HELLO NOVEMBER!
In my last report I said I
would show you some porpoise bones. Well, here you have them!
Two friends you may recognize found this backbone in a campsite
near the Lily Pond. How could they resist picking it up? They
kindly shared it with me since it was found in the vicinity of
where the porpoise had been laid to rest. It is now very likely
that it was another animal and not humans who got to the carcass
and separated the bones. So we have parts, but not the total skeleton,
and sadly lacking in a complete skull.
Here you have the bones that I
have assembled..............note the small scapula and bones for
a fin below.
I also promised to share you the
Catnip picture taken very near where you may have hit a few volleyballs.
It is a perennial and I've found it in the same area before. My
cat is enjoying some cuttings from this plant.
It is always interesting to see which are the last flowers to
bloom once the cold weather descends. I took this picture a week
or so ago, but it is still green. I also find Dandelions making
a yellow floral statement, and there are still shoreline mustards
in bloom.
Now is the time to get out and
look for moth cocoons on leafless shrubs. I hit the jackpot yesterday
as I walked past the Lily Pond. Remember that hedge of Poison
Ivy? Lo and behold, there was a Cecropia Moth cocoon attached
to a branch of that plant! I guess these big, beautiful, moths
are not concerned by potential rashes. The cocoon will remain
through the winter before the adult moth emerges in the spring.
I haven't yet found any new Pro
methea
Moth cocoons, but shall be looking for them on Cherry branches.
Roger greeted me recently with
a new animal found in the shrubs, adjacent to the shore I presume.
Here it is. These are Horseshoe Crabs and are seldom seen in our
coves and exposed shoreline. I once found a dead one in Totman
Cove and have seen many more up the rivers in Bath and Damariscotta.
Roger said he used to see them years ago in our area, but not
recently. Maybe it is a sign of global warming? They are amazing
creatures. Maine is considered the northern edge of the range
for this primitive-looking relative of the extinct trilobite.
It is harmless to handle despite its dagger-like tail. They are
an arthropod, more closely related to spiders than to crabs. I
drew this picture of both sides of the animal a few years ago.
Blood is collected from Horseshoe Crabs for use in detecting spinal
meningitis and contaminants in pharmaceuticals. OK, now I want
to know, how this animal landed on the campground and was found
in the shrubs! Clue me in!
11/06/08 Ronnie in November