inside was
hollowed out, then more and more material was added to the out¬
side until the whole structure was nearly light and water proof.
(This is the way loading authorities believe the lodges are
constructed, though it has not boon definitely proved.) As soon
as the nights were cold enough to freeze they completed the lodge
by plastering it over with several Inches of mud. Some authori¬
ties believe that the center of the lodge- ceiling is left somewhat
thinner tc provide sort of a ventilation flue.

During the building of the dam. and the lodge the bark from
the sticks used probably furnishes the beaver with most of their
food. Now, with those completed, and winter coming on, it was
necessary for them to store a food supply against the time when
they would be confined under the ice. Through the swamp they
went, and up on both banks, felling trees that suited their needs.
Their search for food took them out oven into Garrison Lake, and
trees wore cut far up into its south-eastern cove, perhaps a

quarter of a mile or more from,
was transported as soon as it
later, and some of It was not
venient to the lodge
bottom, by placing mud upo
being green it lacked buoyancy
this first
ly stored.

their lodge.

was felled, some of it

Some

,-p

of

Ul

the larger

ilized at
material was

11 . In a
anchored

it .

Other branches were
tier, until finally a sufficient pile of „

this material
was gathered
spet con-
to the
, because
locked Into
ood was safe-

spring

With the freezing over of the pone, the beavers discontinued
their tree-felling activities, and took up their winter life under
the Ice. Of course, they sometimes found
had kept ice from formJ.ng. On the
sit and feed
about little
their winter

a hole where
>f this hole they would
on some of the bark from their food pile, leaving

nose helped us road the story of

cage

p lie,
life .

chip:

nm

Several young were born, probably during the spring of
These wore very likely cared for by their mother, while the
spent considerable- time exploring adjoining water courses.

1936 .
father

Again winter found thorn prepared. Their dam had been care¬
fully kept in good condition, an adjoining lodge had been built
beside the first to accommodate the new members of the family,
and sufficient food had. boon stored.

Throughout the winter Warden Boogs and Mr. Urian kept their
usual watch over tho little colony, allowing only trusted visitors
to sec their sign, but somehow during the early part of 1937 some

>■

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local trappers succeeded in poaching a pair of the beaver
culprits and their fence were later punished.

These

With the approach of autumn their pend looked deserted, as
if they had migrated to a more sympathetic environment, but fur¬
ther investigation disclosed a different story. The colony had
moved down- stream about one hundred and fifty -eight yards from
their first dam and built another about one hundred and eighty-
five feet long. Their new lodge was out in the newly formed pond
about twenty- five foot from the west bank, and fifty yards down¬
stream from their first dam. It was about six foot in height,
and showed a higher degree of lodge -building skill than their
first. (See map on p ag c 41 )

The winter probably passed uneventfully for the heavers.

Many visitors came to view the now pond, and wore proudly es¬
corted to its shores by Mr. Urban. "Aren’t they terribly
destructive?" misinformed guests frequently asked, but Mr. Urban
quietly shook his head, and replied that the few trees they
destroyed had scarcely any value to him. He enjoyed seeing the
results of their work, oven though. lie had never caught a glimpse
of the beaver themselves . Later he pointed to his wood-pile,
which had recently been replenished with several loads of bcavor-
cut logs.

If you had been standing on the low bank where Willi

m o

branch

an overhanging tree -limb ;

They would probably
pa r t i cu 1 ar ha s t c ,

flows Into Garrison Lake one moonlight night during mid- summer,
you might have seen a pair of beaver swim by.
have appeared to be- going senewhero, but in no
for they might have paused now and then to nibble a few twigs off

and one or the other, rearing its head
brought its tail down on the
at whi cl

only to reappear a few moments later to continue casually
way. Those would have boon a pair of two-year old beaver on

new homestead. (Soe nap

mu. shoulders well up might have

if

water causing a rifle-like report, at which both would have dived

yi 4-V
Oil ux.

oir

heir

"honeymoon"

prospecting for

on page 42)

Out of Garrison Lake and up Pinks Branch, against its tardy
current, they probably swam. Daylight found them sleeping under
the shelter of tree-roots overhanging the bank, or some other
secluded location. Each evening they resumed their journey to¬
ward the setting sun, feeding, playing, or sometimes lingering
to make little "mud pies", over which they voided their cast or cum.
These musky, cairn-like signs would serve for a time to convey a

log of their journey to

ur

j caver

might be following

thorn .

One night they may
Branch, but instinct u:

tve readied

difficult fo:

'.on, but

’gC CL

aa cm on.

clangorous.

enemies, escape would be hard wo:

for

Fo:

the very source of Pinks
Going over land was not only
if they wore at to. eked by
’tunatoly the headwaters of

Jordon Branch ue.ro very close and soon they were on their w:
down-stream in their natural element.

Into Sowell Branch, and on pan

iryiand line they swam,

Ltj in their lives.

for of course political boundaries meant nothin^

At the junction of Sowell and Andover Branches, "deeper water, the
result of St ankle 1 s old mill pond, probably seemed a likely place

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_

M A P OF
BEAVER COLONY
IN WILLIS BRANCH

NEAR CHESWOLD, DEL

DECEMBER 3I; 19 3 3.

( L

1 <2.

SCALE. 1 IN.

L E GEND

foo f r.

A pair of Maine "beaver were liberat¬
ed in this section of Willis Branch
during the spring of 1935 by Game
Warden Edward Boogs for the Delaware
Board of Eish and Game Commissioners.

2. Dam built in 1935. Length about 140
f eet .

3. Adjoining lodges built in 1935, but
now flat.

4. Dam built in 1937. Length about 185
feet .

5. Lodge built in 19 37, but now flat.

6. Dam built in 19 39 . Length about 304
f eet .

7. Lodge built in 1939. Circumference
about 52 feet. Height about 6:£ feet.

8. Eood pile stored during 1939. -About
750 cubic feet,

9 . Scattered cuttings along both banks
and throughout the stream swamp.

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42,

4: >5 •

to settle. At any rate, they spent the winter there, perhaps
in a bank- &en. A crude dan was also built.

When the balny breezes of spring transformed the water of
the old mill pond back to its usual state of liquidity, the dam
yielded to the strain of rising water, and drifted down- stream
about fifty feet. Here a portion of it jammed against some tree
roots in the middle of the stream, and was stranded by the re-
t r c at ing wat e r .

On the ninth cf April, 1939, taking advantage of a favorable
wind and an overcast sky wo stalked quietly to the old mill pond.

It scorned do sorted, and all was quiet except for the occasional
hooting of a barred owl. Suddenly something caught our eye . Yos,
it was true, right there before our eyes, and in the middle cf
the day, two beaver wore swimming about the remain s of their ill-
fated dan . We watched them awhile . Then swimming out into the
swift current, they allowed themselves to be drifted down-stream,
and out of our sight .

when we again returned to the site of St ankle * s old mill
pond on Sop tomb or the twenty- third , it was obvious that the beaver
had not been there for many weeks. Where could they have gene?
Would wo lose trace of them? Vic decided to imagine where wo
would locate If we were beavers.

Worth of Millington, Kent County, Maryland, there are two
beautiful mill pends , known as Eignan5 s Small Mill Pond and
EIgman’s Large Mill Pond. Those pends arc connected by a canal,
and from the smaller a mill race carries water to one cf the few
overshot water-wheels operating in Maryland. This mill Is
operated by J. E. I-Iigman and Sons.

Those ponds seemed to moot our specifications for a beaver
colony site, so wo began asking people around Millington if they
had hoard of any beaver being soon recently. Many people know
nothing about then, but finally we wore told to see Deputy Game
Warden Roland Pert or or Chief of Police Edward Squires. These
men were said to bo trying to protect the beaver, and might know
their present whereabouts.

Fortunately, wo contacted Mr. Squires, He kindly offered us
the use of his rowboat, and pointed out a cutting lie had noticed
along the canal. lie also mentioned having seer, some cuttings along
Cypress Branch, which flows Into the far end of the larger pond.

We rowed across the small pond, through the canal, across
the large pond, and entered tie mouth of Cypress Branch. A flock
of ^mallards reluctantly abandoned their feeding in the shallows,
and with much quacking headed ever land toward the small pond. A
groat blue heron squawked his added protest, and with pel sod wing-
boats moved on around the next bend in the stream. A muskrat
swimming along the shady bank so cm in _;iy faded away before our
curious gaze. Painted turtles slipped noiselessly off mossy
logs, or altered their undor-v/atcr course to avoid our intruding
oars. What a pcrxcct habitat for the Eastern Shore * s only beaver
colony , Would wo find a lodge or other evidence of their settle¬
ment ?

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44

Beaver-cut timber began to show up on either bank. Some of
it was partly cut, some of it had lodged in nearby trees while
falling, and 3 one of it had splashed into the stream. Look at
the size of that cutting l A sweet gun twenty-three inches in
diameter. As the stream grow narrower the cuttings grew scarcer,
until finally it was evident that the beaver had not frequented
this section of the Branch.

lodge?

their lodge? Were they going to live in a crude
bank-den again this winter? Coning up-stream we remembered passing
a small Island near its mouth. Just behind the island, and

separated by about twenty- five
jutting out from the left bank.
That might make an ideal locati
through

feet of water, w;

Why had wc not
on for a lodge .

is a peninsula
looked there?

W e r ow e d qul e t ly

;he charnel, searching each bank with our eyes for some
tell-tale sign. Sure enough, there it was, a small lodge about
six feet in diameter, and. eighteen inches in height, on the edge
of the peninsula. Crude, to be sure, but the type their parents

had lived in when they were born,
winter’s den.

and much

lie

their last

The water In front of the lodge was two or throe feet deep,
and would remain about constant the year around, so locating the
entrance tunnel was probably simple. Wo rowed around to the east
side of the peninsula, and there wo found an opening In the bushes
to a slide going to the top of their lodge. Over this path the
lodge-building materials had been transported. In fact, the slide
was still muddy from Its uso the previous night . The beaver them¬
selves, as usual, were not to be seen.

Meanwhile, back in Willis Branch during 1939, the colony,
perhaps to get a much greater depth of water, had moved up-stream
about four hundred and fifty yards from thoir 1937 dam and built
another about three hundred and four foot long. This is the long¬
est dan we have over measured, but one mentioned by Mills (4),
on Jefferson River, near Throe Porks, Montana, was a little more
than seven times that long.

About twenty- thro o yards above the 1939 dam, they built
island lodge. This type represents the highest degree of
building technique. It measured
and six and one-half feet" in height

fifty-two feet

m

>osido the 1

an

lodge-
c I r cunf eronco
was a

fd

crcsccnt-shaped food pile, which wc estimated to contain about
seven hundred and fifty cubic foot of sticks.

Returning to the colony in Cypress Branch to
check-up before winter, we searched for their foe
to find any. Whether we overlooked it, or they a
to provide one remains to be discovered. Let us
have sufficient food safely stored away, and that
reveal their presence as a well established colon

make the final
a pile, but failed
dually failed
hope that they do
next s p r I rig w Ill

These former natives
especially those from the
Delaware, come to us from
tected refuge. Let their
pledge our active support
all possible protection.

of Maryland have returned. Some of them,
colony In Willis Branch, near Che s wo Id,
a thoroughly posted and otherwise pro¬
return be not in vain. May each of us
to encourage our government to give them

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45,

BIBLIOGRAPHY

(1) Bailey, Vernon

1922, Beaver habits, beaver control, and possibilities
in beaver farming. U.S. Dept, Agri. Bull, No, 1073,

(2) 01 eland, Herdman Fitzgerald

1929, Geology, Part 2, Historical. American Book
Co. New York, p, 620.

(3) Dugmore, A. R.

3.914, The romance of the beaver. Lippincctt.

(4) Mills, E. A.

1913. In beaver world. Houghton Mifflin Co.

( 5 ) Porter, Ro 1 and

1939. Beavers in Maryland. Maryland Conservationist.
Vol. XVI, Ho. 2, pf. 10, pub. by Game Div. of the
Conservation Dept, of MG.

REFERENCES

( 1 ) Carr, W i 1 1 1 am H .

1938. Beaver, builder of empire. Natural History.
Vol. XL II, No. 2, pp. 100-106. The American Museum
of Natural History, New York.

(2.)

Morgan, L. H

1808. The American beaver and his works. Philadelphia

(3) Darren, Edward R.

1927. The beaver. Monographs, American Society of
Mamma log! st s. No. 2, Williams t. Wilkins.

(4) Warren, Edward R.

1927. A study of the beaver in the Yancey region of
the Yellowstone National Park. Roosevelt Wild Life
Annals, Vol. I, numbers 1 and 2. Roosevelt Wild Life
Exp e r men t S t a t i on .

( 5 ) Wood, Kerry

1939. Behind the dam. Natural History. Vol. XLIII,

No. 5, pp. 290-297. American Museum of Natural History,
New York.

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM
Grebes

It is stated by many ornithologists that the grebes arc one of
the lowest' forms of birds. Those birds spend almost their entire
life in the open water. Grebes' nests are usually rafts or islands

of wat or¬
tho rein.

caked vegetation' three to nine dull white c

Often

O

when

ire laid

leaving their nest they cover up their eggs

with grass and other plants. The young after hatching, when they

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are dry, take immediately to the water,
and either lie flat on their breasts or
and entire feet.

They arc awkward on land,
sit erect on their tails

Their food consists of fish and other small forms of aquatic
life, with which feathers arc nixed. It Is thought that these
feathers act as a strainer to prevent fish bones and other largo
particles of food from passing into the Intestines until they are
properly digested.

The feet
that they are
derful divers
witches” .

of those birds arc unlike ducks, goose and loons in
lobe-footed instead of wob-footod. Grebes arc won-
and arc known to many as "Hell -divers", or "Water-

In our Museum wo have two of the
to Maryland - the Horned Grebe and the
third species is HolboclI's Grebe •

possible three
P i e d- b 1 1 1 e d G:

species known
’ebe. The

E o 3 . F .

NOTES TOR THE MONTH OP NOVEMBER

Meetings and Lectures at the Society
November 7 Talk by Mr 7 Oscar' Helm, ""’corals - Past
14 Talk by Mr. David L. Elliott, "Alaska -
Spare Tire."

and Present."
Undo Sam’s

21 Lecture by Dr. Charles F. Elvers, "The Greatest
Archaeological Puzzle - The Ancient Americas."

26 Talk by Mr. W. Bryant Tyrrell, "Some Interesting Notes
on the Barred Owl, Cooper’s Hawk, and Humming Birds."

Junior

No"

Division

or 4 Lecture by Mr. C. Haven Kolb, "Field Approach to Plant
11 Talk by Miss Ruth Fisbpaugh, "A Trip to Catoctin."

18 General Discussion on "Evolution."

25 Talk by' Henry C. Eichhorn, "Recapitulation Theory."

Exhibitions
November 3

4

8

24

25
30

, Lectures and School Loans
Belair High SchooTJ Lecture by Elias Cohen, "Snakes
of Maryland . "

Grand 257 Store, Loan of Birds and Mammals .

Soars and Roebuck Co., Loan of Birds and Mammals.
Pimlico Boy Scout Troop, Lecture by Mr. T. Milton Oler
"In d 1 an s that L I vc d i n M a r 77 1 and . 1 ’

State Teacher's College, Loan of Birds.

Millorsvilo, Loan of Birds.

Y V"\

Society of Maryland

£•

Volume X JANUARY, 1940 Number 5

CORAL - PAST AND PRESENT
By Oscar L. Helm

The term "Coral" is an ambiguous one, for as it is common¬
ly used now it may refer to the dried calcareous skeletal structure
alone or to the whole living organism of hard skeleton and fleshy
organs. Even the origin of the term is uncertain. The English
form is from the Creek, but it has been suggested that it is of
Celtic origin, or of the language of some of the wild races of
European nomads. The first picture that comes to one’s mind, I
dare say, regardless of the origin of the term, is the calcareous
skeleton of an animal that is strangely enough made up of approxi¬
mately 90% water. Bizarre shapes and colors such as the organ-
pipe coral, the sea feather, sea pen, branching coral, the cup¬
shaped, fan- shaped, brain, the precious red coral, the black coral,
the phosphorescent, and all variations of shades in between known
colors are stimulated in the mind’s eye by the word "coral".

The animal is cylindrical in shape and, when fully expanded,
shows a mouth in the center of a disc surrounded by a single ring
of tentacles. In a colony of these animals we find they have the
same structure except that they are' joined together by a fleshy
substance. They capture their food, which consists of floating
or drifting micro-organisms, by means of cells of their tentacles
which paralyze the food. These animals in the adult form do not
have the power of movement in the true sense of the term, but they
are able to contract and expand their bodies by means of bands of
muscles. The animals are sensitive or irritable, for they respond
to various stimuli by muscular contraction.

They reproduce in a season of the year by eggs and sperm.

The former, when fertilized, give rise to larvae which move by
means of cilia. These larvae in turn become new animals or colon¬
ies. They may reproduce either by splitting down the middle,
each half creating a new animal, or by a process known as budding.

A bud may appear as a slight bulge in the body wall at first and
then push out rapidly into a stalk which develops its own tentacles
and mouth .

In order to obtain a general knowledge of the classification

mu 30

48.

of the calcareous remains of coral, it is necessary to know some¬
thing of its structure. The mouth of the animal leads down to I
short throat and thence to a general body cavity . The throat is
bound to the body wall by a number of fleshy bands called
’Mesenteries*. If we were to cut the animal in a transverse
section It would appear as a cartwheel, the throat being the hub,
the mesenteries the spokes, and the body wall as the rim. Be¬
tween the mesentery there rises, due to the secretion of the outer
cells of the animal, the calcareous septa that arc familiar to
us. It is on these septa and a few other characteristics that
the classification of the coral is based. These septa are always

formed in the spaces between the mesenteries,
substance of them.

Relation of hard part

and never in the

(thick linos) and soft
parts (thin lines).
Ridges indicate position
of muscle.

bion is
and until

complete knowled

The present system of els
teristics of the calcareous remains,

of the physical characteristics of the animal which formed them i
known the ;
not always

living

lystom will remain imperfect, for the septal remains do
correctly indicate the number of mesenteries of the

animal

11

:C coral animals hav*:

them to thrive in the teeming watery underworld

many mutual friendships that enable

One group of

polyps have living in them a little spherical cell which boars
the green colored vegetable substance, chlorophyll. This docs
not injure or irritate the coral animal, but rather lives In a
symbiotic relationship. When these colls, Zooxanthellae, arc ox
posed to the sunlight, they make food which, is used by the polyp
This nay account for the statements of many observers that the
animal is contracted In the daytime and extended at night, for
when there is no longer any sunlight for food-making, the tenta¬
cles and stinging colls capture food. This coll is found in all
stages of life, for the young colls In trio ovary arc Invaded by
these green colls from the. surrounding tissue. Thus when the eg
is fertilized It

il ready

10 surrounding tissue,
has its equipment for

All groups of

food-making.

coral arc susceptible to attacks from barnacles

worms, molluscs, etc., but one group

V

rather friendly associa¬

tion with a little crab (Hapalocarcinus ) . When the crab is small
it settles down between several branch?
uous irritations It stimulates each branch to

branchlots. These new bronchos spread out f unwise and in time form
a cage In which the crab Is hold for life. Those crabs thus hold
arc assured of food and a safe place to live and reproduce. In

of coral and by contin-

ivc off many lateral

UO crj

49

turn they have stimulated the coral animal into
of growth.

its many forms

Another group of coral polyps has a most interesting associa¬
tion with a small worm (Aspido siphon) and this mutual life is
indicated in the dried coral by a small smooth round hole at the
side of the base through which in life the worn protrudes. These
corals, which live on sandy bottoms, have no way of fixing them¬
selves on the bottom to resist the flow of water. This worn which
lives and feeds in the sand acts as a muscular foot and drags the

Aj. u _l _ 1 U JL. O*. «L. \

is able to feed and is not smothered in the sand, its most dangor-
our enemy. Thb young worm begins its life in a small gastropod
shell. The coral larva settle
begins to grow. In time the

small hole through which
makes the proper shell

coral upright if it falls over. Living in this manner, the coral
feed and is not smothered in the sand, i
The young worm begins its life in a sma

on the outside of the shell and
grow. m time tne ease of the coral has completely
surrounded the shell, leaving only
the worm protrudes. Just how the larv° nnk

selection is not known, but if it settled on a shell without any
worm the shell would soon overturn and the coral would be smothered
in the sand. Regardless of how selection is made, the relationship
forms one of nature 7 s remarkable yet common phenomena.

