Natural History of District of Columbia — McAtee 101 



a most interesting locality for naturalists, but is nearly 

 ruined now. Draining into it was Holmead Swamp, which 

 was one of the most interesting of the Magnolia Bogs, and 

 one most thoroughly explored. On the north side of Piney 

 Branch near its mouth are remains of the most extensive 

 implement workshop of the Indians that has been found in 

 this locality. At the head of Soapstone Creek, a tributary 

 higher up and on the other side of Rock Creek, is an ancient 

 quarry where the aborigines made soapstone vessels and 

 other articles. 



Takoma Park is notable chiefly as an illustration of the 

 strength in which the Coastal Plain flora holds positions in 

 the very margin of the Coastal Plain deposits. The region is 

 in a peninsulated part of these formations, yet it had a 

 typical Magnolia bog (now obliterated) and in this and 

 elsewhere in the neighborhood the following typical Coastal 

 Plain plants among others have been collected: Panicum 

 microcarpon, P. cohnnbianum thinium, P. aculeatum, Xyris 

 flexuosa. Eriocaulon decangular e, Sisyrinchium atlanticum, 

 Blephari glottis ciliaris, Rhexia virginica, Kalmia angusti- 

 folia and Viburnum nudum. The farthest point reached in 

 this area by any of these species is on Sligo Creek about 2 

 miles north of Takoma. 



THE UPPER POTOMAC REGION. 



In this division may be included the river valley and 

 adjoining bluffs from Aqueduct Bridge to the limit of the 

 Washington area. This area includes some subdivisions 

 worthy of special notice, as the vicinity of Great Falls, the 

 flats in the neighborhood of and below Chain Bridge, and 

 some of the islands. These will receive separate mention. 



Along most of this part of the river the bottomland is 

 narrow, especially so on the Virginia side. The bluffs rise 

 rapidly to the elevation of 250 feet in the lower part of the 

 region, and to from 350 to 400 feet in the northwestern part. 

 Small streams, abruptly descending near the river, and 

 springs are abundant. Most of the area is well wooded, the 



