OUTDOOR NEBRASKA

Nebraska State Parks

Editor's Note: The information and facts concerning Nebraska State Parks, contained in this Study Course, has been prepared in cooperation with Nebraska Department of Publicity of the State Board of Agriculture. A Course of Study on Nebraska Parks is now available through the Extension Department of the State University.

THE state recreational system in Nebraska is developing rapidly. Five state parks and many fishing lakes and recreation grounds are under the control of the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission. Four state-owned fish hatcheries are also controlled by the Commission. The number of fishing lakes and recreation grounds increases rapidly. On January 1, 1931, the number was 39. These acquisitions are steadily changing the life of the people. A more inviting outdoors is being created with nature's beauties within easy driving distance of any home. The lakes are being stocked with game fish. The wooded lands are being planted with game birds. Well conceived state laws are protecting game birds and fish from wanton slaughter. The recent a c q ui sition of 1,000 acres in S c o 11 s Bluff county in the picturesque hills of that section, known as the Wild Hat Hills Game Reserve, has given a refuge where big game, such as buffalo, elk, deer and antelope, are being propagated in natural surroundings and safe from molestation. Altogether these many public properties, well scattered over the state, constitute a public service that is being more and more appreciated and enjoyed as their recreational and educational benefits become known.

The parks and public recreation grounds of the state are administered by the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission. Until May, 1929, state parks were under the control of a State Park Board. Very limited funds were available for the use of the Board. With the creation of the Commission, parks and recreation grounds were consolidated. Funds are provided through hunting and fishing license fees, all of which go to the Commission. Ten per cent of such funds are set aside for the maintenance of the five state parks. The remaining funds are expended by the Commission in maintaining hatcheries, fishing lakes and recreation grounds and in buying new properties as the funds will allow.

The Commission is composed of five members, appointed by the Governor for a term of five years each. The Governor is ex-officio chairman and the state game warden is ex-officio secretary of the Commission. The members, aside from the Secretary, do not receive a salary but receive per diem and traveling expenses when actually on duty.

With the single exception of the Gretna fish hatchery, and the State Parks, which were acquired with funds derived by legislative enactment, all state-owned properties under control of the Commission have been acquired either by gift or purchased with funds from hunting and fishing license fees. This condition indicates the state of public interest in parks and recreation grounds in Nebraska. The recreational mood is steadily growing. In the next decade a statew i d e development of parks and playgrounds will be witnessed. This movement has also a farreaching economic benefit, for as trees and water multiply the climate changes for the better, there is greater rainfall and conditions for crops and livestock are improved.

Arbor Lodge State Park was acquired by the State in 1923 through the generosity of Joy Morton, a son of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day. It contains a portion of the homestead of Mr. Morton. Morton Park, a tract of 23 acres, which had been deeded in 18 8 S by Mr. Morton to the city of Nebraska City for use as a city park, was deeded back to the Morton estate by the city and is included in the grant to the state. There are 65 acres in the park now owned by the state.

Frogs

ALONG time ago, Latona, so the myth goes, weary ind worn, came upon a lovely stream where she hastened to quench her thirst. Some countrymen of Lycia who were gathering willows, jeered at her and refused to let her drink, even muddying the water with their feet. Lifting her hands to high heaven she exclaimed, "May they never quit that pool but pass their lives there!" And it came to pass accordingly.

The boorish Lycian countrymen, transmuted to frogs, have lived in the water ever since, sometimes wholly submerged, sometimes raising their heads above the water, and sometimes coming out on the bank, but soon leaping back into the water again. The myth pictures them raising their voices in "rails," croaking in the midst of water with harsh voices; and describes them as having bloated throats, mouths stretched by constant rails, necks shrunken, with head joined to the body; it tells of their vivid green backs and how they dwell in dark slimy pools. So it seems that the frogs of today do not differ very much from those of the old Greek and Roman days in appearance and habits.

These amphibians (Greek, Amphi, both; bois, life) begin their existence in the water, and their later development enables them to be at home on land or in water.

The general form of the body, the shape of the head, the long hind legs adapted to jumping, and the webbed toes for swimming, are practically the same in all frogs. Some modifications occur, in order to fit features to function or environment, as the discs on the end of the tree frogs' toes, and their power of changing color to harmonize with the surface upon which they are resting.

