184 GEOLOGY OF ILLINOIS. 



At Mason I saw some very thrifty young pines growing in a yard, 

 indicating their adaptation to this soil. 



Scalds. — On the prairies in this county there are often found "scalds," 

 or spots of barren and almost entirely unproductive laud ; fresh plowings 

 ofteu disclose spots of light and dark soil. The few plants found grow- 

 ing on these barren spots are of the same genera and species of those 

 growing on poor land by the roadsides, or on and near an abandoned 

 road, especially on a post oak flat, and consists mostly of Erigeron diva- 

 ricatum and Ambrosia bidentata. If the character of these scalds results 

 from the same causes producing the wastes on and near roads, it must 

 have been produced by the tramping or wallowing of buffaloes. 



In Missouri I have often seen places known as deer-licks or buffalo 

 wallows, andthe growth on them is also the same as on the prairie 

 scalds. 



So far, they may be buffalo wallows ; but if they are wallows or licks, 

 we would expect them to be basin-shaped, but they are generally about 

 level with the surrounding plain. 



In concluding I must tender my sincere thanks to Mr. W. B. Cooper, 

 of Effingham, for the presentation of specimens of silver ore from Ne- 

 vada ; and I am also under many obligations to Mr. Geo. W. Wright, 

 of Effingham, for valuable assistance in giving me lists of many im- 

 portant localities in the county, by which my labor was much reduced. 

 To Dr. Cornwell, of Mason, I also am obliged for assistance. 



