VOLUME 3 APRI L 1.s, 1944 NUM BE R 4 Log Rolling, a Iowa State Parks Provide Relaxation Pleasurable and • Profitable Pastime From Stress and Strain of War ~ffort By H. H. KNIGHT Dept. of Zoology and Entomology Iowa State College The fisherman in search of bait No Iowan Farther or the entomologist in search of insect specimens may often re Than 40 Miles from sort to rolling old logs for col lecting purposes. The writer has Recreational Spot been rolling logs periodically during the past 25 years, chiefly By G. l. ZIEMER in search of insects whtle con Chief lands and Waters Division ducting field trips with classes It 1s often said that a nation at in entomology. With this back war must see that its people-all ground as an mtroduction we will of its people-get healthful recre proceed with the subject m hand. ation, diversion, and relaxation to Within and beneath old logs promote individual health and na we find a varied assortment of tional morale. With each succeed animal life, in fact we find one ing day of war this fact becomes of the important ecological situ more evident. Regardless of ations in wooded areas. The age what phase of the current strug of a log and the species of tree it gle a person is engaged in, he is represents are chief factors de a more efficient worker for Un termining what may be in or cle Sam if periodically he is re under the log examined. Biolo leased from the high mental and gists have studied logs from the physical tension of war work. viewpoint of ecological succession It is generally agreed that one of the organisms which reduce of the most satisfying tonics for the freshly fallen log through de Iowans are fortunate in these times of travel difficulties to have state parks and both body and spirit is found un cay and disintegration until it ~er the sprin? sky's blue canopy becomes a part of the soil. recreational areas so located that every citizen in the state lives within 40 miles of at I east one of them. m the open, m close communion The recently fallen log does not with Mother Nature's birds and press evenly on the soil but gener flowers, her bright sunshine and ally leaves spaces here and there warm breezes. Here truly do where animals may crawl be LeRoy Titus Weeks' lines neath. After a few years lying Iowa's Frogs and Toads on the ground a log gradually be "The sweet, warm llps of early comas partially imbedded in the By REEVE M. BAILEY descriptive notes on the song, sprmg come full upon my own; soil and consequently fewer ani ' geographic occurrence, and pre mals find a home there. PART II ferred habitat in Iowa. The read They softly press and fondly When collecting insects we gen The first part of this article er in search of more detailed in cling like lips that I have erally look beneath the logs which was devoted to certain general formation, or who wishes to fa known. are very little imbedded in the features of the natural history of miliarize himself with frogs and Her garments touch me here and soil. However, the fisherman in Iowa's frogs and toads; their toads from other areas, is re there, by wanton breezes search of earthworms may find hibernation, reproductive behav ferred to a recent (1942) general stirred; the older logs more productive, ior, metamorphosis, seasonal ap handbook, "The Frogs and Toads My forehead feels her rippling especially when dryness of soil has pearance, habitat, food, conserva of the United States and Canada", hair, like plume of passing driven the worms deeply under tion, and study. This section is by A. A. Wright and A. H. bird" 1 ground in more exposed places. designed to serve as a guide to Wright • To this volume there find satisfactory interpretation. Most animals of the woodland identification by means of a key, is appended an excellent bibliog- Iowans are indeed fortunate in may at one time or another seek and a description and illustration Lake lOtiJ & Mulberry-D. s Moines Iowa A h q u a b i, Dolliver Memorial, JAMES R. HARLAN, Edrtor stumps, and during the \'l.'inter the hibernating queens may be Palisades Kepler, and Spring F. T SCHWOB D1rector brook State P arks. In these ~N'JCN,HC s ""· accommodates four persons and l May we suggest for the bene is fully equipped with cooking I * AltxA'i?>.:l.,C :l. * lo.~t.•:NEtiYWA~ fit of animal life as well as the * f>Eil.P.Y ~EE' * '-E>TER,G£0 The study of an1mal l1fe under decay ng utensils, beds, da\·enport, chair, man who may follow you, whan and toilet, etc. Bedding and linen ~ JO!l.t-<501\, 1-1 * E "TY,Al6E~ ogs .s a fasw1at1ng past1me. Some or the rolling logs please put them back must be furnished by the user * CH!l.ISTOISEN <.... ~rPLEY,CJIAS 1nterest ng creatures thal may be fount. are \'l.'hNe you find them. ~OL bY, ~U&EP.T * MADDEN, K M shown in th1s illustration (1) Calosoma tali Fo1 cabm in.format10n address In *COOP£1\,RO&T * M~MAI-lON.A E dum, (2) spotted Pelidnota; (3) "eyed quiries to the State Conservation Commission, l Oth and Mulberry, ' *COOPEP.,WIL$0N* Mo':J!;".N, THOS elater (4) stag-beetle; (5) yellow-jacket, Iowa State Parks ~A&ER , u::S,.EP. * MOP. F. W J (6) black carpenter ant. Des Moines. ~rNK ... Av~R."l * PULVf_I1,,ROBT {Contmued from P 1ge 25) *'"~ c ~. NG!::R,~W * P.ECTOP.,JAS neath logs, and this one should ational areas are so located that G ame Surplus Receives * GEE,P.IC..;;.P.::> *SEVERSON!:!