The use cf coral goes back many centuries. The records of
history show that it was used in the time of the Kan dynasty a
century or mere before the Christian era. In Its earliest uses
it gave color to hilts of daggers and swords, beautified shields,
and formed jewelry. The use of coral as an antidote to all man¬
ner of stings, poisons, enchantments, plagues, loss of crops, and
diseases, probably goes back to the story of the mythical origin
of red coral as related by Orpheus of Thrace and by Ovid. It
seems that when Perseus threw the head of the liedusa on the sea
shore, the water nymphs amused themselves by casting branches of
seaweed at It just to see them turn to stone. When the seeds of
the seaweed returned to the water and grow, they gave rise to coral
which Is supposed, even to this day, to turn to stone when exposed
to air. Minerva, being pleased with the exploit of her brother.

Is credited with giving coral Its excellent curative virtues.

coral, a flourishing trade was

full of accounts of expodl-
thc cure-all values of the

than its value as

j owcl .

Because of the value placed on
built up around It and histories are
tions and tradings for It. No doubt
coral led to its desirability rather
John Parkinson in his "Theatre of tl
gives a long list of diseases for wl

as consumption, sore gums, ulcers, etc. Many prescriptions of the
13th century contained red coral as
a prescription written to cure fever
follows °

w-io. "Theatre of the Plants", published in 1640,

ilch it was recommended, such

s

a,n ingredient. An example o;
measles and smallpox 1;

"Take burnt hartshorn, white amber, red coral, - of each an
ounce; crab * s eyes and claws, - of each two ounces; saffron
half a scruple; cochineal two scruples; make them all in a
paste, after they arc finely levigated with jolly of harts¬
horn, and form into little balls, which dry and use."

Red coral is used by the natives of North Africa, peasants of
Italy and other parts of Europe as a protection against the evil

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eye . Black coral was also supposed to bo efficacious as a love-
charm, or as a cure for fascinations, or as an antidote for stings.
However, in the later years when coral was analyzed, it was found
to be no more efficacious than chalk and it fell into disuse.

Many fossil forms of this animal of the Coo lent orate group
may be found. The earliest forms are found in the Cambrian Period
and resemble sponges. This led to the belief that they wore not
true corals, but recent study indicates that some of them arc, and
it is quite clear that they evolved from the Cambrian sponges. In
the Ordovician Period we find three groups, - the Cup corals. Honey
comb corals, and Chain corals. All of those were tctracoralla, -
that is, the radiating septa were four in number or multiples of
four. These corals were rarely branched and the polyps wore much
larger than modern forms, ranging from half an inch to a foot or
more in length. Solitary Cup corals were predominant at this time,
although Honeycomb corals were abundant «

In the Silurian Period the compound or colonizing forms of
coral superseded tlie Cup coral forms. The Chain corals reached
their climax in this period. In the Devonian Period corals dis¬
played a marked increase in numbers, species, and size. They
must have grown in great profusion as proven by the many fossil
coral reefs. Most of the forms were either of the Cup or Honey¬
comb typos, the Chain corals having become rare and extinct in
the early Devonian. The solitary Cup corals grew to the size of
12 to 18 inches long and several Inches In diameter.

Mis sissippian Period, we find only the Cup and Honcy-
and much less predominant than in the Devonian. In

’cried, the forms arc similar to the Mississippi*
The Permian Period Is important in the his-

In the
comb forms,
the Pennsylvanian I
an but loss common
tory of coral in that wo find the first appearance of the Hcxac or¬
al la, or forms whose septa were six or multiples of six in number
as are the modern forms. The Tctracoralla of the previous periods,
however, were still common.

During the Triassie Period, the Hcxacoralla became
while the more ancient forms dwindled away to extinction
corals of the Jurassic and Cretaceous period were all of
acoralla type and present in abundance. In the Tertiary
we find the corals wholly modern In character.

abundant
. The
the Hex
Period,

irgest

visible deposit of coral in Maryland of the I.lic—
Chop tank: formation. Is at Calvert Beach. It Is about
hr OG- fourths miles south, of Governor's Run. This deposi-

Thc la
cone Period,
one and t~

ti on is approximately nine feet above the beacr, is
half to two feet thick, and runs southward for about twenty feet

mil Is associated with Melina max ill at a.

o

one and one-

This group of cc:

The Eocene coral discovered so far by the Paleontological
group, consists of cup coral only. This was found In the Aquia
formation at the mouth of the Potomac Creek. Quite a few of the
Cup coral specimens were also found In tho Romney Shades, just
outside of Hancock, Maryland. These coral fossils were found
associated with Trilobites and Crinolds.

The coral animals present an interesting field of study to

51

the naturalist, the zoologist, and the paleontologist. There is
much to ho done despite the tremendous tasks already accomplished.
This minute animal with its house, outside of which the coral
polpy lives, will never cease to fascinate because of the exqui¬
site patterns the little architect builds. From these houses other
houses are built, but the owners fail to realize whence the lime¬
stone came. Navigators and travelers for generations have been
keenly a. ware of the huge reefs that those animals have built, -
rock-like structures that present beautiful hues of color but at
the same time a danger that navigators must beware . Paleontolo¬
gists have let their imaginations take them back to the time when
these animals flourished and in their groat numbers began to build
those remains which give them their clues to the past generations.
There arc many coral animals whose habits and physical functions
arc not yet well known and a zoologist might spend his life glean¬
ing these bits of information that make our picture more complete.

One never realizes the work these animals do until he roads
that some animals increase in length from one to two inches a year
and about two inches in diameter a year; or that under natural con¬
ditions that do not vary too much because of changes in tempera¬
ture, food supply, etc., a reef might grow upwards from a shallow
sea bottom at a rate of one foot in cicvon-and-a-half years, or
fourteen and one-half fathoms in a thousand years. Wo might not
even wondor at these figures, but docs it not arrest our attention
when we sec in our geography books that the Great Barrier Reef of
Australia is over eleven hundred miles long and encloses a channel
from ton to twenty-five fathoms deep and in some places thirty
miles wide? Truly these animals that once had their place in
medicine, in sorcery, and in wealth as precious stones, still have
their ijlace in this streamlined mechanized age as they continue to
change the physiognomy of our earth with their Lilliputian archi¬

tecture I

MOUTH

MF-SEHTERY

EOfeE of
MESILMTEkY-

(FRom

Hegneir)

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52

Biblio graphy

"An Introduction to Historical Geology”

Wnu Jo Miller
"Text Book of Paleontology”

Karl A« Von Zittel

"An Introduction to the Study of Recent Corals”
Sidney J. Hickson
"College Zoology”

Robert W , He gne r

Additional Archaeological Material from' the Hughes Site,

on the Potomac River, Montgomery County, Maryland

The Department of Archaeology recently acquired from Mr,
Nicholas YInger a collection of Indian artifacts from the Plughes
site. Most of these are made of bone_ but some are of shell,
stone, and clay. Some of these artifacts are illustrated in
Plate I. A description of the Plate with a list of the total
number of objects acquired follows.

Plate I. a - Awl made from a deer scapula. Seven others
acquired were broken.

b - Seven blunt punches on flaking drifts. In
our own work at this site we found only one of these objects.

c - Seven more or less complete antler arrow-
points and two (at the extreme right) merely cut off but not
bored .

d - A slender awl made from what appears to be
a fibula of some small animal.

e - Two flat needles, both broken, made from ribs
The shorter fragment is the point and Is highly polished and.
very sharp, while the longer piece is broken at both ends and
lacks the perforation, provided there was one.

f - Eight tubular beads made from bird bones.

The larger specimens are highly polished on the exterior and
also to a great extent on the Interior.

Aside from those shown there were four broken beads In the
lot, also a few cut bird bones from which beads had been removed

g - A perforated pendant of bone,

h - One complete pendant made from the baculum
of a raccoon; also a broken one. In addition to these, there
were six badly broken specimens in the collection.

Not shown on the plate were eight broken beaming tools made
from cannon bones of the hind leg of the Virginia Deer and two
broken specimens made of upper leg bones „ There wore also a few
sections of antlers, showing that the tines had been cut off.

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53

presumably for use as arrowpoints.

1 ~ A few beads made from Marginella shells.

k - Two oyster shell pendants.

1 - Two small triangular pendants. These seem
to be made from the side walls of a univalve.

m - Bead made from a section of clay pipe stem,
light buff in color and fired very hard. This stem has a flat
side and is decorated with very faint rouletted marks which do
not show very well in the photograph. The drawings (Fig. 1)
show these features to better advantage.

n - A bead of soapstone, partly bored from both

ends .

Drawing (Fig. 2) - a gorget of dark purple slate. This
specimen was mentioned in the Society's Proceeding No. 6, recent¬
ly published, but was not illustrated.

Note : Correction, Proceeding No. 6 nThe Eughes Site" -

p. 10” """ISth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology" should
read "20th Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology".

Michard E, Stearns, Curator
Department of Archaeology,

SECTION

Fig. 1 X 2 FLAT SURFACE

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OBJECTS OF BONE, SHELL, CLAY AND STONE

54

Notes for Month of December
Meetings and Lectures at the Society

December 1 -

Chess and Checker Tournament .

5 -

Talk by Mr, Henri Seibert, "Quantitative Biology."

12 -

Lecture by Dr. F, W. Bosley, "Maryland Forests."

19 -

Talk by Mr. Edward Crosby, "How to Make the Most

of Your Negatives."

Junior Division

December 2 -

Lecture by Mr. Irving E. Hampe, "Bats."

9 -

Talk by Mr, William Moorefield, "Nature In Relation

to Mythology."

16 -

General Discussion,,

23 -

Chr i s tma s Ass emb ly .

Exhibitions,

Lectures and School Loans

December 1 -

Lecture by Mr. Elias Cohen, "Some Facts about

Maryland Snakes " - Isaac Walton Club, Silver Springs,

Maryland .

2 -

Sparrows Point High School - loan of Birds, Insects

and Habitat Croups.

15 -

Baltimore Museum of Art - loan of Birds.

15 -

Lecture by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "Snakes of Maryland

Clifton Park Jr. High School Assembly.

15 -

Lecture by Mr, Edmund B. Fladung, "Care and Feeding

of our Winter Birds " - Clifton Parle Jr. High

School Ass emb ly .

15 -

Lecture by Mr. Edmund B e Fladung, "Interesting

Facts about Maryland Birds" - Myrtle Club.

7-3

is

The Natural History

Society o f Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume X

FEBRUARY, 1940

Number 6

SOME LARGE BEETLES OF MARYLAND
By Herbert H. Moorefield

The Beetles, Order Coleoptera, are the largest group of
all the insects. Over 250,000 species of beetles have been named
and described, and more than 20,000 species have been recorded
north of Mexico. In size, they range from microscopic specimens
to the Giant Goliath Beetle, Goliathus giganteus Lam., found in
the deep interior of French Equatorial Africa, which measures six
and a half inches overall, and. has a wing expanse of eight and a
half inches. They present myriads of shapes, many of which are
very unique and grotesque, while in colors they range through the
entire rainbow.

Beetles can be readily distinguished from other insects
by their thick fore wings which meet in a straight line along the
middle of their backs, and form a protective covering over their
soft , membranous hind wings. These "wing covers” are known as
elytra.

Members of this order undergo a complete metamorphosis
and the beetle larvae are commonly known as grubs. Much of the
economic damage caused by beetles occurs in the larval stage.

The habits of both larvae and. adults are greatly varied.
Many are terrestrial, some are aquatic; many fly, and in some
species the wings are undeveloped. Beetles feed on vegetable
matter, including living plants, dead wood, and decayed substances;
also, many are predacious, feeding on other living animals^ others
are scavengers eating only dead and decaying meat. From our stand¬
point, many species are extremely beneficial to mankind, while
others are exceedingly obnoxious.

Following is a short account of some of the larger beetles
that are likely to be encountered by the casual naturalist within
the confines of our State.

Calosoma scrutator Fab

The "Searcher" is one of the

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Fig* 1

The Searcher
(Calosama scrutator)

Fig. 2

A Ground Beetle
(Pasimachus depressus)

Fig. 3

The Eyed Elat or
(Alaus oculatus)

Predacious Diving Beetle
(Cybister f inbriolatus )

Water Scavenger Beetle
(Hydrous triangularis)

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57

largest and most handsome of the ground beetles found in this
State. It is easily recognized by its green wing covers. It is
very speedy and difficult to catch, and it gives off a disagree¬
able odor when handled. The natural habitat of this beetle is
beneath stones and logs in woods and near the borders of cultivated
fields, although it is often attracted to the bright city lights
and found in the streets. This species is predacious, and there
are many records where the beetle has actually climbed trees in
search of caterpillars. It feeds on many injurious larvae and is
sometimes known as the "Caterpillar hunter". (Length 28-30 mm.)
Figure 1.

Pasimachus depressus Fab. This is another large member
of the ground beetle family^ It is not seen quite as often as the
foregoing species and is not frequent enough to rate a common name.
It prefers sandy spots in the open woods and fields, and generally
hides beneath stones and logs. It is classed among the most bene¬
ficial of the ground beetles, as its diet consists mainly of
economically important larvae, especially those of the army worm.

P. depressus Is a broad black species, usually bordered
In blue, and is arned with a pair of heavy mandibles. (Length
24-30 mm.) Figure 2.

Alaus oculatus (L«). This species is well known and has
many common names such as the "Eyed Elater, Giant Click Beetle,
Spring Beetle, Snapping Bug, Skipjack", and the larva is known as
a "Wireworm" • The two large, velvety spots on the thorax closely
resembling eyes are merely a part of the color pattern, and its
true eyes are situated on the front of the head near the base of
the antennae. The adults usually begin to appear in April, and
are found beneath the bark of decaying logs and stumps in dry,
open woodlands, and in abundance in the trunks of old apple trees.

Being able to spring up in the air when placed on their
backs is a characteristic of the click beetles. This is made
possible by a spine on the under surface that is drawn back over
a cavity, and at the same time raising the tip of the elytra off
the ground. Then, by suddenly relaxing the muscles, the spine
descends into the cavity with a great force that causes the elytra
to strike the surface on which the beetle Is resting, and the in¬
sect is propelled into the air often one and a half to two feet
high. Thus, after one or two attempts it is almost certain of
landing in its natural position on its feet.

The length of different individuals of this species varies
a great deal and some are twice as large as others, although they
usually range between 28 and 45 mm. The larvae when nearly full
grown are about 65 mm. or two and one half inches in length.

Figure 3.

Cybister fimbriolatus (Say). The "Predacious Diving
Beetle" is often seen "floating near the surface of small quiet
ponds. It rests In an inclined position, head downward, with the
tip of the abdomen projecting from the water to take in a supply of
fresh air which enables it to dive beneath the water. It is very
cannabalistic and eats not only insects, but has been observed to
attack small fish and other animals much larger than itself.

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Plate II

Pig. V

The Pass alas Beetle
.(Passalus cornutus)

Pig. 8

Darkling Beetle
(Alobates pcnnaylvanica)

The Broad He eked Prionid
(Prionus laticollis)

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59

The female deposits her eggs singly in aquatic plants
and the young beetles that hatch are known as "Water Tigers" be¬
cause of their voraciousness. When the larva has obtained its
full size, it leaves the water, and makes a cell in the ground
where it transforms into a pupa. It remains in this stage over
winter and emerges the following year a full grown beetle.

The long filiform or thread-like antennae distinguish It
from the other families of water beetles and its general shape Is
elongate-oval or egg-shaped. It is of a dark brown hue with a
faint greenish tinge and has a yellow margin around the thorax
and elytra. The bright lights often attract this species to the
city, and the beetles are known to migrate from one pond to another.
(Length 30-33 mm.) Figure 4.

Hydrous triangularis (Say). This species is known as a
"Water Scavenger Beetle1', and is supposed to feed on decaying vege¬
tation, although its larva Is carnivorus and eats living insects.

It is distinguished from the preceding beetle by its oval body and
clubbed antennae. The Water Scavenger Beetle has both its middle
and hind legs elongated, and swims by stroking them alternately;
the Predacious Diving Beetle has only the hind legs elongate and.
uses a swimming motion similar to that of a frog. The Scavenger
carries Its air supply In a film on the lower surface of the body,
which gives it a silvery appearance from below; the Diving Beetle
carries its air reserve on the top of its abdomen in a reservoir
formed by lifting its wing covers a slight bit.

The eggs are encased in a sac of silk-like material ex¬
creted by the female. This is either attached to a water plant or
carried about until the young hatch. Sometimes the case is allowed
to float free in the water. The pupal stage is undergone in an
earthen cell on dry land. H. triangularis has been recorded to
have been attracted to electric lights in swarms of a thousand or
more. (Length 34-37 mm.) Figure 5.

Pseudolucanus capreolus (L.). This species is known as
the "Stag Beetle or Pinching Bug". It can be easily recognized
by its large mandibles or jaws which are quite capable of Inflict¬
ing a severe pinch when the beetle is carelessly handled. The adult
beetles abound in rotten logs and decaying stumps. They are night
fliers and emit a loud noise as they fly.

The eggs are laid in the crevices of bark, near the roots.
The larva, a large whitish grub can be found in trunks or roots
of partly decayed willow, cherry, oak, and beech trees. The adults
emerge in May and June and can bo found at the roots of these trees
or picked up around the bright city lights a little later In the
season. The female may be easily distinguished from the male as It
has much smaller mandibles. (Length 22-35 mm.) Figure 6.

Passalus cornutus ,Fab.^ The well known "Passalus, Horn,
or Bess Beetle" is probably familiar to ^fall, as it Is very abundant
throughout the State. It is a large, shining black beetle, with a
small curved horn situated on the top of the head. Country children
often utilize them as toys, as they are very energetic and will
willingly pull about all sorts of little objects tied to their horn
with a strong piece of thread. The beetles and their larvae are

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Plate III

Pig. 11

The Tumble -Bug
(Pinotus carolinus)

Pig. 12

The Small Rhinoceros Beetle
(Xyloryctes satyrus)

Pig. 15

The Rhinoceros Beetle
(Dynastes tityrus)

Pig. 14

The Grape Vine Beetle
(Pelidnota punctata)

Pig. 15

The June Beetle
(Cotinis nit Ida)

(All natural size)

61.

\

found occurring in colonies in partly decayed stumps and logs.

They emit a creaking noise that is produced hy rubbing the abdomen
against the insides of the hard tough wing covers. The larvae
present the appearance of having only four legs as the hind ones
are exceedingly small, (Length 32-36 mm,) Figure 7,

Alobates pcnnsylvanlca (DeG.). The "Darkling Beetles",
so named from their dull black color, generally occur beneath bark
and arc not usually encountered unless one is looking for them.

They present a peculiar loose- jointed appearance due to their long,
awkward legs and are very clumsy in their movements. They often
congregate in large numbers under a single piece of bark, and are
found in the adult stage all winter.

The larvae resemble the v/i reworms, being long and slender,
and are of a hard, horny texture. Their main diet is dead and
decaying wood, fungi, and dry vegetable matter that is partly de¬
composed, (Length 20-23 min,) Figure 8,

Prionus laticollis (Drury). The "Broad Necked Prionid"
is a broacT^ stout bodied, black beetle with large heavy antennae.

