Crane’s Beach Diorama, Museum of Science

LIFE IN THE SHIFTING DUNES

A popular field guide to the natural history of Castle Neck, Ipswich, Massachusetts, with attention to the unusual ecological relationships peculiar to such an area

BY LAURENCE B. WHITE, JR.
Museum of Science, Boston

Illustrated by HENRY B. KANE

A PUBLICATION OF THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, BOSTON

Copyright, 1960,
by the Museum of Science, Boston
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission of the publishers.
Library of Congress Card Number: 60-8980
Printed in the United States of America by
The Murray Printing Company
Forge Village, Massachusetts

PREFACE

This popular field guide to Castle Neck, Ipswich, Massachusetts, was the inspiration of Mr. Cornelius Crane, who has summered there since boyhood. Two years ago, Mr. Crane asked us if we would be willing to undertake a survey of this typical dune area if funds were made available for the study. We were delighted to cooperate in the project, and our Education Department undertook it with real enthusiasm.

Some preliminary work was done in 1957, but during July, August, and part of September, 1958, Laurence B. White, Jr., of our Education staff, and Geoffrey Moran, his assistant, moved to Castle Neck. It is Larry who has compiled this field guide.

Larry has been associated with our Museum since his Junior High School days, when his consuming interest in natural history made him an almost daily visitor, and later a valued Education Department volunteer. Now, after his graduation from the University of New Hampshire, where he majored in Biology and Education, he has joined our permanent staff. I recount this only to point out that this study was undertaken by a born and bred New England naturalist who enjoyed every minute of his work on it.

Finding a little cottage on the side of a marsh on the road to Little Neck, Larry and Jeff took it over as their combined summer residence and laboratory, and spent the July and August weeks in Thoreau-like exploration of the beach and dunes, the swamps and woodlands of Castle Neck. Their personal relationship with the living things on the Neck is feelingly reflected in this guide: sympathy with the heroic struggle for survival on the dunes; admiration for the hardihood of the little-admired Poison Ivy; amusement with the odd ways of the Common Barnacle, which “goes through life standing on its head and kicking food into its mouth with its feet”; and exasperation with the mischievous practice of noisy Crows, who delight in wrecking an Owl’s daytime sleep.

It is perhaps because of this perceptive quality of understanding that Larry’s report of the survey has readily adapted into a popular field guide, directing the curious into a fascinating exploration of the “heap o’ living” going on under our very noses and all but ignored by most of us. This guide is not intended as an exhaustive research work or a listing of all the living things to be found on Castle Neck. Rather, it purposely addresses itself to natural history readily observable by visitors with sharp eyes and reasonable patience. When a rarity is included like the Ipswich Sparrow, it is only to indicate that such unusual thrills await the discoverer—occasionally!

Deer Tracks in the Sand.

While this guide serves as a reminder to those engaged in the study of ecology that this is a rich area for serious investigation, the amateur naturalist or the casual beach visitor, primarily on hand to sun, swim, or picnic, may use it to make his stop on the Neck more meaningful. Knowing, for instance, that Hog Island is a drumlin (a pile of debris deposited in the Great Ice Age) adds enormous interest to the surroundings. Larry’s guide is compiled with the understanding eye and heart of an able and enthusiastic young naturalist. It invites you to look over his shoulder as he investigates his finds, and tempts you to further exploration on your own.

The analysis of the infinitely complex relationships of living animals and plants to their environment, and to one another, is a relatively new science. People with a strong desire to know more about the great sea of life surrounding them have a real opportunity to contribute valuable observations to ecological knowledge. You may very well be one of these!

Bradford Washburn

Director

Museum of Science

Boston, Massachusetts

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author is first and foremost indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Crane for their unfailing interest in the preparation of this field guide, and to members of the Museum staff who collaborated to edit and produce it. Among these were Norman D. Harris, Director of Education, Gilbert E. Merrill and Chan Waldron of the Education Department, Miss Caroline Harrison, Director of Public Relations, and Mrs. Christina Lopes and Mrs. Margaret Jordan of her department. Invaluable also in preparation of the manuscript was the careful final editing of Miss Helen Phillips, Houghton Mifflin Company.

Especially is the author grateful to the following for advice and comment on various chapters: Clifford S. Chater, Assistant Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Waltham Field Station; Dr. Norman A. Preble, Mammalogist, Northeastern University; J. Phillip Schafer, Geologist, U. S. Geological Survey; Colonel E. S. Clark, Curator of Marine Life, Peabody Museum of Salem, and Dr. Stuart K. Harris, Department of Botany, Boston University.

L.B.W.

