Blue Jay, vol.52, issue 3

76 Pages·1994·9.2 MB·English

by  Saskatchewan Natural History Society

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in 2019 with funding from
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Blue Jay, founded in 1942 by Isabel M. Priestly, is a journal of natural history and
conservation for Saskatchewan and adjacent regions. It is published quarterly by Nature
Saskatchewan, Box 4348, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 3W6.
CN ISSN 0006-5099.
Editor: J. Lynn Brown
Associate Editors: Margaret Belcher, Ed Driver, J. Bernard Gollop, Wayne C. Harris, Ronald
Hooper, Robert W. Nero, Carol A. Scott, Vernon L. Harms
EDITORIAL INFORMATION: All items for publication should be addressed to the editor,
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50:126-128, or contact the editor. Blue Jay is abstracted by BIOSIS.
Common names are used for species where possible. Bird names follow the 1983 revision
of the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list. Mammals are from Banfield’s The
Mammals of Canada (1974). Since insect and plant names are not standardized, scientific
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Cover: Great Blue Heron. Photo by Tim Garton.
Published by the Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina. Printed by Merit
Printing, Regina, Saskatchewan, on 10% recycled paper.
THIS ORGANIZATION RECEIVES FUNDING FROM
Saskatchewan
LOTTERIES
Blue Jay
Vol. 52 No. 3 September 1994 121-184
Palaeontology
TREASURES ON THE SHELVES. Tim T. Tokaryk.121
Plants
PLANT DISCOVERIES IN SASKATCHEWAN, 1988-92, FEATURING SERPENT
SPURGE AND FLUFFWEED. John H. Hudson.126
Insects
MORE ABOUT BUTTERFLY BOOKS AND A MAGAZINE. Bernie Gollop.130
Birds
A BAR-HEADED GOOSE SEEN IN REGINA — A POSSIBLE FIRST
FOR NORTH AMERICA. Fred W. Lahrman..137
HOW DID THE CANADA GOOSE GET ITS NAME BEFORE THERE
WAS A CANADA? C. Stuart Houston...141
MALLARD PARASITIZES SHARP-TAILED GROUSE NEST. Stephen W. Leach.... 144
RECENT RECORDS OF OLDSQUAW IN SOUTHEASTERN MANITOBA.
Peter Taylor...147
HEARD BUT NOT NECESSARILY SEEN: SURVEYS OF BIRDS AT GREENWATER
LAKE AND MOOSE MOUNTAIN PROVINCIAL PARKS. Frank Switzer.152
UNUSUAL NEST SITE OF BROWN THRASHER. Jean Bancroft.160
SNOWY OWL CAPTURES ROCK DOVE IN MID-AIR. Robert W. Nero.162
JANUARY SIGHTING OF A NORTHERN SHRIKE IN REGINA. Jeannette Pepper .163
PARTIAL ALBINISM: A CHALLENGE TO IDENTIFICATION. Astrid MacLeod.165
THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. Keith Barr.167
RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF BIRDS DURING THE BREEDING SEASON
IN SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN. NavjotS. Sodhi.169
Mammals
GRAY SQUIRRELS AND MAGPIES. Keith Barr.174
SHORT-TAILED SHREW APPARENT CAUSE OF MORTALITY OF EASTERN
SCREECH-OWL. Robert W. Nero.176
CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH A BOBCAT. Wayne Harris.179
Nature Library
EXPLORING THE GRASSLANDS: UNDERSTANDING AN ECOSYSTEM.
Reviewed by John Pollock.181
Letters
CAUGHT IN THE ACT. Isabel Ritchie.182
SONG SPARROW AT WINTER FEEDER. Velma Spizawka.183
DOWITCHER FLOCK RESCUES COMPANION FROM MERLIN.
Fred W. Lahrman.184
Columns
EDITORIAL.ii
52(3). September 1994
EDITORIAL
In my June editorial, I asked, “How is technical, difficult to read and in some
Blue Jay doing?” I was pleased to re¬ cases not meant to be read. You don’t
ceive letters about this question from need the moth article ... you have it
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and there in print to be used by those who
Ontario. Here are a few of the re¬ are interested in moths, whether
sponses: SNHS members, university professors
(here or overseas), etc.”
uBlue Jay is a journal of natural his¬
tory and conservation for Saskatche¬ Scott Bricker of St. Albert, Alberta,
wan and adjacent regions. Its value made the following comments: “The
lies not solely in serving members of magazine maintains a good balance
the Saskatchewan Natural History So¬ between the scientific and the ‘lay,’ be¬
ciety (SNHS) as a source of enjoy¬ tween bugs, animals, flowers and
ment, entertainment, and education ... birds. As a ‘birder,’ I don’t get upset
its value lies primarily in the accumula¬ with non-bird articles. These remind
tion of information. It should not aim to me that not everything is ‘strictly for
satisfy members. Members should feel the birds.’ As they say in Ireland,
good knowing that they ... are support¬ ‘You’re doin’ just foin’.”