> be treated with respect. How every citizen m the state lives * G;J.AVES,~~il.DY *S MENSON,l-1 ever, the several species of milli within 40 miles of at least one of C o mm ission's Attention * 61U.£51NO, ~ * SJOSTROM, "'J pedes and centipedes appear them. Th1s 1s a distance easily * 1-!!.P.Vt:Y, WALT * SLYE.,E:DW harmless to man. Among the in rcachc d by gasoline allotted on Fluctuating gaml" crops often * I-IAUGSE ,JOHN *STARR,fRANK sects found under logs the great an A card. Pooling with a neigh cause situations to arlSe that need II * 1-K)FfMAN, G * 5H.MPEL,E est number of spec1es will p1ove bor and with a full carload 1t is to be dealt with by state con *140f'I='MAN, M. * STUffl£BE.AM, D to be Carabidac or ground beetles. poss1ble for most people to visit servatlOn departments independ One large type 1s Calosoma cali 1 II *~UGHES,DAVID *swEENEY.~oar an area several times during the ent of the legislature, and for * 1-lUu~E.S, DCN *MlALEN,JOHN dum (fig. 1), black with green year. this reason certain powers have * 1-lUSTON,TAYL.fYf..* NILD£,1.\IllON spots on the wing covers. This Special effort has been made been delegated to our Conserva * JAGO, EAPL * WILSON,OON species roams around at night, to make your visit to the recre tion Commission feeding on caterpillars such as I*JOH~SO~J. w A *"OL86MOD. \l ational areas enJoyable, and in Law-making bodies convemng I I cutworms, often climbing trees sp1te of labor shortages the state once in two years ox even once a to get canker worms when in sea parks ate in first class condit10n, year are obv1ously unable to cope d son. One may often find lady with picmc areas fully equipped properly \\ 1t h such circumstances bug beetles, especially the red ~J..~- -~-~JI w1th tables, benches, f1rcplaces, as surpluses of game remaining rn and black spotted spec1es, which firewood, water supplies, and after regular open seasons. By congregate in large numbers be a ,ant tary facilities. surplus we mean excess of game S]ll neath certain logs for hibernation. Log Rolling Practically all of the state areas beyond the carrying capacity of N In fact, many insects seek out the land and without undue dam 2 were originally selected for their Cor•tmu~d f om Page 5l logs for hibernation, hence early age to field crops, trees or vege ways gets a thrill when unex- sprmg is the best time to find outstanding natural attractions. Undeveloped timber, imposing tatlOn. P<'Ctedly a bull snake or other chem present. In Iowa one may Proper game takes are difficult common snake is uncovered sud- find three species of large white geological formations, panoramas denly. I once uncovered a cop- grubs developing m rotting logs of native flowers and ferns, mag to control even with pre-season nificent overlooks of outstanding surveys because weather condi perhead under similar circum- and the adult beetles occur in or tlOns, number of hunters in the stances so one must be careful in on the logs during June and July. scenic beauty-all add to the ~ recreational value of the parks. fields and other factors m ay de toI regions where they occur. One of these scarabs is the spot termine the amount of game re Ftc•ld mice, especially the white- ted Pelidnota, (fig. 2); it is brown Through most of them nature ~ trails have been constructed along maining after open seasons.- L. tra footed mouse, make runways be- m color with eight black spots D. Parker, Davenport Times. neath logs and one may pop out above near side margins. easy grades which can be fol fre when least expected. The white- Perhaps the most remarkable lowed on foot. On many of the du trails the outstanding features lnt iootc>d mouse often makes its nest beetle found in low~ is the "eyed More About Frogs m well rotted logs and in spring- elater" (fig. 3), an elongate black are pointed out and explained by I time you may flush out a hapless and gray beetle about two inches mconspicuous markers. What a wonderful bird the frog \lo mother with three or four young long, havmg imitation eye marks Most of Iowa's recreational are- R, clinging to her underside. on the thora x; it belongs to the areas have lakes or streams, and When he stand he sit almost y Probably the greatest variety \Vireworm family (Elateridac). many have extensive beach de When he hop, he fly almost are >f animals will be found among The larvae or grubs of this large velopments with boats available He ain't got no sense hardly th<' jointed-leg types such as mil- beetle bore and feed chiefly in for fishing and boating. eith(;l' 'ipPdcs, centipedes, spiders, pill- decaying poplar and willow logs. Lodges, (reserved through the He ain't got no tail hardly either bugs and insects. In Missouri and Stag-beetles (fig. 4), noted for rt:>s1dent park custodian) are When he sit, he sit on what he ain't got, almost hardly! pomts south one _ma y fr~quently Ithe large mandibles which re available for group parties in find the black w1dow sp1der be- semble horns, are generally sixteen parks and all are equipped -Unknown. IOWA CONSERVATIONIST PAGE TWENTY-SEVEN F'rogs and Toads other Iowa toads. Breast and out conspicuous light borders. TREE FROGS belly unspotted. Parotoid glands Dark spots usually surrounding FAMILY HYLIDAE amphibians. Their SoNG. - A rather low-pitched small warts; the belly is granu skin is dry and thickened