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Bulletin Wisconsin Natural History Society [Vol. 11, No. 4 
and small, scattered, nearly dry marshes, and a few small streams 
which are tributary to the Fox River — the principal water-course 
in this section. This area contains but three lakes, which lie in the 
extreme southeastern corner. The western section may be divided 
into a northern and a southern half: the southern may be char- 
acterized by rough, broken hills or kames, while the northern 
part is generally known as the “lake region,” and is of the greatest 
ornithological interest. 
The lake region proper is approximately 105 square miles in 
extent, and contains thirty-five lakes, the largest of which is 
Pewaukee, with an area of 3.61 square miles. 3 The lakes are for 
the most part arranged in chains, there being but few isolated lakes 
of any size. The land surrounding them is low, and in the case 
of many of the smaller ones, marshy and treeless. It is here 
among the shore rushes that the grebes, coots and bitterns breed, 
while in the swamps surrounding the lakes rails, marsh wrens and 
redwings are to be found in abundance. Three river courses 
flow through this area, all in a southwesterly direction. The 
Ashippun River, the smallest and most northerly of these, serves 
both as an inlet and outlet of the Ashippun Lake — a most interest- 
ing breeding ground for many species of birds. The Oconomowoc 
River is of perhaps the most importance, as it connects four of 
the largest lakes in the county, and is navigable for small launches 
between Oconomowoc and Fowler Lakes. The river is admirable 
for the many species of sandpipers, and individuals of one species 
or another are to be found there at almost any time during the 
spring, summer and fall. Bark River is the southernmost of these 
systems, and near Utica is joined by Scuppernong Creek, a little 
stream flowing through very wet, swampy, and interc dng land. 
These three systems all enter Rock River in Jefferson County. 
Near the southern limit of this lake area are found several large 
swamps, notably one near Golden Lake. These swamps are, at 
some seasons, extremely wet and almost impassable. They are 
characterized by the common marsh grass ( Spartina sp?), with 
many dense tamarack covered “islands,” and are the breeding 
and hunting ground of many raptores. In direct contrast with 
these lowlands, the highest point in the county, Government Hill, 
3 N. M. Fenneman, “Lakes of Southeastern Wisconsin.” Bull. VIII Wis. Geol. and Nat. Hist . 
Survey, 1902. 
