IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 123 



its canyon through the moraine, lowering what was 

 formerly a much larger lake to its present level. 



The main feeder of the lake is the Flathead river which 

 now is a tortuous, sluggish stream through the ancient lake 

 bed for seventy-five miles. It is from 300 to 600 feet in 

 width and from twenty to seventy-five in depth. The last 

 few miles have formed a typical delta, filled with swamps 

 and ancient river beds. 



The Big Fork or Swan river is the only other large 

 stream emptying into the lake. It is the very opposite in 

 character, coming plunging out of the mountains with a 

 fall of over 100 feet to the last mile into a rocky bay. 

 This forms a splendid harbor about four miles from the 

 mouth of the Flathead river. On the bank, overlooking 

 this harbor stands the laboratory building in a beautiful 

 little park, leased to the state. 



The boats and launch give access to the lake, the delta, 

 and lake shores. I need not explain to this body what 

 this means to the naturalist. The mountains, forests, and 

 meadows back of the lake, with occasional marshes and 

 ponds give a wonderful variety to the plant and animal 

 life. Swan lake, six miles east by road, is twelve miles 

 long by a few hundred yards wide. It is a drained river 

 valley with mountains on either side. Host lake about 

 eight miles by road north is a much different body of water, 

 being the shallow remnant of a much larger lake formerly 

 occupying the valley. Echo lake two miles further is 

 probably the ancient bed of a river. It has no visible 

 outlet. It stood for some years at a much lower level. 

 Trees and vegetation show that its level was suddenly 

 raised about lifteen feet five years ago. This sudden 

 change in environment seems to have been quickly 

 responded to and it offers a rich field for biological inves- 

 tigation. 



From the camp on Echo lake an expedition up the Black- 

 feet trail gives easy access to the pass, permanent snow 

 field, an alpine flora and some of the most magnificent 

 mountain scenery in the world. This one day is worth 



