210 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XX. Xo. 502. 



elevations, lakes at 3,000 feet and others 

 at 9,000, offer a fine field for the limno- 

 biologist. A few seasons of collecting dur- 

 ing the summer whets the appetite for more 

 extended study during the entire season. 



A number of observations on the geology 

 of the country have been made, suggesting 

 fruitful fields for more extensive study. 

 It has been shown conclusively that the 

 northern end of the Mission range has been 

 smoothed by the action of ice, a smaller 

 mass from the south meeting a larger field 

 from the north, the latter deflecting the 

 former directly back— southward, but on 

 the opposite side of the Mission range. It 

 has been shown that the old bed of the 

 Swan River was northward along the base 

 of the Swan range, where it emptied into 

 the Flathead near Kalispell, whereas it 

 now empties into Flathead Lake at the 

 northeastern corner. 



Much of the surface geology of the 

 Flathead and Mission valleys has been 

 determined. It has been shown beyond 

 doubt that the present outlet of Flathead 

 Lake is comparatively new, and that the 

 former outlet was through the western 

 arm, near Dayton Creek. The present 

 level is several hundred feet lower than 

 the former level, the new outlet uncovering 

 the rich valley at the head of the lake. 

 The moraines at the foot of the lake and at 

 other i^laces in the Mission valley on the 

 Flathead Indian Reservation have been - 

 brought to light and partially described. 

 The moraine at the foot of the lake is four 

 hundred and fifty feet high, and many 

 miles long. It has not been followed west- 

 ward. From the lake one rises by a steep 

 wagon road to the summit, descending on 

 the opposite side to a plain lower than the 

 lake. 



Incidentally shells have been gathered 

 from various portions of the state. While 

 few mollusks are to be expected from a 



region of rushing rivers and cold lakes, 

 with small amount of lime in the water, 

 yet the collection is very satisfactory and 

 the number of species for the state is grow- 

 ing. The entire list for the state numbers 

 but sixty species and varieties.- Of these 

 twenty-five have been collected west of the 

 main range of the Rockies, forty-two from 

 the eastern slope. Seven are found on 

 both sides of the range. One new species 

 and several new varieties have been de- 

 scribed. No collecting for shells has been 

 made along the Missouri or its tributaries 

 except at Wibeaux (by Homer Squyer), 

 on the extreme eastern border. The wide 

 territory along the Missouri has not yet 

 been touched. 



In entomology extensive collections have 

 been made, principally of the lepidoptera. 

 Only the diurnals have been determined. 

 These show that the butterflies of the north- 

 west are in much confusion, and the study 

 is beset with great difficulties. The life 

 history of a large number is as yet 'un- 

 known.' Indeed, this stares one in the 

 face on almost all occasions, wherever he 

 gathers material in the state. So interest- 

 ing did the study of these airy insects be- 

 come that a systematic report has been 

 prepared and is noAV in press. This report 

 will include photographs of all the speci- 

 mens obtainable, with keys for identifica- 

 tion. It is based on the collections of the 

 writer ; of Earl Douglas in the Ruby Moun- 

 tain and the Madison range; of Professor 

 R. A. Cooley, of Bozeman; of E. N. Bran- 

 degee, of Helena, and of the late C. A. 

 Wiley, of Miles City. It lists about one 

 hundred and tM'enty-five species. A few 

 points may here be mentioned. Parnassius 

 smintheiis seems to be scarce at higher 

 elevations in the western end of the state, 

 bi;t is often abundant at 4,000 feet, and 

 has been taken on the shore of Flathead 

 Lake, 2,900 feet. Vanessa J. album is 



