AREA HISTORY: History of Adams County, Chapter X, Adams County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/adams/ _______________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886 _______________________________________________ Part III, History of Adams County, Pages 44-54 CHAPTER X. BY AARON SHEELY, A.M. NATURAL HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY-GEOLOGY-MINERALOGY-THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN-THE “BARRENS”-DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS-STREAMS-ELEVATIONS-SCENERY-TREES AND SHRUBS- FISH-BIRDS. GEOLOGY. The geology of Adams County is its physical history, and has for its object the investigation of the causes which have produced the phenomena exhibited both by its exterior and interior rock formations. This history is written in the layers and masses of mineral matter which constitute the crust of the earth comprised within the limits of the county, and becomes intelligible in the investigation of the successive changes to which this portion of the earth has been subjected. The first geological survey of any portion of the county under governmental direction was made in pursuance of an act of Legislature dated March 29, 1836, by the eminent geologist, Prof. Henry D. Rogers, with the aid of a corps of competent assistants. The field work of the first season was sufficient to determine with certainty the order of the rocks of middle and southern Pennsylvania, and to establish the fact that the South Mountain range belongs to the great Laurentian system, the oldest known to geologists. It also established the fact that Adams County belongs to the mesozoic or medieval time of the earth’s history, comprising a single age only-the reptilian, and that the strata or beds lying eastward of the South Mountain are sedimentary, that they occur in long narrow strips parallel with the mountains and coast-line, occupying synclinal valleys formed in the course of the folding of the Appalachians, and that the twisted and disturbed condition of the beds is due to this folding. The results of this survey to the State, as well as to the cause of geological science, were most important, and served to correct several erroneous theories concerning the geology of this part of the State. It may with truth be asserted that this survey gave birth to the science of American structural geology. The act of the Legislature ordering the second geological survey of Pennsylvania was passed May 14, 1874. Prof. Persifer Frazer, Jr., of Philadelphia, was the geologist in charge of the York and Adams district, assisted by Prof. A. E. Lehman, of Lebanon, Penn. These gentlemen promptly commenced work in their district, visiting mines and important exposures, tracing lines of butcrop, collecting specimens of rocks and minerals, and, after properly arranging and marking the same, forwarding them to headquarters at Harrisburg for examination and study, running lines and making measurements in every direction, gathering much valuable information concerning the geology and mineralogy of the district, and sending carefully prepared reports from time to time of their operations. These surveys by Prof. Frazer and his assistants have been very elaborately and faithfully made, at least so far as Adams County is concerned. There are few if any localities that have not been thoroughly examined and accurately reported. Whilst it is to Prof. Rogers that we owe the discovery of the clue to the general law of the earth’s structure prevailing in this section, it is to Prof. Frazer that we are indebted for the successful working out of the clue. Very full reports of the second geological survey have been published by the State, but the facts and data contained in them, being scattered through a large number of volumes, which seem to be running through the press indefinitely, are for the most part so detached and fragmentary as to impair seriously their usefulness for practical purposes. It is to be hoped that the valuable information embraced in these voluminous reports may, without unnecessary delay, be so condensed, arranged and published as to make it of interest and use to the general reader. According to Prof. Frazer, “two-thirds of the county consists of mesozoic soft sandstone or shale, traversed by extensive trap-dykes. Its western townships rise upon the South Mountain azoic roacks, resembling the Huronian series in Canada, very siliceous and porphyritic, carrying some copper ores as yet unproductive. The York County limestone belt of the Codorus Valley spreads over Conowago, as also part of Oxford and Union Townships, and is bordered on the southeast by the mica schist belt. The chlorite schist just enters the southeast corner of the county. Extensive outcrop fragments of quartzite indicate the presence of the Potsdam sandstone in Berwick Township along the continuation of the Pigeon Hills of York County, and several thousand feet of rocks assignable to the Potsdam make up the mountain ridges of Menallen and Franklin Townships north of the Chambersburg pike.” The South Mountain forms, as has been stated, a broken range of the oldest protozoic or Laurentian formation. This consists chiefly of layers of metamorphic or semi-crystalline sandrock call gneiss. The principal minerals of importance are iron and copper ore. The outcrops of these may be seen in the vicinity of Gettysburg. The soil is principally of three kinds, partaking of the character of the rock formations of the county. These are for the most part limestone, red shale, and trap or syenite, the disintegrating and wearing away of which has formed the soil, the abundant presence of iron giving the prevailing red color to it. The area of the county is 530 square miles. MINERALOGY. Iron.