Fig. 3.—Pitfalls and Tracks of Ant Lions.
Ant Lion.—Still another very characteristic member of the dune fauna is the ant lion, the larvae of which construct their characteristic pitfalls in slightly protected places near bushes or trees, sometimes in great numbers, indicating a very numerous colony of these curious creatures. Of these there are, judging by the larvae, two quite distinct species common to the Point, but these have not as yet been reared. Aside from the pitfalls these ant lions make a peculiar track in the sand when they are moving from one point to another. These movements apparently occur only during short periods, as is shown when an area which has been entirely free from such tracks will be noticed after an hour or two to be completely netted with their devious furrows, which could only be formed by a number of larvae. The larvae move backward, and from the character of the furrows produced in the sand, must remain just beneath the surface of the sand, as the sand is raised on either side. That the furrows are formed by these larvae is proven by the fact that if the pitfalls at their ends be dug into they will be found to contain larvae. The movements of the larvae, forcibly produced, make lines like those observed. Pitfalls and furrows are illustrated in the accompanying plates, the furrows being quite indistinct, as they are not deep enough to produce distinct shade, and consequently do not show conspicuously in the photograph. Furrows are to be noted, however, in the figure (No. 3) above the points marked X.
Fig. 4.—Eagle Nest.
Photo by R. F. Griggs.
Fig. 5.—Eagle Nest.
Photo by H. Osborn.
Eagle Nests.—The bald eagle nests at various points along the lake shore, and some of these nests were observed, and photographs secured during the past summer. One of these is between Sandusky and Huron, about two miles from Huron, and a half mile from the Huron street railway, in a Shag bark hickory tree. It stands away from other timber, although it is said formerly to have been surrounded entirely by trees. It is probably one hundred and twenty-five feet in height, or more, and doubtless towered above surrounding trees, and at present constitutes the most conspicuous object to be seen for miles in any direction. The nest, as shown in the accompanying photographs, must be at least a hundred feet from the ground, but owing to the impossibility of climbing the tree, and from the fact that no exact means of measurement were at hand, the precise height is unknown. This nest, we were told, has been in this tree only a few years, but prior to its building one has existed in the immediate locality for at least thirty years past. The nest is evidently five or six feet in diameter, being somewhat more flattened than other nests observed, owing probably to the spreading character of the limbs upon which it rests. No eagles were to be seen at the time of our visit to the tree, but we were informed by the proprietor of the farm that they had reared a brood during the season, and one was seen later by Mr. Griggs, at the time his photograph was taken.
Other nests occur on Kelly’s Island, and we made a trip to that locality for the purpose of noting them and taking photographs, which, however, on account of the day being unfavorable, are not very clear, and cannot be reproduced to advantage. They are about a mile and a half eastward from the steamboat landing, one occurring in a Maple tree about seventy-five feet in height, and the nest at a height of about sixty-five feet, being at least six feet in height, fitting the somewhat acute crotch, and at least five or six feet across the top. The other is in a Burr Oak tree, some distance from other trees, in a vineyard, and plainly to be seen from the lake steamers when to the southeast of the landing. The tree is about a hundred feet high, and the nest is about eighty or eighty-five feet from the ground. It is similar in form to the one just mentioned. Portions can be seen to contain very large branches, which show out conspicuously from the ground.
Trimerotropis maritima.—This grasshopper which is very abundant on the dunes along Cedar Point Beach, is of special interest because of its protective resemblance to the sand on which it ordinarily rests. It is one of the best examples I have seen of adaptive coloration, but does not seem to have been mentioned in such connection, possibly because the colors change in preserved specimens so that the mimicry is totally lost. They reach maturity in latter part of June, and while only larvae are seen in middle of June, nearly all have matured by the latter part of July. They occur most abundantly on the sand adjacent to the clumps of grass upon which they doubtless feed, though so far no individuals have been observed actually feeding on grass leaves, but one was observed eating a fragment of apple cast up in drift materials on the beach. When disturbed they invariably alight on the sand, upon which they become at once invisible. About the only way to capture them is to throw a net down on a spot where one has been seen to alight, and then it not infrequently happens that two or even three will be caught though their presence has not been suspected.