Fig. 43.—The club moss Lycopodium complanatum 
var. Winbellerorries which is known in Illinois only from a 
site bordering Lusk Creek. 
In the area of Lusk Creek, I have on several oc- 
casions seen the pileated woodpecker. Turkey vul- 
tures apparently nest in the recesses of the tall 
cliffs north of the junction of Lusk Creek with Bear 
Creek. Deer are abundant here, as they are in many 
other parts of southern [Jllinois. 
In the springtime, the abundant flowers of the 
shadbush and dogwood create a beautiful sight. And 
here in autumn the pastel colors of the oak leaves on 
the upper slopes, most beautiful and restful to the 
eyes of the observer, provide a never-to-be-forgotten 
experience. 
Most of the Lusk Creek Canyon area is a part of 
the Shawnee National Forest. A small part is in 
private ownership. 
RECAPITULATION 
These and other natural areas of our state are of 
great value to scientists of Illinois and elsewhere. 
To nonscientists, these natural areas are also of 
value. Although nonscientists may never carry out 
biological studies, the natural areas offer them op- 
portunities to see bits of the forests and prairies for 
which Illinois was once famous and to observe the 
plants and animals, both common and rare, in some 
of these interesting habitats. It is in these places 
that they can relax and listen to the sounds of nature. 
Many persons receive a lift from such relaxations. 
In our society, which requires a rapid pace but also 
provides much leisure time, these individuals deserve 
consideration. The observers of nature should be 
provided with places where they can enjoy their 
leisure hours and where they can relax, just as others 
have been provided with hunting, fishing, boating and 
play ground areas. 
I have attempted to take you, the readers of this 
article, very quickly through 24 natural or scientific 
areas of the State of Illinois by means of descriptions 
and photographs. I hope this vicarious journey may 
arouse an ardent desire in some of you to visit these 
localities, at least the ones nearest home. Enjoy 
yourselves in these places. Help preserve them for 
future generations. 
LITERATURE CITED 
Allen, John W. 
1949. Pope County notes. South. Ill. Univ. Mus. Nat. and 
Social Sci. Contrib. 22. 95 pp. 
Artist, Russell C. 
1936. Stratigraphy and preliminary pollen analysis of a 
Lake County, Illinois, bog. Butler Univ. Bot. Stud- 
ies 3(13):191-8. 
Benke, H. C. 
1932. Trout Park ‘twonderland’’ is revealed. Elgin Cour- 
ier-News, March 29, pp. 1-2. More of park flora is 
listed. Elgin Courier-News, March 30, p. 2. 
Boewe, G. H., Stella Holmes Barrick, and Stella M. Hague 
1935. Mosses from Apple River Canyon, Mississippi Pal- 
isades and White Pines Forest state parks. Ill. 
State Acad. Sci. Trans. 28(2):83-4. 
Bretz, J] Harlen, and S, E. Harris, Jr. 
1961. Caves of Illinois. Ill. State Geol. Surv. Rep. Invest. 
215. 87 pp. 
Evers, Robert A. 
1950. Notes on the Illinois flora. Am. Midland Nat. 44(3): 
617-21. 
Four plants new to the Illinois flora, Rhodora 53 
(628):111-3. 
Hill prairies of Illinois. Ill. Nat. Hist. Surv. Bul. 
26(5): 367-446. 
The filmy fern in Illinois. Ill. Nat. Hist. Surv. Biol. 
Notes 44. 16 pp. 
Fuller, George D. 
1946. A check list of the vascular plants of Jo Daviess 
County, Illinois. Ill. Acad. Sci. Trans. 38:51-63. 
1951. 
1955. 
1961. 
30 
Gates, Frank Caleb 
1912. The vegetation of the beach area in northeastern 
Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin. Ill. Lab. Nat. 
Hist. Bul. 9(5):255-372. 
Gleason, Henry Allan 
1910. The vegetation of the inland sand deposits of Ill- 
inois. Ill. Lab. Nat. Hist. Bul. 9(3):23-174, pls. 
I-XX. 
Hart, Charles A., and Henry Allan Gleason 
1907. On the biology of the sand areas of Illinois. Ill. 
Lab, Nat. Hist. Bul. 7(7):137-272. 
Mohlenbrock, Robert H., and John W. Voigt 
1959. Tipularia discolor in Illinois. Taxonomic Index 22: 
xxxix-xi in Brittonia 11(3). (Name misspelled as 
Mohlenbrook in publication.) 
Pepoon, H. S. 
1917. The primrose rocks of Illinois. Ill. State Acad. Sci. 
Trans. 10:159-62. 
1920. A proposed new state park. 
Trans. 12:64-8. 
Stover, E. L. 
1930. A mesophytic ravine (‘Rocky Branch’’): a floristic 
account. East. Ill. State Teachers Col., Teachers 
Col. Bul. 110. 26 pp. 
Vestal, Arthur G. 
1913. An associational study of Illinois sand prairie. Ill. 
Lab. Nat. Hist. Bul. 10(1):1-96. 
Winterringer, Glen S., and Arthur G. Vestal 
1956. Rock-ledge vegetation in southern Illinois. Ecol. 
Monog. 26(2): 105-30. 
Ill. State Acad. Sci. 