The adult frog has several peculiarities which set him apart from other vertebrates. At times he literally breathes through his skin, and it is done in this manner:

The lungs are hollow sacs that lie back of the stomach. The oxygen of the air passes both through the skin and the lungs into the blood of the frog, and the carbon dioxide is thrown off through the skin and the lungs, also. The frog is furnished with large blood vessels close to the skin, especially along the back. These blood vessels send many fine branches into the skin. This explains how frogs breathe through their skins.

When the frog remains under the water a long time, especially in winter, all the oxygen enters the blood through the skin. In fact, what air does enter the lungs is swallowed into them instead of being breathed into them, and it has been proved that even with the lungs shut off, a frog can get enough oxygen to maintain life.

The mouth of the frog is large, and short lips cover the short teeth in the edge of the upper jaw. The tongue is curiously formed, having two fleshy horns at the back end, and is attached at the front end to the floor of the mouth. The frog can throw its sticky tongue over the tip of the lower jaw, and use the forked end to catch insects which are then carried to the back of the mouth. Two groups of little curved teeth on the roof of the mouth aid in preventing the escape of the prey.

The food is swallowed whole, for the mouth is large, and the tube connecting it with the stomach can be stretched, so that a comparatively large animal can be swallowed.

The fundamental process of reproduction in the frog family is the same as in all other animals, but there is introduced the tadpole stage which makes the reproduction of the amphibians different from that of any other vertebrates.

The male frog has a pair of spermaries, one attached to the front end of each kidney. Each spermary is yellow, and the sperms escape through the kidneys. In the female the eggs are in the ovary, and break through their walls and enter the oviducts. As the eggs pass down through the oviduct, they are coated with a jellylike substance, that swells in the water and protects the eggs. At the anterior end of each kidney in both sexes in an irregular mass, the fat body, in which is stored the energy that the frog uses as it begins to grow eggs or sperms in the early spring, before there is plenty of food.

Frogs in general belong to a class of vertebrate animals called Batrachia; this group, including frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts, is of particular interest, because it marks the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life in the group of vertebrates. All the true frogs of America belong to the genus Rana, of the family of Ranidae, the most specialized of all the Salentia.

The edible species of frogs fall into two groups: (a) Those with more or less uniform dorsal coloration on the back and with an ear drum larger than the eye, in the male; namely, the green frog (Rana clamitans), the bullfrag (Rana catesbiana), and the Southern bullfrog (Rana grylio). (b) Those which are spotted on the back, with the ear of the male not larger than the eye, namely, the southern leopard frog (Rana spenocephala), and the pickerel frog (Rana pulastris).

The above forms are all true frogs (Rana) which have teeth on the upper jaw, no adhesive, enlarged discs on the ends of the fingers and toes and no large parotid gland back of each eye. Most of them are smooth of skin, and all reach an adult length of at least 3 inches, not counting the hind legs.

Quite numerous is Rana Clamitans, the green or spring frog: and Rana Spenocephala, the spotted or southern leopard frog. This can be recognized by the many brownish or green spots edged with white, which help this frog to escape his enemies as he squats among the various water plants. These colors form quite

A Nebraska Vacation

WHAT makes a vacation perfect? Some people would say that distance from home is the greatest factor; others would say scenery, hunting, fishing, association, and the like. Wherever you go, you will find that the natives are leaving home to go to some other place for their vacation. Most people think that the word vacation is synonymous with the word travel. I belive it is recreative to see new scenes and people. It has been my privilege to visit both the Rockies and the Oarkz Mountains. I enjoyed both of these trips; however, I spent one of the most enjoyable vacations in my life less than two miles from my home town.

The place was near the mouth of Turkey Creek on the north bank of the Republican River. My partner, Ike Houtz, and I located the site for our camp the day before we started on our vacation. The spot was ideal for a camp. It was a high, grassy knoll, surrounded by trees and almost roofed in by branches. In the foreground lay the lazy river, sparkling in the August sunlight and peering at us through the leafy trees.

On August 12 we gathered together our equipment, loaded it into a touring car and drove as near the place as possible. Then we unloaded our luggage and proceeded to carry the stuff the rest of the way. We worked most of the day putting up our tent, ditching it for drainage, clearing the brush away from our "front yard", and setting camp in order. When evening came, my partner drove the car back to town, and I finished the job of tidying up the place.

It was dark before Ike returned. I had a fire burning brightly, and was cooking bacon and eggs for supper when he came puffing into camp with a burlap sack filled with edibles.

"Well!" said he, "I guess we are fixed for the rest of the summer".