It is a member of the Long Korn family of beetles and is a slow
moving insect, being most active in the evening when it laborious¬
ly flies about. The female is larger than the male. The larva,
a large fleshy grub, is said to injure the grape, apple, poplar,
and pine by boring into the roots. (Length 22-47 mm.) Figure 9,

Derobrachus brunneus (Forst,). The "Straight Bodied
Prionid", another member of the Long Horns, is very closely related
to the preceding species. It is colored a uniform, light chestnut
brown and the sides of its body are parallel, which suggest its
common name. Its general habits are similar to those of the Broad
Necked Prionid, The adult Is attracted to lights and often enters
the houses to get closer to them. The larvae supposedly infest
pine. (Length 22-40 mm.) Figure 10.

Pinotus carolinus (L«), The "Tumble-Bug", a typical
Scarab, is probably one of the most noted of all the beetles. Its
habit of rolling dung into balls has attracted attention for many
generations. Scarab Beetles were considered sacred by the ancient
Egyptians and were placed in the tombs of the dead, and their
pictures and images were carved in all sorts of stone and precious
gems .

They often work together in pairs on the same ball. Early
observers believed them to be male and female working together to
provide for their offspring, but after they were dissected and
further studied, they were found often to be of the same sex. As
soon as one becomes the least "trusting", his partner will steal
the ball and roll it away for himself.

This species does not transport its dung ball any great
distance, as do some species, but usually buries it near the spot
on which it is constructed. It usually buries itself with the ball
and greedily . devours it, or lays an egg on It. In the latter case,
it will provide food for the coming larva which, when full grown,
transforms within the cavity in which the ball was placed. "(Length
20-28 mm.) Figure 11,

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62.

Xyloryctcs satyrus (Fab. ) . This is a large, brown beetle,
with a long, curved., upright horn arising from the middle of the
head of the male, whence the name "Rhinoceros Beetle". To avoid
confusion with the following species, which is also known by the
same common name, I have designated this as the "Small Rhinoceros
Beetle" .

It occurs sparingly throughout the State in the vicinity
of ash trees. The larvae are said to be injurious to these trees
as they feed upon the roots. (Length 25-28 mm.) Figure 12.

Dyjiastes tityrus (L.). This is the largest species of
beetle occurring In the State of Maryland. The "Rhinoceros or
Unicorn" beetle gets its name from the prominent horn of the male.
The female has only a small tubercle in place of the horn. It Is
a greenish gray color, and has scattered black spots of extremely
variable pattern on the wing covers. The larval stage of this
beetle is passed in old rotten wood. (Length 40-50 mm.) Figure 13.

There occurs in the West Indies, a closely allied species
of Rhinoceros Beetle, Dynastes hercules, which measures 150 mm. In

length. ~ * ' ~~

Pelidnota punctata (L»). This yellowish-brown insect is
known as the "Grape Vine Beetle" from its habit of feeding on wild
and cultivated grapes. It is characterized by three black spots on
each wing cover and one on each side of its thorax. The adult is
usually found on its favorite food plant or flying about in the
near vicinity. The larva is found in stumps and decaying roots
of various trees upon which It feeds. (Length 20-25 min.) Figure 14.

Cotinis nitida (L.). The "June Beetle or Fig-Eater" as it
is often called is of a dull velvety green color above, and metallic
green or reddish-yellow beneath. At night, it often flies about
in great numbers, making a loud buzzing noise similar to the May
Beetles .

The larva injures growing vegetation by feeding on the
roots of grass, strawberries, and other plants. Vegetable molds
are also a part of its diet, and It has a troublesome habit of
turning up little mounds of soil around the bases of flowers that
takes the dirt away from the roots. This habit is also a problem
on golf courses and private lawns • The legs of the larva are very
short and when it crawls about, it moves upon its back. (Length
20-23 mm.) Figure 15.

Note: These beetles arc all represented in the insect collection

of this Society. The illustrations for this article w ore drawn
from the actual specimens by Mr. Joseph Bures, of the Bulletin
Staff. They are all natural size.

Bibliography

Blatchley, W.S. (1910) "An Illustrated Catalogue of the Colcoptera
or Beetles Known to Occur in Indiana" .

Comstock, John H. (1925) "An Introduction to Entomology".

65

Long, Charles W. (1920) "Catalogue of the Coleoptera of America,
North of Mexico".

KNOW YOUR MUSEUM

The order Columbif omes or doves is represented by one
species and that is the Mourning Dove.

At one tine this order included the Passenger Pigeon now
extinct, but when the last Passenger Pigeon died in the Cincinnati
Zoo in September, 1914, the Mourning Dove became the only repre¬
sentative species of this order in our State.

The Mourning Dove is considered a permanent resident of
Maryland. It is a beautiful bird with delicate coloring.

It nests around the first of April, building a very loose
platform of crossed twigs; in fact the structure is so loosely
constructed, that one is surprised that eggs or young ever survive.
Often the eggs can be seen through the bottom of the nest.

The nest is generally built in the crotch of a tree and
rather low from the ground. The writer has seen nests balanced
on an outstanding limb of a tree, and one was built on a log, one
foot from the ground. Upon this loose structure two white eggs
were laid.

The birds generally raise at least two broods a year. This
is absolutely necessary if the species is to survive?, for besides
its many natural enemies end the unsparing elements, it has man,
the hunter, as its worst enemy.

The bag limit on these birds is fifteen to ea.ch hunter per
day and there a.rc seventy-six open days in the year. Unless some
unforeseen disease attacks it, the bird can survive under these con¬
ditions, but if such did occur it is very possible that it would
meet the same fate of the Passenger Pigeon. That the mortality in
this bird is high is beyond doubt.

Time and time again the writer has found a nest rifled of
both eggs and young, the day following a visit to the nest.

In Case No. 19 at our Museum a specimen of this bird can

be seen.

E . B . Fladung

Field and Laboratory Notes

Barn Owl

The Barn Owl (Tyto alba prat incola)
beneficial of our owls . The stomach contents

is one of the most
of one of our speci-

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64

mens show the type of food usually taken by this species. The
material, checked by the Biological Survey, consisted of the
following :

1 Meadow Mouse (Microtus pennsylvanicus )

1 Other undetermined Microtinae (young individual)

1 White-footed Mouse (Pcronyscus sp.)

1 Little Shrew ( Crypt ot is parva)

The owl was found dead at Beaver Dam Churches on November
26, 1939 by Herbert Moorefield.

Irving E. Hampe

Red Bat

On Sunday, December 1.7, 1939, I observed a Red Bat flying
about in Patapsco State Park at Glenartney, Maryland. It was ob¬
served clearly for at least ten minutes as it hawked about in the
sunlight. This is only the second time I have observed the species
in this area. The first record was of a specimen taken in 1937
(Bulletin N.H.S. of Md., Vol. X, No. 1).

Irving E . Hampe

An Unu snal Winte r Bird

During my winter trips to the Patapsco State Park I have
searched for the Hermit Thrush. This species has been recorded
from numerous localities as occasionally wintering. On January 1,
1940 I saw my first wintering Hermit Thrush near Avalon, Maryland.
It allowed a close approach and when flushed flew only a short
distance. It was observed eating the berries of the Black Gun.
Through the binoculars I saw the thrush ejecting the seeds.

Irving E. Hampe

Notes for Month of January

Meetings
January 9
16

23

30

and Lectures at the Society

General Assembly.

Lecture by Mr. Howard B. Owens, MAmic - Beavers
General; Beavers in Maryland in Particular.”
Talk by Mr. Edmund B. Fladung, "Importance of a
Natural History Museum to a Community."

- Talk by Mr. Wilmer V. Bell, "The Periodic Table,

in

a

Valuable Tool to the Scientist."

.

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65

Junior Division

January 6

Lecture by Mr. Charles O.strander, "A Brief Survey

of Rocks and Minerals of Maryland,"

13 -

Talk by Miss Helen Klinkc, "Our Cabin at Union Dam."

20 -

Seminar - "The Origin of the Earth."

27 -

Tali: by Miss Janet Byrns, "The Snake Men of Africa."

Mot i on Pictures, " C on s e r vat i on of T rou t , "

Exhibitions,

Lectures and School Loans

January 8

Forest Park Junior High School, Class 10 - Talk by

William Norman, "Snakes, Turtles and Lizards of Mary

land . "

8 -

Forest Park Junior High School, Class 9 - Talk by

William Norman, "Snakes, Turtles and Lizards of

Maryland. "

11 -

Campers Elementary School, Towson - Loan of Birds.

13 -

Boy and G-irl Scouts of Betterton, Maryland - Lecture

by Mr. Howard 3. Owens, "Amic - Beavers in General;

Beavers in Maryland in Particular."

20 -

Curtis Bay School - Loan of Flicker Group.

27 -

Eastern High School - Loan of Fish.

29 -

Bonwit- Lennon, Inc. - Loan of Birds.

50 -

Girl Scouts Troop, Govans M. E. Church - Lecture by

John and William Norman, "Some Snakes of Maryland."

31 -

Gilman Country School - Lecture by Mr. Herbert C.

Moore, "Natural History and Other Hobbles,"

•73

/N

The Natural History

Volume X

MARCH, 1940 Number 7

—

THE FAMILY ICTERIDAE IN MARYLAND

By C. Haven Kolb, Jr,

The purposes of this article are threes to discuss the
distribution of a group of birds which are very conspicuous and
of considerable popular interest, to extend the survey of our
present knowledge of certain important families, a task begun a
number of years ago with Mr. Hampe J s article on the Compsothlypidae
(see Bull. Nat. Hist. Soc. Md., 4:37-41), and to indicate the gaps
In our ornithological knowledge of Maryland as Illustrated by this
one family. The data given will be of use in the Department of
Ornithology in the preliminary work on the Maryland check-list which
is now being actively forwarded. Use has been made of the chief
published sources, but there has been no attempt to Include all
published material. Supplementing this, the records of the expen¬
sive observations of the Staff of the Department of Ornithology
and Mammalogy have been utilized as well as the records contributed
to our files by several cooperators in various parts of the State.

The family Icteridae is distinctively American and is
usually regarded as closely allied to the Fringillidae or sparrow
group. The family has Its center of abundance in the tropics where
most of the one hundred and fifty odd species are resident. It is
a very variable family In regard to habits, voice, and food, but
the tendency toward gregariousness Is strong. There is no good
English family name. Blackbirds and orioles are Included but the
original European birds from which these names come belong to two
quite different families.

Not only arc our representatives of this family conspicuous
and well known birds but they are also of considerable economic In¬
terest from both beneficial and destructive points of view. Not
all the following records arc based upon captured specimens, since
those birds are readily identified and o?aly competent observers
have been consulted.

The following species are known to occur In Maryland:

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67.

1. Dolichonyx oryzivorus - Bobolink

This is a bird, which has apparently decreased in numbers.

In the last decade of the last century Kirkwood (1895) listed them
as a common migrant in spring and fall. He says, "Usually observed
in the uplands in spring, they are also numerous there in the fall,
while the marshes are alive with them." This was for the vicinity
of Baltimore. We have records only from Dorchester and Talbot
counties on the Eastern Shore (Jackson). On the western shore we
have records from the vicinity of Washington and from Calvert,

Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Allegany, and Garrett Counties.

For the state east of the mountains, the earliest date is
April 25 (1911) at Cambridge (Jackson) and the last in spring is
May 26 (1895) from the Baltimore area (Kirkwood). The earliest in
fall is August 9 (1894) near Baltimore (Kirkwood) and the latest
is November 11 (1888) (Rosier) . Dates given for Washington, D.C.
by Cooke (1929) are in substantial agreement but cannot be used
directly since we cannot at present differentiate Virginia from
Maryland records in her list. Most of the dates in recent years
have been for the spring migration.

Preble (1900), found a pair at Grant sville, Garrett County,
on June 23 (1900), but gives no direct evidence of breeding. How¬
ever, Brooks (1936) says that singing birds arc noted regularly
In the southwestern section of the county and reports that Dr. Ivan
Fawcett found a nest with eggs at Red House on June 20, 1932.

2. Sturnella magna magna - Meadowlark

The Meadowlark seems to be well distributed throughout
the state.

Besides the vicinity of Washington and Baltimore we have
records from the following counties: Worcester, Wicomico, Dorchester,
Prince Georges, Charles, Calvert, Arno Arundel, Baltimore, Howard,
Harford, Carroll, Allegany and Garrett.

This is one of the hardiest species in .its family. Brooks
(1936) reports that it can be found as a rare bird in winter even
in Garrett County, but Eifrig (1902) in the vicinity of Cumberland
has dates ranging only from March 1 (1902) to October 23 (1901).

About Baltimore the majority of dates lie between the first of
April and the last of October. In severe winters many move from
the uplands down to the milder land along the Bay. At Loch Raven
they can be seen occasionally in December, and there is a record
for January 29, 1959. This is an exceptionally exposed location.

The species Is very common wherever there are open fields.
Jackson has sent us a long scries of nesting records from Cambridge.
These range from May 13 (1917) to August 9 (1920). In the vicinity
of Baltimore fresh eggs (incomplete set) were found on May 10, 1891
and five fresh eggs as late as July 21, (Kirkwood), indicating
little difference in breeding season between the eastern s.nd western
shores. Eifrig (1904) records two complete sets of eggs on May 21,
1903.

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3, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus - Yellow-headed. Blackbird

Pour specimens of this western species have been taken.

Three of these were in the vicinity of Baltimore, one at Washington.
All were taken in the fall in tidal marshes. Only one was a male.

The dates are: September 10, 1891, male, Curtis Bay; August 29,

1892, female, Washington; September 18, 1893, female, Patapsco
Marsh, Baltimore; October 1, 1894, female, also at Patapsco March.

So far as wo know the species has not been recorded in Maryland
since that time,

4, Agelaius phoenicous phoeniceus - Red-winged Blackbird

The distribution of this species is undoubtedly state
wide. We have records from the District of Columbia, Baltimore
City, and the following counties: Dorchester, Queen Annes, Talbot,
Kent, Cecil, Charles, Calvert, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, Balti¬
more, Harford, Howard, Carroll, Frederick, Allegany and Garrett.

In we stern Maryland Brooks says, "I have no winter records."
Eif rig's earliest date was March 14, About Baltimore the migration
begins in February and large flocks are observed during the next
two months. The fall migration lasts from September through Novem¬
ber. A few winter in the uplands (the same is reported by Cooke
for Washington), but along the Bay they are fairly common through¬
out the winter. Hampe found large flocks migrating from August
19 to 22, 1936.

Breeding is comparatively late for a species which arrives
so early. The earliest date is May 10 for the Eastern Shore (Jack-
son) at Cambridge, and for the vicinity of Baltimore May 18 (Kirk¬
wood) •

5, Icterus spurius - Orchard Oriole

The Orchard Oriole seems to be more common than the Balti¬
more Oriole which appeals so much to the popular mind. However for
Garrett County Brooks says that the latter is generally more common,
and Eif rig says that the Orchard Oriole is "nearly absent from the
higher parts in summer." Preble makes no mention of the present
species in the mountains, while recording several instances of the
occurrence of I , galbula . Wo have records from the District of
Columbia, Baltimore City, and the following counties: Dorchester,

Queen Annes, Calvert, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard,
Harford, Carroll, Montgomery, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett.

The orioles arc among the later migrants. At Cambridge on
the Eastern Shore the earliest date is April 20 (1916) (Jackson)
and this is the earliest for the state. The earliest at Washington
is April 25 (Richmond, in Kirkwood) while at Baltimore none has been
noted before May 5 (1895). The only western record of interest Is
one at Hagerstown on April 30, 1879 (Small, in Kirkwood).

Jackson reports numerous nestings at Cambridge, ranging
from May 20 (1916) to June 6 (1920). Eaton has noted a nesting at
New Windsor in Carroll County on the Western Shore as early as May
23, 1935 and Kolb found the species breeding at Loch Raven, Baltimore

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County, as late as June 25, 1938,

6, Icterus galbula - Baltimore Oriole

Our records for this species in recent years are few.

This seems odd for so conspicuous a bird and suggests something
more than local scarcity. Kirkwood called them "locally common".

At Washington, D.C. Cooke calls it a "rare summer resident" agree¬
ing with our Baltimore observers that I . spurius is the commoner
species In summer. We have records from only nine counties (in
addition to the District of Columbia and Baltimore City)* Dorchester,
Prince Georges, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Carroll, Washington,
Allegany and Garrett.

The earliest record we have is April 24 (1917) at Cam¬
bridge (Jackson) and the latest, in the vicinity of Baltimore, on
October 6 (1894) (Kirkwood) . Most records, however, run only into
the first week of September. Cooke notes a specimen picked up dead
on January 5, 1925 at Anacostia by C,H.M. Barrett. For the vicinity
of Cumberland Eif rig gives April 27 (1902) as the earliest date .

Kirkwood reported the start of nest building on May 2
(1891) at Waverly, Baltimore. This nest was not finished until the
fourteenth and all our egg dates are near the end of May and the
beginning of June . The earliest specific record of eggs is May is
at Hagerstown ( Small, In Kirkwood) . Kirkwood further reports young
out of the nest still being fed on July 21 (1895) .

7, Euphagus carolinus - Rusty Blackbird

Our records for this species are very scanty . Although It is
rather c omrnon during migrat ion we have definite records only from
Baltimore City, the District of Columbia, and Kent, Baltimore,

Howard, Allegany, and Garrett Counties .

For Western Maryland Brooks says, "Scattered individuals
In the spring, and good sized flocks In the fall migration. I
have no winter records," and Eifrig says, "never common." However,
near tidewater in the vicinity of Baltimore they arc common both
spring and fall. Mi s s Cooke says "occasional in winter" for the
Washington, D.C. region and Kirkwood notes "quite a number winter
in tidewater Maryland • "

It is obvious that we need a great deal more information
concerning this species to be very definite about its status .

8, Quiscalus quiscula - Grackle

The birds treated here belong to two subspecies, possibly,
according to recent discussion by Wetmorc, to two distinct species •
Most records do not distinguish between the two forms and we will
discuss this question further below, presenting first records for
the whole species . We have records from the. following counties ;
Worcester, Dorchester, Queen Annes, Talbot, Kent, Charles, Calvert,
Prince Georges, /mne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Carroll,
Frederick, Allegany, and Garrett, as well as Baltimore City and the
District of Columbia.

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In Western Maryland tlie bird seems to be definitely a
summer resident, Eifrig giving March 14 (1903) as the earliest
and November 3 (1901) as the latest dates for the vicinity of
Cumberland. In the uplands about Baltimore the species is not
usually seen In winter although Hampe has a record for January 9
(1938) from western Baltimore. In the lowlands, near the tidal
rivers, however, the birds are frequently found in winter, especial¬
ly during mild ones. For the upland area dates range from February
21 (1937) to November 12 (1939).

Egg dates range from April 25 (1925) at Cambridge (Jackson)
and May 6 (1892) in Baltimore County (Kirkwood) to June 8 (1884)
(Kirkwood). Cooke records eggs in the Washington region on April
17 (1887), but it Is not certain that this was north of the Potomac,
However, at Towson nesting activities had begun, though no eggs were
noted, on April 10 (1937) (Kolb).

