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MOUNT RAINIER NATURE NOTES
Vol. IX September, 1931 No. 9


In Appreciation

This summer we were very fortunate in having as visitors many specialists in their particular work. All aided us in the development of the Educational Work. Among those who have helped us a great deal were Mr. and Mrs. Ottmar F. Von Fuehrer of the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburg, who spent several weeks in the Park in the preparation of material which will be used in a botanical group indicative of this region. Much of their leisure time has been given over to mounting numerous birds and mammals for our own Museum.

Miss Elizabeth E. Morse, Secretary of the California Mycological Society, who spent several weeks in the Park last summer, was again a visitor. And again she has given us the benefit of her knowledge of Fungi and her time in developing for our Manual of Information a list of 150 different species and a better understanding of the mushrooms and toad-stools of this Park. We sincerely appreciate all the help that was given us this summer, particularly that rendered by Mr. and Mrs. Von Fuehrer and Miss Morse. (C.F.B.)


HIGH CLIMBERS

Although the Mantled Ground Squirrel usually feeds among low-lying grasses and flowers, we find him in the late summer taking to the air in order to harvest the fruits of shrubs and taller plants. It is not uncommon to find this squirrel far up upon a Mountain Ash, hanging precariously while gathering a cluster of the bright orange berries. Another favored plant in his diet is the Valerian after its showy white flowers have given way to many small seeds having a pleasant peppery taste. When the writer first saw many of these Valerian stems with the tops neatly cut off he suspected that some visitor had taken to botanizing in defiance of the rules. Then one day he observed a squirrel climb hand over hand up a plant until the stem bent under his weight and enabled him to cut off the seed head at leisure. (Victor Scheffer, Ranger-Naturalist.)


- WITH REFERENCE TO THE POEM ON PAGE ONE -

This poem, sung to the tune of "Old Black Joe" was a very delightful part of a program featuring the National Parks at a meeting of the Seattle Rotary Club in Seattle several weeks ago. Try it on your piano! (C.F.B.)

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12-Jun-2001