10 



THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



W. W. Rathbone— Photo. 

 ON THE TERRACE ABOVE THE HEAD OF CLARIDA BRANCH 



a little to the south, and lead through Thacker's Gap out of Saline county 

 toward Hardin county by way of Grand Pierre lake, a deep, wide por- 

 tion of Grand Pierre creek, lying near the water's head between the 

 Ohio and the Saline. Beyond the cliff, which is across the valley to 

 the east of Womble, is Eagle Creek valley, wide and occupied by fertile 

 farms. Within the memory of men now living in the vicinity, an ex- 

 tensive area of heavy woods was ruined by becoming the roosting place 

 of the passenger pigeons whose great numbers broke the limbs from 

 the trees. I have not the exact date of this event, but it was near the time 

 of the last appearance of these birds in Illinois in great numbers. I hope 

 to photograph the locality and any traces of the event that remain and get 

 the accounts of eyewitnesses, during the coming summer. 



Before leaving Saline county, we should cross the next ridge to the 

 west of Womble and go down into Beech Hollow. It and Mud Spring 

 Hollow just across the next ridge to the west, both extend north and south 

 from the divide in the north part of Pope county and include with the 

 separating ridge an area averaging a mile or two wide and four miles 

 long. The large timber of oak, poplar, and beech has all been removed, 

 some of it only recently, but there is much second growth of good size. 

 Aside from the timber, the rocky land is of little value. These narrow val- 

 leys are deep with perpendicular walls and the rocky stream beds, which 

 also serve as highways, carry a torrent in time of rain. When it is not 

 raining numerous springs keep the pools full. This little spot is typical 

 of many throughout the Ozarks, which could be retained in most of their 

 natural beauty as a refuge for wild life, and the timber, if protected, 

 would soon pay for the price of the land at present figures. Numerous 

 railway surveys have gone up these,- outlets to the south, they being the 

 easiest approach to the top of the Ozarks, but no railroads. Eventually, 

 trolley lines will go through this region, for there are fine farms on the 

 level tops of the main ridges and down in the larger valleys from which 

 the timber was removed years ago. Then there are rich fluor spar and 