The grackles in the eastern part of the state are pre¬
dominantly Quisculus quiscula quiscula, the Purple Crackle . In the
western part of the State the Bronzed Crackle (q „>p. aeneus ) should
probably be the breeding form. Nevertheless, wandering, both east¬
ward and westward seems to be a common occurrence. Sight records
of the two forms arc rather doubtful and intergrades are frequently
encountered when collecting is undertaken. Preble says that speci¬
mens taken at Bittinger, Carrett County, were intermediate between
quiscula and aeneus . Eifrig found none of the western form ( aeneus )
about Cumberland! Hampe observed several individuals at Mountain '
Lake Park, Carrett County, and after long and careful scrutiny de¬
cided they we re aeneus. In the oast there are a few definite
records of aeneus . The Smithsonian Report for 1886 lists specimens
taken in Prince Georges County by Frederick Zeller and by George
Marshall. Kirkwood took one March 1, 1395 in Dulaney Valley, Balti¬
more County. In the collection of the Society are two taken October
29, 1939 by John Cross at Towson and an intermediate taken by Seibert
at Sykesville. Extensive collections of this species from all parts
of the State would be very desirable.

9, Cassldix mcxicanus major - Boat-tailed Crackle

This species is a southern one which is found on the Eastern
Shore. There is a record for Pomona in Kent County published by
Edgar Small in the "Ornithologist and Oologist" in 1883 (Vol, 8,
p.76). Breeding colonies have been found in Worcester County near
Ocean City. Kirkwood records two accidental occurrences in May,

1893: one in Baltimore with a flock of Quisculus on the sixth and
one at North Point, Baltimore County on the seventeenth,

10. Molothrus ater ater - Cowbird

This species, well known as a nesting parasite, has been
recorded from Baltimore City, the District of Columbia and the
following counties: Dorchester, Talbot, Cecil, St. Mary’s, Calvert,
Prince Georges, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Carroll, Allegany, and
Garrett.

It is not known to spend the winter in Western Maryland nor
in the uplands of the Piedmont Plateau, but near tidewater a few
may be seen throughout the year. In the uplands north and west of

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71

Baltimore this 'bird has been known to arrive as early as March 12
(1892) (Kirkwood). During the summer and fall it is not common
in this vicinity. Kirkwood recorded it until November 19 (1894).

Eggs have been recorded as early as April 25 (1925) at
Piney Point/ St. Mary’s County by Court and on April 30 (1920) at
Cambridge by Jackson. Around Baltimore nesting is later, the
earliest being May 21 (1893) (Kirkwood). Eggs have been found in
the nests of several species of birds.

Bibliography

Kirkwood, F. C. - A list of the birds of Maryland - Trans.
Md, Acad. Sci., 1895, pp. 241-382.

Cooke, May T. - Birds of the Washington, D.C. region -
Proceedings Bio. Soc. of Wash., 1929, vol. 42, pp. 1-80.

Preble, Edward A. - The summer birds of western Maryland -
Md. Geo. Survey, 1900, pp. 294—307,

Brooks, Maurice - Notes on the land birds of Garrett County,
Maryland - Bull, Nat. Hist. Soc. Md., 1936, vol. 7, pp. 6-14.

Eifrig, G. - Birds of Allegany and Garrett Counties, Western
Maryland - The Auk, 1904, vol. 21, pp. 234-250.

TYPES OF ABRADING STONES USED BY MARYLAND INDIANS

By Richard E. Stearns

During the course of the writer’s visits to numerous Indian
village sites in Maryland many objects were found which are known
as abrading stones. These objects arc by no means confined to
Maryland or to any other localized area but are generally distributed
throughout the eastern United States.

There are several forms of abrading stones, each type evi¬
dently used for a different purpose and generally made of sandstone
or greenstone. The distinguishing features of these stones are the
grooves on their surfaces which seen to have been produced by grind¬
ing some other objects against them. A number of theories have been
advanced as to the forming of these marks, but it is a difficult
matter to say just what was ground, as the position and shape of
some of these grooves make a satisfactory explanation almost im¬
possible .

We have found three forms of abrading stones in Maryland,
two of them widely known types because of their pronounced grooves,
known as arrow shaft stones and sinew stones, and one type which
seems not to have attracted much attention, illustrated in Figure
5 from Rocky Point, near Middle River, and Figure 6 from the Sus¬
quehanna River at Conowingo. At the present time we have found only
one arrow shaft stone, which is illustrated in Figure 1. This is
made of rod sandstone and was found on the Mag o thy River, but it is
not a very pronounced example of its type. It Is thought that arrow
shafts were ground into shape in the grooves, which have a semi¬
circular shaped cross section, but in this particular specimen one

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73

of the grooves ends rather abruptly, suggesting that either the
end of the arrow shaft or a bone awl was ground in this groove.

The features which suggest the name of the sinew stone -
the second type - are a number of narrow sharp grooves radiating
from the center to the margin of the stone which are thought to
have been formed by pulling strands of sinew across the edge in
some process connected with the manufacture of cords. We have
three of these sinew stones in our collection, one from the Magothy
River (Figure 3), one from Miles River (Figure 4) and one from Cecil
County (Figure 2) . It will be seen that an attempt has been made
to bore a suspension hole in the specimen from the Magothy River,
which was not completed due to its having been started too near
the margin cf the stone. The specimen from Miles River, of gray¬
ish green sandstone (Figure 4), is broken but shows very pronounced
grooves. The specimen from Cecil County (Figure 2) differs from
the others in that several sharp grooves cut directly across the
edge of the stone without continuing on to the flat surface.

The grooves in these three sinew stones all show sharp
striations, which to the writer, do not resemble marks made by the
friction of such a soft substance as sinew, as there should be some
suggestion of polish in the bottom of the grooves.

The third type which In this locality is the most common,
is usually made from a flat greenstone pebble from four to six
Inches long and has a broad abraded surface on one end, rarc|Ly at
both ends. The abraded surface seems to have been produced by
striking the stone a glancing blow with a hammers tone and some
specimens show a slight degree of polish or rubbing marks on top
of the marks of the hammers tone • Those stones were probably used
as anvil stones. If they were used for sharpening stone or bone
Implements, it night have been found necessary to roughen the sur¬
face with a hammers tone whenever they became too smooth. These
objects have been found by the writer on both the shell field sites
and the sites along the fall line further to the westward*

FIELD NOTES

On January 31, 1940, I observed an immature Herring Gull
with colored celluloid bands on its legs. This bird was observed
at the Fish Market on Market Place, Baltimore. The Gull Survey
Committee of the Linnaean Society informs me that it was banded at
Kent Island, N.B., Canada In a nestling in 1939.

Interested persons are requested to note the color and
position of the bands and report to the above mentioned Committee,
at the American Museum of Natural History, New York, N.Y.

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74

Notes for Month of February
Meetings and Lectures at the Society

February 6 -

Talk by Mr. Irving E. Hampe, ’'Food Habits of Birds

of Prey.”

13 -

Talk by Mr. George Maugans, "Hibernation of Reptiles."

20 -

Lecture by Dr. J. Bently Glass, "Recent Advances in

Controlled Evolution."

27 -

Talk by Mr. Herbert C. Moore, "Science and Law."

Junior Division and Scout Troop

February 3 -

Junior Division lecture by Mr. Clyde Reed, "Plants

of Worcester County."

Junior Division talk by Carl Oertel, "Trip to Hawaii."

10 -

Junior Division talk by Elias Cohen, "Animals In

Shakespeare . "

12 -

Scout Troop Meeting. Lecture by Mr. Charles Ostrander,

"Minerals In Maryland."

17 -

Junior Division Seminar, "The Origin of Man in America."

19 -

Scout Troop Meeting. Motion pictures.

24 -

Junior Division talk by Elias Cohen, "Egg Laying

Habits of Snakes."

24 -

Junior Division talk by Romeo Mansueti, "Spring

Amphibians . "

26 -

Scout Troop. Motion pictures.

Exhibitions ,

Lectures and School Loans

February 1 -

To Biology Club, Eastern High School by Miss Janet

Bryns, "Snake Men of Africa."

13 -

To Baltimore City College - Loan of Birds.

20. to 24 -

21 -

Lord Baltimore Hotel, Exhibit of Educational Work of
Society •

To State Teachers College - Lecture by Messrs. Howard

B. Owens and Allan Bonwill, "Muskeg."

21

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The Natural History

Volume X

APRIL, 1940

» I

Number k8

COLLECTING AND PRESERVING BOTANICAL SPECIMENS
By Earl H. Palmer

In making a collection o'f plants, we should do so with the
idea of having material to study the year round. True, indeed, is
the saying that the best place to study plants is in the field; but,
unfortunately, the flowering plants are somewhat seasonal. Besides,
collecting and preserving plants help one to know the various species
better. Some botany students consider the making of a herbarium
(a collection of dried plants) the end of their work. In reality,
it is only the beginning; from it they have material to study, to
compare with live plants, and to use as a source of reference.
Therefore, the collecting and preserving of plants are to be en¬
couraged, subject to the rules of conservation.

The collecting equipment to carry specimens consists of
either the vasculum or the press. The vasculum is a light metal
cylinder not more than 19 inches long, painted white on the out¬
side, and equipped with a shoulder strap. The usual size is
4-g-x6ixl8 inches (see Pig. 1). The plant to be collected is gathered
and placed in the vasculum without bending the specimen or taking
time to arrange it. Plants may be kept fresh in a vasculum for a
day’s trip. Beyond that time they have a tendency to wilt. A
wilted plant may be freshened sometimes by placing it in a bucket
of water. I have a wooden box with a shoulder strap that I occa¬
sionally use as a vasculum. By placing several pieces of moss in
the interior of this box, I am able to keep it moist, thus keeping
the specimens from wilting.

The second type of equipment is the plant press. This press
(Pig. 2) is usually 12x13 inches. It consists of two perforated
boards, driers (newspapers can be used very successfully), blotters,
and corrugated cardboard. When using the press in the field, the
plants are placed in position and pressure Is applied at once; there
is no possibility of the specimen wilting. This second method of
collecting has two disadvantages (1) it is somewhat cumbersome (2)
the wind can play havoc with the driers and plants everytime the
press Is opened. However, I have used both methods in the field and

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76

have obtained, the best results by using the botanical press.

Every plant collected should have a field label attached.
This slip of paper should have all the ~7bTl owing information;

(1) date collected

(2) locality where the plant was found (give the nearest
town, village or name of the area)

(3) habitat of the plant (this should include the type of
soil - I . e . , sand, gravel, loam, mud, crevices of
rocks, otc.; direct or indirect sunlight; amount of
moisture, - wet, damp, dry; whether the plant grows
on a hillside, valley, swamp, flood plain, deep woods,
or in an open field, or road side)

(4) name of the plant (either determined at the time it
was taken or at a later date)

(5) name of the collector

(6) number (these numbers should run consecutively)

The labels should bo prepared ahead of time and run off
on a ditto or mimeograph machine, thus assuring a large enough
supply. The type of field label that I use is shown in Pig. 3.

As to the actual collecting of plants, let us assume there
are several plants growing together and we dig up one. A trowel
may be used for this purpose, but from personal experience I have
found that my fingers are the best. Once the soil is loosened by
a knife or a stick I use my fingers to get down to the roots; in
this manner the rootlets are not injured. If water is near at hand,
all dirt should be washed off; lacking water, much of the soil can
be shaken or knocked off, care being taken not to break the root
from the rest of the plant. A label is filled out and. placed with
the specimen. If a vasculum Is used, the label may be pinned around
the plant (Pig. 4) ; If the press is used the label may be placed on
the sheet with the plant.

Seeds, nuts, fruits, bark, twigs, and other dry character¬
istic parts are placed in envelopes bearing the same number as the
label. All pulpy fruits should be preserved in formalin diluted
with 5 to 10 parts of water.

Specimens of wood should likewise be taken where necessary.
These should be given the same number as the corresponding label
on the other parts collected. Naturally, the woods have to be
seasoned. Do not collect wood over 8 inches long (I have found 6
inches sufficient) and be sure that the bark is characteristic of
the plant. After the specimen has been seasoned, it may be cut as
shewn in Fig. 5.

The botanical press is the ultimate place where plants are
placed for drying. The press as shown in Pig. 2 consists of two
perforated boards. The purpose of the boards is to give a firm
backing to the driers and, at the same time, to allow the free cir-

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culation of air around the press. The driers should he papers of
an absorbent nature, I use newspapers almost entirely now - they
are easily obtained and can he changed as frequently as necessary;
besides, a folded newspaper fits a plant press nicely. When using
newspapers, the use of blotters nay he omitted provided you use
several sheets of the paper to one specimen. The corrugated card¬
board is as essential as are the driers and the boards. Placed
between each folded paper containing a drying plant, the cardboard
allows air to circulate within the press itself, speeding up the
drying process and preventing mold from forming.

A dried specimen is rather brittle and cannot be bent or
re-arranged. Therefore, when a plant is placed in a press to dry
care must he taken to arrange the parts in the desired manner. An
average size specimen can he placed in the press without bending
the stem. Should the specimen be longer than the driers, bend the
stem in the shape of a "V" or an "N" . If the plant is still too
large, collect only the characteristic parts (a few leaves showing
arrangement, shape and form; the flower, the fruit, and parts of
the stem) . With the stem bent in the desired fashion arrange the
leaves, flowers, or fruits in such a way as to prevent their over¬
lapping one another. In some instances you will find this almost
impossible to do; in such a case use your own artistic sense and
judgment. Your specimen is now arranged on the driers (newspaper).
Place your field label with it, put several sheets of newspaper
above it, then a sheet cf corrugated cardboard, close your press
and apply pressure either by means of two or three straps or by
using some heavy weight. If straps are used, be sure to tighten
them every day or so, for this prevents the parts from wrinkling.
After a week to twelve days your plant should be ready for mounting
on the herbarium card.

The herbarium card - ll-§xl6|r inches - is a heavy, dull white
paper. A ream of this paper should weigh somewhere around 19 to 30
pounds. To mount the dried specimen, lift it carefully from the
press and lay it on the card in the position you desire. A her¬
barium mount must be scientifically as well as artistically made.

To hold the plant to the card I have always used narrow gummed cloth
strips. The use of a roll of the gummed cloth cut to the desired
width (1/16 to l/8 of an inch) proves to be very economical as well
as practical. Various pastes or glues nay be used, but they tend
to discolor and lose their adhesiveness. It is not necessary to
"tack down" all the parts - just enough to hold the plant firmly In
place. As in the field you have a label, so here you have a.
herbarium label. Pig. 6 shows the label we use at the Society. A
herbarium label must have (1) name of the plant (2) locality (3)
habitat (4) date collected (5) name of the collector (6) number.

This label is glued to the herbarium card. The number on this label
does not correspond to the field number, but Is the number of the
plant which can be found In standardized plant texts. The informa¬
tion from the field label should be copied on the herbarium label.
Recently, I have been saving the field labels and have been placing
the field number at the bottom of the herbarium label.

Every herbarium mount made should be recorded on a card or
in a book arranged for that purpose. The Society’s herbarium Is
being card indexed (one species to a card) - this allows space for
additional mounts to be recorded on the same file card.

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The various genera should he kept separated by moans of
genus covers. The same applies to the various families. The her¬
barium should be kept in a dry, air-proof closet. This protection
insures the collection against the ravages of pests, and the possi¬
bility of change of color other than that which takes place as the
plant'" dries . Many plants do not lose their color during the pro¬
cess of drying, but if they are exposed to sunlight afterwards they
will bleach. Some botanists use cellophane covers over the entire
card for further protection.

Ferns, mosses, club mosses, and horsetails are also dried
and mounted in the way described above.

The various fleshy fungi arc rather difficult to preserve.
Generally a spore print is made of this group of plants. Directions
for making spore prints can be found in the Bulletins of the Society-
Vol. Ill, No. 4, page 13 - "Spore Prints" by W. W. Coleman. Besides
the spore prints the following will bo found very useful:

(1) Cut a thin vertical strip through the stalk and
pileus - dry quickly by ironing; this shows form, of
pilous, gills, and stalk.

(2) Scoop out soft material from half of stalk and pilous-
dry the same as above .

(3) Make complete notes of habitat, color (make sketch of
plant and either paint or locate and name the colors),
condition (slimy, rough, dry, etc.) consistency, and
notes on the host plant.

Of course, the entire plant may be preserved in a solution of forma¬
line The woody specimens should be collected, labeled and must be
kept in a dry place .

Lichens are comparatively easy to collect and preserve.

In every case, be sure to collect a portion of the wood, rock or
substratum on which the specimen is growing. Crustaceous forms of
lichens are simply wrapped and labeled; the leafy forms require the
use of a plant press.

Algae, fresh and salt water forms, may be collected by hand
or by net. To mount these forms, float the various species in water
(salt cr fresh, depending on where the specimen was collected) and
slide a sheet of paper under the plant, in the water; arrange the
specimen as stated for the flowering plants, etc., then lift from
the water, allow the specimen to drain and place in a botanical
press to dry. Mount on the herbarium card in the usual fashion. The
field and herbarium label should contain notes on the locality, date,
name, habitat, depth of water, tide conditions, strength of current
or the stillness of the water.

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79

COLOR AND COLOR CHANGES IN AMPHIBIA
By Joseph A. Bures

The amphibia, more than any other vertebrates, have the
power of changing their color developed to a remarkable degree; this
is especially noticeable in the frogs.

The actual granular pigment is contained in tiny colls,
called chromatophores • The granular pigments are mainly brown,
yellow, red, and black. Of course, variations and differentiations
from the true color may occur, and do occur; for instance, of two
captive Fowler’s toads, one specimen’s basic ground color was two
parts sepia, one part van-dyke brown and the other was three parts
sepia, one part burnt umber.

Of all the pigment cells , black pigment cells, inter¬
ference cells, golden pigment cells, and red pigment cells are the
basic ones for color changes and pattern variations. The most im¬
portant of these arc the black and yellow chromatophores, whi ch are
branching cells; i, e., they have the power of spreading out or
contracting, and consequently may give the skin a darker or lighter
hue, in compliance with the amphibian’s environment.

#

1

2..

In Figure 1, the dermal cell, or chromatophore. Is in a
relaxed state and therefore contracted to a marked degree, so that
the’re are no branching bodies. The action may be traced up to Figure
4, where the pigment body has spread out in a radial manner, and can,
if linked with others nearby, produce the desired effect, which, in
the case of browns, would change sepia to van-dyke brown.

Spherical golden cells contain the visual yellow pigment
which acts similarly to the black chromatophores. Green color ef¬
fects arc a result of the reflection of light from granules of guanin
through the golden cells. The granules of guanin are usually rhombic
in shape and are contained around the dermal cells. (See Figure 2).

Most of the yellow pigment concentration in amphibians is
either chrome yellow or lemon yellow in hue; cadmium or Naples yellow
rarely occurring, except on the throats of some of the male tree frogs.

In some of the tree frogs, particularly those species of
the genera Hyla and Acris, the color changes are remarkably similar

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to some of the tropical fishes whoso color changing ability is en¬
tirely dependant on their surroundings. The changes are clue to the
reflection of Incident light from nearby objects which acts upon the
retina of the eye, and eventually upon the nervous system of the
differently colored chromatophores and thus synchronizes the color
of the amphibian with its surroundings. (See Figure 3).

Temperature, light, humidity of environment, chemical
composition of the environment, and changes in the circulation of
the amphibian are constantly affecting the dermal cells and pro¬
ducing color changes. Several specimens of the following were
secured and subjected to various experiments: Acris crepitans Baird,
Hyla crucifer We id, Hyla squirella Latrcillc, Hyla versicolor versi¬
color ( LcrC ont e ) , Psoudacrls "nlgrita ferlarum ( Baird ) •

The results obtained were as follows: When placed in
normal room temperature (72° F.) and allowed to assume an approxi¬
mate normal coloration in the terrarium, and then placed in a
refrigerator the color became decidedly lighter; when subjected to
heat a darker hue was assumed; when placed under brilliant light at
room temperature the frogs grow lighter and the pattern changed also;
in the case of Hyla squirella, the hitherto dark patches of the back
then turned pale sap-green, with a tinge of lemon yellow. All the
frogs grow darker when placed in rich black loam in a half-light at
room temperature, except Hyla squirella, which remained the same.
When the amphibians were placed in brilliant light and subjected to
intense heat, a negative result was obtained with the exception of
Hyla squirella, which turned, lighter; when placed in dark under in¬
tense cold a’ negative result was obtained with the exception of Hyla
squirella, which turned darker; these results would indicate thaT:
Hyla squirella is more responsive to its surroundings visually.