CONTENTS

[ Preface] v [1. The Shifting Dunes] 1 [2. An Introduction to Dune Ecology] 5 [3. Plants on the Dunes] 10 [4. Life at the Edge of the Sea] 19 [5. Insects and Their Kin] 33 [6. Meeting the Mammals] 50 [7. Wings over the Sand] 58 [8. Now It’s Up to You—Check List for Your Discoveries and Field Notes] 69

Chapter 1
THE SHIFTING DUNES

Surprising as it may seem, there was a time when many of our most beautiful beaches, the Castle Neck area included, were far inland from the edge of the sea. This was about a million and a half years ago, when the sea was at a lower level than it is today. In fact, a great many changes have helped to form the beaches we see and enjoy now. Of them all, the one brought about by the Ice Age was probably the most influential. It was some 30,000 or 40,000 years ago that New England was overwhelmed by the final advance of a great continental ice sheet. It came from the northwest, and as it inched its way toward the ocean it pushed chunks of rock and great quantities of soil along with it. The rock was continually breaking up as it was shoved forward under the ice.

This last glacier covered New England for thousands of years. When it melted, all the debris it had been moving along like a giant bulldozer was left deposited irregularly over the land, some debris perhaps a hundred miles from original location. In addition, the water from the melting ice swept finer sands and gravels along, depositing them over land areas and in lakes and bays.

In some places, streamlined hills of debris had been built up under the ice. Later, as the ice melted, they became exposed. They were shaped like the bowl of an inverted spoon, and we call them “drumlins.” Hog Island, to the south of Castle Neck, is a perfectly preserved example. From its shape it is easy to tell which way the ice was moving. The steeply sloping end of its long axis is toward the northwest, the direction from which the last ice sheet came. All drumlins are not so easily spotted. About a mile southeast of Castle Hill you will see a hill that looks like an enormous sand dune. It is the highest point on the Neck, about eighty feet, and it, too, is a drumlin. Once it protruded out of a shallow bay that had formed as the ice melted. Modified by the erosion of the waves and veneered with windblown sand, this drumlin by now has quite lost its characteristic shape.

In the general Boston area many drumlins were uncovered as the ice melted; some of them are such well-known landmarks as Beacon Hill, Bunker Hill, or Breed’s Hill. Along the coast, as the sea level rose, the drumlins there were surrounded by water and became islands. On the sides exposed to the sea they were eroded by the waves, and the eroded materials collected to form spits. Other sands and gravels carried by longshore currents were added, and, by-and-by, in some cases these sand spits connected one drumlin to another. It was just such a modification of three separate drumlins that formed Castle Neck.

While the Neck was thus taking shape, the glacial debris and outwash sands that had been deposited in New Hampshire and at the mouth of the Merrimack River were being picked up and carried southward by the prevailing currents. Finally this material was wave-tossed onto the newly created beach at Castle Neck, some of it being lifted and carried farther inland. In this way, except for a few protected spots behind the drumlins, the entire area became blanketed with sand. The shape of the Beach as we see it is the result of this ever-continuing modification, the work of wind and waves.

It was on the protected back side of the drumlins that plants first took hold. Since the drumlins were formed from fertile soil scraped from rich inland areas and carried here by the ice, the same kinds of plants sprang up on them—Aspens, Pines, Gray Birches, shrubs, and grasses—as we often see today taking over some abandoned farmland. As these early plants died, the soil was further enriched to stimulate even more and different plant life. In fact, at one time much of the dune area was a fertile spot, abounding with all sorts of plants and animals. In certain places on the Neck today, very fertile soil can be found just a few feet under the sand, evidence that here was once a rich farmland.

The broad flat areas of sand on the Beach were very susceptible to the whims of the wind. Now and then, as the wind eroded the sand particles from one place, and blew them to another, it piled them up against the base of some beach plant. Collecting here, the sand began to form a gentle slope with a sharp drop-off downwind. Continuation of this action sometimes built up a huge mound, which we call a dune.

This process of erosion and deposition still goes on. Usually you can tell the general direction of the prevailing wind by observing which way it builds the gentle slope as it piles the sand into ripples or mounds.

If you should mark a dune’s position today and return in several years, you might find that the dune had moved several yards from its original position. Dunes move slowly downwind, such movement being termed “migration.” With a normal dune, during windy periods the sand is blown up its gentle slope and dropped over its crest, whence it slides down the lee side. In this way the dune migrates with the wind.

THE FUTURE OF CASTLE NECK

Eventually, of course, the dunes might migrate the entire length of the Neck and again be blown into the sea, which would carry the sands farther south, mayhap to become part of Coffin and Wingaersheek Beaches. In fact, we might expect the eventual removal of the entire Neck if sand wasn’t constantly being added from similar erosion going on farther north. Obviously there is a very delicate balance here, adding and subtracting sand. The future of Castle Neck is entirely dependent upon the sand supply from the north. Too little may eventually diminish Crane’s Beach; while an increase could create an even larger and more beautiful Neck. Actually, it is impossible to predict the future of a beach, at the mercy, as it is, of changes in any of the several factors controlling its form—sand supply, waves, currents, and position of sea level. Anyway, what has been so long taking shape will not be altered drastically overnight. As a matter of fact, if you really wish to know the future of Crane’s Beach, you will have to be patient. Another million and a half years will probably tell the story!

GEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES YOU CAN MAKE

Ventifacts

These small, faceted pebbles found in the dunes have been blasted by the windblown sand. They show the powerful abrasive action of the wind. Most of those you will find here were faceted just after they had been deposited by retreating glacial ice. A migrating dune or a blowout in the sand has left them uncovered.

Erratics

Large rocks occasionally found in the dunes are called “erratics.” In this world of tiny particles they appear very much out of place, but they were carried here by the glacier a million years ago. They have been uncovered by the migration of some dune.

Fulgurites

Occasionally lightning strikes the sand, fusing it into a little tube or ball of glass. These fulgurites have been found here but are very rare and a real “discovery.”

Glacial Till

The original soil deposited by the glacier may be seen by digging into the sand at the drumlin. Such rocky soil is quite surprising to people who think the beach is nothing but a big “sand pile.”

Garnets

Examine a handful of sand. You will find that it consists of light-colored particles (mostly Quartz) and of black particles. Under a microscope many of these dark particles look like little gems. They are actually a deep red and are true Garnets. Large Garnets are used as gem stones, small ones for sandpaper—further proof of the abrasive ability of windblown sand.

History in the Sand

In your handful of sand you may find particles that are neither Quartz nor Garnet. Minerals such as Feldspar, Biotite, Mica, Magnetite, Hornblende, and others can be identified by the geologist and are a clue to the original type of rock over which the glacier moved.

Beach Porcupines

These are hard-packed balls of twigs and grasses. Loose vegetable matter is very light and may be blown along by the wind for many miles. As it goes it adds other vegetation to itself, until packed into a very tight, hard ball. It may also get its start in the water by being whirled into a tiny ball; and later it is thrown onto the beach, to begin rolling along. A most curious souvenir!

MORE ABOUT THE DUNES

The face of the land is a storybook waiting to be read. The following books will help you piece together some of the story:

Henry Curtis Ahl, Dunes and Beaches of Essex County. Boston: Massachusetts Audubon Society, 1949. $.25 N. E. Chute and R. L. Nichols, Geology of the Coast of Northeastern Massachusetts. Massachusetts Department of Public Works and U. S. Geological Survey Cooperative Geologic Project, Bulletin #7. Boston, 1941. Out of print. Available in Museum of Science Library. John Henry Sears, The Physical Geography, Geology, Mineralogy and Paleontology of Essex County, Massachusetts. Salem, Mass.: Essex Institute, 1905. $6.00 Charles Wendell Townsend, Sand Dunes and Salt Marshes. Boston: L. C. Page, 1913. Out of print. Available in Museum of Science Library. ——, Beach Grass. Boston: Marshall Jones, 1923. $3.50

Chapter 2
AN INTRODUCTION TO DUNE ECOLOGY

Living things cover the face of the earth from the torrid sands of the desert to the cold wastes of the Arctic, and every variation in environment develops a closely knit community of plants and animals. They are the ones best adapted to living where they do, or they may have been the first to arrive there, filling all available homesites and monopolizing the food and water supply to create a “closed” community. In each environment, a delicate balance is established between its various residents and between them and their surroundings. The study of all these interrelationships is called “ecology.”

Beginning with the environment, we have seen in our brief look at the origins of Castle Neck how drastically an area can be altered as conditions change on the earth’s surface. Environment is affected in other ways, too. Man’s activity can change it almost overnight as a bulldozer clears land for a housing development, a dam alters the flow or course of a river, or careless disposal of a cigarette or campfire lays waste to acres of woodland. Or, as in the slow development of a forest, the growth of the trees themselves can change the environment, the maturity of one species whose seedlings require sunlight contributing to the growth of those better adapted to shade. If you should watch an old abandoned pasture over a period of many years, you could see environment gradually altered. First there are the mosses and grasses that create a fertile soil. Then come the Poplars and shrubs. As these grow they offer shade where Pines and, finally, the broad-leaved trees can flourish. This change in vegetation will also bring about a change in the resident animal communities.

When parts of Castle Neck were rich farmland, specialized forms of life which thrive in that type of environment were abundant there. We have only to look at Castle Hill, just a few hundred yards from the dunes, or at some of the swamps that dot the Neck to see how different are the inhabitants from those of the dunes. On the Hill live the Oaks, Maples, Jumping Mice, Raccoons, and Toads, plants and animals that would be misfits indeed—if they could live at all—in the world of moving sand. Maples and Oaks, relics of the time when the dune area was fertile, may still be found dying and being buried over by drifting sand. Now it is a different community of plants and animals living here. The continually shifting sand and the scarcity of water limit the variety of life found, but each dune dweller is specially adapted to this homesite, and no matter how lush, green, and more attractive a neighboring meadow may look to us, many of these specialized organisms could not survive there at all.