and nasal "waa-a-a-a", of less than lar. There are no parotoid glands, covered with enlarged warts. IIve seconds duration. Very cranial crests, or dorso-lateral The belly is coarsely granular. similar to the call of the Rocky folds. The body is slender to There are enlarged swellings be Mountain toad, but more musi moderately robust, the waist nar hind the eyes known as the paro cal. Most commonly heard from row, the legs of varying length . toid glands, and two lengthwise May to July. The fingers may be scarcely or ndges or cranial crests between lowA RANGE. - Known only not at all webbed, and webs be the eyes. The body is chunky or from the southeastern portion of tween the toes may be reduced robust, the wa1st broad, and the the state, in Jefferson, Lee, Mus or moderately to well developed. legs short. The toes are poorly catme, and Van Buren counties. The tips of the fingers and toes webbed. Each hind foot 1s pro It hves m lowland areas. are dilated, the expansions reach vided with two enlarged, dark mg their greatest development in ened d1ggmg tubercles. The sin gle vocal pouch of the male is GREAT PLAINS TOAD (0.6x) located on the throat The thumbs (not less than seven) watts of adult males are not swollen. Ridges between eyes heavy, con The skin of toads, as of frogs, is vergmg sharply to umte m a knob porsonous if eaten, but toads may between front border of eyes be handled with impumty, and SONG. - Beginnmg as a mu do not cause warts. All of our sical trill, the notes become hard toads metamorphose at a length and loud, producir.g a whining of only about one-half mch. staccato somewhat like a musical nveting machme. The song IS protracted, continuing for from 15 seconds to over half a mmute. Heard most frequently after rains in May and J une. IowA RANGE. - The western two tiers of counties; taken in Osceola, O'Brien, and Montgom ' ery counties in addition to all counties bordering the Missouri md Big Sioux rivers. L1ving m both bottomland and upland areas.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN TOAD (Natural Size) arboreal species. The hind foot Bufo woodhousii woodhousii G rard is provided with one or two tu bercles; these are not darkened IDENTIFICATION. - The largest or hardened for digging. Males of Iowa toads, body length of AMERICAN TOAD (05x) have a single vocal pouch on the adults usually thr~e to four mch Bufo americanus americanus Holbrook throat. The thumbs of adult es, reported to reach four and males are not swollen. The tym IDENTIFICATION. - Size moder three-fourths inches. Warts of panum is small. At metamor ate, body length usually about moderate size. Belly unspotted; phosis common tree frogs meas three mches, occasionally four or breast unspotted or with one or ure from one-half to four-fifths more. Warts very large. Breast a few dark spots. P arotoid glands of an inch in body length; the and belly more or less heavily at least as long as the distance three other species from one-third spotted or mottled with dark. separating them, long and nar to three-fifths of an inch. Parotoid glands large, broad, row, their width usually less closely approximated, kidney than half their length and typi shaped; their width usually more cally less than half the distance than half their length. Spots on separating them. Dark spots on back without conspicuous light back not conspicuously light l edges, each with one or two (oc margined; usually surrounding casionally three or four) warts. one or two (occasionally three to Ridges between eyes not uniting FOWLERS TOAD (0 8x) five) warts. A clear-cut light • to form a knob . stripe along midline of back. SoNG. - A h1gh-p1tched, pro Bufo woodhousii fowleri Hinckley Ridges between eyes moderately tracted, musical trill; usually of IDENTIFICATION. - The smallest developed, parallel, not uniting from 10 seconds to a minute in of Iowa toads, body length usu to form a knob. duration. Heard mostly from ally about two and one-half mch SoNG. - A low-pitched nasal mid-April until early J une. es but reported to reach three "waa-a-a-a", of less than five IOWA RANGE. - Almost state and one-fourth inches. Warts of second duration. Similar to that Wide; not found in the Missouri moderate size. Belly unspotted; of Fowler's toad, but somewhat River valley. It occurs common breast unspotted or with one or a more raucous. Most often heard ly m both bottomland and uplan d few dark spots. Parotoid glands in May and June. NORTHERN CR ICKET FROG (1 2x) areas. longer than the distance separat IowA RANGE. - Western two Acris crepitans Ba~rd ing them, elongate-oval in shape, tiers of counties, north to Plym lDENTU'ICATION. . - Size small, GREAT PLAINS TOAD their width usually more than outh County. Abundant m the max1mum body length about one Bufo cognatus Say half their length and always Missouri River valley together and one-fourth inches. Body IDENTIFICATION. - Size moder more than half the distance sepa with the Great Plains toad rather slender, snout sharp. Back ate, body length less than four rating them. Ground color of Chiefly an inhabitant of stream and legs usually with many inches. Warts smaller than in back light, but dark spots with- bottomlands. ' e ground length Fmgers scarcely webbed That the three-toed tree toad trod at base, toes well webbed, short est entirely included in web