We ate supper, took a "swig" of water from the vacuum jug, and piled more wood on the fire. Then Ike went inside the tent and brought out a quilt. We stretched the quilt on the grass and lay down to enjoy a little rest. After indulging in some close harmony, we talked until the fire had faded into dull red embers. Then we roused ourselves from the comfortable improvised couch, and went inside the tent. I lay awake for a long time listening to the varied sounds of the night, and finally drifted away to slumberland.

Morning is a drowsy time in camp at the best. There is no buzzing alarm clock to ring in your ears; no hardhearted boss to think about. The only restriction to the length of time one may sleep is set by the droning, biting flies. Ike was the first man to get up; and, by the time I had pulled my clothes on, he was cooking cocoa over the open fire. After breakfast we washed the dishes and took another short "snooze". By the time we had finished our sleep it must have been eleven o'clock; so we began preparing for dinner.

After a good dinner we loaded our rifles and went on a short hunt in the woods. We succeeded in bagging one small rabbit. After debating on how to cook the animal, we finally decided to fry it. The meat was rather tough, but we managed to eat enough to satisfy our ravenous appetites.

When supper was over, we unrolled our throw-lines and set them in the river. The mosquitoes were so bad, by the river bank, that we did not tarry there long,.but returned to the tent and welcome campfire. Being tired from the many activities of the day, we soon retired for a long night's rest.

Next morning we arose with the sun, and hurried to the river. I cautiously climbed down the steep bank and lifted the line above the water. I was immediately greeted with a heavy tug from the other end of the line. I called to Ike, "I've got one!" He greeted me with a "so have I!" I led the fish slowly toward me, keeping him under the water. When he came close to the bank I reached down into the water, grasped the big "yellow cat" through the gills, and raised the fish from its element. After looking at another throw-line which had two smaller fish, I clambered up the bank to view the catch more closely. Soon Ike, who had been looking at a line farther down the river, returned with three fair-sized catfish.

"How much will the big boy weigh?" said Ike.

"Oh, about three and one-half" I replied.

We took the fish to camp and weighed them. The big one weighed exactly three and one-half pounds.

"How can you tell without scales?" asked Ike, who was not an experienced fisherman.

"A good fisherman has no use for scales", was my reply.

No manna from Heaven ever tasted better than fried catfish. I have eaten many kinds of fish, but none can compare with a good Nebraska-caught channel catfish. My smaller brother and Ike's two brothers helped us enjoy this feast. We also allowed them to wash the dishes after breakfast. When noon came we were still too stuffed with fish to eat; so no dinner was prepared. In the afternoon we lolled around in the sunshine and slept.

Days went on like this for over a week, days of leisure, pleasure, fun and rest. In the afternoons, boys from town would pay us a visit. We swam, fished, practiced shooting at pennies, ate watermelons, and had a good time in general.

It was on the last evening in camp that our conversation fell to our own experiences and travels. We "swapped yarns" about places we had been in the Rockies, in the East, North, South, and West. Our conversation turned to silence as the moon poked its nose over the tops of the trees and turned the landscape into an illuminated picture of great beauty. The river sparkled and laughed through the sighing trees; our campfire gleamed like a jewel in the crown of nature; a million stars blinked and twinkled from above. From far downstream came the splashing sound of fish playing in the shallows.

A feeling of gratitude crept over me as I thought of this wonderful realm God had given us — right on our door-step; this garden of Eden in our own county, our own state. I thought of the many people who did not appreciate the natural beauty surrounding them. The moon slid behind a dark cloud, the silvery picture vanished, and we were left staring into darkness. Ike was the first to break the spell of silence and his words formed in my mind before he spoke: "After all, there's no place like home."

EDITORIAL

Regulations increasing the protection of migratory birds, recommended recently by the Biological Survey of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, will affect hunters in all parts of the United States. President Hoover on March 17 approved amendments to the migratory bird regulations adopted by Secretary of Agriculture Hyde to carry out the recommendations.

The chief amendment that affects all parts of the country is one that shortens the open seasons 15 days on ducks, geese (including brant), coots, and jacksnipe. Hereafter, the seasons on these birds will start 15 days later in the northern parts of the country and close 15 days earlier in the South. One effect of this amendment will be to prohibit the shooting of ducks, geese (including brant), coots, and jacksnipe in September in any State. The shortened seasons are prescribed because of the increased natural hazards the birds are experiencing in reduced breeding, feeding, and resting areas, brought about in part as a result of unprecedented drought the last two seasons.

