--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Paul, J. H. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 31 number: 10 published: 1928-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "J. H. Paul, “Three Hours Afield,” *Improvement Era* 31, no. 10 (August 1928): 826–834." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera31010unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera31010unse start_page: 826 end_page: 834 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1928-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera31010unse publication_year: 1928 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1928, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Three Hours Afield Three Hours Afield Among Little Things That People Want to Know — Nature Programs for Scoutmasters and Campers, Based on What They See. By J. H. Paul, Professor of Natural Science at the University of Utah And what delights can equal those That stir the spirit's inward deeps, When one that loves, but knows not, reaps A truth from one that loves and knows? Tennyson. DID you ever go afield with a group of boys and girls and try to answer their questions? Out for a school holiday, and prepared by their teachers to ask about things, five such live groups induced me to go with them this spring; and during six weeks of April and May, it was likewise my good fortune to go out also with seven adult groups — teachers, scoutmasters, mem- bers of general boards, and extension classes — the best of listeners and watchers. There were four trips into "bird-land," as related in other articles. Here I shall tell chiefly of two trips into Dry canyon. Sixty pupils of the Webster school had been studying nature, and therefore desired to see things, as did also one hundred pupils from the Ensign stake religion classes of the fifth grade. With nature as our aim, we spent three hours afield. Wonders Found in a Dry Gulch For a nature exploration few places less promising could be chosen than dry ravines or deserts; but in spring and fall these lo- calities teem with interest and beauty, the best time of day being early morning or toward sunset. As the guide and the teachers sauntered along the dry ravine, the pupils scattered, like a flock of sheep, fan-shape over the hills; but they did not get lost, for, by intelligent teaching, they had been prepared for this work. Soon one after another of them came rushing to the teachers or to the guide, bringing some new treasure or mystery — a rock, a twig, a flower, an insect, even a lizard; — and wanting to know what it was. With questions like these, they kept us busy: "Will this lizard bite?" No; all lizards and horned toads are harmless and useful with one exception, the Gila Monster, which is poisonous. One boy caught a lizard, another a horned toad; they were instructed not to harm the little things, but to let them go on the sunny side of the hill. Boys about to stone a snake were THREE HOURS AFIELD 827 Thalessa lunator. (a) Full-grown larva; (c) pupa, showing ovipositors coiled about it; (e) central figure, adult female, life size; (f) ovipositor enlarged; (g) adult male, life size. 828 IMPROVEMENT ERA restrained; and a little talk on the usefulness of snakes and toads was given. The Hunting Beetles Then some of the pupils came across two large, slow-moving, black-hued beetles, which stood on their heads when disturbed. The reason they assume this attitude, which is a threat to sting, seemed amusing to the pupils, especially when they learned that no beetle has a sting, and that none can bite to amount to much. These somber, Western pinnacate beetles, about which the authorities can say little, are wise enough, by pretending to sting, to imitate ants and thus deceive their natural enemies — the birds and small carni- vores. A black beetle with minute, shining red dots on its wings, and several beetles with lined or grooved wing covers, were picked up. These are the beneficial hunting beetles, which live on other insects. In Massachusetts they are the chief hope of the people to save the New England pine forests from the ravages of the imported gypsy-moth caterpillar. "Spare and guard the hunting beetles, but make specimens of all the long-horns." One group found a long- horned boring beetle; its destructive work in laying eggs in the trunks of trees, and the saving of these trees by the woodpeckers, were explained. Thalessa, the Tree-Saver Not a little excitement was caused by the approach of the most notable of insect tree-savers, the immense ichneumon wasp, Thalessa lunator. Only a few caught glimpses of her, but the guide related her life history. Tremex, a large, brown wasp an inch in length, and about the thickness of an ordinary lead pencil, lays its eggs in the bark of trees. The eggs hatch into larvae, which con- sume the sap and burrow in the sap wood to the serious injury of the tree. Then comes Thalessa (consult the picture) , a long, slender, shining, reddish-brown wasp, the tip of the abdomen en- larged and bearing a pair of flexible threads from four to six inches in length. These are the egg-layers (ovipositors). Arching them up over her head, she bores into the burrow made by the larva of the Tremex wasp, and lays an egg therein. This egg hatches into a small larva, which Works its way along the burrow till it comes to the larva of Tremex> then fastens itself to the body of the borer, and kills it by consuming its flesh. The larva of Thalessa thus saves the tree. When these facts were first published, half a century ago, there was a stir about them in the scientific world. Never kill Thalessa, nor any very slender wasp. Slender-bodied wasps are insect destroyers of great value to man; and all wasps and hornets are of value as destroyers of insects, especially of flies. THREE HOURS AFIELD 829 Flowers and Their Visitors The most frequent question, "What flower is this?" was an- swered by giving the common name and some point of interest about the plant. Then came: "What shrub or