It has taken millions of years for the long, slow process of evolution to develop specific adaptations that suit dune dwellers to their environment. There are variations between individuals in every form of life. Mostly these are normal inherited variations, such as height or color. But sometimes sudden variations, called “mutations,” occur through accidental changes in the genes controlling inheritance. These are new characteristics not found in other members of the same species. If the mutation is advantageous it may be passed on, and it is in this way that new life forms slowly develop. If the mutation allows a species to live more easily in its environment, it may displace some older form, which may then be unable to compete successfully for food, water, or shelter.

Indeed, all life is engaged in a constant struggle for survival; it is those individuals and species best able to adapt to the changing conditions of their environment that endure. Think of the whole series of crises faced by any living thing in its lifetime, then of these crises being met and overcome in the seemingly inhospitable environment of the dunes. In the beginning, our dune dweller must be born, a difficult enough task without interference from unkind surroundings; it must feed itself, here in an area where meals would certainly seem at a premium; it must grow, oftentimes shedding its skin in the process; it must live not only in the summer’s heat but, if its life span is that long, in the winter’s cold; it must endure long periods of drought, flood, wind, and storm; and most important of all, it must survive long enough to reproduce its kind, or else it has missed its goal. But such is the wonder of nature’s specializations that our dune dwellers can usually meet these normal crises. Their adaptability and rate of reproduction safely insure the future of their kind, and their overpopulation, if left to nature, is delicately controlled by available food and shelter and their predators.

Exploring the dunes and making the acquaintance of the inhabitants, you can see this environmental community meshing its lives together, and you can observe the fine degree of adaptation developed by each life form. You may find an occasional Apple tree growing out of the sand, rooted in a more fertile soil below, a reminder of the time when that bit of the Neck was a rich farmland. The roots of the Beach Plum also reach down to the water table, and it is thus able to grow out of the sand, although its seedlings cannot take root in the sand. Most of all, you will have an opportunity to note many special animal and plant peculiarities the dune dwellers have developed to suit their particular environment.

SOME ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS

A Nest Deep Down in the Sand

Walking through the dunes, you will frequently notice a small hole in the sand. Poke a blade of grass into it and you will find the hole quite deep. As a matter of fact, it may extend down two feet. This hole is made by the Sand Dune Wolf Spider (Lycosa pikei) to provide a home where the female may raise her young. Wolf Spiders are a species that elsewhere carry their young on the back and hunt down their food wolf fashion, not even taking time to construct a web. On the exposed dunes, the Sand Dune Wolf Spider protects its young in this hole far beneath the ground.

No Nest at All

Dozens of Common Terns are to be found nesting at the southern tip of the Neck. Long ago, the Common Tern began laying its eggs on the bare sand, and made no nest at all. Each egg is sand-colored, with speckles resembling pebbles. Only a patient search will locate a Tern nest on the Beach, and then, unless you are cautious, the discovery may come after you have accidentally stepped on the eggs.

Eating What Comes to Hand

Bayberries have a hard wax covering that makes them seem quite unpalatable to us, compared to the more succulent berries found away from the dunes. Yet here the Crows, Tree Swallows, and Myrtle Warblers are Bayberry-eaters. The Myrtle Warbler in particular derives most of its winter diet from Bayberries. In fact, its name comes from the scientific classification of the Bayberry, which is in the Wax Myrtle Family.

The Art of Being Inconspicuous

The sand offers few places of retreat and few for hiding. It is not surprising, then, that many of the living things here have a sand-colored protective coloration. There is a large Grasshopper, or Locust, commonly found on the Beach. Its dull, gray, speckled wing-covers make it practically invisible when at rest. But the underwings, used for flight, are a striking orange with black bands. When discovered, the Locust flies up, confusing its attacker with this bright flash of color and a loud whirring noise. Unlike most insects, this Locust eats the thick-skinned, dry Beach Grass.

PLANT ADAPTATIONS

Any plant that is adjusted to living in a region where there is a decided lack of water is called a “xerophyte.” There are many different ways in which plants have adapted their structure and way of life to the dune environment. For instance, to reduce water evaporation they may have a very small leaf, to offer less surface area to the sun; or smaller and more numerous stomata than other plants (“Stomata” are tiny openings through which plants exchange gasses. A pair of guard cells surround them and control the size of their opening); or a very thick cuticle (waxy protective covering found on many plants); or their sap may be changed chemically. Xerophytes may also be very fleshy, like the cactus, to give more storage space for water. Their roots may drive very deep into the ground to reach the water table, or they may be shallow and spread out over a wide area to cover more surface. Their leaves may grow in closely packed bundles to reduce further the surface area, or they may be very thorny and prickly as a protection in exposed surroundings.