A further amendment of general effect regulates the hour at which hunters can begin shooting on the opening day of the season in each locality. Hereafter it will be illegal to hunt migratory game birds before noon on the opening day.

Other general provisions are concerned with decoys, baiting, and bag limits. Not more than 10 live goose decoys may hereafter be used or shot over at any one gunning stand, blind, or floating device. Baiting for mourning doves with salt or with wheat or other grains will not be permitted, and it is illegal to take these birds on or over areas so baited. The bag limits on those geese for which open seasons are provided are changed by including brant with geese and limiting the total of all geese (including brant) to 4 a day and 8 in possession.

The remaining amendments have to do with particular species or with seasons over specified areas.

The season on Ross's and cackling geese will be closed throughout the entire range of these species in this country and the close season on snow geese is established in all States bordering on the Atlantic Ocean.

1. Hour of opening, first day of season.—The hour for the commencement of hunting on the opening day of the season will be 12:00 o'clock noon.

2. Waterfowl seasons.—The open seasons for waterfowl (except snow geese in States bordering on the Atlantic Ocean, Ross's geese, cackling geese, wood duck, eider ducks, and swans), and for coot and Wilson's snipe or jacksnipe will be as follows:

In Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York (except Long Island), Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington the open season will be from October 1 to December 31;

In that portion of New York known as Long Island, and in New Jersey, Delaware, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and in that portion of Texas lying west and north of the line described in existing regulations the open season will be from October 16 to January 15;

In that portion of Texas lying south and east of the line described in existing regulations the open season will be from November 1 to January 15;

In Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana the open season will be from November 1 to January 15;

In Florida the open season will be from November 2 0 to January 15; and

In Alaska the open season will be from September 1 to December 15.

3. Close seasons on certain geese.—The season has been closed on snow geese in all States bordering on the Atlantic Ocean, and on Ross's geese and cackling geese throughout their range in this country.

4. Brant included with geese.—Brant have been included in the bag limit for geese, and only 4 geese and brant in the aggregate of all kinds may be taken in any one day, and no person may possess at any one time more than 8 geese (including brant) in the aggregate of all kinds.

5. Decoys for geese.—In the hunting of wild geese not more than ten (10) live goose decoys may be used or shot over at any one gunning stand, blind, or floating device.

6. Baiting for mourning cloves.—The hunting, killing, or taking of mourning doves is not permitted on or over, at, or near any area that has been baited with salt, with corn, wheat, or other grain, or with other foods placed or scattered thereon.

7. Dove seasons in Florida.—The open season for mourning doves in the State of Florida will be from November 20 to January 31, except in the counties of

The Valentine Fish Hatchery

THE Valentine fish hatchery was started almost twenty years ago. It is located about two miles north-east of Valentine, on Minnechaduza creek, and is one of nature's beauty spots. It is located in a small valley, surrounded on three sides by hills covered with young timber — oak, ash, elm, box-elder and western pine — which is clothed in a garb of green through the year.

Two and one-half miles north of the hatch house is the main spring boiling up out of the earth; below this is numerous smaller ones which form a stream known as old government canyon creek. Near the source of this stream, and extending down for a distance of about a mile, is a system of seven hatching ponds, with a surface area of about thirty acres, with a large stream of pure water running through them continually. In these ponds black bass are propagated during the hatching season.

At the lower end of the canyon is a second system of ponds numbering eight which were in use last year with an area of about twenty acres; three more ponds will be built this year giving an additional area of about eight acres. These ponds were the first ones built and have been in use for almost twenty years; rock bass, crappie and sunnies are propagated here.

In the hatching house young trout are hatched artificially on wire trays placed in shallow troughs filled with running water. The eggs are placed in the hatchery in the early winter, usually in the later part of December, and the young fry are planted in nursery ponds in March and April, no adult trout are kept at the hatchery, the eggs being obtained from private hatcheries in Wisconsin, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Montana. All trout are planted in the embryo stage as soon as they are able to swim. It is the opinion of fish culturists that when trout of this age are planted in our streams from various causes not more than 5 % live to maturity. This loss is being overcome to a large extent by the building of nursery ponds on all good trout streams, where the fry may be kept from spring to fall and turned loose as fingerlings. Thus they will be large enough to take care of themselves. There are several nursery ponds in operation now and the results obtained with the fish in these ponds are of a nature that should encourage the building of more of them. And in the interest of better trout fishing both the sportsman and commission should boost for more nursery ponds where available.

