INDIANA'S UNRIVALED SAND-DUNES 



437 



but acres of them and miles of 

 acres — make a natural paradise 

 which cannot be artificially dupli- 

 cated (see page 434). 



The marshes have their own 

 individuality of sedges, cat tails, 

 reeds, and borders of the larger 

 ferns — royal, cinnamon, and in- 

 terrupted. The Virginia chain 

 fern in one of the drier marshes 

 crowds out the less vigorous 

 plant life, coloring with its fer- 

 tile fronds great stretches of the 

 marsh a beautiful sepia. The 

 blending of browns and greens in 

 the marshes softens the landscape 

 to an exquisite symphony of 

 color in pleasing contrast to the 

 more vivid coloring of the higrher 

 land adjoining. 



autumn's framing dune 

 landscape 



It is in autumn, however, that 

 the dune coloration is at its best, 

 for then the entire region be- 

 comes a flaming landscape of 

 gorgeous reds and yellows. Na- 

 ture goes into her winter rest 

 with a last effort in color that is 

 beyond adequate description. 

 The sour gum, red maple, su- 

 macs, and sassafras discard their 

 modesty and vie with each other 

 in a gorgeous riot of autumn 

 coloring. The foliage of the 

 black oak, as it changes, combines 

 red, green, and bronze, and 

 covers the ridges with a garment 

 of beauty. 



Many of the trees and lesser 

 shrubs and other plants bear edible fruits. 

 providing a sumptuous larder for hosts of 

 birds and small animals. The bird life 

 of the region surrounding the end of 

 Lake Michigan is very abundant, and 

 during migrations nowhere in the United 

 States are there more varieties of both 

 land and shore birds to be seen than here. 



Conditions of food, shelter, and cli- 

 mate are particularly favorable for these 

 visitors. Although the game birds are 

 sadly persecuted, they still visit the dunes 

 in great numbers each year, scarcely a 



Photograph by Frances La Follette 



THIS IS A SAND-DUNE COVERED WITH SNOW 



The dune country, easily accessible to 10.000.000 Ameri- 

 cans, has its special lure for every month of the year. 



season passing without having among its 

 records some rare migratory visitor or 

 new nesting record. 



The ruffed grouse, golden eagle, horned 

 owl. and the great blue heron still visit 

 the dunes, and in winter-time the evening 

 grosbeak, crossbills, and pine finches are 

 attracted by the wealth of food. 



Geologically, the dunes and distinctly 

 traceable old shorelines tell the fascinat- 

 ing story of the Glacial period antedat- 

 ing Lake Michigan. The near-by uni- 

 versities bring their classes to the dunes 



