BIOLOGICAL, RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 109 



ing several acres, and still further widens into a beautiful park with fine 

 timber of yellow pine and tamarack, with a pond much larger than tha 

 preceding. How many more may be beyond is not known. Reference 

 has been made to these ponds under the remarks on ornithology. They 

 proved to be very interesting from the entomostracan standpoint. 



As the boat was not taken to these lakes the hauls were made by 

 throwing the net out from shore with a long line and pulling it in. It wa? 

 difficult to secure a haul more than thirty or forty feet from shore. On 

 one occasion the pump was taken and pumpings made. 



The entomostraca differ radically from those found in Sinyaleamiu 

 lake, some two miles distant. The species identified are Diaptomus 

 leptopus Forbes, Cyclops serratulus Fisher, Moindaphina, probably ala- 

 bamensis, and Cyclpos signatus. Not a single one of these species was 

 found in Sinyaleamin lake, and not a single species found in the lake 

 was taken in these ponds. As the ponds are shallow and the water 

 warmer, besides having different food conditions, it is probable there 

 would be a difference in the two lakes, but no such striking difference 

 was expected. From a casual observance the idea was gained that me 

 lake possibly had an outlet through this canyon, but the life in these ponds 

 does not confirm the idea, but opposes it. 



One surprising thing at these ponds was the scarcity of dragonflies. 

 It would appear that this would be an admirable place for these insects 

 to breed in, yet very few were seen. From this it will be inferred that 

 the ponds freeze to the bottom in winter, thus killing the most of the 

 larvae, but this is only conjecture. It is also possible that the numbers 

 of birds in the region may keep them pretty well killed off. At any rate, 

 they were scarce. Aeschna constricta, Sympetrum obtrusum, and Enal- 

 lagma calverti were the only species observed. Not an Ischnura wasi 

 seen. 



The presence or absence of fish in these ponds was not determined, 

 but all the evidence was negative. The ponas gave the impression from 

 appearances that they would go dry in some seasons. If so the absence of 

 fish would be accounted for, as also the absence of much other life one 

 would expect to find. 



One of the conspicuous features at the lake from a botanical stand- 

 point was the abundance and beauty of the lichens. This is noticed 

 in many places in the state, and in some places even more con^ 

 spicuously than here. The lichens cover the trees in many places. Sev- 

 eral species were taken in great abundance at camp. In breaking off 

 dead limbs for firewood the choice specimens covering the small limbs 

 were saved, thus procuring in abundance some fine specimens. At the 

 upper end of the lake a beautiful species of Lycopodium was discovered, 

 with long green trailing vinelike stem, several j'ards in length. In the 

 woods a species of mushroom belonging to the Polypori was found grow- 

 ing quite luxuriantly, but mushrooms appeared very scarce. 



From Sinyaleamin lake camp was moved to McDonald lake, fifteen 

 miles north, in the Mission range. But the distance necessarily traversed 

 to reach the latter lake is much more than the distance by crow's flight. 



