POTENTIAL EXHIBITS IN PLACE

By Dr. Geo. C. Ruhle.

In seeking exhibits for labeling along self-guiding and "nature" trails, it must constantly be borne in mind to choose only such that carry a message of interest to the layman. To stimulate this interest variety and character of story is foremost. Among potential exhibits for a nature trail within a national park, objects such as the following might be listed:

GEOLOGICAL EXHIBITS

Surface features of individual rocks, such as striations, glacial grooves, slickenslides, ripple marks, character of fracture, mineral constituents, petrographic characters.

Scenic features visible along trail - their origin and nature.

Illustrations of geological processes such as examples of diastropram, aggradation and degradation.

Character of Outcrops. Fossils.

BOTANICAL EXHIBITS

Trees, shrubs and flowers, either whole or in part (as the cross section of a tree).

Cryptegamous plants, especially those playing an easily comprehensible important role -- plant societies, such as parasitic fungi with conspicuous fruiting bodies, lichens, etc.

ZOOLOGICAL EXHIBITS

Naturally very limited, except if one cares to substitute lifeless models, which I consider quite out of good taste. Such things as birds' nests, animals' burrows and homes, work of animal life are excellent.

ECOLOGICAL EXHIBITS

Among those not falling under botanical and zoological exhibits mentioned above are such examples as soil characteristics and its effect on life, plant and animal colonies or units and the factors involved on their composition and history. Interrelationships always are of primary interest.

ETHNOLOGICAL

The works of man such as mortar rocks, traces of aboriginal habitations and accupations.

HISTORICAL

Sites of historical events, features constructed by pioneers and historical personages.