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

Tree-topped dune.

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

Sketch of tree-topped dune.

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.

Flower Color | Name | Habitat
White | Sundew | Swamps
| Meadowsweet (shrub) | Swamps
| Canada Mayflower | Woods
| Garlic Mustard | Woods
| Wild Sarsaparilla | Woods
| Indian Pipe | Woods
| Wintergreen | Woods
| Starflower | Woods
| Dodder | Woods
| Bedstraw | Woods
| Pokeweed | Fields
| Chickweed | Fields
Yellow | Sweet Flag | Swamps
| Jewelweed | Swamps
| St.-John’s-wort | Swamps
| Yellow Loosestrife | Swamps
| Silvery Cinquefoil | Woods
| Wood Sorrel | Woods
| Mustards (several) | Fields
| Leafy Spurge | Fields
| Cyprus Spurge | Fields
| Evening Primrose | Fields
| Common Mullein | Fields
| Butter-and-Eggs | Fields
Reddish | Seaside Knotwood | Sand
| Steeplebush (shrub) | Swamp
| Sheep Sorrel | Fields
| Soapwort | Fields
| Coast Blite | Marsh
| Roses (several) | Various
Purple | Purple Loosestrife | Swamps
| American Cranberry | Swamps
| Common Milkweed | Fields
| Canada Thistle | Fields
| Seaside Gerardia | Marshes
Blue | Blue Flag | Swamps
| Violets (several) | Swamps
| Forget-me-not | Swamps
| Skullcap | Swamps
| Bittersweet Nightshade | Swamps
| Monkey Flower | Swamps
| Asters (many species) | Woods
| Bluets | Fields
| Blue Curls | Fields
Brown or Green | Common Cat-tail | Swamps
| Narrow-leaved Cat-tail | Swamps
| Curled Dock | Fields
| Halberd-leaved Orache | Marshes
| Sea Blite | Marshes

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

Dolphin

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.

Razor Clam

(Ensis directus)

Elongated brown shell

The Razor has a very large foot, with which it can often dig faster than the hand trying to discover it. Although delicious, the Razor Clam is seldom seen on the markets because it is so difficult to capture.

Snails

(Littorinidae, Thiasidae, and Naticidae)

Clams in a coiled shell

Several species are found at Crane’s Beach:

Periwinkles (Littorina): These have a wrinkled shell about the size of a thumbnail. Because they are able to withstand long periods without water, Periwinkles are often found high on a beach.

Rock Purple (Thais lapillus): Has a rough, white shell coming to a point at the top. This snail secretes a purplish dye that was used by the American Indians and the ancient Phoenicians to produce their “royal purple” dyes.

Moon Snail (Polinices heros): Large white shell with almost round shape. The Moon Snail lays its eggs in a sand “collar,” which is frequently discovered on the beach in its dry state.

Slipper Shell

(Crepidula fornicata)

Shell is boat-shaped

Tiny “seat” inside shell

This animal protects its bare underside by attaching itself to a handy rock with its suction-cup foot. Often there are enough of them to give the rock a warted appearance.

The Spiny-skinned Animals (Echinoderms)

Starfishes

(Asterias vulgaris, and others)

Five-armed body

The Starfish seems to like Oysters as well as we do, and it opens them by sheer strength. Oystermen used to tear Starfish apart to destroy them, until they discovered that each arm has the ability to regenerate and become a whole starfish!

Sea Urchin

(Strongylocentrotus droehbachiensis)

Round body

Covered with spines

Here is a creature with a scientific name much too long for its size. Indeed, the name is said to be the longest in animal nomenclature. The Sea Urchin is a living fossil with four times as many extinct cousins as living ones.

Sand Dollar

(Echinarachnius parma)

Silver-dollar size and shape

Raised, star-shaped pattern on back

This is an animal of deeper water and so the bather seldom sees a live, heavily spined specimen. We find the dry, spineless shells on the beach. Wrap them carefully if you wish to take them home, because they are most fragile.

The Fishes

The waters off Crane’s Beach abound with many dramatic fishes such as Cod, Mackerel, Flounder, and Sand Sharks; but we are concerned only with the common tidal fishes that are regularly washed onto the shore.

Pipefish

(Syngnathus fuscus)

Lead-pencil size and shape

Hard, bony plates cover body

One look at a Pipefish will convince you that it must be related to the Seahorse. It spawns late in the spring, the female laying her eggs in the pouch on the stomach of the male. The male carries these eggs kangaroo-fashion, until they hatch during the summer.

Silverside

(Menidia menidia)

Silver stripe running down a light side

These fish are also an important food item for the Gulls and Terns. Silversides run in schools of a hundred or more, which can be located by the flocks of birds gathered round overhead.

Skates

(Raja, several species)

Strange bat shape

Long ratlike tail

These are harmless fish resembling the dangerous Rays of the tropics, except for their habits. The egg cases of the Skate are rectangular, black, horny envelopes. They are commonly found on the beach, where they are called “mermaids’ purses.” If you find a fresh one and open it, you may discover a miniature Skate inside.

Killifish

(Fundulus heteroclitus)

Stout, olive-green fish

Rounded tail

The “Chub,” well known to fishermen, can live for a day covered only with a layer of damp seaweed. It does us a real service by feeding on the mosquito larvae in brackish water.

Sticklebacks

(Gasterosteus and Apeltes species)

Spines on the back

Very narrow base to tail

During the early summer months, the Stickleback builds a barrel-shaped nest, held together with gelatinous threads. After the eggs have been deposited, the male guards the nest with amazing vigor, considering his size.

Sand Lance

(Ammodytes americanus)

Knife-shaped body

Long dorsal fin (fin on back)

Protruding lower jaw

Thriving abundantly off the beach, the Sand Lance is an important item in the diet of shore birds.

FOR MORE INFORMED BEACHCOMBING

Thus begins our day of beachcombing. Every animal and plant of the sea has a tale to tell and some of the most exciting of all are found in this ribbon-like strip of water in the tidal wash.

For your further investigation, here is a list of reference books:

Charles M. Breder, Jr., Field Book of Marine Fishes of the Atlantic Coast. Rev. ed. New York: Putnam’s, 1948. $5.00

Ralph M. Buchsbaum, Animals without Backbones. Rev. ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1948. $8.00, text ed. $6.00

Rachel L. Carson, The Edge of the Sea. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1955. $3.95

Roy Waldo Miner, Field Book of Seashore Life. New York: Putnam’s, 1950. $7.00

Percy A. Morris, A Field Guide to the Shells of Our Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Rev. ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1951. $3.95

Herbert S. Zim and Lester Ingle, Seashores: A Guide to Animals and Plants along the Beaches. New York: Golden Press, 1955. Cloth $2.50, paper $1.00

Chapter 5
INSECTS AND THEIR KIN

The insect world populating the dense grass jungles and sand-dune deserts at Castle Neck is generally unfamiliar to the human towering above, yet its principal characters may readily be observed by the keen eye, or, better, the keen eye aided by a simple magnifying glass.

