1893. | NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 99 
Topographical Engineer of Dr. W. 8. Webb’s Na-ha-sa-ne Park, 
under the general direction of Mr. Edward M. Burns, the man- 
ager of the park, within the limits of which lie all the deposits 
to be described. The result is to increase considerably the area 
over which diatomaceous earth is known to exist, but to dis- 
credit the earlier estimates of the quantity of pure or commercial 
material existing in any one of these deposits. It will be seen, 
however, from the details which I shall present, that there are in 
this region at least eight deposits of considerable extent and of 
some scientific interest. 
I give below the physical characteristics of each deposit, as 
described by Mr. Wood: 
1. Roilly Pond.—In this body of water the diatomaceous 
earth can be traced with the naked eye over an area of about 
two acres. According to soundings and borings made by 
Mr. Wood it extends to a depth of from one to seven feet, 
averaging probably about two and one-half feet. The pond has 
two outlets, both of which are rapid, and which carry off enough 
of the earth to color the water of the streams for about a half a 
mile a milky white. The water of the pond itself also holds the 
material in suspension to some extent, from which fact the pond 
has derived its name. I have received no evidence, however, 
that the pond abounds in living forms, or that the stratum of 
their shells is now being added to to any appreciable extent. 
2. Big Crooked Lake.—In this body of water the diatom- 
aceous deposit has been recognized at its west end over an area 
estimated to contain between four and five acres, and Mr. Wood 
thinks he has proven that it extends to an average depth of 
seven feet. The water in this lake, which is a good fishing 
ground, is of coniderable depth, reaching in some places to fifty 
and even seventy-five feet.- It is, therefore, impossible to say 
whether or not the diatomaceous earth extends beyond the 
limits already named. 
3. Beaver Meadow, west of and close to Big Crooked Lake. 
This meadow seems to be improperly named, as Mr. Wood 
thinks that it was formerly a veritable lake which has been filled 
up, but which exhibits no evidence of having been dammed by 
beavers. The meadow contains from fifteen to twenty acres, 
and water still exists in the centre. The purer diatomaceous 
earth is recognizable over an area of at least five acres, though 
it is found more or less mixed with mud in many other parts. 
From Mr. Wood’s examination the deposit appears to run 
from two to twelve feet in depth, and he thinks that over 
the five acres already referred to it extends to an average depth 
of three feet. Ontop of it, however, there is about a foot of 
