BIOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 117 



"It is a shell of the rocks. It lives among the crags of the Mission 

 mountains, where there is scant vegetation, preferring the crannies at 

 the top of some cliff, where large colonies have been found. Among the 

 loose rocks it finds a home, hides from its enemies, thrives during the 

 springtime when snows are melting, and, later, when the rocks are dry 

 and hot, crawls beneath where there is a little moisture, throws a trans- 

 parent film across the opening of the shell to prevent evaporation, and 

 awaits the coming of the next season. Those animals which have not 

 sought the damp and cool crevices early enough are prostrated by the 

 heat. They soon die, and their bleached and em)pty shells may later be 

 found by the collector who is so fortunate as to be in their locality. They 

 do not like the bushes. It was found unnecessary to search the rocks 

 about clumps of bushes, for none were there. But on exposed places, 

 where the rocks were bare and clean, dead shells were found, and by 

 digging below an occasional live one was secured. I envy this shell its 

 home. It is one of the most beautiful spots of the beautiful Mission 

 range. The grand old peak, McDonald, is constantly in view, its rocky 

 crest most of the time covered with snow. Below, smooth and placid, 

 McDonald lake invites attention. To the west a little water fall tumbles 

 over a rocky cliff, and the water disappears in the loose talus below. 

 Anon an eagle circles in the heavens, and the American raven casts a 

 silent shadow as the bird passes over. The wild laugh of the loon rings 

 in the air at midnight, and mountain goats browse on the vegetation above. 

 Clouds gather at the summit of the peak, and fierce lightning on a moon- 

 less night illumines the sky with vivid and lurid light. The thunder-peals 

 roll from crag to crag, and with deafening crash startle every living thing. 

 Again the day is clear and the sun is bright, sunshine such as only a 

 mountain region can give, and all is quiet, serene, and beautiful. Per- 

 haps for countless years these varied scenes have been enacted. The 

 home of this beautiful shell is as beautiful as the shell itself, and the carV' 

 ing and sculpturing which have been given by Nature as an adornment to 

 the shell are but a miniature of the immense ridges and ravines every- 

 where abounding." 



The shell life of McDonald lake is therefore seen to be very Interest' 

 ing. While there is no large list of species, those to be found are m 

 good numbers, and the collection of shells made at this camp was very 

 satisfactory. 



ORNITHOLOGY OF McDONALD LAKE. 



Bird life at McDonald lake is similar to that at Sinyaleamin lake, 

 as was to be expected. The rugged condition of the country prevented 

 extensive collecting. The woods and brush at the outlet of the lake were 

 the most prolific places examined, and notwithstanding the dense brush 

 and the attending difficulties, were the only places where much collecting 

 was done. A two days' trip to the summit of the peak brought in sev- 

 eral specimens, but the bare ridge ascended was comparatively free 

 from bird life above the forest belt, and below that most of the time was 

 employed in hunting a way for ascent. Around the lake the effort to 

 take birds was exceedingly laborious. The ornithologists made strenu- 

 ous efforts to search the shores of the lake, but it was almost impossible 