There are two methods of fish culture in operation in this country today. One is known as artificial fish culture and the other is known as pond culture. In artificial fish culture the eggs are stripped from the female fish, while the fish is alive, and the eggs are made fertile by stripping the male fish in a similar manner. The eggs are then placed on wire trays and placed in hatching troughs or in glass incubating jars, depending on the kind of fish eggs. The period of incubation varies greatly. Wall-eyed pike from fifteen to twenty days, trout from seventy to eighty days, bass from fourteen to twenty-one days. As soon as the trout are hatched and able to swim, and start to feed they are placed in nursery ponds or trout streams. At this stage they are known to fish-culturists as "fry."

In the pond method the parent fish prepare their nests, deposit their eggs, and are watched day and night by the parent fish usually the male performing this task, and as soon as the eggs are hatched the small fish hover over the nest for two to five days before they raise from the nest,, school up, and hunt for shallow water so as to be out of danger of being eaten by the larger fish. They are kept in the hatching ponds all summer and fed until fall when they are taken out and distributed to lakes and streams all over the state by truck or fish car. These fish are called fingerlings and are about three inches long. It is claimed by fish culturists when fish of this size are planted 90% live to maturity. Fish hatched by the pond method at the Valentine hatchery were over three hundred thousand and next year with a new sub-station for hatching purposes the output will be doubled.

Many of the fishes taken for food by anglers, and naturally of wide distribution, have as a result of fish cultural operations, been established in sections far removed from there original habitat. Nebraska has benefited greatly by this condition. The following species have been brought to Nebraska through fish culture operations: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Lock Leven Trout, Walleyed Pike, Small Mouth Bass, Rock Bass, Ring Perch, Black Eyed Sunfish, and Carp. Gold fish were also imported to Nebraska. Experiments have been made with lake white fish, lake herring and land locked salmon, but with out any success up to date. —Garland Gray, Supt, Valentine Hatchery.

Enforcement of the recently amended Federal Black Bass Law, to regulate interstate transportation of large and small-mouthed black bass, will be directed by Talbott Denmead, who is being transferred to the Bureau of Fisheries, Department of Commerce, from the Bureau of Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture. Effective March 24, Mr. Denmad will become law enforcement officer in a newly created division in the Bureau of Fisheries. The request for his transfer made by Commissioner Henry O'Malley, of that bureau, was approved by Paul G. Redington, Chief of the Biological Survey, on the ground that his experience covering a period of ten years with the Biological Survey in enforcement of the Migratory-Bird Treaty and Lacey Acts, particularly with those phases that are concerned with restrictions on illegal interstate commerce in game, has peculiarly fitted Mr. Denmead for this specialized type of work in the Bureau of Fisheries, the first law enforcement work of this character of that bureau. Mr. Denmead served the Biological Survey for six years as deputy chief and acting chief U. S. game warden, and for the last four years has been assistant U. S. game conservation officer of the bureau. In 1910 he was made a member of a special game and fish commission of Maryland by Governor A. L. Crothers and has served as acting State game warden and chief deputy in the Conservation Commission of Maryland.

The first residents of the Wild Cat Hills Game Preserve in Scotts Bluff county were received last winter. They did not thunder down the plains to their new place of abode, as the buffalo did in the days of the great hunts, nor pick their way stealthily along the water courses as the elk did before rude settlers preempted their feeding grounds. They came ingloriously in trucks from Wind Cave federal game preserve in the Black Hills where six head of yearling buffalo and six head of yearling elk were "borrowed" by the Nebraska Game, Forestation & Parks Commission. These are the forerunners. They will be followed by deer and antelope. Then the peaceful representatives of the plains will be safely lodged in their new home.

Wild Cat Hills game preserve is 1,000 acres in extent. It is in the wild, pine-clad hills south of Scottsbluff, reached now by a graveled highway, No. 2 9. Fence has been put around 300 acres. The fence is eight feet high and exceedingly tight. It serves two purposes. It will keep the buffalo, elk, deer and antelope in, and it will keep destructive wild animals out. Marauding wolves and coyotes prey on young deer, elk and antelope. The young inside the fenced inclosure will be safe from attack.

The preserve will afford a natural haunt for the wild life within the inclosure. Three hundred acres will give sufficient room for the animals and yet enable visitors to see them to advantage. The purpose of the commission in acquiring the preserve is to kee^. representative specimens of animal life of the plains for posterity to see in a natural habitat. For this reason the preserve is an important reminder of the early life and character of the state.