-There is in the county a great outspread of gneissoid sandrock and mica slates containing beds of magnetic iron ore, each traceable for many miles. To determine whether or not these constitute a separate system required further observation and study. Some of the ore beds have become decomposed along their outcrops, affording extensive surface mines of brown hematite. The great ore beds of the South Mountain seem to be buried at considerable depths beneath the surface. They will probably at some distant day, as the needs and demands of the country increase, become sources of wealth to the county. Iron ore of various kinds and qualities has for many years been sought and mined in different parts of the county. A few of these mining operations will be briefly described: About ten years ago an opening was made on the farm of Mr. George Howell, near Belmont, some two miles northwest of Gettysburg, in the hope of finding iron ore, but only grayish shale and sandstone, with fragments of trap, were found. There is nothing at this time about the excavation to show the presence of iron. In 1873 some good specimens of ore were found on the farm of Mr. George Cole, in Buchanan Valley, about a mile and a half from Newman’s, on the Chambersburg pike. An opening was subsequently made and some ore of good quality taken out, but it has not been worked to any great extent. The ore is a pure, crystalized, micaceous, specular variety occurring in white quartz and orthofelsite. The Peter Comfort mine, once extensively worked, is on Big Marsh Creek, in Franklin Township, about a mile east of Cashtown, and is one of the most important in the county. The first opening was made by the Wrightsville Iron Company in 1867, the company taking a twenty-five year lease at 30 cents royalty per ton. A number of extensive excavations have been made, but no work has been done for twelve years. The ore is a good quality of magnetic. The ore was hauled by teams to Gettysburg at $1.65 to $1.85 per ton. The works have long been neglected and are in bad condition. The Minter mine is on the farm of Adam Minter, a few hundred yards northwest of the Comfort mine, ore of good quality and in considerable quantity being found scattered over the fields in the vicinity. McCormick & Co., of Harrisburg, opened a trial shaft here in 1874. The tests being satisfactory, the company opened a mine and introduced suitable machinery for operating it, including a fifteen horse-power engine for hoisting and pumping. The miners were paid $1.20 per day of ten working hours, the engineer receiving $1.60 per day, and the boss $75 per month. The ore in this mine occurs in irregular beds, and the levels at which it was taken out were forty-seven feet from drifts and 132 feet on the slope. The mine was worked about a year, during which time about 2,500 tons of ore were taken out and shipped to Harrisburg, being hauled by teams to Gettysburg. Iron has been found on several farms in the vicinity of Rhodes’ Mill, in Freedom Township, but thus far not in quantities to pay. In 1875 Martin, Barbenheim & Kappes, of Gettysburg, leased about ten acres of ground a few hundred yards east of the reservoir on Cemetery Hill, and commenced excavating for iron. They continued work for about a year, expending fully $500, without realizing any profit either for themselves or the owner of the land. A considerable quantity of a kind of magnetic ore was taken out, but none of it was ever sold. Prof. Leslie says it may well be questioned whether the large percentage of magnetic oxide frequently found in those specular ores is not mainly, if not entirely, derived from the disintegration of the trap rocks common in the vicinity. Iron ore in large quantities was mined in the neighborhood of Idaville many years ago, but the supply has not been exhausted. If surface indications are to be relied on there are yet vast beds and veins of this metal awaiting development in this locality. Matthew & Duncan, who operated the Whitestown furnace about forty years ago, opened a number of these beds, taking immense quantities of ore from them. The largest of these openings is on the “Brough Farm,” and covers about half an acre. The furnace in the vicinity, which years ago produced large quantities of iron, has long since been abandoned. The buildings and works are rapidly falling into decay. Ore of good quality has been found on the “Peter Dalhammer” property close by, a trial shaft revealing large quantities of it. The average daily yield of the Albert ore bank, about a mile southeast of Idaville, was ten tons. It was magnetic and of good quality. The iron made from this ore was of a superior character, being used for boiler plate, as also for other purposes for which great strength was required. In 1864 magnetic ore of good quality was found on several farms near Center Mills, in Butler Township, but the beds being below the water level they could not be worked advantageously on account of the intrusion of water, the deposits of ore not being deemed sufficient to warrant the introduction of steam-pumping apparatus. Much ore of good quality has at various times been mined in the southeastern part of the county, in Conowago and Union Townships, along the Littlestown and Hanover road. Extensive mines have at different times during the last fifteen or eighteen years been opened on the Enoch Lefevre farm, as also on the Wills & McSherry farm, and operated with great profit. The works have been idle for several years, owing to depression in the iron trade. Considerable other exploiting for ores has been done in this same section of the county with but moderate success. On the farms of Hon. E. Myers, G. Kunkle, G. Baer and Mr. Willet trial shafts have been sunk, developing only ferruginous chlorite slates, poor in iron. A good deal of iron was mined many years ago along the foot of the mountain in the neighborhood of Maria furnace, in Hamiltonban Township, a few miles west of Fairfield. This furnace was then owned and operated by Hon. Thaddeus Stevens and Col. James D. Paxton. Some of the ore used at this furnace was hauled in wagons from what is now the Minter farm near Cashtown, the ore found in the locality not being of suitable quality. Explorations for iron have been made at different times in various other localities throughout the county. Some of these must have been made many years ago if the size of the trees growing in and around the excavations thus made proves anything. Among the oldest and most extensive, as well as most interesting, of the ancient excavations are those in Franklin Township, on the road leading from Willow Spring Tavern to Bigham’s, and about two miles south of the Chambersburg pike, but why, when, or by whom made, no one seems to know with any degree of certainty. Copper.