BIOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE AT FLATHEAD LAKE. 109 
ing several acres, and still further widens into a beautiful park with fine 
timber of yellow pine and tamarack, with a pond much larger than the 
preceding. How many more may be beyond is not known. Reference 
has been made to these ponds under the remarks on ornithology. They 
proved to be very interesting from the entomostracan standpoint. 
As the boat was not taken to these lakes the hauls were made by 
throwing the net out from shore with a long line and pulling itin. It was 
difficult to secure a haul more than thirty or forty feet from shore. On 
one occasion the pump was taken and pumpings made. 
The entomostraca differ radically from those found in Sinyaleamin 
lake, some two miles distant. The species identified are Diaptomus 
leptopus Forbes, Cyclops serratulus Fisher, Moindaphina, probably ala- 
bamensis, and Cyclpos signatus. Not a single one of these species was 
found in Sinyaleamin lake, and not a single species found in the lake 
was taken in these ponds. As the ponds are shallow and the water 
warmer, besides having different food conditions, it is probable there 
would be a difference in the two lakes, but no such striking difference 
was expected. From a casual observance the idea was gained that the 
lake possibly had an outlet through this canyon, but the life in these ponds 
does not confirm the idea, but opposes it. 
One surprising thing at these ponds was the scarcity of dragonflies. 
It would appear that this would be an admirable place for these insects 
to breed in, yet very few were seen. From this it will be inferred that 
the ponds freeze to the bottom in winter, thus killing the most of the 
larvae, but this is only conjecture. It is also possible that the numbers 
of birds in the region may keep them pretty well killed off. At any rate, 
they were scarce. Aeschna constricta, Sympetrum obtrusum, and Enal- 
lagma calverti were the only species observed. Not an Ischnura was 
seen. 
The presence or absence of fish in these ponds was not determined, 
but all the evidence was negative. The ponds gave the impression from 
appearances that they would go dry in some seasons. If so the absence of 
fish would be accounted for, as also the absence of much other life one 
would expect to find. 
One of the conspicuous features at the lake from a botanical stand- 
point was the abundance and beauty of the lichens. This is noticed 
in many places in the state, and in some places even more con- 
spicuously than here. The lichens cover the trees in many places. Sev- 
eral species were taken in great abundance at camp. In breaking off 
dead limbs for firewood the choice specimens covering the small limbs 
were saved, thus procuring in abundance some fine specimens. At the 
upper end of the lake a beautiful species of Lycopodium was discovered, 
with long green trailing vinelike stem, several yards in length. In the 
woods a species of mushroom belonging to the Polypori was found grow- 
ing quite luxuriantly, but mushrooms appeared very scarce. 
From Sinyaleamin lake camp was moved to McDonald lake, fifteen 
miles north, in the Mission range. But the distance necessarily traversed 
to reach the latter lake is much more than the distance by crow’s flight. 
