THE AMEKICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST. 



a matter of doubt. It would make an interesting future 

 study to determine the effect if any of the distribution of 

 these different sands and gravels on the distribution of the 

 plants on the island." 



Associated with Tertiary soils and the coastal plain are 

 the Pine Barrens of Long Island which have been described 

 in part by Britton ('80), Harper ('08) and for Staten Isl- 

 and by Burnham ('13). 



RECENT EPOCH 



During post glacial times transportation has taken place 

 on a large scale; the waves cutting into the bluffs at Mon- 

 tauk Point and at some places farther west, have sorted out a 

 vast amount of sand which has been transported southwest- 

 ward in the direction of the prevailing winds, and has been 

 built into bars, crossing the narrower inlets and into notable 

 barrier beaches such as Fire Island and Rockaway beaches, 

 and across wider bays. Storm waves sometimes cut chan- 

 nels through these barriers, and some of the channels are 

 kept open by the tidal flow, the outflow from enclosed bays. 

 The surfaces of these beaches are in many places diversified 

 by hillocks of wind blown sand or dunes 10-30 ft. in height. 

 The growth of vegetation in the shallow waters behind the 

 barrier beaches has produced a great marsh which is inter- 

 sected by a bewildering maze of channels and small bars. 

 These deltas, beaches, bars, dunes, and the sandspits, 

 marshes and connecting beaches to be mentioned constitute 

 the recent series of deposits and as will be seen, are in the 

 process of formation today. The vegetation of the region 

 of Montauk has been extensively studied by Taylor ('23) 

 and in less detail by Clute, ('97-'99). 



When the ice retreated there were many disconnected 

 islets adjoining the mainland. In most places the inter- 

 vening waters were shallow. The waves and shore currents 

 rapidly extended hooks and spits completing Long Island as 

 it now appears. Marshes and beaches served as connect- 

 ing agencies in the cases of Oak Neck and Center Island, 

 while Lloyd and Eaton Necks are connected by beaches 

 alone. Such beaches are thought to have joined with Long 

 Island what must have been 15 distinct islands. Studies 



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