ing a journal which is a source of
Tony Lang of Toronto: “I think you
information. Its value does not end
have made the right decision to work
when a member puts his copy down ...
at striking a balance between scientific
it sits in libraries where it is perma¬
and non-scientific articles. Blue Jay
nently available as a source of infor¬
needs both. ... Blue Jay provides a
mation. ... members get something out
place in the open literature to which
of it, varying with their interests, back¬
people all over the continent look for
ground, and experience; and those
information on the natural history of
who contribute help stimulate and
the northern Prairies. ... While Blue
teach others. This is well and good,
Jay has a scientific responsibility, there
but it does not matter whether each
is a real need to ensure that the jour¬
and every member enjoys each and
nal is still accessible and interesting to
every article in each issue. That is a
members who are new or are not avid
faulty premise, and I see great risk in
field naturalists. Having non-scientific
this business of ‘making Blue Jay a
articles and letters alongside the scien¬
worthwhile journal for all Nature Sas¬
tific articles fulfils part of this need. ...
katchewan members’.” This excellent
Maybe the ‘Editorial Information’ sec¬
defense for the Blue Jay as a semi-
tion could explicitly state that the
scientific journal was written by a Blue
authors of all articles are encouraged
Jay associate editor, Dr. Robert Nero
to make their articles readable by non¬
of Winnipeg.
specialists. They could also be
Robert goes on to state: “Getting assured that this will not detract from
‘scientists’ to write for all Blue Jay the scientific value of the articles. ...
‘subscribers’ is somehow going out on taking a strong hand in the editing of
a limb that will break off. ... As an in¬ already written articles would be time
formed and experienced member and consuming. It might also deter submis¬
reader of Blue Jay for several years, I sion of scientific articles because of
have never tried to read everything the additional ... time that would be re¬
that was in Blue Jay. I don’t need to di¬ quired before such articles are
gest all the information about a published.”
technical article on moths, for exam¬
The struggle to find a good balance
ple, to appreciate the long term value
will continue. My associate editors and
of that item. ... We need to remind
I sincerely thank all who took time to
folks that this is a function of the
send comments.
SNHS, to record what is sometimes
Blue Jay
PALAEONTOLOGY
TREASURES ON THE SHELVES
TIM T. TOKARYK, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Wascana Park, Regina,
Saskatchewan. S4P 3V7
One of my biggest passions is vis¬ popular they shock many people.”17
iting book stores. The dusty shelves, Darrow is remembered as saying, “I
books stacked any way imaginable, may hate the sin but never the
titles that few people find useful, but sinner.”17 He reached national fame
someone, sometime, will. I get less a few times but none so prominently
of a thrill in the new book stores not as when he defended John T.
because the current titles are unex¬ Scopes. Scopes was a school
citing but because the cost of new teacher in Tennessee who volun¬
books makes my wallet scream in teered to test a little known point in
fright and anger. No, it’s the used — state law where it prohibited “the
more specifically the antiquarian — teaching of the Evolution Theory in
book stores that grab my interest be¬ all Universities, Normals, and all
cause, for me, the only place to other public schools of Tennessee
search out topics related to evolution which are supported whole or in part
is on the shelves of antiquarian book by the public school funds of the
stores. state ...[in contradiction to] any the¬
ory that denies the story of the Divine
As I enter the shop I’m initially Creation of man as taught in the
drawn to the science section. Evolu¬ Bible.”17 Darrow’s legal opponent
tion has many avenues of thought — was William Jennings Bryan, three¬
geology, biology, paleontology. Yet time presidential candidate and
even after I have gorged myself in fundamentalist; together Bryan and
this small area of the shop I look Darrow made this trial a national
around and see more subjects in the event. In the end Scopes was found
distance, more volumes with the thin guilty (there was never any doubt
veil of dust that temporarily entombs that he had violated the letter of the
them. I walk further on. law but the defence wanted to prove
that the law infringed on free thought,
The law section has some interest hoping later to take the case to the
to me. If you ever talk to a lawyer Supreme Court, but were never able
who happens to be somewhat famil¬ to). Scopes was given a modest fine,
iar with the history of his or her but not before Darrow showed how
profession mention the name illogical the concept of Divine Crea¬
Clarence Darrow. In a biography of tion is in a science classroom if you
Darrow (1857-1938), Irving Stone go by the letter of Genesis. One can
summarized his life “as a lawyer who find a sufficient review of the above
attacks boldly and loudly, crosses case by Ray Ginger in Six Days or
swords even with the judge, spilling Forever?.7
his sarcasm over the courtroom ...