Those tests were made repeatedly with the same results each time.

Note: The following book deals with the same topic in less detail.
Hegner, R.W.; College Zoology, Fourth Edition (1937).

CAT OCT IN

Mr. Karl E. Pfeiffer, Director of State Parks, and a member
of our Society, writes us concerning an article in the Society’s
Bulletin wherein reference was made to "Catoctin National Park”:

’’Two areas which were under the Department of Agriculture, one in
Garrett County and one on the Eastern Shore, have been turned over
to the State for administration under a 99 year lease agreement.

The sign at the entrance to the area (Catoctin) reads rU.S. Depart¬
ment of the Interior, National Park Service, in cooperation with the
University of Maryland, State Department of Forestry, Catoctin
Recreational Development Area’. All of the jobs in the area are
O’K'd by this Department and we are consulted in the work. While
it is true that the National Park Service is administering it until
its completion when it will be turned over to us, it does not have
the status of a National park.”

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Notes for Month of March

Meetings and Lectures at Society

(February 17) -

March 5 -
12 -
19 -

26 -

Address by Mr. Richard E. Stearns at the Annual Meet¬
ing of the Archaeological Society of Delaware,
"Maryland Archaeology • "

General Assembly.

Talk by Mr. Clyde Reed, "Some Ferns of Maryland."

Talk by Mr. Price Piquett, "Instinct and Intelligence
of Insects."

Annual Meeting. Address by President, notion picture
of Sherwood Gardens and Darling cartoon of Conserva¬
tion.

Junior Division and Scout Troop

March

2 - Junior Division. Lecture by Mr. C. Haven Kolb,

"Notes Taken on Observations in March."

4 - Scout Troop assembly.

9 - Junior Division. Lecture by Mr. Henri Seibert, "In¬
ternal Anatomy of Insects."

11 - Scout Troop - talk on locks.

16 - Junion Division. Lecture by Mr. Herbert C. Moore,
"Science and Law."

18 - Scout Troop. Motion picture.

23 - Junior Division. Talk by Henry Eichhom, "Embryology . "
25 - Scout Troop assembly.

30 - Junior Division assembly.

Exhibitions, Lectures and Loans

March

5 - School No. 223. Loan of Birds.

8 - School No. 223. Loan of Insects.

10 - Chapel of Nativity. Young People’s Fellowship. Lecture
by Mr. George Maug an s, "Snakes of Maryland."

15 - Roland Park Junior High School. General assembly.

Lecture by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, assisted by Romeo Man-
suetl, "Snakes of Maryland."

21 - Memorial M, E. Church, Young People’s Society - loan
of Insects.

21 - Wilkons Avenue M. E. Church, Young People’s Society -
loan of Insects.

23 - Bonwit -Lennon Company - loan of Birds.

27 - Henry C. Conrad High School Science Club - lecture by

Mr. Howard B. Owens, "Ainic - Beavers in General, Beavers
in Maryland in Particular."

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3/3

The Natural History

Volume X

MAY, 1940

Number 9j

BIRD BANDING
By Edward McColgan

Birds, as a class, have one characteristic that makes their
study difficult, - that is their power of flight. While some birds
cannot fly and a few other animals can, the birds and insects are
the only groups in which flight is common to a great number of
species. Birds net only fly, but also migrate, often going thou¬
sands of miles from their summer nesting places to their winter
refuges. Since many of these journeys arc made at night, and even
those by day across difficult country, it is very hard to follow
them and impossible to say if the birds arriving at one place are
the same that have been observed at another place a short time pre¬
viously.

To meet this difficulty a system of marking birds, known
as "Bird Banding", has been devised, by which the individual bird
can be recognized at other places .and on returns to the place of
original banding . The bands are rings of aluminum made in dif¬
ferent sizes, from tiny bands suitable for a Song Sparrow or Junco
to heavy and strong ones, suitable for the marking of Eagles. Each
carries a distinctive number on the outside. There is also a re¬
quest to "Notify Biological Survey, Washington, D.C." The smaller
bands have this statement stamped on the inside of the bands, the
intermediate sizes have it partly outside, partly inside, and the
large ones carry it on the outside with the number. The band fits
like a little bracelet and apparently causes no discomfort, as the
birds return freely and often visit the place of banding a few days
after the band is put on.

Bird banding was first tried. in 1803 by the great Audubon,
who placed small silver rings on a brood of Phoebes and was for¬
tunate enough to recover two of them the next year. (Bird Banding
Manual, Biological Survey) . Banding was tried at various places
afterwards, one Interesting case being a stork which was banded dur¬
ing the 80* s of the last century, with a band marked "Berlin," and
the date of a summer month and the year. Later the bird returned
with two bands, the second band bearing the inscription "Bombay,"

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with a winter elate of the following year and "India sends greet¬
ings to Berlin".

In 1909 the Bird Banding Association was formed (Bird
Banding Manual, Biological Survey) and the work undertaken
systematically. On the ratification of the treaty with Canada
for the protection of migratory lairds, this work was turned over
to the Biological Survey, then a bureau of the Agricultural De¬
partment, now of the Interior Department, and is carried on with
the assistance of numerous volunteer cooperators, who furnish the
bait and traps for securing the birds, while the Government sup¬
plies the bands and official forms for recording the capture. In
addition to the latter, each station keeps a record of the captures.

The bands arc very much like those carried by pigeons ex¬
cept that the pigeon bands being put on while the bird is young,
are seamless and cannot be gotten over the foot of the mature bird,
while the bird bands issued by the Biological Survey can be opened
with pliers and placed on the leg of the nature bird and closed.

When a bird revisits a station and is retaken within a
short while, it is called a "repeat", and the fact is merely noted
on the home record, but if it is absent for three months or longer
it Is called a "return" and a filing card with the facts properly
entered Is sent to the Survey. At least once a year, the complete
list of the captures is sent to the Survey on the proper form, one
form for each species.

The captures at a banding station vary with the seasons.

In the winter the hardy birds, which can stand severe weather, are
present. White -throated Sparrows and Juncos in numbers, and an oc¬
casional Tree Sparrow are taken,” also many birds that, while classed
as permanent residents, do not come freely to the traps at other
times, /among these may be mentioned the friendly and beautiful but
also intelligent and trap shy Cardinal RedbirG and the sharp but
greedy Blue Jay. Other permanent residents are more noticeable at
this time though taken the year round, as the White-breasted Nuthatch
and the Tufted Titmouse.

As spring approaches, the great migrations begin; floods
of birds pour in, and while a few weeks before only an occasional
note of a Titmouse was heard, the woods are full of song. It is at
this time of the year that most of the rarer birds are caught. One
sometimes takes one of a species new to the station, but with a well
established station this is an unusual occurrence. Also at this
tine, the groat flocks of Crackles come north. These arc the smaller
bird bander's friends, supplying him with his most numerous captures,
but with few returns, for the wise old rascals after once being
caught, seen to realize perfectly what a trap is, and generally avoid
it. In the spring, among the first arrivals can be seen old banded
Crackles, walking round and round the trap, but absolutely declining
to satisfy the bird bander's curiosity as to their band number. At
this tine too, many unexpected captures are made, some of the rare
Thrushes being taken in traps baited only with seed, also frequent
Wood Thrushes, Strangely enough, the Robin, which will let one walk
within ten feet of it, is very hard to trap.

As summer approaches, the number of birds around the station

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83

decreases; the great flocks have gone northward, and the birds which
are to sunnier with us are sticking close to their nesting places.
Nesting tine is the quietest tine of the year for a banding station.

Soon, the youngsters are flying and a number of innatures
are banded; again the Gracklcs crowd in and many are taken. When
the flocking season of late summer begins more are taken and again
unexpected captures may be made, and before one knows it the full
tide of the fall migration is on as the birds sock the southland.

The Society’s station in the writer’s charge was started
in 1933 and since then from 200 to over 300 birds have been taken
each year. The species banded number forty-seven, and a few more,
warblers too small to band, have been captured. The returns vary
in number from twenty-four Mourning Doves, of which twelve returned
the following year, to 146 V/hitc -throated Sparrows, of which three
returned and one was found dead. It may be called to the reader’s
attention here that the Dove is a member of a family that Is noted
for its homing instincts and that it nests near here as well as in
regions but slightly farther north, while the White-throat is a
Canadian or Arctic nestcr, and while wintering here is merely a
casual wanderer, or is actually migrating.

Among the interesting returns to this station were a Junco
or snow bird, banded hero in March, 1934, and found dead at Williams-
tewn. North Carolina, in March, 1936; and a Rcd-shouldcrcd Hawk which
was banded by the writer at Laurel, Maryland, and killed in Catons-
villencan the banding station. The birds vary greatly in their
actions, some species showing absolutely no fear of the traps. One
White-breasted Nuthatch repeated 101 times and was finally killed by
an accidental fall of a drop trap; other species arc very trap shy
and once caught seldom return.

Sometimes there are curious results; for instance, during
the first years, the Blue Jays were very common and very easy to trap;
then became very scarce and hard to catch, being occasionally seen
or heard but being very trap shy. In the first part of 1940, how¬
ever, no less than nine Blue Jays have returned, while only four now
birds have been banded. Most of these were of the last two or three
years, but there was one banded in 1935 and another in 1936. Eight
returns cane in May. This, I think, indicates a flock returning
from at least a local migration. While the Blue Jay is usually
classed as non-mi gratory, it seems to be a local wanderer. Unfor¬
tunately no reports have been hoard from other stations.

Another Interesting case was that of a Mockingbird which on
November 19, 1939 was brought in apparently dying. It was fed and
cared for and, seeming much better, was handed and released on the
following morning. It returned apparently in the best of health on
May 9, 1940.

Of course the bulk of the results from bird banding arc ob¬
tained by the coordination of the work of all the stations, but each
contributes its portion to this total.

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84.

SOME NOTES ON MARYLAND MIOCENE - THE GENUS PANOPAE

By Elra M. Palmer

Geologically the Leone lli'branchs or Pelocypoda, (commonly
known as bivalves) one of the great classes of Mollusca, range from
the Ordovician to the present. They are of little stratigraphic
value in the Paleozoic as they are not well preserved - mostly casts
and molds. In the Mesozoic and especially in the Cenozoic they are
well preserved and are often used as Index fossils.

To understand the fossil Mollusca one should he familiar
with the nature of the shell. First, there is the outer, thin,
horny layer - the periostracum, which imparts the color to most of
the modern shells. The periostracum also acts as a protective layer,
preventing corrosion from the carbonic acid of the water. This layer
Is usually absent in fossil forms. Beneath the periostracum is the
limy or porcelaneous layer, frequently termed the prismatic layer.
This layer is composed of lime and is most often preserved as a
fossil. The third or inner layer consists, of mother-of-pearl or
the nacreous layer, usually spoken of as the laminated layer. This
layer is made up of many thin lamellae of a dissolvable form of
carbonate of lime known as aragonite. Due to the nature of the
laminated layer it is frequently destroyed during the processes of
f ossilization .

Of the many Pelecypods found throughout the Maryland Miocene
those of the genus Panopae command a note of interest. Three species
are listed by the Maryland Geological Survey, P. whitf ieldi, P. gold-
fussii, and P. americana. The Society's collection lacks P. whi t -
field!, but contains the other two species.

Panopaea goldfussii is the smaller of these two Miocene
dimyarian pelecypod'sl The beaks or umbos of both species are di¬
rected toward each other and are hence said to be orthogyre. The
valves are united to each other dorsally along a straight hinge lino.
The interlocking is effected by means of a tooth on each valve which
fits into a socket in the opposite valve. The ligamental grooves
extend posteriorly from the beaks and are designated as opisthodetic .
The nymphae arc striated. There is but one cardinal tooth in each
valve, situated immediately beneath the umbos.

The ornamentation of both jP, goldfussii and americana is
very simple and consists merely of coarse growth lines arranged
concentrically in respect to the beaks. Growth lines are produced
by increments made at the margin of the valves. The pallial sinus
of the j?, goldfussii is of considerable magnitude in proportion to
the valve. This is apparently indicative of an animal equipped with
a large siphon. The shell is ellipoidal in shape and is open an¬
teriorly and posteriorly. The anterior margins are broadly rounded.
The posterior is elongated and narrower than the anterior and the
posterior dorsal margin is nearly straight with the plane of symmetry.

The best preserved specimen of goldfussii in our col¬
lection measures 98 mm. in length, 57 mm. in height and 40 mm. in
thickness* It was collected at Chancellor Point, Maryland (August
15, 1932) on the St. Mary's River, in Zone 24 of the St. Mary's

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2/3 NAT SIZE

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85.

Formation and was associated with Turritclla p lobe in, T. variabilis,
Phacoidcs anodonta, etc. Specimens have been collected at Langleys
Bluff and the area south of Flag Pond. Poorly preserved fragments
have been noted in the Calvert Formation south of Plum Point Wharf .

Panopaea whitfieldi is apparently confined to the Calvert
Formation and is smaller than P. goldfussii . According to the Mio¬
cene Text, Maryland Geological Survey - ,rlt differs from P. gold-
fussii Wagner, in being more equilateral, less expanded anteriorly
and less contracted and produced posteriorly.* * * * 5'

Panopaea americana is one of the larger bivalves found in
the Maryland Miocene deposits. They are abundant and well preserved
in the Choptank Formation. The largest valve of this species in the
Society’s collection measures 214 mm. in length and 113 mm. in
height , Most of our specimens average around 163 mm. in length,

97 mm. in height , and 45 mm. in thickness. The anterior dorsal
margin is nearly straight with the plane of symmetry and is longer
than the posterior dorsal margin. The shells are open at both ex¬
tremities and the ventral margins arc contracted in the middle. The
anterior and posterior margins are both oblique and truncated. The
empayment of the pallial line is not nearly as pronounced as in P.
goldfussii .

The genus Panopaea belongs to the order T c le ode smac e a .

There are a few species of Panopaea existing today and they are wide¬
ly distributed. All of the species arc marine and are burrowers,
having a large and long siphon. P, generosa, a Pacific coast species
about six inches in length, the largest bivalve of the West Coast,
is reputed to have a siphon nearly a yard in length. The largest
living species, JP. aldrovandi of the Mediterranean area is ten inches
in length and has a correspondingly large siphon. The modern species
shown in the accompanying illustration is that of P. norwegica. This
animal is found off the New England coast and measures three Wo four
inches in length and has a great siphon.

USES OF CHROME ORE

(Mr. Winslow H. Hartford of the Mutual Chemical Co. of
America has been so kind as to advise us as to the principal uses of
this ore in modern industry. Chromite holds a particular attraction
for those interested in the minoralogical history of Maryland, since
this mineral was discovered in America at Bare Hills, near Baltimore,
about 1810, Chrome was a little known metal at the time. Sec N.H.

S. Bulletin Volume V, Humber 1, Sept. 1934.)

The largest use of chrome ore is in the manufacture of
chromium alloys, particularly the various chrome steels, which arc
in the main produced from ferrochrome, although the Rustless Iron
Corporation of Baltimore uses the ore directly. Ferrochrome is not
in itself a widely-used alloy, but is rather an intermediate, pro¬
duced by direct reduction of chrome ore in electric furnaces, which
is used for the incorporation of chromium in steels for the purposes
mentioned. By far the most spectacular development of the last 15
years in this field, and the most important chromium alloys, are the

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stainless steels, of which the 18% chromium, 8 % nickel, used for
architectural trim and other fabricated parts, is the most impor¬
tant. The 13% chromium., 1% carbon alloy is not readily worked and
is restricted mainly to use in cutlery. Other chromium alloys have
been developed to resist scaling and deformation at high temperature
sulfurous furnace and oil-still gases and the like.

Stellite, although a useful alloy in high-speed machine
tools, and one of the few hardenable non-ferrous alloys, can hardly
be considered a serious rival to steel, since its production is
small and its cost very high.

The second largest use of chrome ore, although not by a
large margin, is as a refractory, in cements, bricks and furnace
linings .

The manufacture of chromium chemicals is the third largest
use of chrome ore, the factory of this company at Baltimore being
the largest plant of this typo in existence. Pigments are not manu¬
factured here, and chromic salts, in the form of a basic chromic
sulfate for tanning leather, form only a small part of the pro¬
duction. Sodium bichromate is the principal product of the chromium
chemical industry. This compound, with the allied products sodium
chromate, potassium chromate, potassium bichromate and ammonium
bichromate, finds use primarily in the manufacture of the dry colors
mentioned and in the tanning of leather. Dyeing, chemical manu¬
facture, corrosion prevention, photography, and photo-engraving,
ceramics, etching metals, bleaching fats and oils, and wood preser¬
vation constitute other uses. Chromic acid is also manufactured
here' this is the material which in solution forms the electrolyte
from which chromium is plated.

The use of bichromates and chromic so.lt s in the teaming of
leather is widespread and the chrome tanning process finds use not
merely for light glove leathers, but to some extent in all branches
of the leather industry, and especially in the manufacture of shoe
uppers .

kotos for Month of April

Meetings and Lectures at the Society

April 2
9

12

16

19

21

23

26

Talk by Mr. August Selckman, "Value of European Starling.
Talk by Mr. Elra M. Palmer, "The Ghost Crab."

Opening of Bird Course. Lecture by Mr. C. Haven Kolb,
"The Importance of Bird Study."

General assembly.

Bird Course - lecture by Mr. Irving E. Hampc.

Bird walk.

Talk by Mr. Richard E. Stearns, "Shell Heaps."

Bird Course - lecture by Mr. C. Haven Kolb, "Bird Songs
and Mating." Lecture by Mr. Irving E. Hampe, "The Nest
and Care of Young."

Bird walk.

28

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87

April 50 - Talk by Mr, Edmund B. Fladung, "Insects as Food."

Junior Division

April 6 - Lecture by Mr, Earl H. Palmer, "Sprin.g Flowers,"

13 - Talk by John Norman, "Some Salamanders of Maryland."

13 - Talk by Henry Eichhorn, "Geological Aspect of the
Problem of Animal Relationship,"

27 - Talk by William Norman, "The Bull Frog and. the Frog
Industry,"

Scout Troop Meetings

April 1 - Assembly.

8 - Assembly.

15 - Assembly.

22 - Assembly.

29 - Assembly.

Exhibit ions. Lectures and Loans

April 5 - To Mt . Rainier High School by Mr, Elias Cohen, "Super¬
stitions and Fallacies Regarding Snakes,"

5 - To University of Maryland, class in Animal Ecology, by
Mr. Elias Cohen, "Snakes from an Ecological Point of
View. "

9 - To Baltimore City College - loan of Insects.

12 - To Twin Maple School - loan of Birds.

15 - Enoch Pratt Library - Central Branch - Exhibition of Work
of Summer School 1939.

20 - To Baltimore City College - lecture by Romeo Mansueti,
"Snakes of Maryland,"

22 - Baltimore City College - lecture by Romeo Mansueti,

"Snakes of Maryland."

26 - Enoch Pratt Library, Walbrook Branch, Exhibition of Indian
Artifacts .

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Society of Maryland

Volume X

JUNE, 1940

Number 10

THE WOOD FROG IN MARYLAND
RANA SYLVATICA SYLVATICA (LE CONTE)

By Romeo Mansuetl

Perhaps the most handsome and daintily-colored tailless
amphibian in Maryland Is the Wood Frog. It is one of the first
frogs to greet the spring with its harsh but welcome voice. The
idiosyncrasies of this frog make It the most interesting Ranid to
study. Since it Is intermediate in characteristics between the
tree frogs and distinctly aquatic true frogs it can be called a
typical frog of Maryland.

The Wood Frog may be termed a relatively small species.