Here are just a few common examples of xerophytes and other plant adaptations to be found at Crane’s Beach.

Anchor for the Dunes

Beach Grass (Ammophila breviligulata) is a true xerophyte and has many sand-dwelling characteristics. Its grasslike blade is rolled in at the sides, oftentimes becoming a tube, in order to reduce the surface area. As you will probably discover, it has a pointed tip that can prick a finger and, as you may well imagine, acts as a deterrent to those who would eat or walk through it. Its underground stems, in true xerophyte fashion, extend over a large area in an attempt to gather all possible water, and these dense root-mats serve to anchor the dunes and prevent their migration.

A Tough Sand Dweller

The Woolly Hudsonia (Hudsonia tomentosa) carpets the dunes, preferring its place in full sun to more shaded spots. The tiny leaves are awl-shaped and press very tightly against the stem, as though trying to hold in as much water as possible. Hudsonia is covered with a velvet-like down, which is less susceptible to evaporation than a smooth, large surface would be.

An Adaptable Mushroom

Since mushrooms generally require plenty of water, you would not expect to find them at the beach. Several species, however, may be discovered here. The most readily identifiable is the Earth Star (Geaster hygrometricus), which resembles a Puff Ball but differs in having the outer layer of the skin divided into tough, star-shaped segments. During the dry seasons, this star is drawn up around the ball by its contraction, thus protecting it against further desiccation. In wet weather, the ball swells and holds the star against the ground to allow for water absorption. The “roots” of the Earth Star are shallow, so the plant may readily be dislodged. The wind easily blows it across the dunes, spreading the spores over a wide area.

NOW IT’S UP TO YOU

There is something new to be known about every animal and plant. Now it’s up to you! Careful observation will allow you to discover many other examples of special adaptation to life in the shifting dunes, and the next chapters will introduce you to some of the more common of the living things inhabiting this strange sand-world. And if you wish to read more about ecology, try these books:

Ernest Neal, Woodland Ecology. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1958. $1.75 John H. Storer, The Web of Life: A First Book of Ecology. New York: New American Library, 1956. $.35

Chapter 3
PLANTS ON THE DUNES

Plants add embellishment to the earth. For thousands of years people have valued them for their elegance and their usefulness. They may rate no more than a passing glance in fields and woods, but at the beach they stand out boldly, for here they seem almost out of place.

We have already become acquainted with some strange beach-dwelling plants; now let us examine more closely a few of the most common species.

MUSHROOMS ON THE DUNES

Earth Star (Geaster hygrometricus)

Star-shaped fleshy skin at base Main, central body is round

The flower-like shape of this common mushroom always amazes its discoverer. The basal star is actually a protective coat that covers the ball during dry spells. Its scientific name, Geaster, means “earth star.” Hygrometricus means “water-measuring,” and refers to the opening and closing of the star.

GRASS ON THE DUNES

Beach Grass (Ammophila breviligulata)

Typical grass shape Sharp, stiff tip to blade

Beach Grass is the most common xerophyte here. It forms dense mats everywhere, and once it gains footing, spreads at a remarkable rate. When windy weather bends the blade it sometimes scribes circles in the sand. If these are deeper on one side or incomplete, they help determine the direction of the prevailing wind. Beach Grass can be extremely uncomfortable to bare legs—so beware!

FLOWERS OF THE SEASHORE

Because of the great variety of leaf shapes and sizes, it is usually desirable to have the flower for conclusive identification of seashore plants. As an aid, the following species are listed by color.

White Flowers

Blunt-leaved Sandwort (Arenaria lateriflora)

Very thin stem and leaves Flowers ¼″ wide

This very attractive flower is seldom found at any distance from water’s edge. Usually it grows in the moist sand of fresh-water pools, just above water level. On close examination you will find the leaves quite hairy, almost downy. The flowers are mounted at the tips of long stalks. They appear early in the spring, about May, and blooming is over by June.

Sea Milkwort (Glaux maritima)

Flowers are very small, at base of leaf Thick central stalk Leaves small, fleshy, and crowded

This is one of the most common beach plants, and is seldom found away from salty soil. It grows in the salt marshes and on the beach, starting its flowering in June and continuing throughout the summer.

Red or Purple Flowers

Beach Pea (Lathyrus japonicus)

Flowers are in clusters Branches end in twining tendrils Leaflets small, toothless, and numerous

Anyone who has seen a garden pea will recognize the Beach Pea, which is similar to but smaller than its cousin. The purple flowers are seen from May throughout the summer, and the peas are found in late summer. These peas are edible, though not particularly delicious. You will notice that Beach Pea stems are angular in cross section—a further clue to identification.

