95 
Physiographical Field Notes in the Town of 
Wauwatosa. 
By ERNEST BRUNCKEN. 
1. — Boulder Clay and Lacustrine Deposits^ 
On one of the maps accompanying the first geological survey 
of Wisconsin there is indicated between the main body of the 
boulder clay and the lower red clay, in Milwaukee County, a 
strip of clay deposit of lacustrine origin, but differentiated from 
the red clay by its physical and chemical properties, and especially 
the greater abundance of pebbles. The map does not purport to 
show local details. But it would be a mistake to imagine that 
within the territory assigned to this deposit the lacustrine clay 
occupies the entire surface. The fact is, that areas of lacustrine 
clay, and areas of boulder clay, alternate very frequently every- 
where in the Town of Wauwatosa, to which these notes principal- 
ly relate, as well as on the West Side of the City of Milwaukee. 
A complete mapping of the relations of these two formations, 
if it were worth while, would be impracticable for the reason that 
grading and filling operations have in many places radically 
changed the character of the surface. But from observations 
which can be made without mapping the following facts can be 
learned : 
Generally speaking, the northeastern portion of the territory 
inider discussion is a gently rolling plateau, dissected by the 
valley of the Menomonee. The southeastern portion, without be- 
ing in bold relief, is yet much more broken. The hills are mostly 
drumloid in character, but the typical drumlin form is often modi- 
fied in a particular manner to be indicated forthwith. The pres- 
ence of drumloids is not surprising in this locality. This form 
of glacial accumulation is usually found near the outer rim of a 
glacial lobe, and the outer rim of the Michigan glacier, as in- 
dicated by the moraine dividing the Michigan and Green Bay 
lobes, is but a few miles to the west. The longer axis of the hills 
is generally from northeast to southwest, in accordance with the 
flow of the glacial ice in this locality. As far as I know there is 
but one place within the town where the hills are of a different 
character. This is in the grounds of the Soldiers' Home, where 
they are of kame-like appearance. 