The head is rather broad and distinctly pointed. The body Is rather
flat. The tympanum does not exceed the size of the eyes, and it
does not vary In size according to sex as do the Green and Bull
Frogs. The skin is smooth and moist, with very few tubercles.

The dorsolateral folds are very conspicuous, beginning at the eyes
and extending backward to the anus. The hind limbs are long and
slender, and the toes are also very long with well-formed webs.

The somatic sexual characters are so insignificant that
the male and female are often very hard to distinguish. However,
in examining specimens, the writer has discovered that the fore¬
limbs of the males are very short and thick while those of the
females are rather slender and thin. The tympanum, as said before,
does not vary enough in size in the different sexes to warrant dis¬
tinguishing male and female by this means. Another successful
method of sorting males from females is to examine a large series
of average-size individuals, -those that are large may be classed
as females, whereas those that are small are usually males. An ex¬
amination of a large series of Wood Frogs shows that the thumbs of
the male do not become enlarged In the breeding season as do those
of the Green Frog.

The Wood Frog is truly the most beautiful salientian to
Inhabit the Maryland woodlands. Its ability to mimic the Chameleon
and Tree Toad, in changing patterns and hues without difficulty under

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WO CD FROG

( Rana sylvatica sylvatica)

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varied temperature and light conditions, makes it a very interesting
amphibian to study, Nevertheless, its colors are so unique that no
matter what the pattern, it can readily be identified from other
species. Most specimens seem to have a delicate creamy, brown
ground color, but because of external stimuli and internal pigment
nerves, other hues may be noted on one individual. In the spring,
specimens seem to be dark brown in ground color, apparently from
the cool and moist climatic conditions. Specimens have been taken
in the summer with a ground color of salmon red, creamy orange,
light gray, almost white with shades of tan, light and dark yellow,
light and dark brown, tan, auburn, etc. Specimens placed under
various artificial conditions of temperature and light have been
observed to change to a bright or a drab state. On one occasion a
light tan Wood Frog was observed perched on a piece of black bark
and thirty minutes later the writer noted that the frog had changed
to a very dark brown. Individuals taken in the water are usually
very dark In color, but after a short time in a dry collecting bag
or jar, they become a very bright canvas tan. Usually when placed
in rather dry and light surroundings, or in a heated environment,
they assume a light body color; hov/ever, when subjected to a cold
area, or placed in a dark and moist position, they become dark in
general coloration. The black pigment cells or chromatophores, when
subjected to the former physical stimuli, (dry conditions, light and
heat), will contract or retreat below the light surface epidermis,
thus resulting in a light colored frog, while the opposite circum¬
stances will obviously result in a dark colored frog. If the frog
becomes light in a dark, cold and moist state, it may have been
urged by some internal stimulus.

From the nostril on the upper jaw to the forearm, there is
a rather straight light whitish or creamy line. There is also a
black line or spot present at the base of the forearm. The most
conspicuous marking on this frog is the dark brown band which ex¬
tends from the end of the snout, along the jaws and sides of the
head, widening at the tympanic membranes and gradually tapering to
a point at the angle of the jaw, or at the end of the light line
present on the upper lip. The dorsolateral folds are a rather light
orange or yellow. Some specimens are lightly mottled with dark mark¬
ings on the side of the body. The legs and toes are more or less
banded or barred with dark brown. The belly is usually an Immacu¬
late white, yellowish or greenish white. Some specimens are mottled
on the anterior ventral surface.

Sex differentiation from color is often difficult, but as
a rule most males arc darker than females.

As mentioned before, this frog Is rather small. Females
hardly ever exceed two and one half Inches, males - two Inches,

The females arc always larger in proportion to the males. The hind
limbs are extremely long and slender In this species. Measurements
of a series of Wood Frogs are presented herein, preceded by locality
data, etc.

The data on each specimen measured Is as follows:

1 - Adult female, taken about mile from Arbutus, 4-50- *10, R. II .Coll' ,

2 - Adult f eualc, Glenartney, Maryland, 4-19- 1 54, Louis Patens Coll.

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Adult male, Glonartney, Maryland, 4-5 *34, Louis Putens Coll.
Adult male, Glenartney, Maryland, 4—5 *39, R . M • Coll:,

Adult male, Glenartnoy, Maryland, 4-5 *3,4 , Louis Putens Coll.*
Adult male, Glonartney, Maryland, 7-8 *34, Louis Putens Coll.
Adult female, Glonartney, Maryland, 8-8 f 34, Louis Putens Coll.
Adult male, Glonartney, Maryland, 4-1 *34, Louis Putens Coll.
Adult malo, Glonartney, Maryland, 4-1 *34, Louis Putens Coll.
Adult male. Vineyard, Maryland, 3-l-’36, Louis Putens Coll,
Adult female, Glonartney, Maryland, 3- 1-» 36, Louis Putens Coll.
Adult female. Vineyard, Maryland, 3-1- f 36, Louis Putens Coll',
Adult femalo, Glonartney, Maryland, 6-19- >34, Louis Putens Coll ,
Adult female, Glenartnoy, Mar\ land, 6- . . - '34, Louis Putens Coll.
Emerged Frog, mile from Arbutus, Maryland, 6-9- *40, R.M.Coll',
Emerged Frog, mile from Arbutus, Maryland, 6-9- 1 40, R.M.Coll,
Emerged Frog, mile from Arbutus, Maryland, 6-9- 540, R.M.Coll,
Tailed Frog, mile from Arbutus, Maryland, 6-9- *40, R.M.Coll .
Tadpole, mile from Arbutus, Maryland, 5-18-’40, R.M.Coll.

The symbols used below arc as follows: Mo. - number, B.L. -
body length, W.H. - width of head, F.L. - forelimb, F. - femur,

T. - tibia, TA. - tarsus, W.F. - whole foot, L.E. - length of head,
W.T. - with tail.

The largest female examined by the writer was 60 mm. from
snout to vent and is No. 13 in the table. The largest male measured
55 ram. and is No. 10 in the table.

Measurements of Adults
(Measurements in millimeters)

No.......

1 •

- 2 -

3 -

4 -

5 -

6 -

7 -

8 -

9 -

10

- 11

- 12 -

13

- 14

49

56

45

45

47

41

43

44

45

55

53

56

60

57

L.H .

12

16

12

13

12

12

12

11

12

15

15

15

17

16

W •M • • • • 0 0

18

20

17

17

16

17

16

16

16

19

19

20

20

20

F.L .

26

31

19

18

27

21

26

20

20

24

29

21

30

34

F .

23

30

18

21

17

21

21

22

20

24

26

27

25

21

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26

39

24

25

25

23

24

24

23

25

26

28

27

30

TA .

14

17

14

14

13

12

12

11

12

12

15

15

12

16

1 / • t • O • • 0 0

27

32

25

23

24

23

24

23

24

26

28

30

28

31

Me

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No ...... .

15

16

17

18

12

16

16

11

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No. .... . . 19

B.L . . 7

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The range of this species,, as stated in the Fourth Edition
of the ’’Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles" by
Leonhard Stejnegor and Thomas Barbour, is from "Quebec and Nova
Scotia to South Carolina, westward to southern Ontario, and Ohio to
nrkansas • "

Although the Wood Fro Q 1 1CI S H. ot yet been collected from
every county in Maryland, the writer believes that this species can
be found throughout the State . Most of the material for life his¬
tory study lias been accumulated in the area along the Patapsco River
at Vineyard, Glenartney, etc. in the Patapsco State Park, in Balti¬
more County. Nevertheless, this species has been captured and
observed in various localities, listed under counties as follows:

Baltimore C i t y :

Cherry Hill, Western Run Parkway, Gwynns Falls Park, Herring Run
Park, Hampden and Woodbury Area, Druid Hill Park, St. Mary's Semi¬
nary and Go vans town.

Baltimore C ount y :

Oella, Orange G-rove, Ilchester, Glenartney, Vineyard, Avalon,
Relay, Arbutus, Halethorpe, Randallstown, Bull Run, Patapsco River,
Cwynn Oak Park, Pikesville, McMahon Quarry, grounds of the Bonnie
View Golf Club, Curtis Wright Airport, Herring Run Swamp, Gunpowder
Falls region. Gunpowder Swamp, Loch Raven, Woodstock, Granite,
Texas, Tows on.

Howard County;

Orange Grove, Ilchester, Glenartney, Vineyard, Avalon, Relay and
other localities on this county's side of the Patapsco River, and
Ellicott City.

Anne Arundel County:

Camp Linstcad, Cromwell's Woods, Lake Shore, along the Magothy
River, Glen Burnie and Crowrisville.

Prince Georges County:

College Park and Laurel.

Cecil County:

Bacon Hill and Singcrly

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Frederick County :

Catoctin Recreational Area, Lily Ponds, and Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Garrett County;

Jennings .

Harford County:

Swan Creek
Kent County;

Chestertown.

Wicomico County;

Salisbury

Queen Anncs County;

Love Point .

Dorchester County:

Cambridge .

Calvert Count7/ :

Cove Point.

The' writer has no records from Allegany, Washington, Mont¬
gomery, Carroll, St. Mar^s, Charles, Talbot, Worcester, Somerset
and Caroline Counties, but the species undoubtedly occurs generally
in the State.

The Wood Frog is more truly a land frog than any other
species in Maryland. It is a terrestrial amphibian, making its home
in the damp and cool forests and woods. Only in springtime has the
writer found it near bodies of water and at this time the species
frequents transient pools, slow-moving streams, ordinary ponds, and
cat-tail marshes. After the breeding period these frogs leave the
water and go to the surrounding woods and meadows. By hunting
diligently in the summer and fall one may collect them in deeply
shaded glens and ravines and in wooded areas about ponds and swamps,
but hardly ever in the water. Sometimes they are found in very dry
localities, where the discovery of any amphibian or reptile would
be unusual. Nature has particularly gifted the Wood Frog with the
power of completely camouflaging itself in Its terrestrial environ¬
ment. In the forest it is difficult to detect tills species from a
background of brown and orange fallen leaves.

Wood Frogs hibernate under piles of leaves, under logs,
debris, rocks and in the soil, and possibly in the water. They can
endure an astonishing amount of cold; even freezing in the water of
a pond or in mud at the bottom will not necessarily cause death.

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On March 9, 1935, Louis Putons records them at a temperature of 32
degrees F., and John Norman has taken this species at a temperature
of 40 degrees F. The writer has taken' specimens at 44 degrees F .
During very cold weather in the spring, the circulation and life
processes may cease in the Wood Frog, but if the blood and proto¬
plasm of the heart do not fall much below that of freezing-point,
the frozen parts will recover. In the spring the Wood Frog is usual¬
ly awakened by the high temperature, and is spurred on to accomplish
its vital life process by migrating to the water# During the summer,
wh on it becomes unbearably hot. Wood Frogs are not often found, and
at this time they are in aestivation, hiding away in cooler places
under moss, stones, damp grass, logs and hollow trees. Wood Frogs
can endure a much higher temperature than the other Ranids.

The Wood Frog is the real herald of spring, and is heard
very much earlier than other species. The earliest date on record
for Maryland is February 23, 1890, and this date was noted in Balti¬
more by T. H. Morgan. Louis Putens reports them from Glenartney on
March 3, 1935; March 8, 1936; March 6, 1937, respectively. The
writer's notes for the last three years contain records of hearing
this species at Glenartney on March 12, 1938; March 5, 1939; and
March 3, 1940, John Norman records this frog on March 1, 1939 at
Western Run Parkway in Baltimore City.

The Wood Frog is usually recognized by its unique voice.

It only "sings” or "clucks" during the spring - the breeding season,
and the males accomplish all the vocalizing. This noise is more or
less an explosive clucking. At Glenartney, as one approaches the
long stretch of transient pools, these frogs sound similar to a flock
of hens clucking. In producing this sound, the Wood Frog distends
the sides of its head and the area over its shoulders, although these
organs are not' well-developed sacs, as in the Leopard and Green Frogs,
When It clucks. It swells the side of its throat with such an ex¬
plosive vigor that it causes ripples in the water. It is rather shy
while "singing", and when approached will dive Into the water and
quickly discontinue courtship efforts. The male sometimes accom¬
panies its clasping with guttural croaking and clucking.

Lured by warm weather and the spring sunshine. Wood Frogs
migrate to the water from their hibernating quarters, and the males
and females congregate to begin their clasping. The following notes
were made at Glenartney:

The clucking male approaches the much larger female and
grips her back and sides just behind her forclimbs. After attach¬
ing himself firmly, the male continues its low croaking, and then
the pair move about until they find a suitable stick or weed on
which to deposit the eggs. This embrace is known as pectoral am-
plexation. Sometimes, a day or so may elapse between the time the
male attaches himself and the female begins to lay eggs. Prior to
egg laying the female draws or hunches her hind legs up in a cup-
like formation. The male then doubles his legs back with his feet
pressing her anus, and pushes Inward several times, thus forcing the
eggs from the female's cloaca. During this procedure, the male aids
the delivery and formation of the egg -mass by outward kicking motions
of his legs. As the eggs pass out, the male exudes his sperm upon
them, thus fertilizing them. Both sexes help to hold the eggs In an

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orderly fashion; then the male leaves the female. The egg-mass,
after doing laid, is about the size of a golf -ball, but after water
is absorbed in it, becomes greatly enlarged, so that a whole mass can
easily fill one's hand. The female does not care for the eggs.

Some females are mobbed by four or five males. Even though
other frogs are in the immediate vicinity of Wood Frogs, the writer
has yet to see another species attempt to mate with the Wood Frog, or
vice versa. After a few days around their breeding pools, the frogs
move to the woodlands, so that about the beginning of May, V/ood Frogs
are rarely heard or seen in the water.

There may be from one thousand to three thousand eggs in
one mass, but no counts have been made by the author. These eggs
may be attached to grass, weeds, sticks, or twigs in shallow water,
but some have been observed lying loosely, not attached to anything.
After a time, the eggs flatten and diffuse over a wide space on top
of the water. The gelatin about the eggs becomes green and the eggs
arc thus camouflaged, protecting them from their numerous enemies.
When protected in this manner, the eggs are very hard to distinguish
from the familiar green pond scum. The green plants, which cause
the green pigment in the gelatin, absorb the carbon dioxide emitted
by the tadpoles; conversely, the plants give off oxygen, which the
hundreds or thousands of tadpoles require to reach maturity. If the
water freezes, the eggs will not die. The eggs arc brown above and
light below. Those laid very early In the spring require a longer
length of time to hatch (about 30 days), while those laid in late
spring hatch in about 10 or 15 days.

After the tadpole, which is rather black or dark brown
with rather long external gills, emerges from the jelly-like mass,
which had been Its food and protection, it proceeds to act as a
scavenger on the bottom of the water where it eats vegetable and
animal matter. In captivity, tadpoles will eat broad crumbs, bits
of raw beof, fish food, etc.

As the tadpole continues to change into a true frog, many
structural developments occur. The arms and legs develop at the same
time, but the latter appear first, since the fore-limbs are concealed
by a membrane of the anterior portion of the body. The tail is ab¬
sorbed and it shrinks. To exercise its lungs for future use, the
"semi -Wood Frog" may be seen swimming to the top of a body of water
to suck in air# It loses its unusual-looking horny mouth parts, and
assumes the ” smiling” features of a true frog. The metamorphosis of
tho Wood Frog is speeded up by the lack or shortage of natural food;
the tadpole utilizing by absorption the stored up food in its body.
However, if there is an over- abundance of food, the development will
bo prolonged.

At an old saw-mill near Arbutus, on the outskirts of a
transient pond, the w riter found a swarm of young grayish-brown Wood
Frogs on June 9, 1940# The whole pond had dried up. The frogs were
fully developed, but several still possessed short tails. About this
pond, these frogs v/ere jumping about in a haphazard manner, although
they were very alert and swift. Their alacrity was due to the un¬
usually long legs and slender body. They were always very active and
shy. At first they resembled adult Spring Peepers. A few days later

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not a specimen was visible.

John Noman has taken transformed young in Western Run
Parkway on July 8, 1939. Louis Putcns has collected young frogs on
June 17, 1934 in Glenartney.

All amphibians have numerous enemies, no matter how
innocuous they are, and the Wood Frog is no exception. Turtles,
leeches, blackbirds and ducks feed on the eggs. Water and Garter
Snakes, all aquatic turtles. Green Frogs, Newts, water-beetles,
water-bugs, leeches, diving spiders, larvae of dragon-flies, crows,
herons, and various fish feed on tadpoles. Among the enemies of
the young and the adult frog are the Water Snake, Ribbon Snake,

Garter Snake, Black Racer, Copperhead, Painted, Mud, Musk, Snapping
and Spotted Turtles, crows, hawks, owls, herons. Opossum, Raccoon,

Fox, Skunk, Pickerel, Bass, Bull Frog, and man.

Perhaps one of the most useful gifts of this animal, is
its ability to leap beyond the reach of any pursuer. Other than its
protective coloration the Wood Frog has no other safeguard to rely
on. Usually when lying camouflaged on a woodland floor of dead
leaves, it is very hard to discern, but it invariably gives itself
away, by making off in leaps and bounds. Of three Wood Frogs sur¬
prised in the woods above the B. & 0. Railroad at Glenartney only
one was captured and that with some difficulty. In collecting them,
the hands are mostly used, but other methods may be employed. One
can catch these frogs by noosing them, and also by shooting them
with dust shot. They are powerful swimmers, even though they spend
only a short part of their lives in the water. They are common after
a shower or storm. Usually any frog seen in the Maryland wilds mak¬
ing off with extremely long leaps will be found to be a Wood Frog.

During the egg stage the feeding is entirely from the yolk,
but as the tadpole hatches, it acts as a scavenger, feeding on dead
animal and plant matter. When the tiny frogs emerge from the tad¬
pole state, they feed on 3m. all flies, ants, spiders, end other small
Insects found In the fields and woods in which they have scattered.

The mature Wood Frog feeds on earthworms, wood-roaches, ants, spiders,
and all kinds of small soft-bodied insects. The writer has never
seen the Wood Frog eat during the breeding period. In captivity,
these frogs are very hardy and will eat house and hot flics, meal¬
worms, fruit-flies, earthworms, roaches, etc.

In catching its prey the Wood Frog must view the food In
movement, otherwise it will disregard it. Catching its food is mere¬
ly a matter of instinct. When the food does move, the frog receives
a psychological Impression that the object before it is food. The
author found that specimens in captivity would try to swallow a piece
of string dangled before them. Specimens would eat bits of small
beef. If the beef was rolled or dropped in front of them. If the
specimen did not snap the beef up immediately, it would not pay any
ettention to it thereafter, apparently not recognizing it as food.

The frog usually seizes the food with a lightning-like thrust of its
tongue, which Is held in front of its mouth. Insects and small bits
of food are swallowed entire, but on large food such as earthworms
the forelimbs are employed. The sight of the Wood Frog is amazingly
developed, but it is rather near-sighted.

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Since this frog is of distinct value to man economically,
in that it helps maintain the balance of nature by eradicating a
large percentage of destructive insects, it should be protected by
law. Although it is steadfastly holding its own, civilization has
decreased its numbers considerably, but for many years to come, the
Wood Frog - Nature's official announcer of spring - will be thought
of as a real native denizen of Maryland,

A A /V A /% A

Field and Laboratory Notes

THE COMPOSITION OF THE NEST
OF A PAIR OF CATBIRDS

On Friday, May 31st, an attendant at a gasoline station on
Gwynns Falls Parkway at the Western Maryland Railroad Bridge, trimmed
an overgrown hedge and unknowingly exposed to the public eye the
secreted nest of a pair of Catbirds, situated in a low fork of a
small mulberry tree. It had previously been well hidden by the high
hedge, but now Y/as visible even from the street. This nest con¬
tained four blue eggs.