Insects are identified by the presence of six legs. Insect-like animals may be found with more than six legs. Let’s look at these first.

INSECT RELATIVES: MULTILEGGED CREATURES

Eight-legged Animals

Ticks

(Ioxidae and Argasidae)

Body egg-shaped in outline

Very small head

Parasitic on human beings as well as animals

Ticks are quite common at the beach, but only the tourist who ventures into the woods will encounter them. From the tip of a blade of grass they hook on to a warm-blooded animal passing by. In removing a Tick some care is necessary so that the tiny head will not remain embedded in the victim. Ticks can usually be persuaded to let go if touched with a lighted cigarette or daubed with rubbing alcohol.

Harvestmen

(Phalangida)

Very small oval body

Extremely long, slender legs

Better known as “Daddy-long-legs,” these creatures resemble Spiders, but are not very closely related to them. They are perfectly harmless and cannot bite. Most of them feed on plant juices or dead insects.

True Spiders

(Araneida)

Body divided into two distinct parts

All have poison fangs

Many spiders are to be found on Crane’s Beach. Most are small, harmless, and difficult to identify. However, some of the general groups may be readily recognized:

Sheet-web Spiders (Linyphiidae): A small spider, usually less than a quarter of an inch long. Its sheetlike web identifies it.

Orb-weaving Spiders (Argiopidae): All of these spiders build their webs like a wheel with radiating spokes. The Orange-and-Black Garden Spider (Miranda aurantia), a large species infesting grassy places in the fall, is typical of the group.

Crab Spiders (Thomisidae): The Crab Spiders do not construct webs, but their crablike shape and the fact that they walk sidewise will identify them.

Wolf Spiders (Lycosidae): This spider hunts its prey instead of building a web and waiting for its meal to happen along. Wolf Spiders are often large and quite hairy. The holes you find in the sand dunes are nurseries constructed by the female Sand Dune Wolf Spider (Lycosa pikei).

Jumping Spiders (Attidae): “Jumpers” have a rather fat body that is heavily covered with hair. They too hunt their prey, often jumping several inches to capture it.

Creatures with More Than Eight Legs

Sow Bugs

(Isopoda)

Flat, segmented body

Less than ten pairs of legs

The Sow Bug, commonly called the “Pill Bug,” is usually found hiding under a damp log. It is completely innocuous and will often roll into a ball when disturbed.

Centipedes

(Chilopoda)

Elongated, segmented body

Fifteen or more pairs of legs

One pair of legs per segment

The Centipede is usually found hidden in a moist place. It feeds on insects killed by a poison injected through its jaw. Although Centipedes occasionally bite a finger, their poison is so weak that the bite can be ignored.

Millipedes

(Diplopoda)

Hard, segmented, worm-shaped body

Two pair of legs per segment

Roll into a ball when disturbed

The Millipede is found in much the same habitat as the Centipede, under a board or rock or inside a rotten stump. It is harmless, and lives for the most part on decaying plants.

INSECTS: SIX-LEGGED ANIMALS

The Mayflies

These insects have long, soft bodies and two long “tails.” The first stage in the Mayfly’s life is spent under water in one of the several swampy pools behind the main beach. Early in the spring it changes into the winged adult that is unable to eat. This adult lays its eggs and dies soon afterwards.

The Dragonflies and Damselflies

Dragonflies

(Aeshnidae, and others)

Two pairs of long, stiff wings

Two large compound eyes, which touch each other

Hold wings outspread when they alight

Dragonflies are often called “Devil’s Darning Needles,” but they are perfectly harmless. They frequent wet areas, where they feed on other insects—particularly mosquitoes!

Damselflies

(Lestidae and Coenagrionidae)

Two pairs of long wings

Large compound eyes do not touch

Wings folded over back when resting

Aside from their smaller, more delicate appearance, these insects look like the Dragonflies. They are found in the same places and have similar habits.

The Fan-winged Insects: Grasshoppers, Crickets, etc.

Short-horned Grasshoppers

(Acrididae)

Antennae shorter than body

Typical Grasshopper shape

Most Grasshoppers are strong fliers and are easily frightened into flight. The males may be heard singing during the day—a rasping noise produced by drawing the hind leg across the veins on the wing.

Crickets

(Gryllidae)

Antennae longer than body

Black or dark brown color

The commonest Cricket here is the Black Field Cricket (Acheta assimilis). The “singing” of the Cricket is produced by the male as he rubs his wings together. Of particular interest is the Snowy Tree Cricket (Oecanthus niveus), which chirps rhythmically. By counting the chirps in one minute and subtracting forty, then dividing this total by four and adding your new sum to fifty, you will have a rough estimate of the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

Praying Mantis

(Stagmomantis carolina)

Pale green color

Forefeet bent as though praying

Mantids were once rare in New England but in recent years seem to have been extending their range northward and are now quite common even in the grassy beach area. They are said to be the only insects that can look over their shoulders.

The Earwigs

European Earwig

(Forficula auricularia)

Wings short, not half length of body

Two pincers on tail

The Earwig hides by day, coming out at night to feed on plant material. Since it does not bite with its pincers, it can be handled freely. Other species are occasionally found. The Seaside Earwig (Anisolabis maritima) is the largest New England earwig. It has more than twenty-four segments to its antennae, whereas the European has no more than fifteen.

The True Bugs

In common parlance, the term “bug” is usually applied to all insects. Actually the following group is the only one scientifically recognized as “bugs.” In all of them, half of the forewing is thickened and leather-like, and all of the mouth parts are designed to pierce their food.

Lygaeid Bugs

(Lygaeidae)

Four sections to antenna

Antennae end in club shape

Very few veins in forewing

The most common member of this group is the Red-and-Black Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), which feeds exclusively on Milkweed. A small insect (Geocoris) also belongs to this group. It has a hammer-shaped head and may be found beneath dried seaweed.

Stink Bugs

(Pentatomidae)

Broad, shield-shaped insect

There are many kinds of Stink Bugs, so named because of the disagreeable odor they emit when crushed. Some are brightly colored and are commonly found on the fleshy dune plants.

The Aphids and Scale Insects

Woolly Alder Aphid

(Prociphilus tessellatus)

White, woolly mass on Alder or Maple tree

The Woolly Aphid is found only on Alder and Maple trees and may be recognized by its downy appearance. Although it feeds on the tree, it is never common enough to do any damage. The wool is a secretion of wax protecting the insect.