and But vamly the two-toed tree toad tned longest with a single phalanx He couldn't please her whim; h ee. Upperparts dark olive or In her three-toed bowel, w1th her V-toe power, slate-gray, the middle of back The she toad vetoed him. often with a stripe of bright -The Forest log, Salem, Oregon green, or reddish-brown or tan. Rear surface of thighs with a ate, body length of adults one the bullfrog There are no paro broad lengthwise dark s t r i p e and one fourth to two and two- toid glands or cramal crests. The which contrasts sharply With hfths mches Skm granular. form is slender and moderately lighter areas above and below. Form robust, head broad, snout robust, the waist is narrow, and SoNG. - A rapid-fire succes bluntly rounded. Disks on fin- the h.gs are of moderate length, swn of discrete metallic clicks, gers and toes large. Legs rather or long. The fmgers are not "kic, kic, kic, . . . ", starting short, when bent forward heel webbed; the toes are alwavs at slov.•ly and mcreasing m fre reaches eye; tibia almost half least one-half webbed. There quency. Singing begms m late body length Fingers about one- are no d1sks on the fingers and April in southern Iowa, reaches third webbed. toes rather well- toes, and the one or two tubercles its height during May and June, webbed, shortest toes w1th one ·on the hind foot are not darkened f and continues mtermittently m phalanx free from web and long- or hardened for d1gging: Vocal to early August. est w1th one to two phalanges pouches are mternal or, if exter lOW A RANGE. - V i r l U a 1 1 y SPRING PEEPER (1.7x) free Coloration extremely var- nal, there IS one on Each side just statewide, apparently absent from Hyla cn.cif·:·r 11•/ied ied and changeabl~:.: back green, above the forelimbs. Thumb of the Blue Earth drainage m Kos brown or gray, usually \\ Ith an adult males markedly thickened suth and Winnebago counties. IoJ::NTIFICA'l'ION. - Size small, Irregularly blotched pattern. A at base. The tympanum IS large. Preferring sho1 es of streams and body length less than one and greemsh·white spot below eye, At h ansformation they vary in lakes. thr<::t:-eighths inche~. Skin smooth. back of thighs bright orange- length from three-fourths inch to b Body moderately robust, head yellow. ovc1 two inches. rather broad, snout rounded. I Disks on fingers and toes well SoNG - A high-pitched, ex- -- plosive, bird-like trill of about BULLFROG developed. Legs rather short, Rana catesbeiana Shaw when bent forward heel reaches four-fifths second duration. eye; tibia almost one-half body I ow A RANGE. - Generally com IDENTIFICATION. - The largest length. Fingers free; toes partly mon m the eastern and southern of Iowa frogs, reaching a body webbed, shortest toe with two portions of the state, elsewhere length of over seven inches. No phalanges free from web and confined to the larger wooded dorso-lateral fold (a ridge ex longest with two or three pha nver valleys. Arboreal m hab tends from eye backward then langes free. Back tan or brown, Its. downward behind eardrum to with characteristic oblique cross near front of forelimb). Longest of darker brown. TYPICAL FROGS toe with only one phalanx free from the almost complete web SoNG. - A shrill, high, clear, FAMILY RANIDAE single-note whistle; repeated at bmg Legs of moderate length, intervals. The call has a pierc The typical frogs are aquatic tibia less than half body length. ing quality, and the ears of a to largely terrestrial species of 1 Skin of back roughened with listener located in a strong chorus moderate to large size. The skm small tubercles. Back with a few STRIPED CHORUS FROG (1 2xl of the belly is smooth, that of the more or less indistmct dark Pseudacns tnseriata (Wiedl soon ring unpleasantly. The strongest choruses are heard from Sides and back smooth or with a spots, belly often heavily mar IDENTIFICATION. - Size small, mid-March, in southern Iowa, to number of raised ridges and tu- bled with dark. The vocal body length less than one and late April, in northern Iowa bercles A dorso-lateral fold is pouches are internal. three-eighths inches. Body slen IowA RANGE. - The eastern present in all our species except four inches or less.r~·sQ:;\a.tttr.a 1 flj~ "' ir~_...jb..e well-developed not uniform, but heavily mottled Frogs and Toads folds extending alM61;'t' 6~vqu" wM>'tfn\g.OU~y slender; legs or reticulated with dark. Belly (Contmued from Page 28) to groin. Longest toe with two long, tibia decidedly more than white. Upper Jaw and snout phalanges free from the well- half body length. Skin of sides mottled with dark and light, with SoNG. - A deep, sonorous bass, developed webbing. Body slen- and back roughened with a few no clear-cut hght stripe from br-wum, of exceptional carrying der; legs long, tib1a decidedly small tubercles and several elan snout to below tympanum. Vo power. Heard from mid-April more than half body length. Skin gate ridges, the latter usually re cal pouches of males prominent, until July. of s1des and back roughened with stricted to back. Upperparts external, located between tym lOW A RANGE - Probably ori many small tubercles and several tendmg to be uniformly bronzed panum and forelimb. ginally confined to the southern ~lo ngate ridges, the latter best or brassy; usually with definite SoNG. - A deeply sonorous two or three t1ers of counties developed on back. Upperparts ..