NATURE NOTES FROM ACADIA

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

On May 20 a young varying hare (Lepus americanus) was found near the Anemone Cave region by Mr. Vernon Lunt, an employe of Acadia National Park. Upon being brought in to the Ranger-Naturalist's office the hare, which evidently had just left the nest, was found to be infested with grayish, smooth-bodied, capsule-like ticks. These were removed and the animal, which at first proved to be very weak, gained rapidly in weight and strength. In a few days red clover and pieces of apples became items which were accepted readily from the hand, while no small quantity of milk was consumed. It is probable that external parasites, such as were found on this individual, are a real factor in keeping down the numbers of varying hares on Mt. Desert Island.

Since the middle of the month, a large number of wildflowers have come into bloom. If the following list, although not complete, were to be added to the list of flowers mentioned in the article entitled "Wild Flowers of Early May" (appearing in this number of Nature Notes from Acadia), a fair knowledge of the month of May's floral array may be had: Black Mustard (Brassica nigra), Blueberry (Vaccinium sp.), Rhodora (Rhodora canadensis), Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia). Star Flower (Trientalis americana), Buttercup (Ranunculus sp.), Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum), Rosy Bell (Streptopus roseus), Meadow Chickweed (Cerastium arvense), Red-berried Elder (Sambucus racemosa), Fire Cherry (Prunus pennsylvanica), Bunchberry (Chamaepericlymenum canadense), Bearberry (Uva-ursi uva-ursi), Wild Lily-of-the-valley (Unifolium canadense), Huckleberry (Gaylussacia sp.), Common Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), Moosewood (Acer pennsylvanicum), Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Clintonia (Clintonia borealis), Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), Wild Blue Lupine (Lupinus perennis), False Solomon's Seal (Vagnera racemosa).

Mt. Katahdin (elevation 5267), by far the highest mountain in the state of Maine, is not infrequently to be seen from the summit of Cadillac, Acadia National Park's highest mountain. On May 6 Katahdin, 105 miles to the north, its crown and south face covered with snow, was seen to very good advantage, while on May 25 an appreciable amount of snow was still to be seen furrowing its rugged granite slope.

Game Warden Lyle E. Smith has announced that 20,000 yearling fish have been planted in the lakes and ponds of Mt. Desert Island during the month of May. One half of this number were Salmon liberated in Long Pond while the remainder were Eastern Brook Trout which were released as follows: Eagle Lake, 2500j Echo Lake, 2000; Jordan Pond, 2000; Seal Cove Pond, 2000; Bubble Pond, 500; Hadlock Pond, 500; and Round Pond, 500.

- Ranger-Naturalist