The rather sudden exposure evidently startled the female
considerably, as on Saturday, June 1st, she was very nervous and
watched intently the turmoil of traffic and the work in the station.
When the nest v/as approached she would scold incessantly and flutter
about in nearby trees, much to the distress of a worried and be-
wildered male.

The home-loving pair must have decided that their privacy
was completely destroyed, for they deserted their nest and prospec¬
tive family, the female being last seen on the nest on June 2nd,

Since both birds were observed on Wednesday, June 5th, one carrying
a twig they perhaps reestablished themselves elsewhere.

The old nest was taken and carefully dismantled. Roughly
it measured seven inches in outside diameter and two and seven-eights
inches in inside diameter. The materials making up the nest are
listed below.

54 twigs - mostly forked and branched, forming the founda¬
tion and outer structure. The longest of these measured
18|r inches and the smallest 2\ inches.

16 twigs with tendrils from vines.

1 strip of white crepe paper o|r inches wide and 22 inches
long.

4 small root structures of weeds,

2 soda straws, neatly interwoven.

2 Cockle -burs (Burdock)

1 candy Y/rapper - Martha Washington chocolates,

4 pithy stems.

1 piece of parchment paper - l| x 4j inches.

7 paper fragments - gasoline charge tickets.

8-|- x 9 inch pile, 4 inches high, of dried grasses and
strippings .

25 cellophane pieces - carefully interwoven with the grass.

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Really "wrapped in cellophane", (cigarette and cigar
wrappers ) •

3 pieces of red cellophane tape.

5 pupae of some undetermined species of Diptera, - found
among the grass and strippings.

Inner nest made up of finer twigs and rootlets tightly
interwoven and laced.

If some adventuresome individual would like to
mass of material and reconstruct the nest the job is all

take this
theirs •

Elra M. Palmer

IN MEMORIUM

On May 25th the Society lost by death a most valuable
member, Mr. John B. Egerton, one of the foremost botanists in Mary¬
land. Besides being Curator of Botany in this Society for many
years, Mr. Egerton was Professor of Biology at Loyola College.
Earlier in his career ho taught at Rock Hill College and Calvert
Hall .

Notes for Month of May

Lectures, Talks and Meetings at the Society

May 3
5
7

10

12

14

21

28

4

Bird Course. Lecture by Mr. Henri Seibert, "Birds in Nature."
Bird Walk.

General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Charles Ostrander, "Some In¬
teresting Mineral Localities in Maryland,"

Bird Course. Lecture by Mr. Irving E. Hampe, "The Identifi¬
cation of Birds", and Mr. C. Haven Kolb, "Birds* Songs,"

Bird Walk .

General Assembly. Talk by Mr. James Leake, "Reproduction
in Salamanders . "

General Assembly.

General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Harry Robertson, "Where to
Find the Snakes."

Annual Meeting of Board of Trustees. At this meeting the
following re-elected Trustees wore installed: Dr. J. Carey
Taylor, Mr. Gilbert C. Klingol and Mr. Herbert C. Moore.

The following officers were elected for the year: President -
Mr. Edmund B. Fladung, Vice President - Mr. Herbert C. Moore,
Secretary - Mr. John B. Calder, and Treasurer - Mr. A.
Llewellyn Jones.

Meetings of Junior Division

May* 4 - Meeting. Lecture by Mr. Edward McColgan, "Bird Banding."

11 - Meeting. Talk by Joseph Bures, "Hawks Found in and around
Baltimore • "

18 - Meeting. Talk by Mr. Louis Hughes, "Catching Locusts"; talk
by Mr. William Moorefield, "Notes on Collecting Insects."

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May 25 - Meeting. Talk by Mr. William Miller, "Snake Reproduction."

12 - Junior Division Trip to Washington. Thirty Junior members,
accompanied by the President, Mr. Edmund B. Fladung and the
Vice President, Mr. Herbert C. Moore. Mr. August Selckman
was also with the group • A bus was chartered for the occa¬
sion. Much of the day was spent at the Zoological Park and
the National Museum. ' Other places were visited including
the Library of Congress and the Airport.

Boy Scouts of America - Troop No. 126

Meetings wore held on May 6, 15, 20 and 27,

Lectures, Talks and Loans to Outside Organizations

5

May 2

7

11

11

13

16

18

18

21

27

Baltimore City College K. R. Classes. Lecture by Romeo
Mansucti, "Snakes of Maryland."

Southern District B.S.A. Round Table Conference. Lecture by
Mr. Francis G-roves, "Snakes of Maryland."

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeologists, York, Pennsylvania.
Lecture by Mr. Richard E. Stearns, "Maryland Archaeology."
School No. 223. Loan of Birds,

Troop No. 188 B. S. of A. Lecture by Mr. Francis Groves,
"Reptile 'Study."

Troop No. 70 B. S. of A. Lecture by Mr. Romeo Mansueti,
"Snakes of Maryland and the Identification of Reptiles and
Amphibians • "

Enoch Pratt Library Branch No. 1 - Loan of Birds.

Sparrows Point High School - Loan of Insect Group.

Enoch Pratt Library - Walbrook Branch - Loan of Birds.
Baltimore City College H. R. Classes - Lecture by Mr. Romeo
Mansueti, "Snakes of Maryland."

Bird Contest at Museum

Commencing May 18th and ending August 15th a bird contest
for the general public Is being conducted at the Society's Museum,
the Maryland House, in Druid Hill Park. Thirty-six of our common
Maryland Birds are displayed. Any person Identifying 26 of the 36
birds on display and filling out a form provided for the purpose will
receive free of charge a copy of our leaflet entitled, "Birds of
Baltimore and Vicinity." After August 15th, the list of birds will
be placed in the Museum to be checked by those who are Interested.

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The Natural History

BULLETIN

Society of Maryland

Volume X

JULY , 1940

Number 11

DEVONIAN CORAL
By Oscar L. Helm

Most everyone at sometime in his life has spent a while
at the seashore picking up from the beach the shells or hard re¬
mains of animals that had washed ashore and died. All that is left
of a once very much alive animal is his limy, calcareous, or cal¬
cium carbonate skeleton. Some of these objects are beautifully
colored and some are of fantastic and bizarre shapes, sufficiently
arresting to be noticed even by people who are not scientifically
inclined •

There are in Maryland many sea.sh.ores, but there .are also
other seashores and ocean bottoms where water no longer tediously
erodes the banks and shorelines. These areas are now hills and
mountains, farmlands, plains, and backyards, and one may walk along
tlia.t which, millions of years ago, was the same as our beaches to¬
day, picking up objects from the ancient seashore that represent
the skeleton impression, or even a cast of a once living animal.

The animal having died, and its skeleton fossilized, it becomes
harder than its surrounding matrix. As it weathers, the matrix is
lost and the animal is revealed to those who care to stoop and
gather up these proofs of the animals that existed many years ago.

Hancock, Maryland and its environs represents such an
ancient sea bottom, one that existed some millions of years ago.
There, in rock called shale, formed by the consolidation of clay,
mud or silt and finely stratified so that It may be easily broken
apart, one finds much evidence of the fact that this mountainous
area was once a part of a vast ocean floor or shore. Here we stop
and pick up our oddly shaped relics of long ago just as we may gather
shells on our present shore line .

It would be impossible to describe in this article all the
animal evidence found so I confine myself to one small group of the
phylum Coelenterata, that group of animals which is represented to¬
day by our sea nettles, sea anemones, corals, etc. Throughout their

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100

history the members of the phylum Coo lent ors.it a have been aquatic in
habit. To-day most of thorn are marine, but a few still live in fresh
or brackish water. The same condition, in all probability, existed
millions of years ago and the fossil records offer interesting study
to those who care to gather up these stone records.

The coelentcrates are arranged into several groups but it
is the group made up of the cup coral of which I w rite. This group
is known as the Anthozoa and they are both solitary and colonial in
habit with complicated structures and variable architecture. This
group appears to begin the early Ordovician and extends throughout
geologic time to the present. Several noted authorities have traced
it to the Middle Cambrian which would make it date back to about
500,000,000 years ago.

The animal or polyp that secretes the skeletal remains
that we call coral has two layers of tissue known as ectoderm and
endodem. These arc separated by a mass of unorganised protoplasm
known as mesoglea. It is the outer layer or ectoderm that forms
the calcareous ,lexoskcletonn known as coral. This typo of skeleton
is comparable to those of the shelled cminals rather than those of
the sponges or vertebrates.

Its skeleton at no time offers a ’'hideout" for the animal,
for it secretes and builds mostly from the bottom. Thus as it grows
and reproduces, it forms a pedestal on which it rises rather than a
house into which it may retract its body when in danger. The earli¬
est skeleton has the shape and appearance of a small, hollow, coni¬
cal cup. The skeleton enlarges by adding separate structures to its
upper end and the various shapes that are found depend on the way the
animal grows and reproduces.

The young animal is similar to a tube with a mass of ten¬
tacles around its one opening, the mouth. A short oesophagus
connects the mouth and the body cavity. This body cavity is di¬
vided into compartments by radial partitions called mesenteries .

When this animal settles down on some hard object its ectoderm takes
the calcium bicarbonate from the water in which it lives and be¬
gins building its foundation, or early skeleton. The lower surface
turns inward into a series of radial folds which are alternate with
position of the mesenteries. In the grooves thus formed the animal
secretes the crystals of calcium carbonate that are to become a
group of plates, radially arranged called septa. As the animal
grows older now folds appear and new septa, form between the first
ones. These first septa arc called primary septa. The outer sur¬
face of the animal continues to secrete with the rest of the ecto¬
derm and this secretion connects the radial partitions and forms a
circular outer wall called the theca . The growth continues in this
manner and a conical skeleton results . However, as the animal grows
upward he seals his former homo by plates that extend from wall to
wall called tabulae or by plates that go from septum to septum called
dl s s ep t imont si Of 'ten projecting up from the base at the center of
the coral is a little column called the columella . This is secreted
by the ectoderm In the center of the coral and is domed up instead
of being ridged. When the septa join in the center to form a spongy,
central mass it is called the pseudo-columella. The depression at
the broad end of the coral occupied 'by the base of the polyp is
called the calyx.

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The

following

diagram from Twenhoofol and Shrock illus¬
trates the four primary septa of the Tetracoraila and the subsequent
growth of other septa which are given off on either side of the
cardinal septum, and take up a position paralle- wei the alar sep¬
tum. The numbers indicate the order in which th septa arc given off

/ C 0 U (\J l L R ggpn'Kt

alar.

SEPTUM

CARDINAL SEPTiiM

From this diagram we can see how the animal increases the number of
septa. As it grows upwards we can sec how the animal gradually
builds the fossil we find.

E. c~/ oder m

M e s o <? ' 6 cl

a

Mesep ^~ty

Dark area indicates Sepfcl ^

formation of the sidewalls cmd sep+ci we sentence w rf

jouncj polyp-

The specimens found near Hancock are of the Tetracoraila
(Rugosa), so named because of the roughly annulate! exterior of the
corallites. They belong to the family Zaphrentidae which have sim¬
ple ho m- shaped, or cylindrical coralla. Though our specimens are
small, some have been found in the Devonian of Kentucky that are two
feet in length. The exterior of the corallites boar shallow annular
constrictions placed at irregular distances, striated longitudinally
by septal furrows. The calyx is very deep in proportion to the
length of the corallite, its bottom concave, with sides spreading
and edges thin.

Vii.H. Twenhoefel A R.S. Shrock - "Invertebrate Paleontology"

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Two of the specimens found are hut casts of the calyx,
one measuring 8 mm. in length and 13 ran, in diameter , and the other
measuring 9 ran, in length and 15 mm. in diameter. They have 20
septa which fuse at the ends to form pseudo-columella. These casts
do not lend themselves readily to positive identification since only
the casts of their exterior and calyx have heon found, hut compare
most closely to Zaphrentis chemungonsis .

from 4 mm.

Five other specimens

9 mn.

of Anthozoa
in diameter

(Rugosa) vary:

23 mn. in diameter. One specimen has most
hut the inner portion of its calyx reveals

m size

to 33 mn. in length and
of its epitheca destroyed
several septa fairly well
preserved. These septa, however, are larger and spaced further apart
than those of the casts described above. Because of the poor preser¬
vation of this specimen and the filled in portion of the other
specimens it is impossible to determine positively the depth of the

calyx, hut it appears to he shallower in proportion to the depth
the
and

of

cast
more

5 or the previously described specimens t Their larger size,
distant septa places them, with the Zaphrentis maryiandicus t

One other specimen was found and it;

and distance be¬

tween septa would indicate it to be of the Zaphrentis chemung en si

length 20 nn., diameter 13 mn.

.3 specimen is interesting, however.

side, showing the growth of the septa upward • In the cleaning

is exposed, namely only
rard • In

at one of its growth re

because of the portion of the fossil
its

of the specimen it was broken, fortunately

gions, exposing an early calyx and the lower portion of the later
growth as it grew upward. The upward portion contains twice the
number of septa as that of the lower portion. At the point of the
break, the septa of the upper portion seem to split into two parts
and continue In their growth but are doubled In number.

The Anthozoa. group of the coolenterates is probably the
most important since Its origin was so far in the past, but it has
left complete fossil records up to the present. To-day the Anthozoa
still continuing their unbroken line are exclusively marine, living
mostly In shallow water. These modern coral still continue to form
roofs or live alone as did their ancient relatives. They grow
attached to the pedestals they have formed waiting for some natural¬
ist to collect them from to-day’s ocean floor. Their hoary fore¬
bears having completed their growth are now weathering and only
slowly revealing themselves to those who care to stoop and gather
these ancient records of past ages.

THE EAGLE MURAL

The Eagle Mural, painted for the Society by Frederick E. Far¬
ley through the Works Project Administration Art Project, is now on
exhibit at the Society’s museum, the Maryland House, in Druid Hill
Park. The picture portrays two eagles and a nest of young In a
typical Maryland background.

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103 e

THE REPRODUCTION OF PERNS
By Earl H. Palmer

Before the first "breath of spring has melted all the snow
banks away, and while the woods and fields are still bare, the ferns
are astir. By the end of March the young crosiers are pushing aside
the brown leaves and raising their heads. In the deserted woods,
barren meadows and fields, in sheltered nooks, and crevices or rocks
you will find these beautiful waving green crosiers. The April
showers not only bring May flowers, but also the ferns.

Thoreau once wrote, ‘'Nature made ferns for pure leaves,
to show what she could do In that line." However, all our ferns
do not have the dainty, graceful lace-work that Thoreau tells us of.
Some few of cur species have large coarse fronds; those, however,
only intensify the beauty of the others.

The fronds are complete In
their development is but the unrolling

bud of the fern plant, and
and expanding of the crosier.

-i- — — — J-

The crosiers of all the fern plants are essentially the same,
regardless of the variety of shapes end outlines the various nature

fronds nay take, the crosiers of all true ferns are collet

and
in-
like

watch springs. Each

O'

the smallest divisions is rolled toward the

division next larger than itself, these In turn are rolled toward
the rachis ; then, beginning at the apex, the radii s and stipe are
rolled downward to the crown.

During the winter months, the buds arc protected from the

dirty-b

inclement weather by many hair-like,
species, when the fronds develop , these
the stipe, adding to their picturesque and rustic appearance

own scales. In many
scales remain attached to

The leafy portions of the fern plant are called fronds

The stalk o:
The part of

The leafy portion of the frond Is called the blade,
stem that supports the blade is known as the stipe,
the stipe that continues through the blade is 'known as the rachis.
(See drawing). The word ’frond* embraces the stipe, rachis, and
blade . - -

flowers

ancients, ferns have no
’!

vc get

Contrary to the belief of the
, even though one of our native ferns Is 'mown a
Pom. Ferns have two methods of reproduction — one
•tion and the other by means of spores.

the Flower-

bv

itivc prepj

Vegetative propagation may be accomplished in several ways:
(1) simple branching of the roots as In the Bracken Fern (Pteris
aquilina) , (2) buds forming at the base of the fronds in old plants
as in the Male Fern (Dryopteris Fiiix-mas), (3) bulbs forming"
on the fronds and since they are loosely attached fifing t o the ground
as in the Bladder Fern (Cyst opt oris bulbifera) , and (4) the apex of
the frond a r chin, ; over and tdmngroot as in the Walking Fern (Campto-
sorus rhizophyllus ) .

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104

A frond of the Sensitive Fern

( Onoclea sensibilis L.)

Regardless of the vegetative methods of propagation, all
ferns (except the highly cultivated types) produce spores. These
are usually produced on certain fronds of the matured plant which
are called sporophylls . On the underside of the sporophyll and near
the apex, we find numerous organs called sori. These sori consist
of sporangia and a protective covering called indusia ( Indus ium,
sing.). The sori vary in color from green to brown according to
their age. They also vary in shape, size, and position on the blade
and pinnae. It is by the characteristics of the sori that the ferns
(Pilicales) are classified. (See drawing).

In the Male Pern (Dryopteris Filix-mas) the head of each
sporangium is shaped like a biconvex lens. The margin is almost
completely surrounded by a series of indurated cells, which form
the mechanical annulus. The annulus stops short on one side where
there are several thin walled cells forming the stomium or point of
dehiscence. (See drawing p, 105).

The dry condition so necessary for spore dispersal spells
doom for its further development. Under suitable conditions the
spores soon germinate, giving rise to the prothallium or gametophyte.
(See drawing). The prothallium bears the sex organs antherida (male)
and archegonia (female). After fertilization has taken place, the
embryo develops into the young fern plant.

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i - indusium s - sporangia

Showing the shape of the sporangia of the
different Fern Families (greatly enlarged)
A- Schizaeaceae B- Cphi ogles sac eae G- Osmundaceae

D- Hymenophyllaceae S- Polypodiaceae

A fern sporangium showing spore dispersal
(after Atkinson) (enlarged)

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106

Graphically the whole story of fern reproduction may be
smniiiar i z e d thu s : -

There are nearly 8,000 species of ferns in the world -
the majority of which are in the tropical and semi-tropical clinat
Of this number, about 45 are indigenous to the State of Maryland,
If we were to triple the number of ferns now growing on our Earth,
we would have approximately the number of fern plants that flour is
in the past .

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B.

A - Prothallium or gametophyte (enlarged)

B - Young fern-plant (sporophyte) growing from a gametophyte
( enlarged--af ter Bergen & Caldwell)

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The first trace of a fern comes to us from the Upper De¬
vonian Period. It was, however, during the Carboniferous Period
that the ferns flourished in great abundance. Representatives of
several of our present genera can bo traced through geological times,
the most plentiful being Osrnunda, Onoclea, Lygodium, and Pteris.

True indeed, is the poem by M. B. Branch, of which I quote one
verse : -

nIn a valley centuries ago.

Grew a little fern-leaf, green and slender,
Voining delicate and fibers tender.

Waving when the wind crept down so low:;

Rushes tall and moss and grass grew round it.
Playful sunbeams darted in and found it,

Drops of dew stole down by night and crowned it.
But no foot of man e'er came that way
Earth was young and keeping holiday."

Rotes for Month of June

Lectures , Talks and Mee tings at the Society

June 4 -

11 -

14 -
16 -
16 -

General Assembly. Talk by Mr. John B. Calder, "Geology
of Route No. 40."

General Assembly. Talk by Mr. Frank Bentz, "Casting."
Bird Club Meeting.

Bird Walk .

Society's Annual Field Day, held this year at Randalls-
town, Maryland.

All talks discontinued during summer months; to be resumed
in the Fall. Members to continue meeting as usual.

Meetings of Junior Division

June 1
8
15
22

2S

Meeting. Lecture by Mr. Earl H. Palmer, "Ferns of Mary¬
land."

Meeting. Talk by Joseph Bures, "Birds of Mt . Vernon
Place . "

Meeting. Seminar. Biological Aspects of a Race. Par¬
ticipants: Joseph Bures, Henry Eichhorn and Elias Cohen.

