63 



ditions prevail, and their presence is as clearly indicative of certain 

 physical conditions as that of aquatic animals would be indicative of 

 other physical conditions. In addition to these evidences we have 

 the readings of our atmometer, which showed the evaporating power 

 of the air to be 26 per cent, of the standard in the garden at the Normal 

 School. This shows that the relative evaporation is very low, and 

 that conditions for the preservation of the moisture which falls and 

 drains into this area are very favorable. The general character of this 

 forest is shown in plates XIV, XV, and XVI, Figure i. 



The vegetational cover on the lowland is quite different in its com- 

 position from that on the upland. This is shown mainly by the pres- 

 ence of the elm (Ulmus americana), hard maple (Acer saccharum), 

 and red oak (Querciis rubra), and secondarily, by the presence, in 

 smaller numbers, of the black cherry (Primus sero'tiua), slippery elm 

 (Ulmus fulva), shingle oak (Qucrcus imhricaria), and the Kentucky 

 coffee-tree (Gymnodadus dioica). Other trees present are walnut 

 (Juglans nigra), mulberry (Moms rubra), and bitternut (Carya cor- 

 diformis). The shrubs and vines are gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati), 

 prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americamim), redbud (Cercis canadensis), 

 buck-brush (Symphoricarpos orbicidatus) , green brier (Smilax)', 

 five-leaved ivy (Pscdera qinnqucfolia) , moonseed (Menispermum 

 cana dense), bittersweet (^ Celastriis scandens), and grape (Vifis cine- 

 rea). The characteristic herbaceous vegetation is nettle (Laportea 

 canadensis), clearweed (Pilea pumila), bellflower (Campanida ameri- 

 cana), ^ Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata) , tick trefoil (Desniodium 

 grandifloriim), Actinomeris alternifolia, maiden hair fern (Adianfum 

 pedatiim), beech fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera) , the rattlesnake 

 fern (Botrychinm z'irginiamini), and Galium circcezans and G. tri- 

 folium. 



Although the forest is generally dense and therefore deeply shaded, 

 there are some places which are comparatively open. Attention, how- 

 ever was devoted mainly to the denser parts. At one place, near the 

 base of the eastern slope of the valley, a few trees had been cut within 

 a few years, and in this glade the conditions and plants and animals 

 were different from those in the dense forest. (See PI. XVI, figs i 

 and 2.) 



This habitat may be characterized as follows : lowland densely cov- 

 ered by sugar maple-red oak forest (climax mesophytic) ; very humid 

 air ; a moist soil ; relatively few shrubs ; herbaceous plants — nettles and 

 clearweed — characteristic of damp, shady, rich woods ; and considera- 

 ble litter and humus in places. 