LITTLE FISH LIVE TO TELL OF "OPERATION"

Do infantile fish, jerked above water for their first goggle-eyed view of the world from the end of an angler's line, die of the shock after being returned to the water?

This question, which has bothered fishermen ever since many states placed a size limit on game species, has been answered by 6 00 little fish at the Harietta Hatchery, Michigan, according to the American Game Association.

These piscatorial experimenters bit an assortment of hooks and artificial flies in the cause of science — and all but a small percentage of them were living to tell of "their operation" two months later.

All save two and a half per cent of the young fish caught with flies survived while a tenth of those caught with barbed hooks, the most difficult to remove, paid with their lives.

The fish division of the Michigan Conservation Department believes its investigations have proved that the percentage of young fish surviving an encounter with the hook justifies sportsmanly observance of the law. It has urged anglers to remove hooks carefully, wetting the hands before touching the fish.

ISSUE NEW FILM ON GAME

Quail, grouse, wild ducks, wild turkeys, moose, elk, deer, bears, and the elusive trout and bass in their native habitats, are featured players in the new 1-reel motion picture "Forest Fires—or Game?" just released by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The film was warmly praised at a pre-release showing before a special audience of foresters and representatives from the various bureaus of the department and from the Bureau of Fisheries and the American Forestry Association, both for its timely message and for its unusual fish and game scenes.

This film, arranged and sponsored by the Forest Service and made and distributed by the Office of Motion Pictures, Extension Service, shows how protected forests provide homes for game birds and animals and other wild life and for trout and bass in protected mountain streams, and how forest fires and destructive logging methods destroy these homes and, together with unrestricted hunting and fishing, make restocking necessary.

One sequence shows how a State game department cares for fawns which are caught when young, held in corrals, and fed until large enough to ship to understocked areas. Another sequence shows how fish for restocking are raised in a Federal fish hatchery. One sees the fish eggs placed in hatching troughs, the actual hatching scenes, the fish when they have become fry, and finally the fingerlings ready for shipment to exhausted streams.

NEBRASKA STATE PARKS

The deeds to the property were formally made by Mr. Joy Morton on September 27, 1923, and the day was made the occasion of elaborate ceremonies at Arbor Lodge and in Nebraska City.

The Mansion. The stately mansion of 52 rooms is probably of more interest to the average visitor than any other feature of the park. The original house was remodeled and enlarged in 18 71 and again in 1879 to care for the growing family. At the death of Mr. Morton in 1902, the property passed to the control of his eldest son, Joy Morton, of Chicago. The son remodeled -the building, taking away the double deck porches, except at the west end, and adding the three story front portion of imposing Colonial architecture as it stands today. The whole building was stuccoed. For 2 0 years tne building was used as the summer home of Joy Morton and his family.

On the lower floor are: The Reception Hall, with its broad staircase of mahogany and enamel. At the stair landing is a large painting depicting the signing away of their lands in Nebraska by the Pawnee Indians. The Title Room, once the library, includes exhibits to show pictorially the successive owners of the land from the Indians down. The Drawing Room is at the south end of the hall and contains paintings of Mr. Morton and Caroline Joy Morton in their bridal days. The Sun Parlor, west of the Drawing Room, is furnished with hand made mission furniture. The skylight is of opalescent cathedral glass. Concealed lights give the same beautiful artificial lighting effects at night as are given by sunshine during the day. The French doors open on the beautiful lawn.

The Denver Room, named in honor of General Denver, who occupied it while negotiating the treaty of 1857 with the Pawnee Indians, is just north of the Sun Parlor and once served as a library. It now houses the collection of Indian material presented to Arbor Lodge State Park by the widow and heirs of the late Major Keeling of Falls City. Adjoining the Denver Room on the west side is the Document Room, for many years used by Mr. Morton as his office. His old desk, the Admiral Dewey chair and the old leather couch are still there. The glass cases are lined with sample letters and documents, representative of thousands written by Mr. Morton. A picture of President Cleveland's cabinet, in which Mr. Morton served as Secretary of Agriculture, and a picture of the famous "Steam Wagon" hang on the walls. The Dining Room is across the hallway from the Denver Room. It is a portion of the original building. The walnut woodwork and beamed ceilings are distinctive. Beautiful and rare specimens of old china are displayed in the china closets. The Music Room adjoins the Dining Room. An upright piano, one of the early musical instruments at Arbor Lodge, is found here. There are several fine paintings on the walls.