Oyster-shell Scale

(Lepidosaphes ulmi)

Tiny oyster-shell-shaped body covering

Attached to bark of tree (particularly Poplar and Birch)

You must look very carefully to discover one of these insects. The young Scales have legs and move about during the month of June. Then they settle down, lose their legs, and secrete a wax shell over their bodies. These Scales are extremely common at the beach, but only the careful observer is likely to see them.

The Golden-eyed Insects

Common Lacewing

(Chrysopa, several species)

Delicate-green insect

Very large wings

Golden-colored eyes

In spite of its delicate shape, when caught the Lacewing emits an odor which has earned it the name “Stink Fly.” Its eggs are laid singly on long stalks because the young, called “aphid lions,” are cannibalistic.

Nature’s Insect Tanks: Beetles

Carrion Beetles

(Silphidae)

Body is soft but horny

Five segments in antennae

Usually found near dead animals

The Carrion Beetles lay their eggs on a dead animal, which they bury as a food reserve for their young. This habit has given them the common name of “Burying Beetles.”

Ground Beetles

(Carabidae)

Dark brown or black

Head narrower than mid-body

Usually have prominent jaws

The legs of the Ground Beetle are designed for quick movement. These beetles are mostly active by night. They are beneficial because they eat other insects.

Tiger Beetles

(Cicindelidae)

Bright green or blue, metallic

Head broader than neck

Run and fly quickly

The adult feeds savagely on other insects, killing them with powerful jaws—which can also nip your finger. The larvae are called “doodlebugs” and live in upright burrows in the sand, allowing their jaws to extend above ground to capture unsuspecting prey.

Click Beetles

(Elateridae)

When turned over, the insect snaps back upright

First body segment as broad as the last

Click Beetles are so named because of the resounding “click” they make when snapping up into the air after being overturned. The adults are strict vegetarians, so look for them on plants.

Scarab Beetles

(Scarabaeidae)

Large body, oval outline

Antennae terminate with fanlike segment

Body has “polished” finish

There are more than 1400 species in this group in the United States and more than 30,000 in the world. Two of the most common at the beach are:

May Beetle (Phyllophaga fusca): A large cylindrical brown body. Also called “June Bug,” in May and June it is frequently discovered at night flying to a light.

Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica): The head and forebody are metallic green; the wings are copper color. Introduced from the Orient about fifty years ago, these beetles do great damage to many kinds of plants.

Snout Beetles or Weevils

(Curculionidae)

Small, roundish body

Dull, uninteresting color

Long tube (snout) on head

These are very common beetles on the dunes. Their long snout is used to drill into seeds and plant tissues. None of our species do great harm, but they have some unpleasant relatives—the Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar) and the Cotton Boll Weevil (Anthonomus grandis).

Ladybug Beetles

(Coccinellidae)

Hemispherical shape

Brightly colored

Many kinds of “Ladybug” or “Ladybird” Beetles can be found at the beach. Some feed on plants and others on small insects. The insect-eating varieties are extremely valuable.

Fireflies

(Lampyridae)

A “tail light”

Elongated soft body

Head is not visible from above

The Firefly’s light is produced by the chemical reaction of a substance called luciferin. It is an almost perfect “cold” light, with practically no heat loss. The light is used to attract the opposite sex during mating. The larva of this beetle is the “glowworm.”

The Scaled-wing Insects: Butterflies and Moths

Butterflies may be identified by their threadlike antennae, which are club-shaped at the end; Moths usually have feathered antennae.

Swallowtails

(Papilionidae)

Large Butterflies

Tail-like extension on hind wings

The Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio ajax), with yellow and black wings, is the largest butterfly at the beach, and, indeed, the largest butterfly in America. In midsummer you may find one fluttering about flowering plants.

Cabbage and Sulphur Butterflies

(Pieridae)

Half-dollar size

White or orange wings

These butterflies are common wherever there is an open area such as the dunes. In other parts of the United States the caterpillars destroy great amounts of alfalfa and cabbage.

Milkweed Butterflies

(Danaidae)

Large size

Orange and black markings

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is our most common species. Because of its bitter taste the birds won’t eat it.

Wood Nymphs

(Satyridae)

Butterflies with two large “eye spots” in brown wings

Large wing veins are swollen at base

Nymphs are found from sea level to the mountain peaks. Look for them in the Pitch Pine woods behind the beach.

Skippers

(Hesperiidae)

Very hairy Butterflies, even wings

Erratic, skipping flight

The Skippers look much like Moths. Their crazy, zigzag flight helps identify them.

Sphinx Moths

(Sphingidae)

Sphinx Moths frequently have a five-inch wingspread and

are called “Hawk” or “Hummingbird” Moths.

Saturnid Moths

(Saturniidae)

Very large, hairy moths

Large, feather-like antennae

Two species occur in our area:

Cecropia Moth (Samia cecropia): It is the largest moth in our area, having varying colors of brown and yellow.

Luna Moth (Tropaea luna): New England’s most beautiful moth, the Luna is pale green, with a brown leading edge on the forewing and a long tail-like extension from the hind wing.

Tiger Moths

(Arctiinae)

Yellowish-brown body

Three rows of black spots on body

The larvae of these moths are the well-known “Woolly Bear” caterpillars that are covered with a dense coat of rusty-red and black hairs. They are not beneficial. Two common examples are:

Salt-marsh Caterpillar (Estigmene acrea): This caterpillar is covered with rose-colored hair. It feeds on practically every type of leaf in the fall.

Webworm (Hyphantria cunea): It covers the ground for several feet with its silky web. In large numbers, Webworms can denude a tree in short order. Periodic outbreaks of these “Soldier Worms” are common at the beach.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar

(Malacosoma americanum)

Adult moth is reddish brown

Extremely hairy, even on legs

The adult is less readily recognized than is the web home of these caterpillars. In the spring, the webs may be found on most of the Black Cherry trees in the area.

Measuringworms

(Geometridae)

Small gray or brown Moths

Margin of wings frilly or scalloped

The caterpillars of these moths are the famous “Inch-worms” which move along by arching the body to bring the tail up to the head, then throwing the head out as if measuring the inches with the body.

The Two-winged Insects: Flies and Mosquitoes

Flies differ from other insects in having only two wings (one pair). The second pair has degenerated into a tiny club-shaped structure that aids the Fly in keeping its balance.

Biting Midges

(Certaopogonidae)

Minute size (usually felt rather than seen!)

Also called “No-see-ums” and “Sand Flies,” these tiny blood-sucking Flies are altogether too common at the beach. So small that they can pass through window screening, they are best discouraged with a liberal dose of insect repellent.

Crane Flies

(Tipulidae)

Resemble overgrown Mosquitoes

Extremely long, threadlike legs

Crane Flies are associated with the wet, swampy areas behind the beach. In spite of their mosquito-like shape, they can’t bite.