-Copper is widely distributed throughout the county, and much time and capital have been expended in efforts to find it in paying quantities, but this far with little success. About the year 1850 a Mr. George Proctor opened what is known as the “Old Copper Mine” on the lot at present owned and occupied by Mr. John Hennig, on High Street, Gettysburg, but after working it for a year or less abandoned it temporarily. Afterwards organizing a company known as the “North American Mining Company,” with the avowed object of operating the mine more vigorously, and after disposing of considerable of the stock of the concern, work was resumed in 1852 and pushed with vigor for about a year, eight men being employed in the mine. These were divided into two gangs, one gang of four working twelve hours consecutively. The main shaft was 105 feet in depth, with drifts ten and seventeen feet in length respectively. A small quantity of good ore was taken out, as were also some fine specimens of native copper, but the ore deposit being limited the enterprise failed. No ore from the mine was ever sold, the men losing a considerable portion of their wages. The mine is now a well, with an inexhaustible supply of good soft water. A young workman employed in the mine, Charles Heilecker, lost his life by falling to the bottom of the shaft in 1852. About the year 1845 a copper mine was opened at “Stone Jug,” on the Gettysburg and Harrisburg road, seven miles from Gettysburg, and worked actively for several years, during which time large quantities of good ore were taken out and sold, Maj. Robert Bell hauling the first load, three tons gross weight, to Baltimore in 1846. Work was discontinued soon after the latter date, the men being transferred to certain mines in the Lake Superior copper region under the management of the same company. At various times subsequently, up to within a year, operations were resumed at this mine under different auspices, to be as often discontinued, nearly all of the ventures proving disastrous to the stockholder. Copper mines have at different times been opened in various localities in the South Mountain, Hamiltonban Township, on the Russell farm, on the Musselman tract, as also at a point some distance west of Fountain Dale, but in no case with pecuniary success. Some remarkably fine specimens of native copper have been found in the vicinity of the Musselman mine. Copper ore of considerable richness was a few years ago discovered near Bonneauville, but it was soon found that the vein was too thin to pay for working it. The lessons of the past seem to afford little encouragement to successful copper mining in the future in this county. Limestone.-A belt of limestone enters the county at its southeast corner, near the Pigeon Hills, and extends in a southerly direction to Littlestown, a distance of about seven miles, being overlapped in many places by red shale and sandstone. This limestone is of a bluish color, comparatively pure, and when burned yields a superior quality of quicklime for agricultural and building purposes. Vast quantities of this lime are annually manufactured, affording employment to large numbers of persons, and contributing materially to the resources of the county. In the upper portion of the red shale formation, near the base of the South Mountain, is a belt of calcareous conglomerate resembling the famous variegated Potomac marble, and presenting, when finely polished, a most beautiful appearance. This rock, when burned, produces an impure but strong kind of lime, more suitable as fertilizer than for making mortar. There are also isolated outcrops of limestone in Huntington and Latimore Townships, near York Springs; in Franklin Township, near Hilltown and Cashtown, as also at a point about midway between Arendtsville and Mummasburg; in Hamiltonban Township, near Fairfield; at all of which places quarries have been worked for many years. Granite.-Among the crystalline rocks of economic value, such as constitute a large part of the geological formation of this county, granite, or syenite, as it may be more correctly called, is perhaps the most useful. Wolf’s Hill, Culp’s Hill, Big Round Top, Little Round Top, and Houck’s Ridge, of which Devil’s Den forms a projecting spur, furnish a supply of this rock that is practically inexhaustible. This rock, however massive and unbroken it may appear, has a tendency to divide more easily in certain directions than in others, and is traversed by parallel seams, separating readily into blocks more or less symmetrical. It is a rock of great durability-hard and compact, and the finer varieties of it are susceptible of a good polish. It is easily split into blocks of any size by a very simple process. These blocks, thus quarried or split out, are conveyed to the granite yards, of which there are three in Gettysburg, where they are dressed and otherwise prepared for the manifold uses to which they may be put. Besides being used largely for building purposes, native granite is much used for monuments and tablets to mark positions of the battle-field. Mr. Solomon Powers, who died in Gettysburg in 1883, opened the first granite quarry and dressed the first granite in this section some time during the year 1838. About his first work was to build one of the durable granite bridges on the “Tapeworm” Railroad. Granite is found in other localities in the county besides those mentioned, but the bowlders are generally too small to be worked to advantage. Sand.