>enes of more or less rectangular and resonant "w-a-a-ah"; loud across the state and the Missis uniformly green, gray-green, or .;pots, each set off clearly from and of exceptional carrying qual sippi and lower Iowa rivers. In bronze; with many irregularly the ground color. Belly white, ity. From mixed choruses this troduced in Boone, Greene, Polk, arranged, smoothly rounded dark groin and undersurface of hind stands out above the others; and probably other counties. :;pots, each set off clearly from legs bnght yellow; edge of lower clearly audible for over half a Found in and near permanent .he ground color. An occasional jaw with dark markings. A dark mile. The strong choruses are ponds and streams. .>pecimen lacks the dark spots. stripe from corner of eye to tip heard in April. Belly and lower surfaces of legs of snout, and a clear-cut light GREEN FROG white; throat white or with dark stnpe on upper jaw from snout IowA RANGE. - The south Rana clamitans Latreille markings. A clear-cut light stripe to below eardrum. Vocal pouch eastern portion of the state; known only from Appanoose, ~ oENTIFICA TION - Body length on upper jaw from snout to below es small, external, located be four mches or less. Dorso-lateral eardrum. Vocal pouches small, tween tympanum and forelimb. Dav1s, J efferson, Van Buren, fold present, incomplete, extend and Wayne counties. Found in ing only two-thirds to three SoNG. - Low in pitch (but n ot low meadows and pastures; com fourths distance from eye to so low as in the leopard frog) monly m crayfish burrows. (See groin. Longest toe with one and and weak m volume. It has been map.) one-half to two phalanges free descnbed as "a gently musical from the well developed webbing. snore" and as a "low pitched The key presented herewith is de Legs of moderate length, tibia gratmg croak". It is said to last signed to [lermit ready identifica less than half body length. Skin about half a minute, and to be tion oC the metamorphosed frogs repeated at five minute intervals. and toatls found In Iowa. Two al .:>f back and sides roughened with ternatl\ e sets ot characters are many small tubercles and a few rhey probably sing most in April and early May. given untler each numbered item. short ndges. Upperparts green Beginning with Item 1, select the ish-brown, often with some in !owA RANGE. - Found only tn set of characters (a or b) which dlstmct dark spots; sides of head LEOPARD FROG (0 6x) the eastern fifth of the state; properly describes the animal in bnght green; undersurface white external, located between tym hand, and proceed to the number known from Allamakee, Buchan lnd1cated at the right. This process panum and arm. an, Clayton, Delaware, and Is continued until the name of the SoNG. - A low, growling note LoUisa counties. Common near species Is reached. It is advisable ~"n ntinued for several seconds, springs and cool streams. (See that both alternatives be consid alternating with a series of short map.) ered before proceeding to the next chuckles; either the longer note number In the key. or the chuckles may predominate, so the choruses vary consider ; -- I ably. The chorus can often be described as a gutteral laughter. Uttered at the surface or sub merged, but in no case 1s the song loud or of great carrying quality. Heard from March until August; the strongest choruses usually oc cur in April and May. IOWA RANGE.- The most abun dant of the larger frogs; it oc curs throughout the state. Com mon near permanent water, about ponds, and in marshes and low pastures.
GREEN FROG (0.6x) or weakly mottled with dark; males with the throat bright yel low. The vocal pouches are in ternal. SONG. - A single-noted, low NORTHERN CRAYFISH FROG (Natural size) pitched, explosive "c'tung" or eJIAijiAl CM:ST 1 "clung", occasionally r epeated Rana areolata circulosa Rice and Davis 805$ PAAOTOID GlAJID ' I 0011$0-LATOIAL FOLD several times m succession. The I TDENTIFICATION. - A 1 a r g e note has been compared to that frog, reaching four and one-half produced by plucking the strings inches in length. Dorso-lateral of a bass viol. Heard from late folds extending almost or quite May through July. to groin. Longest toe with three ·HEEL lowA RANGE. - Most common phalanges free from the webbing, in the northeastern and east cen which is less well developed than tral portions of the state west to m Iowa's other typical frogs. the Cedar River basin; also found Body rather robust, the head I in the lower Iowa and lower Des broad; legs of moderate length, WEI Moines river valleys. It lives in PICKEREL FROG (0 Bx) tibia less than half body length. Diagrammatic outline illustrating certain and near permanent ponds and Rana palustris Le Conte Skin of back and, especially, external features of frogs and toads u~ed in streams. IDENTIFICATION. - Body length sides coarsely roughened with the key. inch~s o~ rid~s KEY FOR TilE IDENTIFICATION LEOPARD FROG three and one-fourth and large tubercles. Up OF I OWA FROGS AND TOADS !ess. Dorso-lateral .foldil -· f:)ryarts with many light-mar 1 a. Parotold glands present. Skin Rana pipiens Schreber mg almost or. qu1te (0' grom. gmed, more or less circular spots; with many enlarged warts. IDENTIFICATION. - Body length Longest toe Wlth two phalanges the ground color between spots (Continued to Page 30, Column 1) PAGE TH IRTY IOWA CONSERVATIONIST
