132 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



from the melting ice, which were overburdened with debris, but as 

 extended field work was undertaken, these phenomena were dis- 

 covered or strongly suspected and hence the true nature of the plains 

 was established. The best development of the lake bottoms is 

 some distance from Lake Clear, in the more rugged section of the 

 country, south-southeast of Lake Placid in the South Meadows 

 country (in the northwest corner of the Mount Marcy quadrangle). 

 The cause of the lake lay in the fact that normal drainage to the 

 north was prevented by the ice that lay to the north, effectively 

 damming the valleys. 



The writer considers that the glacier at this stage consisted of 

 three distinct lobes : one covered the Lake Clear-Saranac Lake district 

 with its southern edge stretching from Ampersand mountain, through 

 the spot where the village of Ray Brook is now situated, to the 

 northwestern slopes of Mount McKenzie. This lobe pushed a 

 minor " thumb " into the depression where Ampersand lake is 

 today. The second lobe was fed through narrow passes to the east 

 and west of the Whiteface-Esther- Wilmington massif and covered 

 the territory where Lake Placid now lies. The third and most 

 eastern lobe, here considered, completely filled Keene valley (Mount 

 Marcy sheet). 



The South Meadows lake was of irregular shape, some 10 miles 

 long and wide, containing a number of islands, among which Mount 

 Scarface and Seymore mountain may be mentioned. Its outlet has 

 not as yet been definitely established but a very probable one is 

 offered as follows: It begins at the swamp just south of Alford 

 mountain in the Santanoni quadrangle, on the Essex-Franklin 

 county boundary line (altitude 2020 feet), and passes westward 

 through the narrow pass (altitude i960) directly south of Van 

 Dorrien mountain to Blueberry pond. Continuing westward into 

 the Long Lake quadrangle, on the boundary between the two maps, 

 it turns to the southwest and passes three-fourths of a mile south of 

 Palmer brook. When within a mile of the Raquette river the course 

 turns directly south over Brueyer pond. This river course is a mere 

 suggestion, as actual field work has not been undertaken in the rugged 

 and inaccessible Santanoni quadrangle. 



The glacial sands, gravels etc. form a filling in the South Meadows 

 country that is estimated to be at least 300 feet thick; this will be 

 referred to again in another connection. 



A number of beaches of unmistakable character exist on the 

 shoulders of the Sentinel range and on Scott's Cobble. The altitude 



