Bird Notes from Itasca County 105 



the lliekei'ing aurora overhead, it is indeed a wonderland 

 to any lover of the great outdoors. But into this wonder- 

 ful country has crept that curse of the woods — lire — and 

 great areas of fire-scarred country are, unfortunately, not 

 infrequent. Scarcely a summer goes by without some ser- 

 ious damage in tliis large county, and more damage will 

 continue to accrue year after year throughout the country 

 as a whole just so long as the people realize that no one 

 is punished for starting forest fires. A large percent of 

 these fires is the result either of deliberate firing, or of 

 carelessness, and either at this stage of the game, is crim- 

 inal. But in the eyes of the world, a crime against posteri- 

 ty^ is no crime, because posterity can not prosecute, and so 

 it would seem inevitable that useless devastation must go 

 on. 



Botanically, the region is of great interest. Of the 

 evergreens, the white pine {Pi mis strobus) is coming as a 

 good second growth in many places, together with jack 

 pines {Pinus dwaricata) , spruce {Picea mariana), and 

 balsam (Abies balsa mea). Tamarack {Larix laricina) are 

 common in certain localities, and is the dominant species 

 in many of the swamps. Of the hardwoods, the white 

 birch [Betula papyrifcra) and the aspen {Populus tremu- 

 loides), are perhaps the dominant species, with a goodly 

 sprinkling of balm of Oilead {Populus balsamifera candi- 

 cans) and j'ellow birch {Betula lutea). Of the smaller 

 plants, the sphagnum bogs, or ^' muskeags " as they are 

 more commonly called, abound in pitcher j^lants {Sarra- 

 cenia purpurea) each with its own little biota. Great areas 

 of blueberries {Vaccinium, corymbosum) are abundant, and 

 the yield of berries during the summer of 1919 was un- 

 paralleled. In the less dense portions of the woods, the 

 bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) gives rich color to the 

 ground, with a profuse scattering of wintergreen {Gaul- 

 theria procumbens) , while in the shade, wherever there is 

 suitable decaying wood may be found fine growths of Indian 

 pipes {Monotropa uniflora). To one who seeks carefully 



