285 



most prominent details only. A transcript of my field-notes will be 

 placed in your hands, for such general reference as may be important 

 hereafter, for obtaining greater minuteness and accuracy of information. 



TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES. 



The leading characteristics of the surface of the Peninsula, were 

 treated at large in the report of the State Topographer, of last year. 

 By reference to that able document, it may be seen at once, what rela- 

 tion the counties mentioned, have to its distinguishing features. "It ap- 

 pears," says his report, "that there is a swell of land which may be called 

 the true watershed, running from Pt. aux Barques, south, 45 deg. west, 

 and passing out of the State into the northeast comer of Indiana, about 

 equi-distant from Lakes Erie and Michigan. It attains its greatest ele- 

 vation in Hillsdale county, seven miles east from Jonesville, where it is 

 633 feet above the surface of Lake Michigan. Its summit on the Cen- 

 tral Raihoad, at the division line between Jackson and Washtenaw 

 counties, fourteen miles east of Jacksonburgh, is 437 feet. In the vil- 

 lage of Pontiac, in Oakland county, it is 336 feet. It then again rises, 

 and at the head waters of Belle River, in Lapeer county, is 414 feet. 

 From this point it gradually falls off, and with a few rills, descending 

 on its north and eastern slope, sinks to the level of the beach of the 

 Lake." 



The summit level of this swell is frequently comprised within two 

 parallel ranges of knobs, or conical hUls, generally elevated above the 

 intermediate space, and occasionally taking a somewhat mountainous 

 form ; the peaks having an altitude above the actual surveyed levels, of 

 100 to 800 feet. But such peaks occur in the range only at distant 

 intervals. 



In the north-west corner of Washtenaw, these parallel ranges are 

 very conspicuous, including a breadth of four or five miles, and have 

 received the name of "Short Hills." The intermediate surface is very 

 roUing and broken, with remarkable basin-shaped depressions. Beyond 

 the ranges of elevated cones which bound the shoi-t-hill district, the 

 country continues broken for about a mile, and then subsides to a gently 

 rolling or undulating surface. 



Upon this summit level of the Peninsula, are situated the greatest 

 proportion of those small lakes, which are so common in the landscape 

 of Michigan, and in these most of our streams originate. 



I 