tree? What rock? What insect? What bird is that? What bird song?" Several asked, "What makes that buzzing?" It was the crackling of either the red- winged or the clear- winged grasshopper. "What butterfly is that?" The mourning cloak butterfly was frequent, and then, by great good fortune, its caterpillar was observed at work. Mil- bert's tortoise shell, two sizes of tiger swallow-tail, a brown checker- spot, the Northern summer, the Western white — these were pointed out as they flew near, with the food plant of the larva and the honey plant of the adult. Dreamy dusky-winged moths were numerous; their curious, hooked antennae were of special interest. "What dead — Thalessa lunator. (a) Female in act of ovipositing (t) abdomen showing outer sheaths in slightly different position ■ (ej ab domen stretched to its utmost, as when first inserting or' finally withdrawing the ovipositor, and showing the coil of outer sheaths (/ )' the distended membrane (rf), and the ovipositor coiled around in- side it at periphery , ■ 830 IMPROVEMENT ERA animal is this?" It had been killed by some thoughtless gunner and left there to rot in the sun. The pupils were told how the carcass could pollute the water of the entire stream and spread germs of disease; hence it must be buried. "Are there any snakes in Dry canyon?" None in spring; few if any in summer. Insects, Ants, Snails, Hawks "Will these ants sting?" The large red ones will; they are the Occident ants, chief harvesters and farmers among insects; in dry countries they store away food for the winter, as Solomon correctly remarked. Those ants with wings do not sting; they are the kings and queens ready for their mating flight. Most of the males soon perish, a few females surviving to found new colonies. "How did these snail shells get here? Did the ocean once cover these mountains?" Yes; but the snails are land species; look about under the oak leaves and you will find shells containing live snails. "Are shells and fossils in the rocks proof of the flood?" No; they are evidence that in past geological ages, long before the flood, this region was part of a vast sea. "What hawk flies yonder?" It is the Western red-tail, one of the best hawks, miscalled the chicken hawk and often shot by mistake. Notice that it flies without moving its wings. Wing motion would alarm its prey — the rats, gophers, rabbits; for these pests it is always hunting. The detrimental or bird-killing hawks are usually moving their wings in swift, darting flight. "What dug this hole?" The useful badger, the harmful ground squirrel, and the gopher. "What nest is that?" A magpie's nest, hung in the oak-brush but long since deserted because plundered by men or boys. Do not make the mistake of interfering with or of inspecting birds' nests. The night-prowling weasel, skunk, rat, and wildcat, like to follow by scent the trail of man. If you have gone to a nest, these foes of birds will thus find the nest and destroy its inmates. Learning From Dead Animals A few summers ago, in a grove near Murray, thirty teachers stood listening to the vanishing songs of a willow thrush — songs at first fluted then trilled, with fine power and with a finish of delicate beauty. As we listened, someone noticed a dead bird lying near; it turned out to be the body of a thrush. What should we do with it? Decomposition had already set in, and some were holding their noses from fear of the offensive odor. "Please give attention," said the guide; "we have here a treas- ure of unusual value." As they gathered around, the guide, requesting all to watch closely, gently turned over the body of the dead bird. A real sensa- THREE HOURS AFIELD 831 tion! Half a hundred strange-looking insects rushed about in a hurry to get out of the light of day. These were beetles of three kinds: carrion, or flesh, beetles, of medium build and dark color; skin beetles, smaller, dark gray, and thin as heavy paper; and sexton, or burying, beetles, large of body, strong of limb, deep black, and with wide bands of red across their bodies. Nature Sermons on Sanitation Here was an opportunity, and the guide went on to explain the work and ways of these strange insects dwelling in most obnoxious places — under dead animals. Someone ventured to remark, "What if Paley had known of the good work of these lowly creatures?" Undoubtedly he would, when he wrote his able treatise on Natural Theology, have added another worth-while chapter to his interest- ing demonstrations of the providence that in so many beneficial ways adapts nature to the service of mankind. Thereafter, could these teachers use such opportunities? With true insight and to decided advantage, they could utilize the absorb- ing chapters of Fabre on the ways of burying beetles, and the story of American tumble bugs. Then would come the lore concerning the sacred beetle of Egypt — the symbolic scarabaeus, famed in his- tory, and engraved in the signet rings of royalty — history based on first-hand evidence. Such are the stories to tell in the open during daylight hours; not fanciful or mythical ones, which, if related at all, should be reserved for the story hour at the evening campfire. Several teachers so adapted the incident that it yielded fine material for English composition; but scoutmasters could give, over the body of every dead creature found, the most timely and useful lessons, in- cluding the sanitary burial of the carcass; since in our dry climate in summer a. few handfuls of dust will render odorless and safe any decaying substance, offal, or excreta — a fact that should be im- pressed upon the memories of all campers. ROCKCHUCKS AND BURYING BEETLES On the Dry canyon hike, boys from the Webster found the body of a rockchuck, and came running to tell of their discovery. All hurried there. The guide explained what the harmless and interest- ing creature means to us, and why it should not be killed, chiefly because of the excitement and interest among hikers that living rock- chucks stir up. There it lay, its strong, curved