yond e:re. tibia less than half - Frogs and T cads body length. ll111d feet less well-\vebbeu, at least one ..... 5 der, s carcely webbed three and one-half to four ph'alanges 2 a . lllotches on back large, con. ol longest toe free. l•'onn Echoes from the ~q11cuously . light margined, each 1ncludmg :seven or more :slender. Great Outdoor$ \\ urt:s. Paroto1d glands smull STRIP ED CHORUS FROG tll', their le'ltg ~ h less than dis h Back various ly marked. but tn.nc t: between them. Ridges \Vtthout clear-cut dark stt'l)tes. " Allah does rt oi deduct between e} .es converging fot· Too dt:sk::; ''ell develot,ed evi th~ allctttd of ""ar,d to form a vronunent dently wider tha n rest oi toe. from ttmq. !Joss or knob. Toes :shorter and thicker, well mart thou hours spqni tn GREAT PLAINS TOAD webbed, two ot· three pha l~uge:s of longest toe free. { LSh in9" b . Blotc hes on back small, with 1· onn robu::;t...... • II . out light margins, each m l> a . ::;lze smaller; body length of ' olving from one to five warts. adults ::;eve n-e ight::; to o ne and l'arotoid gland::; larger, their three-eights inche::;. L'olot By FRANK POWERS a boy who wan ted to become a length usually at least as tan or brown, u,;un.lly "1th ,tn great as dnst;.,nce between oulique cross ot d;u·ke1· bt·o.wn Cedar Rap ds Gazette duck hunter, "I don't know of a them. R i dge::~ between eyes IHll'allel or moderately con on !Jack; no white ::;pot below I became a columnist more by worse thmg he could take up as vergmg, but not uniting to e~ t:; no onwge on thighs. a hobby, but I don't know where Cot m a knob...... 3. Flllgers free. accident than intent, and realize SPRING PEEPER he could ever meet a finer bunch 3 a . Brea:st and belly more ot· lc~;:s full well that I am still in the heavily mottled or marbled h . S1ze larget·; body length oC kmdergarten and an amateur as of men and ge t so much per w_tth dark. Parotoid g lands adults one and one-fourth to sonal satisfaction ' I never pass k 1dne:~- -shaped[ their width l\\ o and two- 11fths inches. fat as journalistic accomplish Color variable, u::;ually gt•a:t up a chance to hunt pheasants lt!SS than to i ttle more than ments arc concerned. I don t ' distance IJetween the glands. ot· green with an inegular squurels, rabbit. s, quail or any- pa llern of d a rk on back; a lhink it IS too difficult f01 any AMERICAN TOAD thmg tha t IS legal game at the large white ot· greenish-'' 111te one who loves thl. out-of-doors b Underparts without dark, or spot below and slightly be tune wllh one or a few dark spots hunl eye; thighs with much and th~ thmgs that go with it to on breast. Parotoid glands htlg ht yello" -orange in life. In the past several years I have Fingers about one - third write an outdoor column In fact longer and narrower u::;uall> • • been introduced to crow shoot about twice a::; long ' as w ide \\ t:ulJed. you JUSt can't help wntmg and and their width usually 2;5 COMMON TREE FROG ing as a pastime and conserva to 2/ 3 the distance betwben ~alking about the thmgs you are tion "good deed", and must say glands...... 4. 9 a . :-:o dorso- la t e t·al ::; kin fold on uody. Longe::; t toe of hlncl mtercsted m and the things you that as a sport it ranks second to 4 a . Southeastern lo\\ a. Size small foot \Vith only ou e phaluux love to do. I have come to the et·, body length le::;s than thret: free from '' eb. none. I strongly advocate that inches. Dorsal dark spot::; in BULLFROG conclusion that that is what all hunters get mterested in It as volvmg three or four (occa makes a fisherman stram the SIOnally two or five, rar ely b. lJo•·:so-la teral skin fold tJres a between season way to keep ent. Longest toe wit h one truth a wee bit when he tells one or more than five) wart::;. and one-half to three pha- their eyes in focus and keep the FOWLERS TOAD langes free 1rorn web ...... 10. about the one that got away, and feel of the old fowling piece. b . ·western two t1ers of I owa a . Donso-laternl fold extend mg makes the hunter come m with 10 My fishing IS JUSt as rmportant <.:ountles. Size larger, body only about t\\ o -th1rds to three those wlld tales of the millions length often t hree inche::; ot· four ths dis t a n ce from e :~- e to LO me as my hunting, and when more. Dorsal dar k spots in groin. Dark spots on buc k, if of ducks or pheasants he saw eve! I am asked which I like the volvmg one or two (occa:slon present, s rn a I 1 e r and not Sor t of an intoxication that fol ally t hree, rat·ely fou r o r live) sharply outlined. best I have to say, "Huntmg m war ts. GREEN FROG lows a day spent out m the open the fall and winter, and fishing ROCKY MOUNTAIN TOAD b . Dorso-lateral fold extending with Mother Nature m the sprmg and summer." I'm 5 a. t.:ndersurface coarsely granu to or almo::~t to groin. l>Hrk I began thts career as an out lar. Stze small, body length ::;pots on back t very rarely ab certainly glad they don't come at not e_xceeding two and one s c n t) sharpl)· set off !rom door columnist several years ago the same time. Bad enough to half mches. Tips of fingers ground color...... 11 as a co-author of F orest, F ield an<.l toes more or less expand have the fa ll fishm' and squirrel 11 a Light spaces between u lack and S tream, and after the late ed or dilated. T r ee frogs .. . 