88 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



tracts, of whicli tlie northern is very much the larger, it« natural outlet 

 Iteing the river Deshee, whicli empties into the Wabash between Mount 

 Carmel and Vincennes. The "Little Cypress Swamp" is situated im- 

 mediately above the mouth of White Eiver, into whicli it empties 

 through what is termed the " White River Slough." Although known 

 as the ''Cy])ress Swamp," it consists of a series of beautiful, secluded 

 l)onds, hidden in the dense forest, and difticult of access by any one not 

 familiar with the locality. The principal ponds are the Cypress, Beaver- 

 dam, Washburne's, and Forked Ponds, of which Washburne's is perhaps 

 the largest. The cyi)reNS trees here grow chiefly around the borders of 

 these [)onds and along the sloughs connecting them, as well as the one 

 which empties into the river. Being so near the river, into which the 

 logs are floated at " high water," the finest trees have long since been 

 destroyed, and there are very few left whose symmetry is not marred 

 by low-growing branches or knots upon the trunks. The largest stand- 

 ing tree observed t>y me was a very old and exceedingly rough speci- 

 men, entirely unfit for lumber or shingles. The swollen base measured 

 45 feet in circumference at the ground, tlie girth immediately above the 

 conical portion being 21 feet; the trunk consisted of several upright 

 stems grown together for the greater part of their length, but in places 

 distinct, with one very conspicuous transverse growth joining the two 

 main stems, at a height of about 50 feet from the ground. The top ex- 

 panded 94 feet, the greater part of it elevated over 100 feet from the 

 ground. A solid stump, measuring 38 feet around at the ground, was 22 

 feet in girth at 8 feet; at about 15 feet it divided into two main trunks 

 of equal size, which were cut off immediately above the fork, a" scaffold 

 being necessary for the purpose. Another stump was 13 feet in diame- 

 ter across the top, but was hollow, and from its decaying wood grew 

 several tall, but slender, birch trees, some of which were 50 feet high. 

 Several other stumps of 9 and 10 feet in diameter (across the top) were 

 measured. Several single, solid trunks of 50 to 92 feet in the clear were 

 measured, their diameter at the base being 3 to 5 feet, while the largest 

 one measured, a standing tree, was 27 feet in girth above the swollen 

 base. The tallest ot these trees did not, however, much exceed 140 feet 

 (the two tallest measured being 140 and 147 feet), their average height 

 being little, if any, over 100 feet; and even the finest of them would not 

 compare for symmetry and length with the Sweet.Gums and Ashes with 

 which they were associated. 



92. (324.) rinmmitisf Yellow Pine. 



For obvious reasons there are no pines growing native in Wabash or 

 adjoining counties of Illinois or Indiana; but, according to Dr. Schneck 

 (catalogue, p. 502), the Yellow Pine occurs on the "hills near the mouth 

 of the Wabash River, in Gallatin County, Illinois," Professor Sargent, 

 however, suggests that the pine of Southern Illinois may be P. inops. 

 which "is common and reaches its best development on the 'Knobs' of 

 Southeastern Indiana." 