digging claws, sharp teeth, and dense, reddish-brown fur suggesting the mode of its under- ground life. As they looked about, several pupils called attention to another rockchuck, a live one, galloping along the side of the hill. All got 832 IMPROVEMENT ERA The Pigeon Tremex, or Tree-Killing Wasp, life size, in the center. Right, Tremex Larva, full grown. Left, a Tree-Saving Wasp, Pimpla, laying eggs in the Cocoon of a Moth. glimpses or views of it. After brief explanations, the guide invited the boys to do a good turn by burying the dead chuck. As a heavy stone was moved from its body, numerous flesh beetles and burying beetles rushed from beneath the carcass, skurrying to cover. Cap- turing one of these, the large red-and-back sexton bettle, the guide explained to the attentive listeners how beneficial to man is the work of these curious insects. After one look at the powerful dig- ging claws, strong cutting jaws, muscular bodies, and the coat of armor defensive against contamination by decaying flesh, the pupils could readily understand how these beetles carve up the flesh of dead animals and bury it in the ground. Then the beetles lay eggs beside it; these soon hatch into larvae, which speedily con- sume the flesh, thus rendering it harmless to man. Otherwise the body, decaying in the open air, would poison all the atmosphere about it for weeks till it was finally consumed by the larvae of blow flies — a much slower and less sanitary process. Some Practical Results Each boy then took up handfuls of soil and soon covered the body of the dead chuck, just as scores of burying beetles had been doing a piece at a time. What effects will contemplation of these services, by some investigators said to be beyond estimation, exert on the minds of youth? They will conclude that these lowly and THREE HOURS AFIELD 833 unnoticed bits of life work to save the life of man. At each future encounter with decaying animal bodies, will not the burying beetles be looked for and their good work noted? And after one glimpse of the rockchuck in the open, how fascinating becomes the story of its life — a story that any of these pupils will now tell with anima- tion. With that claw equipment for digging, which the rockchuck possesses, how cleverly it constructs its underground rooms, how swiftly it harvests, and how safely it stores its food. But why is it so scarce in the West? Because, besides the idle gunner, the coyote and the weasel, which are its natural enemies, are numerous here. In the East, where these natural enemies have been largely exterminated, its cousin the woodchuck is fairly common. Does someone ask: "Why should I study these things? What is there in it for me?" Nothing — absolutely nothing, except facts, instruction, wis- dom, safety; and, to certain people, beauty, truth, inspiration, and religion. But story-tellers might observe that facts like these, founded on what has been observed, are better than bear stories, since rock- chucks are often seen, and bears but rarely. Problem: Show that the presence of rockchucks serves as a protection to sheep and poultry. Secrets of the Wild Flowers To learn about the wild flowers was real fun. All were in- structed to pick only one, and not to pull that one up by the roots. With these flowers, each pupil made a nature book, preserving them in magazines till they could be transferred to a better press. Each flower is put into a single-folded sheet of newspaper, and let remain (here till it is dry. One whole newspaper, folded to the desired size, is placed as a drier between each two plant papers. The drier is changed daily, and laid out to dry, a fresh one being put in its place. When we go through any field or region in which the weeds, wild flowers, trees, and shrubs are new, who docs not wish to know what they are? We desire to know the name, the use, or some feature of the vegetation we pass by, especially the notable forms, such as trees, odd plants, and flowers of great beauty. These items, learned quickly afield under a guide, with a few repetitions become perma- nent possessions, not readily forgotten. One soon feels at home among these species, and each region containing them seems to be his own country. Even this slight basis of plant knowledge trains the perceptive powers, cultivates accurate observation, leads to prolonged inspec- 834 IMPROVEMENT ERA tion, and prepares one to understand what he reads about plants. It is eye-opening work, enjoyed by scouts, school pupils, and perhaps by everyone else. To know the more striking, useful, or harmful plants of sur- rounding fields and hills, seems very desirable. The question has always been, How can it be done? The way is now known and the gate is open. Such knowledge does not, however, mean the mere picking and mauling over of a few conspicuous flowers, without scientific guidance, and with little or nothing explained. It is the truth of things that makes them interesting and that leads to their profitable use. Field classes at first need a nature guide; but soon the scoutmaster or the teacher can be the guide, referring to the specialist the unknown species and the new problems as they arise. Dad I used to dream of an artist Who could paint the picture of Dad, Who could paint on his face that manly look And the wonderful smile he had. At last I have found the artist; But the picture makes me sad — He has- painted well the dear old face, But he can't paint the soul of Dad. And that's what makes him dear old Dad, The pal of my work and my play, The one who shared success and strife, The old pal whom I miss today. The sunlight is gone, and shadows Have crept over land and sea, And the picture the artist painted, In the darkness, I cannot see. But tonight I see my dear old Dad, Just like he used to be, And I did not need a painter's brush To paint his face for me, For memory painted that picture In the heart of a little lad. Who prayed every night at his mother's knee, That some day he'd be just like Dad. Clifton. Idaho BEATRICE WILLIAMS