Meeting. Lecture by Mr. Frank Groves, "Field Habits of
Snakes," Appointment of Joseph Bures as Chairman of Junior
Division. Retirement of William Moorefield to Senior Divisc
activities .

Meeting. Talk by Miss Janet Byrns, "Care and Feeding of
White Rats." Talk by Miss Mildred Bures, "Mountain Black
Snakes."

Boy Scouts of America Troop Mo . 126

June 3 - Last meeting of Scouts until Fall. Scouts will meet at
camp during Summer months .

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108

Lecture s , Talks and Loans to Outside Organizations

June 5

7

7

11

24

29

Baltimore City College Home Room Classes - Lecture by
Romeo Mansueti, "Snakes of Maryland."

School No. 83. Lean of Birds.

Baltimore City College Biological Club - Talk by Romeo
Mansueti, "Snakes of Maryland,"

Baltimore City College - Loan of Birds.

Opening of Summer Nature School at Society’s Museum, the
Maryland House in Druid Hill Park. Courses in Nature
Art, Birds, Ins-ects, Plants and Reptiles, School under
direction of Mr. Lira M. Palmer, assisted by Messrs.

C. Haven Kolb, Jr., Earl Palmer, end Romeo Mansueti. Art
Director - Mr. Wesley Moore.

Crcstmont Camp - Loan of Birds.

Photographic Contest

For Membc r s of the Society

A reminder to our members that the time is fast approaching
for our photographic contest. By October 15th the photographs should
be In the hands of the Society. Rules of the contest have been sent
to all our members but are here reprinted. Winning prints will be
reproduced In the Bulletin.

Rules

1. Any person can enter one or more photographs in any of the first
four classes,

2. All photographs must be taken by the member entering contest.

(Not necessarily developed and printed).

3. Photographs must be enlarged -6x8 minimum size and 11 x 14
maximum size.

4. Enlargements need not necessarily be made by person entering
contest . “contestant can have haem made by anyone.

5. Photographs will be judged on points.

6. Any person entering one or more photographs is automatically en¬
tered. in the Open Class Contest.

7. All persons (Including Junior Members) who are beginners and who
are not excluded by committee as special photographers, are
automatically included in the Limited Class Contest.

8. All photographs must have the titleT” locality, name and address
on the back of photograph,

9. Photographs are not to be mounted.

10. All photographs must be received by committee by October 15,1940.

11. Any photographs already exhibited or presented to the Society
cannot be entered.

Classes

! • Wild Life

All photographs in this class must be taken in their natural
environment. In case of plants no digging up and transplant¬
ing. No artificial background.

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109

Points of Judging

Value as a Nature Photograph 3 Points

Rarity of object 2 Points

Technical excellence 2 Points

2* Domestic and Captive Classes

Those photographs can consist of animals and plants either as
pets in the home or captive animals in the zoo* This admits
caged and penned animals*

Points of Judging

Beauty of subject
Rarity of object
Scientific interest
Technical excellence

2 Points
2 Points

1 Point

2 Points

3* Scenic Class

Any scene of stream, woodland, shore, mountain, waterfall or
any interesting view*

Points of Judging

Beauty 3 Points

Scenic interest 2 Points

Technical excellence 2 Points

4* Specimen Class

Only objects or specimens related to Mineralogy, Geology
and Archaeology admitted.

Points of Judging

Scientific value
Rarity

Technical excellence

3 Points
2 Points
2 Points

5. Open Class

To' be judged as the best print on exhibition. Points in each
of the four above classes are to be considered.

6 • Limited Class

’ Only such persons who are beginners and. who have not so far
done any work of consequence in photography.

PRIZES. The number of prizes awarded to each class will depend on
the number of photographs entered in each class.

1. If fewer than 4 prints are entered , 1 Prize.

2. If fewer than 10, 2 Prizes.

3* If fewer than 18, 3 Prizes.

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The Natural History

Society of Maryland

BULLETIN

Volume X

AUGUST, 1940

Number 12

FISH POUND IN GUINNS FALLS
By Frank C. Tingling

Since 1923 I have been observing the fish life in Gwynns Falls,,
in the section of the Gwynns Falls Park north of Edmondson Avenue.
The stream was In fair condition up to about 1928, but since that
time it has become more and more polluted.

From Edmondson Avenue to the dam at Dickey vi 11c there are few
plants to be found In the stream itself. Originally, a maze of
underbrush and trees marked the shore line, but to-day the shore
growth Is considerably thinner, and as a result there is more soil
erosion .

In this region below the dam there are only a few Intermittent
branches to the stream. The major branch. Dead Run, is narrow, rapid
and rocky, and is therefore an excellent spawning ground for the

G omnon Sucker ( C a t o s t onu s c pane r s oni ) ,
decreased the numbers of fish.

it was until pollution

At one time there were several dams from Liberty Road south to

Edmondson Avenue. Three of these arc still in use
been destroyed. The dam located in Gwynn Oak Park
largest one.

the others have
which is the

formerly offered excellent refuge for several species
of fish as well as other forms of aquatic life, but of late the con¬
stant opening of the flood gates has been very detrimental to the •
aquatic life. In May, 1939, the flood gates wore closed so that the
dam would be filled, and as a result the stream became dry. For¬
tunately, only a few Sunfish ( Contrarchidae ) had nested, for If there
had been much spawning, the lack of water would have caused, great
destruction .

o

•p

f 1st

i

are in
stream In

Another practice which tends to decrease the numbers
j fall and winter draining of the stream; fish which
state of semi-hibernation for the winter arc washed down-
sudden flow of water.

From Woodlawn to Liberty Road the stream is very swift; also
its pools are larger and deeper here than they arc further down, and
there is a concentration of fish and aquatic flora.

Above Liberty Road where pollution is not so bad there arc a

l 4 1940

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Natural size

Red-fin Idinnbw (Notropis cornutus)

Common Sun-fish or Pumpkin- seed

(Lepomis gihhosus )..

x 1/3

Small-mouth Bass '(Micropterus dolomieu)

'1C , i\ •

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) .1 t:o Co.r. . • / • :r > '<1 > . . ,1; , j ;

Ill

f e w s anclb a r s covered

ing grounds for sun- fish

with vegetation

rich serve as excellent spawn-

xuS 6xuunuu xwx * *«,.*. Alongside the bars in the swifter parts
of the stream are good spawning beds for our lesser fish, the Min¬
nows ( Cyprinidac ) .

The pisconc fauna is composed of six families, thirteen genera
and eighteen species. The most common form is the Minnow (Cypriniod) ,
which is found throughout the stream. It seems to prefer the swifter
water, -where it may often be seen darting against the current.

This family of lesser fish contains four genera and seven
species. Those most frequently found are of the genus Notropis,
which contains four species: Silver-fin Minnow (Notropis analostancos ),
Rod-fin Minnow (N. cornutus). Swallow Minnow (N. procnc), and Attrac¬
tive Minnow (N. amoenus). The other throe aro the Horny-head Minnow
(Hybopsis kentuckicnsis) , Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus nuchalis) end
Carp (Cyprinus carpi o) . These fish have not been depleted to any
great extent in the last few years, but they have been driven from

lower to the higher

th

fin Minnow (N.
rare .

part
analostancos )

O Kj }

! of the
w i

it re an . Formerly the Silver-
very common, but it is now quite

One of the most common of the Minnows is the Red-fin Minnow
(N. cornutus). This fish is found in nearly all parts of the stream,
but It prefers swift water. Towards the end of April I have seen

these fish

spawning in the upper stream where the water flows swift-

O

bottom.

ly over a rocky
" c ommuni t y spawning ”

They spawn In great numbers, so called
The males aro most brilliantly colored.

ion

the seine is drawn through the school of fish, and lifted, the bottom
of the net appears like an animated mass of red flame. The back.

head, and fin tips of the males are reddisb

During spawning the

. jy ►_/ '-x -i_ -i- n-' -L . x V/s, ww w a. V/ >— v. ^ J. w U. J- -x

heads of the males arc covered with many tubercles.

Silver-fins (Notropis analostancos) arc common in the swift

h are also

waters of the upper stream. These
The males reach a maximum size of three to four Inches
the males aro the most gaudy with steel-blue colorc
by a .lacy white pigmentation.

community
As

d bodies

.wners .
usual,

u

5pm
is

nffsn

I also found in association with each other the Swallow Minnow
(N. procne) and the Attractive Minnow (N. amoenus), both having their
spawning period in the latter part of April. The Attractive Minnow,

which is the least common of the two, has the most coloration durin;

spawning • The lips and jaws
fins are a bloodish-rod hue.
app roximat c ly thro c inche s .

of the male i
The maximum

.re tinged with
size for these

no.

-r

isn

In

upper rccosscs of the stream where the water is placid.

Carp (Cyprinus carpio) aro
as formerly. The drain!

abundant, though not in ;
of the stream has made tl

these f:

3h by

net quite

O cl O

y

It Is

such quant i t i e s
capturing of
very prolific fish, spawning

in rather still water abundant in vegetation. Most of the Carp

cauyht In this part of the stream arc small

i c Id on

^ -x- a. -x -x .1 — i_ ►. — / jy u a. _i_ v«/-i .i. vj jl. . x a. ± . j. v-a. «i_ y

though I have observed specimens weighing five pounds or

weighing

over

pound,

The Silvery Minnow (K. nuchalis) a.
tuckiensis) are quite common In the swif

id the River Chub (H. ken-
rocky parts of the uppo:

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112

stream. The Silvery Minnow swims near the surface of the water in
snail schools. The maximum size of the River Chub is 140 urn., though
most of the fish range at about 7b mm.

The only fish which have been seriously depleted through fish¬
ing before the spawning period is over arc the Sun-fish (Centrarchida^
which arc popular game fish. The Sun-fish family is composed of
three genera and five species; the Pumpkin-Seed (Lepomis gibbosus),
the Yellow Belly (L. auritus), the War Mouth ( Chaenobrytus gullosus),
the Small-mouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and the Large -mouth Bass
(M. salnoides). The males of all five species carry out the parental
instinct of nest building. The males arc the more brilliantly col¬
ored.

The Pumpkin Seed (L. gibbosus) is the most common. It nests
In June on the sandy or pebbly bottom of the shore line where the
water Is shallow. The males can be seen guarding the nests. In past
years I have seen specimens caught which measured from five to seven
inches, but lately the specimens seem smaller, seldom over three
inches long .

One of the brightest nuoa

:l species of this family is the Yellow
Belly (L. auritus), easily recognized by the orange colored abdomen,
and the flashy blue streaks on its cheeks . The maximum size attained
in this locality is about seven inches, though mostly small fish have
been collected. This fish is not abundant enough to be called common,
but neither is It rare.

The War Mouth (Chaenobrytus guilosus) is found mostly around
the old dams or where there Is an abundance of aquatic vegetation.
The largest specimen taken was five inches in length, a male in
spawning coloration.

The two species which outrank the others for gameness are the
Small-mouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and the Large -mouth Bass
(M. inlmoides). The latter inhabited the lake in past years, while
the former frequented the faster parts of the stream. Years ago
this species was not found In any groat abundance, but recently I
have noted two specimens, both Small-mouth Bass. The spawning of
these fish takes place from June to the middle of July, though I
have collected specimens in the latter part of July that retained
their eggs.

The family cf Catfish (Ameiuridae ) in this locality Is composed
of two genera and two species, the Hornod Pout (Ameiurus nobulosus)
and the Mad Ton (Rabida insignus). The former Is the most abundant
and attains a larger size than the latter. I find It prefers the
mud bottom, or a place whore there is a lot of sunken debris. The
maximum size taken v/as about 240 mn • in length. Only a single speci¬
men of Mad Tom has been collected from this locality; it was 75 mn.

In length. I do not think it Is common here.

The Eel family ( Anguillidae ) is represented with but i
genus and species, the C crime n Eel (Anauilla rostrata) . In

years th
fifteen

i single
past

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abundant throughout the stream and specimens of
inches in length were frequently taken. I have not observed
any migrating elevens on their usual migration from their places of
birth. These fish can withstand fouler water than most species; but

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113

it is most likely because of the severe contamination of the water
at the mouth of the stream at Spring Gardens, that they enter other
streams 8

The Sucker family ( Catostomidae ) is represented by two genera
and two species, the Common Sucker (Catostomus commersoni) and the
Black Sucker (Hypentelium nigricans). The former is found in con¬
siderably greater numbers and reaches a larger size. In April I
have observed numerous specimens of this species ascending the smaller
branches for spawning. It seems to prefer the pebbly bottom where
the water is quite rapid for its spawning grounds. The females are
very prolific, and the eggs arc rather large in size. I also noticed
that there were no dead fish found after spawning, only a single fe¬
male and this fish as yet had not spawned.

The Black Sucker is common In the very swift water above the
pools. The maximum size collected was about 220 mm. In length. The
Black Sucker is darker in color than the Common Sucker and seems to
be more active.

Pound on the bottom of the stream and in great numbers is
Olmsteds Darter (Boleosoma olmstedi). Only a single genus and
species of this fish has been collected from this locality. Be¬
cause of a degenerate air bladder this fish gives the appearance of
darting from place to place instead of swimming, and can be readily
recognized by this habit. It reaches a size of 75 mr.i, through this
section. Its spawning period is rather protracted, as I have col¬
lected specimens in the latter part of May that have still retained
their eggs, while others had spawned .

THE LOCUST LEAF MINER
By T. Milton Olcr

Several years ago at Shore Acres In Anne Arundel County, Mary¬
land I noticed that the locust trees In the vicinity were in bad
condition as to foliage. In fact, the leaves looked as though they
had been subjected to a great heat and were dry and brown, and fall¬
ing in the early part of July.

This year again the same thing has happened at Shore Acres;
many trees have apparently been attacked, although in some cases
seemingly unaffected trees are Immediately adjacent to those which
have been badly damaged.

Upon Investigation I found that the foliage of the damaged
locust trees (Robinia pseudoacacia) had been subject to the depreda¬
tions of a beetle, the Locust Leaf Miner (Chalepus dorsalis), which
is well known for its attacks on these trees in midsummer.

The adult beetles, which arc about 1/4 or 3/8 of an inch long,
make their appearance in early spring as soon as the locust lea.vos

The beetle is easily recognized by its yellow

the suture

are fully developed
or orange wing covert;

with o. stripe of dark brown

hong

°i/the wing cases. The head Is dark brown or black, and the undei
side of the body and also the legs are of the same color.

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114

Although these beetles seem motionless upon the leaves, if
examined closely, they will be found to be feeding, and if disturbed
they will fly away for quite a distance.

Let us trace the life history. The eggs of the Locust Leaf
Miner are laid on the underside of locust leaves in small masses
of three to five glued together and partly covered with excrement.
The first egg is laid flat on its side and the others are so placed
as to partly overlap the first one, thereby standing obliquely,
with one end of each egg touching the surface of the leaf . A brown
spot soon appears on the upper leaf surface, marking the location
of the egg mass beneath.

Upon hatching, the larvae of this beetle enter the leaf under
the protection of the leaf mass covering, all entering through the
one hole that is made by the larva which hatches first, and all of
them occupy one common mine. In from two to four days they consume
all the mesophyl in the mine; they then leave the first mine, and
each larva makes a mine of its own. There are several such changes
of habitation and the damage to the tree is greatly increased. In
about three weeks the larval life is over, and pupation occurs with¬
in the mine. The pupal or dormant stage lasts one week to ten days.

Then when the adult beetle emerges it breaks its way out
through the thin brittle epidermis of the loaf. Later the adult
beetle hibernates beneath locust bark.

In this section of the country and northward there is a single
brood annually, but further south several broods mature in a season.

Fortunately many millions of the larvae arc killed when the
leaves are blown from the trees, and many beetles are eaten by
sparrows and possibly other birds. Moreover the locust trees con¬
tinue to put forth new leaves until late In September, and since in
the following year they appear as vigorous as ever, they are not, it
would seem, vitally damaged by the activities of the Locust Leaf
Miner^for the insect Is more a nuisance than a danger to the tree’s
life .

I have noted also that this insect seems very much more preva¬
lent in some years than in others.

THE BALL EAGLE
By Frederick A. Saffran

Until recently, headed for extinction and listed as predatory,
and open game for anybody with a gun, at any time, the Bald Eagle,
the national bird, of these United States, would have been listed
with the other extinct species such as the heath hen, the passenger
pigeon andi the Carolina parakeet, but instead it has finally gained
the recognition due It long ago, having graduated from the predatory
list of Maryland into the full protection under the Federal Govern¬
ment by a recently enacted bill (The Weeks-McLane Act) passed by
Congress and signed by the President.

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115.

Our Society J s efforts throughout the years to secure this pro¬
tection, accorded to migratory song and insectivorous birds has been
unceasing, and at last the fight has been won. The fight has been
a stubborn one, chiefly because the hunters declared the eagle was
predatory and a menace to small game. The alleged depredations of
the eagle were very much exaggerated - the sum total of the damage
wrought by the species was negligible.

True, it is not the fierce, f iglit-to-tho last dignified chap
it was supposed to be when it was selected by our forefathers to
represent the indomitable spirit of the new America, but it is far
from being the arrant coward many would make it. It Is quite true
that it is an incurable thief, robbing the osprey of its hard-earned
dinner whenever the opportunity presents itself.

However, although it may not be as noble as it looks and far
from epitomizes the Spirit of America, It Is our national bird and
as such, should have been given, long ago, the protection It has
just been accorded,,

CORRECTION

Notes on the Taxonomy of the
Genus "Chaos"

September, 1939
Volume X, Number 1
Page 9, paragraph 5

In the Synonomy "1879 - Leidy - Amoeba princeps (Invalid)"
the word "princeps" should read "proteus."

Not os for the Month of July
Meetings and Lecture at the Socle ty

July 9 - Talk by Mr. Andrew Goss, "Recent Bird Notes of Special
Interest . "

19 - Awarding of certificates to pupils of Summer School.

26 - Meeting of Bird Club.

28 - Bird Walk,

General Assembly Talks discontinued for summer.

Junior Division

July 6 - Talk by Rennert Smelser, "The Swallows of Maryland."

6 - Nature Quiz. First Prize, Victor Spruill; Second Prize

* no Id- oo i

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116

Louis Hughes; and Third Prize, Carl Oertel.

July 13 - Talk by Joseph Schreiber, "The Mineral Nickel and the
N i c k e 1 Indu s t ry . "

20 - Talk by Thurrnan Sewell, "Life History of the Fence Swift."

Talk by Joseph Bures, "Experiences with Owls."

27 -- Talk by Henry Eichhorn, " Mitogenetic Rays."

Exhibitions, Lectures and School Loan_s
July 2 - Camp Crcstmont - Loan of Mammals.

19 - University of Maryland - Loan of Insects.

SPECIAL NOTICE
THE NEW BULLETIN

Beginning w:

the September number. Volume XI, Number 1

the BULLETIN will be provided with a cover and will appear every two
months. Each issue will contain about twice as many pages as the
present BULLETIN. Drawings, piano graph pictures, and occasional
lino cuts and half tones will be included as usual.

Special thanks are due those members and friends of the
Society who have contributed articles as well as other work during
the past years, and it is the hope of the Editorial Department that
these older contributors will continue to support the Society’s pub¬
lication and that new contributors will rally to the call. Although
articles referring to Maryland Natural History are especially de¬
sirable, it is not the policy of the BULLETIN to limit the publica¬
tion to matters applicable tc Maryland alone. In some cases the
fauna and flora of other states or countries have boon compared or
contrasted with Maryland fs, - articles of this type are usually in¬
teresting and possess scientific value. Travel articles with a

;n

scientific flavor are also, as a rule, interesting. Eve
respect to articles relating to Maryland Natural History,
are made, as much as possible, to keep the subject matter
fled.

with
efforts
divers i-

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