Gall Midges

(Cecidomyiidae)

Minute Flies with humpback

Antennae as long as body

The galls appear as unnatural swellings on plant stems or leaves. Each species of these flies has a specific-shaped gall, made on a specific type of plant, and at a specific place on the plant.

Horse and Deer Flies

(Tabanidae)

½″ to 1″ in length

Head is hemispherical in shape

Large eyes, occupy entire head

The mouth of these flies is designed to puncture the skin

and draw blood. They frequently are pests, with a special

fondness for bathers.

Robber Flies

(Asilidae)

Large flies

Hind body narrower than forebody

Head hollowed out between eyes

Robber Flies do not bother human beings but they attack other insects, often larger than themselves, in mid-air.

Syrphid Flies

(Syrphidae)

Large black-and-yellow-striped bodies

Superficially resemble bees

The Syrphids are constantly found among flowers and so are called “Flower Flies.” They are nearly as important as bees in pollination. All are harmless to us.

Mosquitoes

(Culicidae)

Small, long-legged insects

Threadlike antennae covered with whorls of hair

Only female Mosquitoes bite. They must have one meal of blood before they can lay eggs. We have eighteen species of Mosquitoes in our area.

The Ants, Wasps, and Bees

Ants

(Formicidae)

Small, usually wingless, insects

Extremely thin waist

Ants are social insects, and our species is found in large or small colonies everywhere. Ants are also the most common insect. Two readily recognized types are:

Carpenter Ant (Camponotus herculeanus pennsylvanicus): A large black ant that is found burrowing in damp wood. The labyrinth-like tunnels in rotten wood will aid you in finding a colony.

Mound Ant (Formica exsectoides): Produce the well-known “ant hills,” which may be six inches to a foot in diameter.

Hornets and Potter Wasps

(Vespidae)

Black or black and yellow, not furry, “Wasp-waisted”

Bald-faced Hornet (Vespula maculata): This is a black wasp with white markings. The distinctive nest is made of paper manufactured from wood pulp gathered by the insect from dead trees or old fence posts. At the end of the season, it may be as much as a foot or two in diameter. The only safe time to collect these nests is during the winter months!

Potter Wasp (Eumenes fraternus): The Potter Wasp constructs a “clay pot” on branches of trees, particularly Red Cedar, which it fills with paralyzed caterpillars as food for its young.

Bumble and Honey Bees

(Apidae)

Extremely hairy, woolly appearance

Hind legs flattened for pollen collection

Bumblebees (Bombus, species): Bumblebees are common visitors to flowers. Their heavy body seems much too bulky for flight. The bee makes its nest in old mouse nests on the ground and a careful search for such nests will generally result in discovery of a Bumblebee’s home.

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera): The well-known Honey Bee was brought to this country from Europe. It has now become a common “wild” bee as well as a domesticated species. You may find some wild-bee colonies in hollow trees, particularly on Castle Hill.

INSECT COLLECTING—AN INEXPENSIVE HOBBY

Insects are everywhere and it is easy to collect them. Practically no expense is required to produce a very beautiful collection. Some of the seaside insects are most unusual and not available elsewhere, so it would be well to start your collection right here. Some references that will help you are:

Donald J. Borror and Dwight M. DeLong, An Introduction to the Study of Insects. New York: Rinehart, 1954. $10.00

Alexander B. Klots and E. B. Klots, Living Insects of the World. New York: Doubleday, 1959. $9.95

Su Zan Noguchi Swain, Insects in Their World. New York: Garden City Books, 1955. $2.95

Herbert S. Zim and Clarence Cottam, Insects: A Guide to Familiar American Insects. Rev. ed. New York: Golden Press, 1956. Cloth $2.50, paper $1.00

Chapter 6
MEETING THE MAMMALS

Mammals are defined simply as warm-blooded animals that have hair and nourish their young on milk. They are considered the highest form of Earth life. They are common everywhere, but their secretive habits make observation difficult. You may consider yourself quite fortunate if you see even one or two of the mammals living on Castle Neck during a single visit here.

In this chapter lengths given are measurements from the nose to tip of the tail.

INSECT-EATING MAMMALS: SHREWS

Short-tailed Shrew

(Blarina brevicauda)

Dark, slate-gray body

Length 4″ or 5″

Tail about 1″

This little mammal is a creature of damp areas and is generally associated with damp forests. It makes burrows just under the surface of the ground. It is the only poisonous mammal in the United States and uses its venom to stun and kill its prey. However, the only result of a nip on your finger will be considerable swelling. Because of its insect-eating habit the Shrew is a most beneficial animal.

Cinereus Shrew

(Sorex cinereus)

Grayish-brown body

Length 3″ to 4″

Tail more than 1″

This is the most common shrew on the Neck. It is found roving about the salt marshes in search of insects. It hunts during the day as well as at night, generally keeping concealed under a grassy cover.

WINGED MAMMALS: BATS

Everyone can identify Bats. Their fingers are extended and joined with a leathery membrane. Their ears are large to aid in catching the echo of their voice as it is reflected from obstacles. They are most frequently seen at twilight when they flitter over the dunes in quest of the many insects abounding there. Bats have tremendous value because they eat such insect pests as mosquitoes and flies.

We have five major kinds of Bats. They are not easily identified in flight.

Little Brown Bat

(Myotis, several species)

Less than 4″ long

Common

Big Brown Bat

(Eptesicus fuscus)

More than 4″ long

Reddish-brown fur

Common

Pipistrelles

(Pipistrellus subflavus)

The “Pigmy Bat,” under 3″ long

Rare

Silver-haired Bat

(Lasionycteris noctivagans)

About 3½″ long

Gray or silvery hair on back

Rare

Red Bat

(Lasiurus borealis)

About 3½″ long

Rusty-red fur with whitish tips

and

Hoary Bat

(L. cinereus)

About 4½″ long

Yellowish-brown fur tipped with white

LONG-EARED JUMPERS: RABBITS

New England Cottontail

(Sylvilagus transitionalis)

Large hind jumping legs

More than 1′ long

While the New England Cottontail is named for our area, it does extend its range southward to mid-Alabama. It may be separated from other species of Cottontails by a narrow black spot between the ears. It is very common on the Neck. These rabbits stay hidden most of the day, venturing forth at night or early in the morning. Because their diet is exclusively vegetable matter, we do not consider them beneficial.

BUCK-TOOTHED MAMMALS: RODENTS

Eastern Gray Squirrel

(Sciurus carolinensis)

About 18″ long

Bushy tail, less than half the total length

Gray fur, white on underside

The Gray Squirrel easily adapts itself to any environment. The large treetop nests constructed of leaves are made by this squirrel. A brood of two to six young is raised once or twice each spring.

