THE VEGETATION OF MONTAUK 37 



photograph (Fig. ii) well illustrates this, which is characteristic of those 

 wooded kettleholes that have consistent topography, — that is, where the 

 moisture conditions are uniform enough to allow of practical similarity of 

 woody vegetation, quite up to the edge of the Downs. In some, spurs of 

 the kettlehole, with a higher level than the general floor, extend out into 

 the surrounding Downs. In such cases the contact is obscured, and 

 typical thicket vegetation replaces either type. This condition is not so 

 common as the one illustrated which is characteristic of scores of the 

 kettleholes at Montauk. 



While the general aspect of these kettleholes is so uniform, and while, 

 in the sequel, a list of their characteristic species will be given that is very 

 generally typical many curious interlopers are to be found in some of them. 

 If all the kettleholes at Montauk, probably some hundreds, could be studied 

 as closely as the ones that have resulted in this account, there is little doubt 

 that more species would be added to those known from the region. It is 

 a commonplace, however, that the discovery of such would not in the least 

 change the general aspect of the vegetation, nor the development of it to 

 this climax. And it is because of this developmental phase of the vegeta- 

 tion, more than the discovery of a species new to the Point, that so much 

 time has been spent in a description of it. 



The characteristic species of these densely wooded kettleholes are 

 given below. Under Trees, Shrubs, and Herbs, the dominant species is 

 given first, and then the others, in order of their frequency: 

 Trees 



Acer rubrum 



The form more nearly approaching A. carolinianum. 

 Nyssa sylvatica 



This and the red maple are dominant in practically all the low 

 kettleholes. 

 Amelanchier intermedia 



Frequently twenty feet tall and with trunk three inches in di- 

 ameter. 

 Crataegus pruinosa 

 Fagus grandifolia 

 The last two are rare, and from the point of view of frequency, the 

 first two are the significant species, as they dominate and give character 

 to the kettlehole. Because of the depressing effect of the wind, the crowns 

 of all these trees and the shrubs to be mentioned presently, are much con- 

 gested and the canopy of foliage is thus so dense that it is almost dark in 

 the interior. Some idea of the darkness may be realized by recording the 



