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Ranger naturalists are scientists carefully selected not only for their intimate knowledge of nature and its ways, but also for their enthusiasm and ability in aiding others to know it as well. Curtailed and finally abolished during the war, naturalist services were resumed in a modest measure in the park last year, upon the return of the park naturalist after four years of service in the Navy. Every important naturalist service which was offered before Pearl Harbor, was restored to the program this year. The uniformed men on the staff number eight.

Dr. R. R. Huestis, dean of naturalists in the park, returned to tell in his inimitable fashion about private ways and doings of mantled ground squirrels and a host of lesser folk. He is professor of biology at the University of Oregon during its regular season. Mrs. Huestis is the obliging pianist for naturalist pow-wows in the Community House each night.

Coming to the park last year from the foxholes of Okinawa, ex-Marine Orthello L. Wallis of Oregon State College is conducting a park survey of stream fish and fishing, as well as having his share of talks, conducted trips, and contact duties. While his fellows were fighting off boredom between annoyances by the enemy, Mr. Wallis made a collection of trap door spiders on Okinawa, and has published a scientific paper on them. To his efforts, also, is due the assembly of this issue of Nature Notes. His wife, Nancy, has prepared the originals of illustrations used.

It took considerable persuasion to bring Walter S. Vincent, Jr., from his laboratory at Oregon State College, since he boasts a brand new pair of twins, whom he hesitated exposing to the wilds and hardships of Crater Lake forests. With his choice of field in zoology, a good background in botany, and a prying interest in what goes on in ponds, pools, and puddles, Mr. Vincent has an appealing and authoritative fund of information for park visitors. When it is his night at the “Comhouse”, Mrs. Vincent helps with the entertainment. Mr. Vincent was with the Army Medical contingent in the Pacific Theatre of war.

Fresh from Osborne Botanical Laboratory at Yale, ex-Marine Gordon P. Walker specializes in cellular botany, but while in the park has interested himself in plant parasites and saprophytes. Mr. Walker shared the brunt of the ordeal of landing operations at Iwo Jima, being attached to the Fourth Division.

Lucius T. Grose is a geologist from the University of Arizona, at which institution he was associated with Eddie McKee, popular and efficient park naturalist of Grand Canyon National Park in the thirties. A navy man, ex-aerographer’s mate Grose served on fighting flattops, including the Essex, Hornet, and Hancock. He was with task force 39 during the bombardment of Japan.

Norman Doyle is an aeronautical major at San Jose State College in California and a student of ex-ranger naturalist-geologist Wayne Kartchner. He spent three years with the air arm of the Navy, being pilot of a PBM on patrol bombing duty of the Philippines, Okinawa, China, and Japan.

Two junior ranger-naturalists complete the uniformed staff, and are giving valued help in information rangers and leaders of occasional trips. Thomas C. Matthews of Portland is a forestry student at Oregon State College. He has had previous outdoor experience in the Wallowas and in Alaska. Donald G. Findlay of Eugene, Oregon, is a student of ex-ranger naturalist Dr. Warren G. Smith, head of the department of geology and geography at the University of Oregon. He served as any army air cadet during the war.

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