BIOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 149 



The white pine, Pinus monticola, Dougl., is not infrequent about the 

 lake. Toward the Swan range it becomes more abundant. It seems to 

 be more or less common along the western slope of the Swan range from 

 Swan lake north to Flathead river. Large trees from 7 to 10 feet in cir- 

 cumference are not uncommon, and trees with diameter of 18 inches to 2 

 feet may be called abundant. This tree has not been lumbered much, 

 and its true wortn is not appreciated. However, compared with other 

 lumber white pine is not common. 



The western larch or tamarack Larix occidentalis, Nutt., is one of the 

 best known trees of the state. There is considerable large timber near 

 Rost lake. The trees are usually tall, clean, and free from knots. Much 

 of the marketable timber of choice size and cutting will be of this species. 



The balsam fir, Abies grandis, grows abundantly in this wet and shad- 

 ed region, in some cases attaining the dignity of a tree of from 12 to 15 

 inches in diameter. 



Here, also, the white birch thrives. Many trees large enough for logs 

 are growing near the lake and along the mountain side in the wet region. 

 Many a "curly birch" knot has been seen which from its size would 

 make fine cuttings. The birch of this section will probably be utilized 

 later. Betula payrifera makes a beautiful tree, conspicuous by its white 

 bark. As is perhaps well known, in its early stages the bark is red. 

 It may then be taken for the red birch, Betula nigra, L., which 

 is not common in the region. The swamp birch, Betula glandulosa, 

 Michx., is everywhere abundant around the border of the lake, growing in 

 large clusters from a common starting place like a rose bush. It even 

 attains to the dignity of a tree, four or five inches in diameter and fifteen 

 or twenty feet high. 



The white cedar or arbor-vitae, Thuja plicata, Don., grows in con- 

 siderable quantity in many places in the region. Its value is well 

 known, though little timber has been used except for "shakes" and posts. 

 The cedar timber is practically untouched around Rost lake. 



The hemlock, Tsuga, grows sparingly, but has not been seen within 

 several miles of the lake. How abundant it may be along the mountains 

 is at present not known to the writer. 



Among the shrubs may be mentioned the ever present alder, and the 

 yew. The former occurs along the banks of all the streams. The latter 

 occurs on the mountain slopes, where it is a matted underbrush, spread- 

 ing over the ground, an impediment to travel, but less difficult by far to 

 penetrate than Ceanothus or Menziesij, both or either of which may be 

 encountered. It wat a rare pleasure to find in late August the ripe 

 berries of the yew. I had never seen them before. The little red cup, 

 the size of a pea, surrounding a central seed, the whole surmounting a 

 slender branch of the evergreen, was very beautiful. They were sweet 

 and pleasant to the taste. As we flushed several fool hens among the 

 bushes the berries are no doubt eaten by these game birds. 



It is unnecessary to mention the willows, taree species of which were 

 noticed, as they are ever present in the damper places in the valleys 

 as also high up, even to the alpine regions. As Harry N. Whitford, 

 of the University of Chicago, is making a careful study of the forests 

 of the region adjacent to the Biological Station it would be unwise to 



