62 The Badland Formations of the Black Hills Region 



even in these areas the main stream has cut entirely through the 

 formations and in most places deeply into the underlying black 

 Cretaceous shales. White river, on the other hand, for more 

 than fifty miles of its middle course, meanders across a wide 

 alluvial bottom, underlain by badland sediments, while its many 

 branched head and all of the larger tributaries from the south 

 and many from the north continue to gnaw vigorously into de- 

 posits that retain much of their original 'thickness. 



Among the innumerable tributaries within the badlands 

 proper, few are of great length, but many are of note in the 

 physiography of the region, in the history of early day travel, 

 and in the yielding of important specimens to the fossil hunter. 

 Of those leading from the Badlands to the Cheyenne river, the 

 following in Pennington County are important and often referred 

 to in the scientific literature: Bull creek, Crooked creek, Sage 

 creek, Hay creek, Bear creek, Spring creek, Indian creek, 

 Little Corral draw, Big Corral draw, Quinn draw, and Cedar 

 draw. Nearer the head of the river are Hat creek, Old Woman 

 creek, Lance creek, and others. Three streams rise in the east- 

 ern part of Pennington County and, flowing eastward, form the 

 head of Bad river. These are Cottonwood, White Water, and 

 Buffalo creeks. The White river tributaries from the north 

 are short, and with the exception of Cain creek, Cottonwood 

 creek, and Pass creek, rising near the heart of the Big Bad- 

 lands, need no further mention here. The White river tribu- 

 taries on the south are numerous, and of considerable size. The 

 best known ones within the area considered, all within the Pine 

 Ridge Indian reservation, are : Pass creek, Eagle Nest creek, 

 Bear in the Ledge creek, Corn creek, Pumpkin creek, Yellow 

 Medicine creek, Medicine Root creek, Porcupine creek, 

 Wounded Knee creek, and White Clay creek. Little White 

 river is the most important of all the streams flowing into 

 White river, but it lies just outside the area represented on the 

 map. Certain geological and paleontological studies made in 

 the valley near Rosebud are referred to elsewhere because of 

 their bearing on studies made in the area covered by this paper, 

 but aside from this, Little White river need not receive our 

 further attention. 



In addition to the streams certain features need mention 

 because of their commanding position. These are Pine Ridge, 

 Porcupine Butte, Eagle Nest Butte, Sheep Mountain, and "The 

 Wall,'' the latter being more fully designated by the various 

 local names: Sage creek wall, White Water wall, Big Foot 