defending causes and beliefs so un¬ Moving to another aisle in the book
52(3). September 1994 121
store and taking temporary leave of son, suggests that the agnostism
nonfiction, one may find a play by that erupted in the latter part of the
Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee 19th century, due somewhat to the
called Inherit the Wind.:0 Here is a writings of Huxley and Darwin, did
theatrical production of the Scopes help shape Doyle’s early years.12
trial. Later Spencer Tracy and Gene [Though Holmes makes no reference
Kelly headlined a powerful and still to Darwin another scholar of biology,
captivating movie version of the Baron Georges Cuvier, is mentioned
same work. in “The Five Orange Pips.” One of
the founders of comparative anat¬
There is no doubt that the theme omy and a devout anti-evolutionist,
of evolution has touched English Cuvier could reconstruct an extinct
literature. William Leatherdale re¬ animal based on its fragmentary re¬
viewed this idea and concluded that mains in the rock. He was able to
no other revolution in modern sci¬ achieve this not by some magical
ence has affected literature as much power but by his own accumulated
as Darwinian evolution.11 Its funda¬ knowledge of the form and function
mental message seeps into almost of extinct and extant animals. Ac¬
everything. Authors like Bernard cording to Holmes, “Cuvier could
Shaw in Back to Methuselah, first correctly describe a whole animal by
published in 1921, and more recently the contemplation of a single bone,
John Fowles’ The French Lieuten¬ so the observer who has thoroughly
ant’s Woman, first printed in 1969, understood one link in a series of in¬
used the Darwinian thinking as a tool cidents, should be able to accurately
for social reformation in the 19th state all the other ones, both before
century5,15 Tennyson and Hardy are and after.”4]
other noteworthy authors cited by
Leatherdale. We could even extend our evolu¬
tionary thematics to art (something I
One name not mentioned (and I know as much about as fiction which
could never really figure out why) is isn’t really saying much). Martin Rud-
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or his fa¬ wick’s Scenes from Deep Time is a
mous fictional consulting detective compilation of early representations
Sherlock Holmes, since the process of the prehistoric world, most of
of deduction and the securing of which were originally plates in books
facts were fundamental to Holmes going back to the 18th century.13 The
and Darwin. I asked the question combination of early interpretations,
about Doyle to a colleague of mine, primitive printing techniques, and a
William Sarjeant of the University of style of illustrating that is almost for¬
Saskatchewan. Amongst his many gotten, all reflect our ontogenetic
talents, Sarjeant is also a Holmesian knowledge.
scholar and pointed out a passage in
one of Doyle’s tales. When Watson Charles Knight was also an artist
recounts his first days with Holmes in of some repute. Most of his work
The Study in Scarlet, Holmes says, was originally intended not as a sup¬
“It is of the highest importance, ... plement to the text in a book but for a
not to have useless facts elbowing bigger spectrum — the museum gal¬
out the useful ones.”4 I guess if it lery (you can see some of his work
wasn’t directly related to a case it be¬ later reproduced in many paleo-
comes extraneous. However, one related books). The earlier part of
biographer of Doyle, Hesketh Pear¬ this century saw a boom not only in
122 Blue Jay
fossil collecting but in displaying the of philosophical standing with the
fossils, which in turn required appro¬ other, more aged sciences with Dar¬
priate art work to bring home the winian Paradigms and The Darwinian
reality of these Phanerozoic behe¬ Revolution.^4’^
moths. A leader in this field was the
American Museum of Natural History Religion is a favourite haunt of
in New York. Knight soon became mine in the antiquarian book store. In
the foremost illustrator of his time, general, I am interested in how sci¬
producing murals for the museum in ence has melded or clashed with
New York as well as the Chicago religion, primarily the Judaeo-
Field Museum and the Los Angeles Christian beliefs, and specifically how
County Museum. With all the revi¬ evolutionary biology has added to the
sionism that has occurred in disruption of religious complacency,
museum galleries over the past few most notably in the 19th century.
decades I am not certain if most of There are many titles, everyone
Knight’s work can be seen by the seems to have some point of view.