6. spots on back and sides heav- huntm' overlap as they do. I b Under surface smoot h Size ily mottled or r e ticulated with Chuck Kosek had laid down h is don't turn my nose up at any kind lat ge, bo<.l:~-· length usually darker. Snout and upper ja.w pen and gone to the Happy H unt ~realer than two and o ne-half inegularly mottled and spot of fishing unless It's carpin'. That IJJ mches. Tips of fingers a n d ted, without WQll defined dark mg Grounds of Gitchie Mamtou, I don t have much time for. Bass toes not <.ltlnted. Typical or light stripes. Back and the r otund and jovtal Ta1 t Cum b f rogs ...... 9. sides roughened with many and trout are probably my f1rst t 6 a. Legs longer, when hmd leg Is r idges and tubercles. Tibia roms, sports editor of the Cedar les::; than half body l ength. choices. What can furnish a big bent ,forward heel ext ends ap Rapids Gazette, ind uced me to ger thrill than a good smallmou th proximately to end of snou t· NORTHERN CRAYFISH FROG take over the column. There you t ib ia (heel to knee) much b . Light spaces between black or t rout on a fly rod with about g 1:eater than half body length. SJIOts on bac k and sides rather have the story of how and why I a seven and one-half foot leader Ilmd feet well-webbed, short uniformly co lot ed. A clear am in 1t, and from here on out I I est t oe ent irely included In cut light stripe on upper jaw tapered to about 2x? As the web. Rear of thigh marked from snout to above fot·eleg refuse to be held to blame for younger generation say, "Out of Ill with alternating dark a n d Back and siUes rather smooth, anythmg. n ltght lengthwise stripes. with fewer ridges and tu this world, Mister, out of this NORTHERN CRICKET FROG bercles. Tibia more than half My hobbies arc hunting and wor ld" Along with my fishing lht b . Legs shorter, when b e nt for body length...... 12. fishing. I never did and never I do some artificial fly tying for 0 ward heel does not extend be- 12 a . Dark spots on bac k moru rec- will get enough of either of them. my personal use only, and that As to hunting I would say that along with the rod repairing and too 1 ~ ...... ,..._ . duck h unting comes firs;t with the ~ ~- ,, . 0 0 0 ...... -...... "1' such furnishes something to keep ) me. Why a man will sit out in a n •• the old temperature down during do know is that thts vast aquatic life that go to make up m sub-freezing temperatures, and Other Game ------3.5 amount of water ftlled all of the that mighty panorama of llfe up theil tails and feet become froz- natural depresswns to overflow- on and beneath the surface of the en. They become easy prey for 88.0% !:1g throughout the ent1re upper wate'I's. . . the elements and the feathered Trap and Skeet ______12.0 river area. This fullness of the I Each of these creatures IS m and four-footed predators, such lakes and sloughs so late m au- I some wa'( de~endent upon the as the great horned owl and mmk TOTAL ______100.0% tumn furnished schoolmg grounds other for Its e~1stence, each a tmy Thou!;ands upon countless thou- The survey also shows that 60 for countless mtllions of fish, cog m that mighty and well-hal sands of bi-valves, most of whtch per cent of rim fire cartridges seeking deep quiet waters in anced wheel called nature.. are valuable to man as a source are used in the field. Match which to spend the winter. 1 Each of these creatures 1s de- of pearl-shell, are left stranded shooting consumes 5.1 per cent, The conditions were ideal for pendent upon an adequate supply and perish in a few short hours. gallery shooting 7.7 per cent, and many species of both game fish ?f fresh! sweet, w~ter to ac;s'!re Destruction lies at every turn of mformal shootmg, such as prac- and commercial fish. Astronomi- Its commg forth m the sprmg the stream's shore. tice and plinking, 27.2 per cent. cal millions of all varieties altve, physically fit and capable This is the picture of our own The center fire consumption were hatched and reared to of reproducing, each after its own Mississippi River. This is the dis- figures present a dtfferent pic fingerling size m these same kmd as is the scheme of things. mal picture every Iowan must ture. Pistol and revolver shoot lakes and sloughs during the Then in the dead of winter visualize when he reads a brief ers, surprisingly, surpass the ri spring and summer of the past when all these creatures were newspaper announcement, "Pools flemen in the big-bore field. Cen- year. These young fish, along settled, each after Its way, and 10 to 26 will be drawn down to ter fire rifle cartridges are shot with many of their adult parents, the heavy covering of ice and channel to provide downstream as follows: still remain in these waters. , snow lay cold and still upon the navigatiOn water." At big game 32.5 per cent; at Thousands upon thousands of waters, came tragedy. Thus ~andiwork of nature,. put predators and small game 5.2 per muskrats prepared winter homes ; Again to further the interest upon this earth for_ the benefit of I cent; miscellaneous 1.8 per cent. in these lakes and sloughs. They of navigation on some remote man, IS destroyed m a few short This makes a total of 39.5 per bullt houses or dug burrows in part of the river hundreds of hours that this same man can cent. The larger proportion goes the shallow