Red Squirrel

(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

About 14″ long

Bushy tail, about half the total length

Rusty-red fur, underside white

This little squirrel will often be heard before it is seen, scolding its terrestrial enemies with a loud clatter from a perch high in a protective tree. In late spring its yearly brood of four or five is raised in a nest of shredded bark built high in a tree.

Eastern Chipmunk

(Tamias striatus)

8″ or 10″ long

Reddish-brown fur with two white stripes on back

White stripes on back are margined with black

The Chipmunk is a squirrel that keeps to the ground and seldom climbs trees except to collect nuts. It packs the nuts in two large cheek pouches, and when these are full they look like a very bad case of mumps. The Chipmunk’s nest is found underground.

Common Woodchuck

(Marmota monax)

Large, fat animal over 2′ long

Grayish- to reddish-brown fur

Bushy tail, 5″ or 6″ long

The Woodchuck has many common names; “Chuck,” “Marmot,” or “Ground Hog” are the ones used in our area. “Chucks” live in deep burrows underground and there is always a great mound of earth in front of their opening. Frequently the “Chuck” is seen standing upright on its hind feet surveying its territory from the top of this mound. The same tunnel probably has several other more concealed openings which are used as escape hatches. The Woodchuck hibernates far below the ground during the winter months, and in the northern United States never comes out on February 2, “Ground Hog Day.”

Muskrat

(Ondatra zibethica)

Resembles a large rat

About 2′ long

Tail ratlike, flattened from side to side

The Muskrat is an aquatic mammal and is always found in association with water. It is very common in the marshy areas of the beach and may frequently be seen swimming about in such spots. The Muskrat’s fur has become specialized for its aquatic existence and is water-proofed with a heavy layer of oil. Muskrats feed extensively on the marsh plants. In late fall they construct large dome-shaped homes that protrude above the water.

White-footed Mouse

(Peromyscus leucopus)

Feet and legs are white

Large eyes; prominent ears

These mice are common all over the Neck. They are nocturnal and may be discovered in the daytime hiding under boards that have washed onto the shore, or they may be found in the wooded areas behind the main beach. Their small nests are constructed out of fur and grass and are located in depressions in the ground, frequently under a board or log. When the original owners vacate these nests they are often taken over by Bumblebees, Centipedes, Earwigs, and other secretive creatures.

Eastern Meadow Mouse

(Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Very small eyes

Tail short, about one-third total length

Brown fur, gray on underside

The Meadow Mouse is by far the most common mammal of Castle Neck. Its burrows may be seen just under the grass in all areas having ground cover. It feeds on many of the trees in the area, chewing the bark around the base. This girdling will eventually kill the tree. While this habit makes Meadow Mice undesirable, they fortunately prefer the smaller herbaceous plants when they are available. Although common, Meadow Mice are seldom seen because their days are spent running through their burrows. These may extend over an area of many square yards.

Meadow Jumping Mouse

(Zapus hudsonius)

Tail longer than body, sparsely haired

White underside, olive-yellow back

Occasionally when one is walking in the grassy fields, a Jumping Mouse will suddenly bound away in leaps averaging three or four feet. If it is really frightened, these leaps may carry the mouse as far as ten feet. In the United States the Jumping Mouse is much more closely related to the Porcupine than to true mice. Un-mouse-like, it hibernates in an underground nest during the winter months. Jumping Mice eat both insects and plants.

DOGLIKE MAMMALS: FOXES

Red Fox

(Vulpes fulva)

Looks like a long-legged dog

Reddish fur; feet and ears black

Large bushy tail, white on tip

Only the most fortunate observer will see a Fox, which is most secretive and truly sly in its habits. It digs burrows and produces four to nine young during April. The Fox has been known to adapt its habits to changes humans have made in its environment, and it is most beneficial because it eats thousands of mice annually.

RING-TAILED MAMMAL: RACCOON

Raccoon

(Procyon lotor)

Dense gray fur

Tail ringed with bands of black and white

Black “mask” over eyes

Raccoons are creatures of the night and seldom venture forth in the daylight. They are expert climbers, spending many hours high in a lofty perch, and if pursued they usually seek refuge in a tree or swamp. They feed on frogs, fish, eggs, insects, nuts, corn, and shellfish, which they rinse carefully. The shellfish they skillfully remove from their shells, and often small piles of shells are the only clue to a Raccoon’s presence.

SCENT-PRODUCING MAMMALS: SKUNKS, MINK, WEASELS

Striped Skunk

(Mephitis mephitis)

Black fur with two white stripes on back

Large bushy tail, white at tip

The Skunk is an inoffensive creature that tries hard to avoid people. Even when confronted, it is generally good-natured, relying on its presence to discourage investigation and employing its powerful scent only if pressed. Skunks usually live in holes not far from water. These holes have generally been taken over from another mammal by “squatter’s rights.” From four to seven youngsters are born in late April and they follow their mother about faithfully wherever she goes.

Mink

(Mustela vison)

Elongated brown animal

Bushy tail, about 8″ long

Toes are webbed

The Mink is extremely rare on the Neck and a careful and thorough search is required to locate one. They are associated with water and feed on shellfish and other aquatic creatures. They are best known for their fur, a favorite for coats. Fortunately, Mink are not common enough on the Neck to warrant commercial trapping.

Long-tailed Weasel

(Mustela frenata)

Long thin body; yellowish beneath, brown above

Tail long, about half the total length

The Weasel is a vicious, bloodthirsty animal that often kills just for the sport of it. Most of its victims are mice and insects, so its murderous instincts really benefit us. Weasels hunt at all hours of the day or night and all year round. Specimens in our area will occasionally turn pure white in winter and become an “Ermine.”

HOOF-FOOTED MAMMALS: DEER

White-tailed Deer

(Odocoileus virginianus)

Tail held upright when alarmed

White patch on throat under chin

Ear lined with white

The White-tailed Deer is certainly the most obvious mammal on the Neck and is readily seen if one will take a short stroll in the wooded area behind the main beach or farther out on the Neck. There are probably close to one hundred deer here, a number approaching overpopulation. They feed mostly on grasses and the more succulent plants. Usually deer produce twins in early summer (June). The fawns are light tan and spotted with white. Deer may be seen readily in early evening when they come into the open fields to browse. They seem to have become quite accustomed to human observers and will frequently be as interested in you as you are in them.

MAMMAL STUDY—A LIFETIME PROJECT

Occasionally Whales, Seals, and Porpoises are sighted off the beach. These are true aquatic mammals. We have only listed the mammals regularly found living on the Neck. To see all of them is a summer’s project, and to study their life histories is equally exciting and challenging.

