268 QUICKSILVER DEPOSITS OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 



Little Borax Lake, at the foot of Mt. Konocti, possesses a great deal of 

 similarity to the larger body of mineral water near Sulphur Bank. It is 

 sm Jl and shallow and frequently dries up entirely. The salts deposited 

 are borates and carbonates of the alkalis, but no dendritic sinter is found 

 along its shore. Evidences of the volcanic character of this basin were 

 given in the preceding chapter, but no active solfatarism was observed. 

 There seems no reason to doubt, however, that its origin is similar to tliat 

 of the more important Borax Lake. 



Maggots — Borax Lake, like many similai- pools, is infested b}' flies, tlie 

 maggots of which appear to be the sole inhabitants of the brine. Speci- 

 mens of these insects were sent to Professor Kiley, who states that the larger 

 \y,irt of the specimens are larva? of Eplujdra californicn Packard. The same 

 insect is abundant at Mono Lake, where the maggots are used by the Li- 

 dians for food. Some larger maggots were also found in Borax Lake, whicli 

 Professor Riley determined as belonging to the dipterous genus Sind'mnys. 



