BIOLOGICAL, RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 12» 



where free sand shifts from year to year, slowly moving eastward. On 

 the sandy ridge but one plant has a foothold, i. e., Symphoricarpus race- 

 mosus, Michx., the snowberry. The sand buries this deeper and deeper 

 each year, but it grows new shoots above, while the roots below are deep 

 enough to obtain sufficient moisture. 



In the early spring hundreds of small ponds in glacial potholes are 

 filled with water. Around these collect various forms of animal life. 

 Later these all dry up but a few of the larger ones, around which life is 

 fairly abundant. A few rods from the creeks, on either side, and coU 

 lecting in summer or autumn ceases. A few forms of life may be found, 

 however. Hiding in the withered clumps of Balsamorrhiza, Lupine or 

 Cranesbill are hundreds of the big, black, and rapacious Rocky Mountain 

 crickets. Over the dry duffalo range they hold sway with the departing 

 king of the plains. When startled from their hiding place they give a 

 series of loud, shill, and startling noises, accompanied by vigorous bodily 

 movements, which invariably startle the collector. A few grasshoppera 

 live in the same region. Now and then a battered and frazzled butterfly, 

 Pieris protodice or an Argynnis, flutters feebly past. In the buffalo range 

 and over most of the valley there are no trees save along the water courses. 

 The sparrow hawk is frequently seen on the wing or perched upon a 

 rock. Other and larger raptores circle in the air or are busy at the dead 

 carcasses on the plain. Not infrequently a coyote is observed skulking 

 near the herds of cattle, and even bears come down from the mountain 

 sides into the timber along the creeks. 



Collecting has been done at various places in the reservation and 

 along the shore of the lake, in spring, summer and late fall. The reset' 

 vation and the lake are crossed annually in going to and from the Station. 

 Plate XLVI shows the most of the lower end of the lake, viewed from 

 the moraine. The absence of timber will be specially noted. Tha 

 swamp area, in which is the greatest amount of life, is to the right, ex- 

 tending to the mountains, not shown in the plate. On the left may be 

 seen the outlet, the Pend d'Oreille river, which is about a mile wide, cross- 

 ed by an old fashioned ferry, propelled by oars made from pine poles. 

 The chain of islands which almost cuts the lake in two is plainly visible, 

 the main lake lying beyond the islands. During summer the water 

 in the visible part varies from 20 feet in depth to a shallow swamp. The 

 postoffice, Poison, on the lake-river bank, may be located by following the 

 road. Boats plying across the lake land at this place. The river is not 

 navigable. 