Beach Pinweed (Lechea maritima)

Fruit very tiny, berry-like Leaves tiny and narrow

Pinweed is a plant of sandy soils. Often it is found growing alone on a patch of barren sand. It flowers throughout July and August. Its stem is so very woody and tough that it may easily be mistaken for a tiny, stunted tree.

Sea Lavender (Limonium nashii)

Large leaves, grow only from base of plant Flowers numerous, small, on long stalks

The Sea Lavender goes by a great variety of names: “Beach Heather” and “Marsh Rosemary” are the most common. It is not a true dune dweller, for it is more often found in marshy spots; but it is a typical seaside plant. Its flowers are delicately fragrant. Amazingly enough, you may find Sea Lavender completely submerged in salt water during periods of high tide.

Yellow Flowers

Woolly Hudsonia (Hudsonia tomentosa)

Tiny scale-like leaves Very woolly, hairy Almost mosslike appearance

The Hudsonia is sometimes called a “False Heather” and surely reminds one of the moors. It is found in dense mats on the dunes, and when in bloom covers the sand with a bright yellow carpet. The flowers are borne in May and June and open only in sunlight. Any attempt to uproot the plant will merely break it off at the base, for the roots are extremely long and spread over many square yards.

Dusty Miller (Artemisia stelleriana)

Leaves hairy, white, and velvety to the touch Leaf with many fingerlike lobes

You don’t need to see its flowers to identify Dusty Miller. Its heavy “wool” coat makes identification easy by feel alone. The flowers form dense clusters during July and August.

Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens)

Tall plant with large leaves Heads crowded together on drooping stem Individual heads bushy

Everyone is familiar with Goldenrod, but few realize that there are more than a hundred species, some of them very specific as to where they live. The Seaside Goldenrod is the only common species found on beaches or in marshes with salty soil.

Green or Brown Flowers

Beach Clotbur (Xanthium echinatum)

Large, ragged leaves Covered with short, rough hairs Heads are burrlike

The heads of this weedy plant, like those of the Burdock, are covered with curved spines easily attaching to the fur or clothing of passers-by. The burrs come late in the summer, during August or September.

Glasswort (Salicornia europaea)

Plant is without leaves Fleshy, jointed stems

Glasswort, a plant of the salt marsh, requires quantities of salt water. It is easily identified by its leafless stem, which looks like a string of sausages. In autumn these succulent stems turn a bright red, adding an attractive flash of color to the dying plants around them. Glasswort stems take in great quantities of salt, which you will taste if you chew one.

SHRUBS AND TREES ON THE DUNES

The shrubs and trees found on the dunes are those that grow well in sunlight and can subsist on a small amount of water.

Shrubs of the Dunes

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)

Crush a leaf; note the sweet aromatic odor Small, white, waxy berry in fall

No doubt the Bayberry is familiar to you. Wax from its berries has long been used to make candles, and you may wish to take some berries home to try your hand at this. Boiling them will cause the wax to float on the water. Dip a piece of string (wick) to collect it.

Sweet Gale (Myrica gale) very closely resembles Bayberry but has tiny pine-cone-like fruits instead of white berries. It is very common in the swampy areas on the beach.

Beach Plum (Prunus maritima)

Leaf with many small, sharp-pointed teeth White flowers or purple fruit

This “typical” sea-beach shrub is well known. Its fruit has long been used for “Beach Plum preserve,” a New England favorite. The plums may be collected in late summer. Beach Plum is reasonably common on the back side of Crane’s Beach, high on the dunes. It is often twisted and gnarled from exposure to the winds.

Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans)

Three shiny leaflets Small, white, waxy berries Generally found twisting around another plant

One must admire Poison Ivy. It apparently can live anywhere and survive anything. Beware—for it occurs in patches on the beach. It is very poisonous to the touch, and the best course is to wash thoroughly with a strong soap if you come into contact with it. Some of the worst cases of ivy poisoning may originate at the beach just because people don’t expect to find it here.

Trees of the Dunes

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

Leaves finely toothed Twigs bitter when chewed Black cherries in hanging clusters

Cherries are usually considered lovers of rich soils, but this member of the family is quite common on the dunes. It is always contorted here, and frequently diseased, but still it survives. Generally it is found with large swellings on the branches caused by the black cherry knot fungus, since it is highly susceptible to this infection. The cherries are edible, and you may or may not enjoy them. Try one and see.

Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Broad, heart-shaped leaves Stem of leaf is flat; leaf shakes easily Smooth gray or yellow-green bark

The Aspen thrives in sunlight and dry soil. It grows and dies quickly. It is called a “Quaking” Aspen because its flattened leaf stems allow its leaves to shake even in the gentlest breeze. It is often called a Poplar tree, or just “Popple.”

Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida)

Evergreen; with needles Needles grouped in bunches of three Pine cones under 3″ in length

This picturesque pine grows well in sterile soil. It is small, gnarled, contorted, and of little commercial value. It serves a twofold purpose here—anchoring the soil and supplying seeds for a great variety of birds and animals.

AIDS FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION

These are the most common plants of the dunes and beach. Any careful search will disclose many others not described. You will have to consult one of the reference books listed below for their identification.

Ethel Hinckley Hausman, Beginner’s Guide to Wild Flowers. New York: Putnam’s, 1955. $3.50 F. Schuyler Mathews, Field Book of American Wild Flowers. Completely revised and enlarged by Norman Taylor. New York: Putnam’s, 1955. $5.00 George A. Petrides, A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1958. $3.95 Herbert S. Zim and A. C. Martin, Trees: A Guide to Familiar American Trees. Rev. ed. New York: Golden Press, 1956. Cloth $2.50, paper $1.00

[SOME OTHER FLOWERS OF CASTLE NECK]

To aid you further in your investigation, we attach a list of other plants that may be found occasionally at the beach or in the swamps.

Chapter 4
LIFE AT THE EDGE OF THE SEA

Everyone likes to be a beachcomber! And each passing tide exposes the secrets of the sea to those interested enough to take a closer look. Suppose that we examine this world which is revealed to us twice daily.

“WEEDS” OF THE SEA

The sea holds many strange plants that have taken on fantastic sizes and shapes because of their underwater environment. In spite of their size, these plants are usually among the most primitive—a simple sheet of cells. Such plants are called algae and are subdivided according to their colors.

The Brown Algae

Common Rockweed (Fucus, several species)

Brown, flattened body Central midrib Stem has air bladders

The bladders are filled with air, and children like to squeeze them to hear their pop. These bladders cause the plant to float upright, thus keeping all its sides in contact with water.

Nodose Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum)

Thin, round stem No central midrib

When dried by the sun, this plant makes an interesting and lasting souvenir, for it turns a lustrous black.

Common Kelp (Laminaria agardhii)

Broad, flat blade Several feet in length

The kelps of the Pacific grow several hundred feet in length, making them the largest of the algae and among the very largest plants.

Fingered Kelp (Laminaria digitata)

Many blades, extending like fingers on a hand

All kelps have a rootlike structure called a “holdfast” to serve as an anchor. Often tiny sea creatures dwell in among the holdfast. Why not take a look?

Perforated Kelp (Agarum cribrosum)

Central midrib Broad blade punctured with hundreds of holes

In Asia this kelp is farmed for food called agar. An extract of the plant, agar-agar, is used in the laboratory as a culture medium for bacteria and other disease-producing organisms.

The Green Algae

Sea Lettuce (Ulva species)

A sheet of green

This is a very simple seaweed that reproduces itself by fragmentation, each fragment growing into a new plant. Two common kinds are found at Crane’s Beach:

Ulva lactuca, which is the broad green “leaf”; Ulva lanceolata, which is in thinner, more ribbon-like strips.

The Red Algae

Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus)

Flattened, branching fronds Purple in life, white when sun-bleached

Here is a very common tidal plant that has commercial value. It is called “Dulse” on the Boston markets, and a very delicious pudding is prepared from it (seamoss farine). Why not take some home and try it?

Polysiphonia (Polysiphonia, several species)

Pink or red color Branching, lace-like appearance

Sometimes called “Mermaid’s Hair,” these tiny plants are very common on the beach. There are many kinds of Polysiphonias, but a microscopic study is usually necessary to tell them apart.

Coralline Algae (Coralline, several species)

White or pink limy covering Appear jointed

These plants have the amazing ability of concentrating lime from the sea water and depositing it on their fronds, thus acquiring a stony, coral-like appearance.

ANIMALS OF THE SEA

Animals, in a kaleidoscope of unbelievable sizes, shapes, and colors, abound here at the margin of the sea. Specializations range from the single-celled body of the zooplankton to the multicellular body of the Seals and the occasional Porpoise.

The Sponges

Finger Sponge (Chalina oculata)

Brown or tan color In colonies of fingerlike projections

The most common sponge on Crane’s Beach is the Finger Sponge. Even a small piece may be identified by the holes on its surface, through which the animal filtered water. The strange appearance of this sponge has given it the repulsive name of “Dead Men’s Fingers.”

Crumb-of-Bread Sponge (Halichondria panicea)

Pale green in life Light tan or white when dried on beach Crumbles easily

Only the most searching eye will discover this sponge, because it so closely resembles a dull uninteresting rock or pile of bread crumbs. When it has been freshly broken, it has a vile odor—a good clue to identification.

The Jelly-like Animals

White Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita)

Flattened body Under 10″ in diameter

The tentacles dangling down from the underside of this jellyfish are covered with tiny stinging cells, which in this species do not penetrate human skin.