A few books to help you are:

William H. Burt and Richard P. Grossenheider, A Field Guide to the Mammals. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1952. $3.95

Victor H. Cahalane, Mammals of North America. New York: Macmillan, 1947. $7.95

William J. Hamilton, Jr., The Mammals of Eastern United States. Ithaca, N. Y.: Comstock, 1943. Out of print. Available in Museum of Science Library.

Ralph S. Palmer, The Mammal Guide: Mammals of North America North of Mexico. Garden City, N. Y.: Doubleday, 1954. $4.95

Herbert S. Zim and D. F. Hoffmeister, Mammals: A Guide to Familiar American Species. New York: Golden Press, 1955. Cloth $2.50, paper $1.00

Chapter 7
WINGS OVER THE SAND

More than any other form of nature, birds invite the notice of the casual naturalist. Their specializations, their plumage, and their song all serve as attractive bait for our attention.

It is not surprising, then, that more books have been written about birds than any other life form, and that many of these have been directed especially to the layman.

Although more than 150 species of birds may appear during the course of a year at Crane’s Beach, only a small number will be described here in any detail. Many of these will be summer birds that regularly nest on Castle Neck.

The common and scientific names of the birds listed below are in accordance with the nomenclature in the latest edition (5th) of the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list (1957).

BIRDS OF THE SEA

Herring Gull

(Larus argentatus)

Body is pure white

Grayish-blue wings, tipped with black

Somewhat larger than a Crow

This is the familiar “Sea Gull,” one of many species so called. Its value as a beach scavenger and “garbage collector” has earned it protection by the federal government. While preferring the rocky coasts of Maine for nesting, the Herring Gull is by far the most familiar, if not the most common bird found at Crane’s Beach.

Great Black-backed Gull

(Larus marinus)

Much larger than Herring Gull

Wings are black on top surface

This beautiful gull, like its common cousin, is a scavenger. It is larger and more antagonistic than the Herring Gull and will often steal its food. In Maine, where both breed, the Great Black-back frequently feeds on the Herring Gull’s eggs or nestlings.

Common Tern

(Sterna hirundo)

Small, sleek, white body

Forked tail

Black crown on top of head

Orange-red bill

These delightful, graceful birds are again nesting at the tip of the Neck. Their nest has been described earlier (page 7). Under government protection, their numbers have been increasing rapidly. Keep a sharp watch and you may spot an Arctic or Roseate Tern, both very similar to the Common. It is entertaining to watch the Tern fish. It hovers against the wind in one spot just off shore—then suddenly drops into the water, only to reappear again in a moment with some morsel of food. Repeated again and again, this performance becomes a real show which even the most uninterested sun bather cannot ignore.

BIRDS OF THE BEACH

Piping Plover

(Charadrius melodus)

Small, sandy-colored bird

Black neck ring and forehead markings

Voice: A clear, forlorn “peep-lo”

This rather rare shorebird so perfectly matches the dry sand on which it hunts that it is often completely invisible until it moves. If the sparsely lined nest is discovered, the parents go into a “broken wing” act to draw attention to themselves and away from their eggs or young. The four light buff eggs marked with black are laid in May.

Five Common Migrants

Although rare, the Piping Plover has been described in detail because it does nest here. The following five birds are very common on the Neck during much of the summer but do not nest on New England beaches.

Semipalmated Plover

(Charadrius semipalmatus)

Resembles Piping Plover but is darker brown

Black ring on neck

Tail is dark, with white edges

Black-bellied Plover

(Squatarola squatarola)

About Robin size

Tail and rump are white

Named for its spring color patterns

Greater Yellowlegs

(Totanus melanoleucus)

A large Sandpiper with bright yellow legs

Tail and rump are white

In flight, body appears light, wings dark

Sanderling

(Crocethia alba)

Legs and bill are black

White stripe across wing

Body is brown or gray color

Semipalmated Sandpiper

(Ereunetes pusillus)

Very tiny sandpiper

Stout bill

Blackish legs

BIRDS OF THE SWAMPY AREAS

Redwinged Blackbird

(Agelaius phoeniceus)

Male is black, with red shoulder patches

Female is a brown, uninteresting bird

The male Redwing is familiar to everyone. His beautiful black plumage with red shoulder bars allows a rapid identification. He is usually seen flitting about over a marsh attempting to attract the attention of some admiring female. The nest is built in a shrub on the marsh in late May or June. Ordinarily it is well concealed, and often the only indication of its existence is the loud scolding of the anxious parents when intruders approach.

Black Duck

(Anas rubripes)

In flight: A dark duck with silvery underwings

On water: Light brown with a yellow bill

Bright red feet

This heavily hunted waterfowl continues to breed even in well-populated areas. Its nest is found here on the edges of the many fresh-water pools that dot the Neck in association with the swamps. About nine white or buff-colored eggs are produced in May. After nesting, these ducks may still be seen feeding on submerged plants. They obtain their meal in a crazy “dabbling” fashion, standing on their heads so that only the tail protrudes above the surface.

Black-crowned Night Heron

(Nycticorax nycticorax)

White breast, black on back and on crown of head

About Herring Gull size

Long, wading legs

Although most active at night, these herons may be seen throughout the day resting or feeding. They wade about in both the fresh and salt marshes in search of fish or crustaceans, which they seize with their long bills. This heron nests only rarely, if ever, on the Neck now, but thirty years ago great rookeries were found here. These birds are still to be found on the Neck in fair numbers even though man’s invasion of the area has reduced its desirability as a nesting place.

Marsh Hawk

(Circus cyaneus)

Males gray; females brown

Medium-sized hawk

Always with an obvious white rump

During the summer this handsome bird of prey is a familiar sight soaring close to the ground over all large marshy areas. In flight it holds its wings at an angle over its back, rather than parallel to the ground as do most hawks. It mates for life, bringing forth a brood of young once each summer. The nest is quite un-hawk-like, located on the ground and constructed of tall grasses. The Marsh Hawk leaves the area and migrates southward sometime in early September.

BIRDS OF THE FIELDS AND WOODED AREAS

Rufous-sided Towhee

(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

Underside white, orange on sides

Tail is long, dark, with white corners

About size and shape of a Robin

Towhees are more often heard than seen. Their loud scratching noise in the underbrush frequently frightens hikers. If disturbed, they will run on the ground to a place of safety. Their song is very distinctive and has been said to sound like “Drink your tea” with the tea ending extended, or “You and meeeee.” The Towhee generally breeds twice every summer, building its nest in a small shrub or on the ground. This nest is usually as difficult to discover as the bird itself.