On the second floor at the north end of the hall is the Cleveland Room, so named for President and Mrs. Cleveland, who occupied it on their visit to Arbor Lodge. The room is furnished as it was in 19 05. A beautiful view of the drive may be seen from the balcony of this room. The bedrooms of Mr. and Mrs. Morton are furnished as they were when they used them. The hall has many interesting pictures. The other rooms on this floor are devoted to the exhibition of interesting relics and curios.

The Stables. The stables were built in 1900 at a cost of $10,0 00. The interior has been rearranged and now contains old vehicles used at the Lodge as well as other interesting equipages. A stage coach, such as was used on the Overland stage line in about 1860 and driven by such men as "Buffalo Bill" Cody and Thomas Ryan, sit silently now in the carriage space. There are fine specimens of early harnesses and saddles.

The Monument. Near the east end of the park stands the Morton Memorial. Against a background of evergreens a heroic bronze statue of the Tree Planter stands. The memorial and statue were designed by Rudolph Evans and was made possible by penny and nickel contributors of school children of the United States. Behind the statue is a curved bench decorated with bronze tablets depicting historic events. The memorial was unveiled in October, 19 05. The dedication address was delivered by ex-President Cleveland. Many great men of the nation were present for the ceremonies.

The Log Cabin. Standing near the main entrance to the park and just acress the drive from the monument square is a log cabin erected in 1890 as a memorial to the old settlers. It is typical of the houses used by early settlers in the wooded sections of the state.

The Sunken Garden. Just south of the mansion is an Italian garden built up terrace by terrace and filled with flowers and closely clipped lawn. Hedges and brick walls separate the different units. The central walks end in a rustic pergola covered with vines. Paths lead to rose beds and iris beds on the right. The sun dial in the garden bears this inscription: "Days Fly, Flowers Die; New Days, New Ways; Love Stays."

The Pine Grove. In the northwest corner of the park is a grove of white pines planted in 1892. It is very likely the oldest artificial grove of its kind in the state. The trees originally numbered 10,000 and by being set 4x4 feet apart were compelled to grow tall and straight.

The Arboretum. A recent survey found 138 species of trees and shrubs in the grounds east and north of the mansion. This is probably the largest collection of woody species to be found in the state. Prominent men and women at different times have planted trees on the grounds. Important species are identified with metal labels and also give the history of each tree.

A group of mineral springs in Custer County is the site of this park. In 19 23 citizens of Custer County offered, and the Legislature accepted, a 6 0-aere tract containing these springs as a state park. The springs themselves are a distinguishing feature of the park. Two log cabins built in 18 73 are interesting structures. There are fine camping and picnic grounds. The mineral water is much sought. The park is 19 miles northwest of Broken Bow, 6 miles east of Anselmo, and 9 miles north of Merna. It is located near federal highway No. 2, known as the Potash Highway. It is a popular playground for thousands of people every year.

This beautiful park, adjoining Grand Island, was given to the state by citizens of Grand Island and Hall County in 1927. It consists of 42.83 acres and is a portion of the homestead of William Stolley, a pioneer of central Nebraska. Mr. Stolley loved trees. In 1861 he planted 5,000. Thousands have since been planted. Some magnificent specimens have resulted. In portions of the park typical wild forest conditions prevail. The homestead was located on the old Oregon Trail. One of the present buildings contains the timbers used in the block house, known as Fort Independence, and maintained as a protection against Indians in the early days. An old log cabin, thatched ""with slough grass, and the first frame school house to be erected in Hall County are in good state of preservation. But the beauty of the place is the great trees that whisper praise of the pioneer whose vision saw the naked prairie clothed with sentinels of beauty. A fine old farm home is occupied by the caretaker. In the grounds are cool retreats where picnic parties and tree lovers come to enjoy nature in one of her most delightful moods.

The Legislature of 1921 set aside a section of school land in Dawes county, nine miles south of Chadron, to be used as a state park. This is a rugged, wooded section of Pine Ridge, an extension into Nebraska of the Black Hills of South Dakota. The tall hills and deep ravines are covered with pines. Spring-fed streams, rugged crags and wierd natural rock formations are characteristic of this park. Nature is seen in one of her wild moods. Chadron Creek runs through the park and gives it a sylvan look. Cabins and camping sites for visitors bring thousands of tourists every year. A fine graveled highway, No. 19, passes the park.

This park is quite different from any other of the state parks. Man has done little here. Nature is shown in her untouched mood. The scenery is mountain-like.

