232 BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 



by fires. A new vegetable growth is appearing, wliich may change the 

 life materially. 



Animal Life. Vertebrates are scarce in the waters of Daphnia pond, 

 tish are absent. This goes to prove that the pond has at no time had 

 sufficient outflow to permit the ascent of fish from Flathead lake. Cer- 

 tainly fish could live in the water, since it is clear and cold, and probably 

 has underground seepage. There is a good supply of animal food. Frogs 

 are rather abundant, as are also garter snakes. The frogs prey upon 

 insects, the snakes upon both insects and frogs. A dark green grass 

 snake has also been observed. A single species of turtle has been seen, 

 but they are rare. Among the rushes a few muskrat homes have been 

 built, but the animals are scarce and shy. 



The invertebrate life is abundant in numbers of specimens, but not 

 in species. Three species of shells are found in the water, one on land. 

 Planorbis trivolvis Say and Sphaerium partumeium Say are abundant in 

 the hydrophytic vegetation. Physa ampullacea Gld. is rather common. 

 Pyramidula strigosa, var. cooperi W. G. B. is found in damp places on land. 

 It seems strange that but a single land snail has been found. 



Among the entomostraca Daphnia pulex holds sway. So abundant 

 is the species that the water in the open space near the center is colored 

 a dull reddish brown. They may be taken in any quantity. Forbes 

 reports that this species is probably a fish food. This may explain its 

 scarcity in Flathead lake a« compared with Daphnia pond. Forbes re- 

 ported the species as absent from Flathead lake. It has been found by 

 us in our studies each year up to present writing. Much less abundant, 

 but still common, is Diaptomus lintoni Forbes, while in still smaller num- 

 bers is found Cyclops pulchellus Koch. Gammarus, probably two species, 

 hide among the water lilies and rushes. 



Insects are abundant. It is no doubt a breeding place for mosquitoes, 

 although no larvae have been taken. Unidentified dipterous larvae in 

 considerable numbers have been taken. No fewer than ten species of 

 dragonflies have been captured' on the wing. Most of these have also 

 been secured in larval stage. Other material to be found in the pond 

 in abundance may be mentioned; many beetles, two leeches, several 

 case worms, many water bugs, diptera, and worms. 



The vicinity of this pond is a great breeding place for birds. No 

 fewer than forty-five to fifty migrants build their nests and rear their 

 young within a hundred yards of the water's edge. For so small a pond 

 this is a very good showing. On all sides the timber has been destroyed 

 by fire. Thus most of the shelter formerly afforded has been removed. 

 The nesting sites are confined to the low bushes along the water's edge, 

 to those which have sprung up in the burnt area, to the dead boles left 

 by the fire, and to the grass and reeds of the pond. Rails are heard dally 

 as they move around among the weeds. Golden-eyes and grebes usually 

 rear their young in the grass. Catbirds, western yellowthroats, fly- 

 catchers, chickadees, sparrows, juncos and woodpeckers, all are found. 

 The tree dwelling warblers find a few trees near by. Kingbirds may 

 always be noticed, noisily chattering as they leave their perches in pur- 

 suit of insects. The total number of species of birds observed in the 