Tree Swallow

(Iridoprocne bicolor)

White throat and stomach

Blue-green back and head

Crescent-shaped wings, notched tail

Usually seen winging low over water, the Tree Swallow serves to clean the air of water-loving insects. These swallows appear on the Neck in great numbers during the fall, when the scarcity of insects changes their diet to Bayberries. Tree Swallows are among the last birds to migrate in the fall and always the first to return the following spring. Their nests are occasionally discovered in a hollow tree during May or June, but these little birds will readily accept a bird house in lieu of a hollow tree.

Eastern Kingbird

(Tyrannus tyrannus)

Appears gray at a distance

Square black tail with conspicuous white tip

Infrequently, one sees a Hawk being attacked in flight by a much smaller bird. This little ball of courage is likely to be the Kingbird. Because of its swiftness in flight, the Kingbird is an able fly catcher and feeds on flies regularly. It builds a nest on the Neck, usually high in a tree, affording it a good lookout post. Watch for this nest in June.

Brown Thrasher

(Toxostoma rufum)

Brown bird with light breast covered with dark streaks

Long curved bill; very long tail

The Thrasher, and its cousin the Catbird, are both common summer residents and nest on Castle Neck. The Thrasher’s loud song, often mimicking other birds, is distinctive because every phrase occurs in pairs. When the nest is approached, the song changes into a series of short clucking noises, with an occasional hiss scolding the intruder. Persistent investigation may uncover the well-constructed nest on the ground. Look for this nest containing four brown-marked blue eggs during late May or June.

Mourning Dove

(Zenaidura macroura)

A slim, brown bird

Long pointed tail, bordered with white

This lovely, delicate dove occurs in every state of the Union. The waste areas on the Neck are especially suited to it because its main foodstuff is Pitch Pine seeds, weeds, and grasses. The Mourning Dove’s nest, placed in a Pitch Pine, is so carelessly made that it is apt to be mistaken for an old nest which is falling apart. Why it doesn’t do just this during the nesting season is a marvel. This beautiful dove is sometimes mistaken for its extinct cousin the Passenger Pigeon.

Sparrow Hawk

(Falco sparverius)

Long pointed wings and long tail

Our only small hawk with a black-banded rufous tail

In recent years this colorful hawk has become quite a city dweller, having little fear of humans. During May, four or five eggs are laid in a deserted Woodpecker’s hole or any convenient cavity. As one would guess from its size, the Sparrow Hawk feeds mainly on insects and seldom on a mouse or sparrow. It is often seen hovering over a field in search of prey or just surveying its feeding territory from a high vantage point.

Great Horned Owl

(Bubo virginianus)

Only large owl with ear tufts

Gray appearance, with white throat patch

Voice: Deep, penetrating “Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo” (usually an odd number of hoo’s)

One or two of these magnificent birds can generally be found on any thorough search of the Neck. They hunt the Neck by night, taking a great toll of mice and other small animals. The Great Horned Owl nests earlier than any other New England bird, usually in February or March. So early, in fact, it occasionally returns from a hunt to find its nest and eggs covered with snow. A Great Horned can often be located during the day by following the sound of a noisy flock of Crows. These birds spend hours screaming and scolding Owls whenever they find one sleeping during the day.

Yellow Warbler

(Dendroica petechia)

Only tiny all-yellow bird here

Reddish streaks on breast of males

On first discovery, this warbler is likely to be identified as an escaped canary. Indeed, it is oftentimes called the “Wild Canary.” It has a very charming, persistent song, which it sings during most of the day. It builds a tiny nest lined with down in the fork of a shrub. Unfortunately, the Yellow Warbler arrives late in the spring and leaves us early in the fall.

Yellowthroat

(Geothlypis trichas)

Male: All yellow, with a black mask over eyes

Female: Drab olive color with bright yellow throat

A very familiar bird on Castle Neck, the Yellowthroat constantly makes its presence known by a bright “witchity-witchity” song, sounding as though it is asking “What-cha-see?” Its nest is built on or close to the ground and is a rather bulky affair, much larger than seems necessary for so small a bird. As with most of the warblers, the Yellowthroat’s diet consists entirely of insects—a characteristic that makes it a most valuable guest.

SOME WINTER SPECIALTIES

A few tourists visit the beach during the winter. It is generally considered to be a “dead” time of year. Yet the birds abound here, and many may be found only during the cold months. Five examples are:

Common Loon

(Gavia immer)

Large, almost Goose size

Long, straight bill

Winter: Dark gray back, whitish throat and breast

All summer long the Loon lives in the quiet of some hidden northern lake, but in the winter it moves out into the ocean. The winter seas are cold and savage, and yet the Loon takes them in stride. It is a powerful swimmer and can dive easily and deeply. The voice of the Loon, heard only in summer, is very distinctive; the loud, “crazy” laughing call is responsible for the saying “As crazy as a loon.”

Horned Grebe

(Podiceps auritus)

Resembles a duck but has slender neck and pointed bill

Winter: Dark gray back, line down neck, and top of head; white on breast, front of neck, and underside of head

The Horned Grebe spends most of its time on the water, frequently even sleeping there. It has also learned to preen itself in water by rolling over on its side. Grebes swim and dive actively, catching many small fish and crustaceans. When frightened into flight they will run many yards across the surface of the water before finally hurtling into the air.

Snowy Owl

(Nyctea scandiaca)

Very large white owl

A round, smooth head

The Snowy is a day-flying owl and therefore may be seen perched high on a sand dune looking around for mice. Its home is in the Arctic tundra, where it feeds on Lemmings. When these are scarce during the winter, the Snowy migrates southward to new feeding grounds. Because it is not used to humans, you can often get quite close to this owl before it will be frightened into flight.

Snow Bunting

(Plectrophenax nivalis)

About size of Song Sparrow

White body, rusty on head and back

Long, pointed, white wings with black tips

From its breeding grounds in the Arctic, this large sparrow-like bird comes to Crane’s Beach only in the winter. It is at home during the hardest, most severe snowstorms. One may stand on the verge of frostbite and watch large flocks of Snow Buntings flitting about, whistling in a cheerful tinkling song. Look for them among the dunes or marshes, where they feed on the grass and weed seeds.

Ipswich Sparrow

(Passerculus princeps)

Large sparrow, gray above, white below

Breast and sides have dull brown markings

Upper parts more heavily streaked

The Ipswich Sparrow is an occasional visitor to Ipswich. It was isolated years ago on desolate Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia. It breeds only on Sable Island, but its winter migrations cause it to wander along the Atlantic Coast. It was first reported in 1868 from the dunes on Castle Hill, hence its name Ipswich Sparrow. When observed, this bird is most often found among the debris left at high tide on the upper beach. It is quick to fly when disturbed and, upon landing, will run for several yards to lose itself in the Beach Grass.