Pink or Red Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata)

More than 10″ in diameter Reddish center, yellowish sides

This jellyfish occasionally grows up to eight feet in diameter, with tentacles a hundred or more feet long. The stinging cells can painfully wound a swimmer, but you may examine a small jellyfish safely by placing your hand on the smooth dorsal surface and turning it over.

Sea Anemone (Metridium dianthus)

Cylindrical, soft body Tentacles at top give flower-like appearance Generally very colorful

The “petals” of the Sea Anemone’s flower-like head are actually tentacles covered with stinging cells and used to stun its food. Generally found in the water at tide level, the Sea Anemone moves by walking on its single, base-like foot.

The Worms

Clam Worm (Nereis virens)

Jointed One pair of paddle-like feet per segment Two “tails” Pinchers on the head (watch out!)

This is the best-known worm on the beach because of its desirability as fish bait. During the day it lives in its burrow in the sand, wandering forth at night and swimming about in the water, where it becomes easy prey for gulls and fishes. The skin is brilliantly iridescent in the sunlight.

The Crustaceans

Common Barnacle (Balanus balanolides)

Common on rocks and shellfish White, volcano-shaped shell Two “barn doors” at top

This animal goes through life standing on its head and kicking food into its mouth with its feet! When it is submerged in sea water you can see its shell doors open and its feather-like feet sweep the water for microscopic food organisms. The limy shell first suggests a relationship with the clam, but body structure shows it to be a closer relative of the crab.

Shrimps (Crago septemspinosus, the Sand Shrimp, and Palaemonetes vulgaris, the Prawn)

Hard, transparent shell Long antennae Paddle-like tail

These tiny tide-pool creatures look for all the world like the larger edible shrimp served in local restaurants. Actually, these miniature two-inch-long shrimps are edible also, and quite enjoyable if you have the time and patience to collect enough for a meal.

American Lobster (Homarus americanus)

Bits and pieces of Lobster are frequently found on the beach, but seldom the entire animal. The Lobster inhabits deeper water and finds its way to shore only after losing a battle with one of its enemies. A favorable dining size is one or two pounds; however, Lobsters do attain weights up to forty pounds.

True Crabs (Cancridae and Portunidae)

Football-shaped in cross section Two large claws Eyes mounted on stalks

The three very common True Crabs of Crane’s Beach may be found in one search of the tidal pools. They are:

Rock Crab (Cancer irroratus): A brick-red shell, somewhat granulated, with a black and yellowish undersurface.

Jonah Crab (Cancer borealis): Similar in color to the above, but its shell has a more sculptured surface.

Green Crab (Carcinides maenas): A greenish-colored shell. The last pair of legs end in sharp points, rather than being flattened like paddles.

Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus)

Shell with horseshoe-shaped outline Long, sharply pointed tail Two immovable compound eyes

The Horseshoe is not a Crab at all, but is more closely related to the spiders, mites, and scorpions. In spite of its relations, the Horseshoe is a harmless creature whose only protection is its hard shell. Therefore it may be examined freely—a strange “living fossil” that has survived 400,000,000 years of evolution with very little change.

The Mollusks

Oyster (Ostrea virginica)

Mottled, unattractive shell Gray splotches on inside surface

Even without pearls, our Oyster is worth many thousands of dollars a year to shellfish dealers because of its delicious flesh. Its tropical relatives are the pearl producers.

Mussels (Mytilidae)

Blue-colored shells Shells covered with black, horny skin

Living mussels are always found attached to rocks or pieces of wood by tiny threads of their own making. Two common mussels are:

Edible Mussel (Mytilus edulis): Smooth, velvety-blue shell identifies it. The animal within is edible and quite delicious. It is commonly utilized as food in Europe but less so here, where we have, and seem to prefer, the Oyster.

Ribbed Mussel (Modiolus demissus plicatulus): Similar to the above but with many distinct ribs radiating on the surface. The Ribbed Mussel is not considered edible. While not poisonous, it is most unpalatable.

Hardshell Clam (Venus mercenaria)

Thick, round shell Purple blotches on inside surface

Also called “Quahog,” “Little Neck,” “Round Clam,” or “Cherrystone,” the Hardshell Clam is another highly prized seafood.

Edible Clam (Mya arenaria)

Fragile shell with egg-shaped outline Wing extending out from inside top of left half of shell

These clams are found just a foot or so under the sand, and their empty shells are common on the beaches. This is the Softshell Clam, which we enjoy steamed, baked, or fried, as well as in New England’s famous clambakes and clam chowders.

Surf Clam (Spisula solidissima)

Very large shell Spoon-shaped trough at inside top of shell

This is the largest clam on the Atlantic seaboard, growing up to about seven inches in length. It is edible, and just one or two make a large chowder. The shell makes a fine ashtray and an unusual and useful souvenir.