232 Prairies of Ohio. 
either by a thin sod, or large tufts of grass, similar to those constitu- 
ting the grassy surface of the prairie, only much larger. Upon at- 
tempting to walk over either of these, the ground beneath will shake 
for the distance of several rods. Sometimes they are very narrow ; 
at others, they cover an area of many acres. Animals are often lost 
when attempting to cross these shaking bogs. Their depth must be 
great, for poles have been thrust into them thirty feet in a vertical 
direction, without reaching a hard bottom. Horses and cattle were 
frequently lost by the early settlers in such humid marshes. ‘These 
are, also, generally disappearing, by being covered with a dense sod, 
which supports a luxuriant growth of grass, and other vegetables. 
Still it is dangerous to drive heavily laden wagons or carts over them, 
for the surface occasionally gives way, and the whole sinks into the 
dark mud below. An instance of this kind occurred, a few years 
since, in the district which I have been attempting to describe. 
But the woody islands, which rise far above the tall grass, con- 
tribute much to the beauty of a wet prairie. Their timber consists 
of oaks, and other trees and shrubs, similar to those found on the 
neighboring elevations. Pebbles and shells, even more perfect 
than those imbedded at the base of the surrounding hills, are also 
abundant below the soil, at the termination or shore of the islands. 
A stream of water passes either through those prairies, or in 
their immediate vicinity. When it overflows its banks, so as to 
cover the low grounds with water, the whole presents the appear- 
ance of a fresh-water lake, with a variety of small islands scattered 
over its surface. 
Marshes, thickly set with willows, alders, and a great variety of 
flowering shrubs, principally of the rose kind, are sometimes abund- 
ant along the margins, or even in the central portions of wet prai- 
ries. Here water animals, such as the muskrat, otter and mink, 
were once abundant, and are so still, except in the immediate neigh- 
borhood of settlements. The first of these animals appears to de- 
light to dwell in villages, placed at some distance from each other, 
while they keep up a constant intercourse by travelling. This is 
done late in the evening. Their houses are usually six or eight feet 
in diameter, at the base, and about four feet in height, gradually 
rounded at the top in such manner as to turn the water in every 
rection. It is said, by most writers, that they build a new house 
every year; but this is not correct, for | have known them to 0¢ 
