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 amcricaiia) , hard maple (Acer saccharum) , 

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

 smaller numbers, of the black cherry ( Primus serotina) , slippery elm 

 (Ulmus fulz'o), shingle oak (Quercus imbricaria) , and the Kentucky 

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

 (Juglans nigra), mulberry (Morns rubra), and bitternut (Gary a cor- 

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

 prickly ash (ZantJwxylum amcricanum) , redbud (Gcrcis canadensis) , 

 buck-brush (Syniplioricarpos orbiculatus) , green brier (Suiilax), 

 five-leaved ivy (Pscdcra quinque folia) , moonseed (Menispermum 

 canadcnse), bittersweet^ Celastrus scandens), and grape (Vitis cine- 

 rea). The characteristic herbaceous vegetation is nettle (Laportea 

 canadensis), clearweed (Pilea puiuila), bellflower (Campanula ameri- 

 cana), Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata), tick trefoil (Desmodinm 

 grandiflorum) , Actinomeris alternifolia, maiden hair fern ( Adiantuni 

 pedatum), beech fern (Phegoptcris hexagonoptcra) , the rattlesnake 

 fern (Botrychium z'irginiaunm ) , 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. 1 

 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. 



