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no evidence that it occupies a former bed of the stream. The bog probably 
occupies what was originally a small lake on the valley floor, fed by springs 
in the underlying gravel. The former area of the bog was no doubt much 
greater than its present area, as is shown by extensive outlying deposits 
of peaty soil. The area of the bog has been greatly reduced during the 
last few years by artificial means. From natives of the vicinity, it was 
learned that the bog was formerly much wetter and more impenetrable. 
A story is told of an “herb-doctor’’ who entered the bog on a collecting 
expedition and never returned. A skeleton recently unearthed was supposed 
to be that of the unfortunate doctor. 
The bog is now artificially drained by a large ditch, but the natural 
drainage was evidently very sluggish. 
The bog in its present condition throws no light on the question of the 
origin of the floating mat of plants characteristic of the earlier stages. Four 
rather distinct plant associations, representing four stages in the plant suec- 
cession in a bog formation, are represented here. These are the sedge-grass 
association, the birch-alder association, the arbor vitae association and the 
maple-tulip association. 
The quaking mat, occupied by the sedge-grass association, has almost 
disappeared, and exists only in isolated patches, the largest of which is 
shown on the accompanying map, Fig. 2. One of the smaller patches appears 
in a photograph, Fig. 7. The areas that are left are quite typical. Walking 
about over the mat is to be conducted with some caution, especially in the 
wetter seasons. By jumping on the mat, one can shake it for many feet 
around. A stick can be thrust down with little resistance to a depth of four 
to six feet. The burning over of the largest of these areas has destroyed 
many of the typical plants. The principal species found in the association 
are as follows: 
Drosera rotundifolia. 
Parnassia caroliniana. 
Carex spp. 
Lophiola aurea. 
Solidago ohioensis. 
Solidago Riddellii. 
Calopogon pulchellus. 
laparis Loeselu. 
Habenaria peramoena. 