banks where the food miles to the south, so we are told, float a boat somewhere down the 1 m pistols and revolvers in the supply IS most abundant. They the water supply of the upper nver. following percentages. settled down to spend the long nver is released from its Im Acts of thts kind are perpe- Law enforcement 45.5 per cent; wmter. I pounding dams and sent rolling tr·ated agamst a good and bounti- competitive target shootmg 11.1 Hundreds of beavers, like the downstream. Raptdly the waters ful nature each and every day per cent; and miscellaneous 3.9 muskrats, prepared winter lodges of our lakes and sloughs diminish. of the year somewhere in this per cent. in these flooded areas. They cut The ice along their shor~ lines broad land of ours. Yet many Remington, of course, does not 1 the tender willow and cotton- 1 drops and breaks up wtth re who perpetrate these offenses maintain that these figures are wood trees that make up the 'sounding crashes as the support preach the gospel of conservation. exact, but they are believed more prmclpal source of their winter ing waters beneath are drawn When, I ask you, will conserva- nearly correct than any hereto food supply. In the bottoms of away. Lakes become separated tion in this, the richest and most fore presented.-Remington News the lakes and sloughs near their from one another and breat bar- over-exploited land on earth, I .. et t er. cease to be a farce and become a reality. After it is too late? We hope not. They 6o Marching By One by one they go marching by-the hunters of this area Hats Off to called to the colors, each with a backward glance at the sports -. ..~ ...... that they leave behind, but hap ., --"t'"..._ ... ~·-· ,.• I • •• ,...... _. .._ Mr. Rabbit - ~ - ...... - ~ -- PY that they can fill a place in . ·- What spectes of game arC' the the nation's activitles.- Bellevue • most popular? Where IS the Leader. most sporting ammunition used~ These are questions which have An ounce of No 9 chilled shot always been subjects for argu contams 585 pellets; No. 8 shot ment wherever sportsmen meet. 409 pellets; No. 7 1.-2, 345; No. 7, As an aid to winter river navigat•on the nine-foot channel dams in the Mississippi River The Remington Arms Com 299; No. 6, 223; No. 5, 172; No. 4, .vere opened and lakes behind them dramed. This photograph shows a port10n of one of pany, in an extensive post-war 136; No. 2, 88; and No. 1 shot, 73 ., the lakes after the drawdown. The car is on the ice over one of the dteper holes in the planning survey, has gathered a pellets to the ounce. Shells J •<~ke bottom In such pools aquatic life 1S trapped and often perishes. The stumps in great deal of data which is be loaded with soft shot contain j the background are normally under water. lieved to be the nearest approach shgh tly less. PAGE THIRTY-TWO IOWA CONSERVATIONIST 1 :------...., outboard motors of 30 cubic rnch es and larger. In no year srnce then has the large-motor volume Know Your been anywhere near that quan tity. Durmg the mere severe de Outboard pression y e a r s ot 1932-33 it dropped to almost nothing. While small-motor production mcreascd Motor many fold from those years to 1940, large motor productwn and Ed1tor's Note: Stat1St1cs show that more sale "came back" only part way than eight m1llion peoole 1n the United -to an estimated half of what it States buy fishing licenses every year. was in 1929. There are more m1llions who fish that The greatest advancements in don t need them. While not all of these motor construction, resulting in Frank Powers, au- fishermen own and use outboard motors, a combmailon of light weight, thor of the "Forest, many of them do and profess almost as low cost, dependability, carefree much genume affect1on for the1r motors as F1eld and Stream" for their favorite pastime and most satis performance and operation fea fymg recreation. tures, took place from about 1937 column in the Cedar It 1s well for them to know ''what to the present time. Where five Rapids Gazette makes the wheels go ' round" in such im horsepower had previously meant portant and 1nd1spensable equipment for a price well above $100 and only in that way w1ll they get full and weight probably higher than 45 comp:ete returns. Th1s ser.es of art1cles pounds, then, and in later years, dunng the next few months w1ll endeavor 1t came to a mere "handful" of to help the nov.ce and old-t1mer al1ke to only 35 pounds or less and a price understand the fundamentals of outboard • motor operation, care, and performance as low as $100. to the end that they may thus get even This combination of better con more enJoyment from them. struction and performance with Knowing just a l1ttle more at JUSt the lower cost stimulated the use of nght t1me about the opt!rat.on of an out outborad motors, and the sale of board motor may spell the success of a new ones to well over twice what long-planned vacation on the water. It 1s 1t had been m the former "boom" hoped that those who read these art1cles year of 1929. WILL know that little extra at a time That, rn bnef, 1s the hlstory of when knowing will be grat1fying. this young, virile, industry. In • It was nearly 35 years ago that size, no outboard motor producer Forest, Field and Stream II can compare with an automobile can be assured that I would ex w a young man rowed across a lake