public. Fortunately, in 1982, Sylvia The first intellectual tsunami that evo¬
Czerka and Donald Glut compiled lution created was against the
examples of Knights work in book fracturing bedrock of religion. Take
form, Dinosaurs, Mammoths and for instance a little book by J.B. Dim-
Cavemen.2 The images may be bleby titled The Date of Creation,
familiar. published in 1902.3 Dimbleby ada¬
mantly defends, on rather a lame
Often tucked away in some small scientific basis, the six literal days of
nook in the book shop one will find creation in Genesis and has little
the philosophy section. If you are praise for the work of nonconformists
lucky you may find a book or two that like Darwin and others. In reading this
will have some brief discussion of sci¬ book it is obvious that its author has
ence and biology. Though there has little comprehension of the basic ten¬
never been a shortage of philoso¬ ets of science and its methodology
phers, most attempts at systematic (still symptomatic of today’s “scientific
examination of science and its more creationist”). But even in the heyday
profound meanings usually begin and of evolutionary discussions and de¬
end with physics or mathematics. bates not all religious thinkers were
Physicist and Einstein biographer as acidic in their examinations. I re¬
Philipp Frank in his Philosophy of Sci¬ cently found a glowing review of
ence paid only nominal attention to Darwin in a book written by Rev.
Darwinian evolution amongst its Thomas Guard in his Lectures and
nearly 400 pages.6 Thomas Kuhn’s Addresses published in 1883.8 Here
The Structure of Scientific Revolu¬ Darwin is compared to the greatness
tions, considered by many to be a of Emerson and Longfellow (all of
foundational philosophical treatise on whom died in the same year, 1882).
science, has an almost equal atten¬ Darwin, it is said “loved truth; no
tion span for evolution.9 Yet, if you doubt of this. Any price would he pay
look closely at 19th century writing, for a fact. He valued them, for he
specifically Darwin, Lyell, and Huxley knew how rare they were.”8
you are sure to find something that
appeals to the sector of the brain that I usually walk by the political sec¬
mulls over grander thoughts. Con¬ tion knowing full well that evolution
temporary philosophers like Michael has been consumed and regurgi¬
Ruse have upgraded biology and tated in some unrecognizable form to
specifically evolution to an equal level
52(3). September 1994 123
support one ideology or another. The do — the biggest threat to myself is
same passing glance covers the psy¬ becoming too narrow of scope, spe¬
chology section even though I know cializing in one obscure area of our
Freud mumbled some words on evo¬ earth’s past inhabitants. I am humble
lution. in the presence of almost any pub¬
lished volume, whatever the idea or
History is a section I used to pass message the pages convey because
by without much hesitation, but lately the authors have extended an idea
1 have even ventured into this sec¬ from the safe solitude of an individu¬
tion of the book store. At a time when als mind to the critiques or applause
church and state were more comfort¬ of the intended readers. The above
able bedfellows than today the titles are but a few examples of such
concept of evolution had a disturbing works.
impact on 19th century society. This
can be seen, for example, within a Postscript For one who usually
few chapters of E.L. Woodward’s doesn’t like surprises the following
The Age of Reform, 1815-1870.^8 event I endured with mixed emo¬
tions. Several years ago I came
As you can see, if given a general across the title of an Agatha Christie
topic, in this case evolution, one can novel Ordeal by Innocence, about a
find the obvious titles, but with a little Canadian palaeontologist, Dr. Cal¬
searching you can also discover little gary, who on a stopover in England
gems that link your desired theme returning from collecting trip from the
throughout the store (or library). This Antarctic, winds up using his deduc¬
is because no antiquarian book store tive skills as a scientist to solve a
has the same classification scheme. murder in which he has become em¬
Books come and go too quickly to fol¬ broiled.1 Searching high and low I
low the library system. Most of these couldn’t find a copy of it. I didn’t care
titles, though commonly linked by one what condition, edition, paperback or
theme, can be intermixed almost any¬ hard cover, I just wanted a copy.
where in a book shop. Books on Then I discovered a first edition, and
creationism can be found in either the though I paid a pretty penny for it I
science, law, or religion sections; hu¬ was happy my search was over. Not
man evolution can be found in the more than a month later I was
anthropology/archaeology section as browsing through some shops in a
well as in general science. small mall in Edmonton, killing time
before the banks opened (so I could
Tired, I am now literarily ballooned. purchase books) and strolled into
Eyes and brain full of titles I one of those commercial used book
searched, bending high and low be¬ shops, you know, the ones that have
tween the cramped aisles. I may the bulk of their stock in Harlequin
have come to the store with a spe¬ Romances. At the far end of the
cific title or subject to search but shop, facing me at eye level was a
leave with unexpected treasures. relatively recent paperback version
And, expectation soon grows know¬ of Ordeal by Innocence. I am sure, in
ing that many of the books I’ve some alternate dimension, the tat¬
purchased will be replaced with new, tered book had a smirking smile be¬
old books. The search will begin cause it knew I had already dented
again, soon. my wallet by purchasing an original
edition. Nevertheless, I bought it for
For me, these regular treks the grand sum of $1.25 and walked
broaden my perception of the work I away feeling somewhat victorious.
124 Blue Jay