FROGS

definite bands on the hind legs, though the spotting varies somewhat in individuals.

These last two varieties are never used for food being small, rarely over 3 and one-half inches long. From an economic standpoint these species are beneficial, since their diet consists almost exclusively of insects.

Bullfrogs, like other frogs, being cold blooded animals, have their body temperature dependent upon that of their surroundings. They can stand a water temperature near freezing for prolonged periods, and during cold weather sleep in the mud in the bottom of the swamps and ponds. From the first cold days of winter till the first warm days of spring, they are rarely seen. Hibernation is governed entirely by temperature, however, and during prolonged periods of warm weather they may be observed occasionally in mid-winter, disappearing again as the weather turns cold.

Early spring is the season when the frogs emerge in large numbers from hibernating. They rarely start their croaking until late April, and mating usually begins about the middle of May, and continues during June. When warm weather sets in they are particularly active at night, their avoidance of sunlight keeping them under cover during the day.

In May the large bullfrogs are ready to lay their eggs, but no matter how warm it is, their calls are seldom heard until after the first heavy spring rains, which may occur during the latter part of March, or early in April. The first male frogs to find a suitable breeding spot (usually a deep section of the swamp) begin to call, and within a few days a thousand or more may gather and sing in one deafening chorus.

Egg-laying begins immediately after the females, attracted by the call of the males, find the breeding place, and large masses of many thousands of eggs are laid by each. During the egg-laying time the male embraces the female but the eggs are fertilized in the water, and are left to hatch by the heat of the sun. It is not improbable that eggs may be laid on successive occasions, as laying is controlled by wet weather and the condition of the swamp, and not by temperature; at any rate, egg-laying is extended over longer or shorter periods according to the conditions of moisture, though most of the eggs are laid in May. The egg-laying habits of Rana graylio have not yet been observed, but it appears to take place at about the same time as that of catesbiana. However, the final transformation takes place in May when the tadpole is about a year old, as was the habit with the preceding species.

The eggs are surrounded by a jelly-like substance that holds them together. As the eggs are being laid by the female frog, the male frog spreads a larger number of sperm cells over the whole mass. These sperm cells make their way through the soft jelly, and one of them must enter each egg, or else it will not be fertile.

As soon as the sperm cell enters the egg, it begins to change from a solid, pointed body into a round nucleus, which is so much like the nucleus already in the egg cell that none but experts in the study can tell which came from the sperm cell and which from the egg cell. These two nuclei come in contact and unite, leaving but one nucleus in the egg. This last change is fertilization, which stimulate the division of the embryo into formations of the various life systems and organs of the tadpole.

As soon as the young tadpole hatches, which is in a few days, it attaches itself to plants, and lives for the first few days upon the food-yolk within its own body; the mouth forms, and horny jaws develop. Then the tadpole feeds upon minute plants, and becomes dependent upon its own skill to get food and escape its enemies.

For a time the tadpole breathes through its gills, two sets being used. The first ones are on the outside of the body, and last only two or three days, when the internal gills form in the throat and the tadpole breathes much like a fish.

Violations of Nebraska's Game Laws

HUNTING SEASONS ON WILD FOWL TO BE SHORTER

Dade, Monroe, and Broward, where the season will remain unchanged-—September 16 to November 15.

8. Rail and gallinule seasons, New York and Washington.—In the States of New York and Washington the open season for rails and gallinules (except coot) will be from October 1 to November 3 0.

9. Woodcock seasons in New York.—The open seasan for the hunting of woodcock in that portion of New York lying south of the tracks of the main line of the New York Central Railroad extending from Buffalo to Albany and south of the tracks of the main line of the Boston & Albany Railroad extending from Albany to the Massachusetts State line, including Long Island, will be from October 15 to November 14. In that portion of New York lying north of the line above described, the season will be limited to the month of October.

ISSUE NEW FILM ON GAME

The picture was filmed in the mountains of North Carolina and in various national forests and game reservations throughout the United States. It includes much unusual fish and game photography, such as a mother quail on her nest, a mother wild goose and her family, bears climbing up and down a tree, fish eggs in the process of hatching, and various fly-casting scenes.

Thsi film may be borrowed free, except for transportation charges. Reservations for bookings should be made with the Office of Motion Pictures, Extension Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Prints made from the department's negatives may be purchased at cost of printing (amounting to about $27 for a 1,000-foot reel on 35 mm. slow-burning stock) by State forestry and fish and game departments, schools, colleges, boards of education, and other authorized organizations and individuals.