A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE SAND DUNE 



REGION ON THE SOUTH SHORE OF 



SAGINAW BAY, MICHIGAN. 



INTRODUCTION, ITINERARY AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



BY ALEXANDER G. RUTHVEN. 



The region investigated by the biological survey in the summer of 

 1908 Hes immediately along the west shore of Huron County. (]\Iap.) 

 This county forms the apex of the "thumb" of IMichigan— the broad 

 land area that separates Saginaw Bay and Lake Hm-on. This region 

 was chosen for two principal reasons: first, there was cause to expect 

 that the shghtly pecuHar climate that this coast of ^Michigan is said 

 to have would be attended by a different (more southern) fauna and 

 flora than is found in the interior of the state; and, second, the area 

 is almost wholly uncultivated and in a primitive condition, and would 

 consequently be expected to harbor the primitive fauna and flora. 



On June 13, the party, consisting at this time of ]\Ir. A. Frankhn 

 Shull, Columbia University, Mr. H. B. Baker, University of ^Michigan, 

 Mr. A. L. Leathers, Cornell University, Mr. N. A. Wood, University 

 of Michigan Museum, and the -RTiter, started from Ann Arbor for the 

 field. Camp was established on the north shore of Sand Point, in the 

 fishermen's shacks of the W. J. Orr Fish Company. From this camp 

 the entire Point could be worked to advantage, and one man (]\Ir. 

 Wood) was kept here throughout the season. The party was enlarged 

 as follows: On June 21 by Mr. Frederick Gaige, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 

 on July 8 by Prof. G. H. Coons, Michigan Agricultural College; on July 

 9 by IMr. C. K. Dodge, Port Huron, Michigan. 



The members of the party confined their attention to Sand Point 

 until July 12, except that Dodge and Coons spent a few days on the 

 Charity Islands. On July 12, the writer with Shull, Baker, Gaige 

 and Dodge moved to Stony Island. On July 15, Dodge severed his 

 connection with the expedition, but the Ston}^ Island party remained 

 on the island (also working North Island to some extent) until July 19, 

 returning to Sand Point on the latter date. On July 20, Baker and 

 Leathers were sent to Caseville, where they worked the region about 

 the lower part of the Pigeon River until July 28, when they again 



