38 University Geological Survey of Kansas. 
by narrow divides, which are now carved into towers and buttes 
of red clays and shales, which are supported by interlacing 
selenite layers, as represented in Plates VIII and IX. As the 
sun shines upon them a most beautiful effect is produced, which 
is sure to attract the attention of the observer, and gives a pic- 
turesque landscape of which he never wearies. The geologists 
and travelers who have discussed this region have given very 
poetical descriptions, and the area certainly is inspiring to 
those poetically inclined. 
The buttes often rise 200 feet above the canyons and are 
capped by the massive white gypsum, producing an effect very 
much like that of the ‘‘ bad lands’”’ of the northwest. This ap- 
pearance is well shown in Plates V and X. Atmospheric forces, 
especially rain and frost, have widened the upper portions of 
the stream valleys, giving the characteristic V-shaped form. 
The hills are more or less circular in outline, and their lower 
portions are hidden under a mass of fan-shaped talus. Plate XI. 
The erosion at first is checked by the gypsum cap, but when 
that is cut through it goes forward very rapidly. In the early 
history of the area, the water doubtless poured over the white 
rock in a waterfall, which must have been of considerable size 
and beauty. Other smaller falls probably were formed when the 
streams cut down to the standstone layers below; but these fea- 
tures have now disappeared in the rivers, though they may still 
be observed at places in the smaller tributaries. 
The amount of erosion is much greater than in either of the 
other regions on account of the more rapid development of the 
streams under the more favorable conditions of elevation and 
soft rock, but it is interesting to note that the streams have cut 
to nearly the same level here as in the central and northern 
gypsum areas. 
These various streams, with their steep slopes, are dry through 
much of the year, the water running off rapidly into the rivers 
or disappearing in the soft, sandy beds. Some of these streams 
are very appropriately named Sand creek, Dry creek, etc. After 
heavy rains they become raging torrents of tumultuous sand 
and silt laden waters, which are almost impossible to ford, and 