FOR A WIDER ACQUAINTANCE AMONG THE BIRDS

It is obvious that this chapter serves only to introduce you to the great variety of bird life awaiting the interested naturalist. To continue your study, consider the purchase of a good binocular and one or all of the books listed below.

Field List: Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts. Salem, Mass.: Peabody Museum, 1952. $.35

Edward Howe Forbush, Natural History of the Birds of Eastern and Central North America. Revised and abridged by John B. May. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1939. $7.50

Roger Tory Peterson, How to Know the Birds. New York: New American Library, 1949. $.50

——, A Field Guide to the Birds. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1947. $3.95

Charles Wendell Townsend, The Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts. Memoirs of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, No. 3. Cambridge, Mass.: Nuttall Ornithological Club, 1905. Available in Museum of Science Library.

——, Supplement to The Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts. Memoirs of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, No. 5. Cambridge, Mass.: Nuttall Ornithological Club, 1920. Available in Museum of Science Library.

George J. Wallace, An Introduction to Ornithology. New York: Macmillan, 1955. $8.00

COMMON BIRDS OF CASTLE NECK

Here are sixty of the most common birds you can expect to find at Castle Neck:

Green Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

Black Duck

Red-shouldered Hawk

Marsh Hawk

Sparrow Hawk

Ruffed Grouse

Ring-necked Pheasant

Piping Plover

Semipalmated Plover

Killdeer

Black-bellied Plover

Spotted Sandpiper

Greater Yellowlegs

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Sanderling

Common Tern

Mourning Dove

Screech Owl

Great Horned Owl

Chimney Swift

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Kingfisher

Flicker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Kingbird

Phoebe

Tree Swallow

Barn Swallow

Bluejay

White-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

Catbird

Brown Thrasher

Robin

Bluebird

Cedar Waxwing

Starling

Red-eyed Vireo

Black-and-White Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Myrtle Warbler

Yellowthroat

Blackburnian Warbler

American Redstart

House Sparrow

Bobolink

Meadowlark

Redwinged Blackbird

Baltimore Oriole

Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch

American Goldfinch

Rufous-sided Towhee

Savannah Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Song Sparrow

NOW IT’S UP TO YOU!

For your added interest the following personal check list of 179 specimens discussed in this field guide allows for recording where and when you make your own discoveries at Castle Neck.

As a matter of convenience, animals are arranged by chapter and broad groupings.

Use the Field Note pages for additional observations.

PERSONAL CHECKLIST

Chapter I. “The Shifting Dunes”

Date seen Locality

Beach Porcupines

Erratics

Fulgurites

Garnets

Glacial till

Ventifacts

Chapter III. “Plants on the Dunes”

Mushrooms

Earth Star

Flowering Plants

Beach Clotbur

Beach Grass

Beach Pea

Beach Pinweed

Blunt-leaved Sandwort

Dusty Miller

Glasswort

Sea Lavender

Sea Milkwort

Seaside Goldenrod

Woolly Hudsonia

Trees and Shrubs

Bayberry

Beach Plum

Black Cherry

Pitch Pine

Poison Ivy

Quaking Aspen

(Some other flowers of Castle Neck at end of chapter.)

Chapter IV. “Life at the Edge of the Sea”

Seaweeds

Coralline Algae

Irish Moss

Kelp (Common)

(Fingered)

(Perforated)

Polysiphonia

Rockweed (Common)

(Nodose)

Sea Lettuce

Lower Animals

Anemone

Barnacle

Clam (Edible)

(Hardshell)

(Razor)

(Surf)

Clam Worm

Crab (Green)

(Jonah)

(Rock)

Horseshoe Crab

Jellyfish (Red)

(White)

Lobster

Moon Snail

Mussel (Edible)

(Ribbed)

Oyster

Periwinkle

Rock Purple

Sand Dollar

Sea Urchin

Shrimp (Prawn)

(Sand)

Slipper Shell

Sponge (Crumb-of-Bread)

(Finger)

Starfish

Fishes

Killifish

Pipefish

Sand Lance

Silverside

Skate

Stickleback

Chapter V. “Insects and their Kin”

Insect-Like Animals

Centipede

Harvestman

Millipede

Sow Bug

Spider (Crab)

(Jumping)

(Orange-and-Black Garden)

(Orb weaving)

(Sheet web)

(Wolf)

Tick

True Insects

Aphid (Woolly Alder)

Ant (Carpenter)

(Mound)

Bee (Bumble)

(Honey)

Beetle (Carrion)

(Click)

(Firefly)

(Ground)

(Japanese)

(Ladybug)

(May)

(Snout)

(Tiger)

Bug (Red-and-Black Milkweed)

(Stink)

Butterfly (Cabbage)

(Monarch)

(Skipper)

(Sulphur)

(Tiger Swallowtail)

(Wood Nymph)

Caterpillar (Salt Marsh)

(Tent)

Cricket (Field)

(Snowy Tree)

Damselfly

Dragonfly

Earwig (European)

(Seaside)

Fly (Crane)

(Deer)

(Horse)

(Robber)

(Syrphid)

Grasshopper (Short-horned)

Hornet (Bald-faced)

Lacewing

Mantis (Praying)

Mayfly

Measuringworm

Midge (Biting)

(Gall)

Mosquito

Moth (Cecropia)

(Luna)

(Sphinx)

(Tiger)

Scale (Oyster-shell)

Wasp (Potter)

Webworm

Chapter VI. “Meeting the Mammals”

Bat (Big Brown)

(Hoary)

(Little Brown)

(Pipistrelles)

(Red)

(Silver-haired)

Chipmunk

Cottontail (New England)

Deer (White-tailed)

Fox (Red)

Muskrat

Mouse (White-footed)

(Eastern Meadow)

(Meadow Jumping)

Mink

Raccoon

Shrew (Cinereus)

(Short-tailed)

Skunk

Squirrel (Eastern Gray)

(Red)

Woodchuck

Weasel (Long-tailed)

Chapter VII. “Wings over the Sand”

Blackbird (Redwinged)

Bunting (Snow)

Dove (Mourning)

Duck (Black)

Grebe (Horned)

Gull (Great Black-backed)

(Herring)

Hawk (Marsh)

(Sparrow)

Heron (Black-crowned Night)

Kingbird (Eastern)

Loon (Common)

Owl (Great Horned)

(Snowy)

Plover (Black bellied)

(Piping)

(Semipalmated)

Sanderling

Sandpiper (Semipalmated)

Sparrow (Ipswich)

Swallow (Tree)

Tern (Common)

Thrasher (Brown)

Towhee (Rufous-sided)

Warbler (Yellow)

Yellowlegs (Greater)

Yellowthroat

(Sixty common birds of Castle Neck at end of chapter)

FIELD NOTES

Map

Transcriber’s Notes

Silently corrected a few typos.

Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.

In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.