-The disintegration and decomposition of the syenitic rocks in the vicinity of Gettysburg have produced immense deposits of an excellent quality of yellow sand much used for building purposes. The disintegration has been referred for its cause to sulphurous acid vapors, supposed to be produced by decomposition of the pyritous ores which the rock often contains. The action of water and air may be sufficient to remove the potash of the feldspar, and thus cause the rock to disintegrate. THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN. This mountain, which forms the western boundary of the county, separating it from Franklin and Cumberland Counties, is a range beautiful in all its wonderful variety of outlines and magnificent scenery, as also in all its drear monotony and desolation. This mountain range, once covered with a rich and dense growth of forest trees, is now largely denuded of its primeval treasures of timber. This denudation of mountain forests is due, in a measure, to the wholesale and often wanton destruction of timber by the woodman’s ax; but in a much larger measure the “abomination of desolation” is caused by the great fires that periodically sweep over the mountains, leaving hideous scars behind them, to mark the track of the devastating fiend. Sometimes one sees, for miles and miles, the ground covered with the charred and prostrate trunks of once lordly trees. Great lofty pines and oaks, whose stems are blackened from the roots upward as high as the fire has reached-huge, distorted and disfigured, stand gloomily above their moldering brethren, their black skeletons extending their dead and broken arms, in mute testimony of lost grace and beauty. Nothing could be more desolate than these “burnings,” as they are called. They present an aspect of such utter, hopeless dreariness, and such complete and painful solitude, as one might imagine to exist only within the frozen circle of the Arctic. The forest incendiary ought to be universally regarded as a common enemy, like the poisoner of a spring or well, recklessly destroying that which it is to the interest of all to preserve. THE “BARRENS.” It is a matter of pretty well authenticated tradition that when the eastern portion of the county, known as the “Barrens,” was first settled by whites, about the year 1729, the ground was almost entirely destitute of large timer. Only dwarf trees and low underbrush could be seen for miles. This treeless condition of the country was caused, it is said, by the burning of the timber and undergrowth every few years, to facilitate the hunting operations of the Indians. In consequence this treeless waste received the name “Barrens,” which name it has ever since retained. After white settlers occupied the soil these conflagrations ceased, the open country becoming in the course of time well timbered, magnificent forests of oak, hickory and chestnut standing where formerly there was only barrenness. The same is said to be true concerning a large scope of country lying northward of Gettysburg. It is claimed by the Gilliland family that when their ancestors first settled near Opossum Creek, that whole country was covered with luxuriant, wild low-tree growths. It is said that from the ridge on the Cobean farms north of Gettysburg, deer were frequently seen to jump over the low brush growing between the point of observation and Rock Creek. If the tradition is well founded most of the magnificent forests now to be seen in that region must have grown since. DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS. The fact has been pretty well established that the destruction of forests and the clearing of land, which have been going on rapidly in the county during the last fifty years or more, have affected the rainfall and climate unfavorably. It is maintained that air and earth undergo considerable change when land is cleared of its timber; first, from the ground being exposed to the sun’s rays, which cause the waters to evaporate more rapidly; second, by lessening the quantity and duration of snow; and third, by introducing warm winds through the openings made. That the size of most if not all the streams in the county has greatly diminished within that length of time admits of no doubt. There are people now living who remember when the average volume of water in them was twice what it is now. There is also abundant evidence to be found along the water-courses to demonstrate the fact. Many springs, too, have perceptibly weakened within the memory of persons not very old, and some have disappeared altogether. To the patriotic the lesson is obvious. All efforts to stay the needless destruction of timber, and which have for their object the restoration, either by natural or artificial means, of the forest growth of lands thus denuded should receive due encouragement. STREAMS. The largest stream in the county is the Conowago, which has its source in the South Mountain, near the line dividing Adams from Franklin. It drains a large extent of the country. Its principal tributaries are Opossum Creek, Plum Run and Miley’s Run from the north; and Beaver Dam Run, Swift Run, Little Conowago, Pine Run, Deep Run and Beaver Creek from the south. The spring from which it takes its rise is near the southern end of Buchanan Valley, flowing just to the northeast, then to the southeast through the “Narrows” west of Arendtsville; thence its general course is eastward until it reaches a point where Reading, Mountpleasant and Hamilton Townships meet, and where it is joined by the Little Conowago, when it courses to the northeast, entering York County at East Berlin. Marsh Creek, the second stream in size and importance, rises near the base of Green Ridge, in Franklin Township, about two miles south of the Chambersburg pike. Its general course is southward to the Maryland line where, after being joined by North Branch, Mummasburg Run, Stahle’s Run, Little Marsh Creek, Willoughby’s Run, besides other smaller streams, it unites with Rock Creek and forms the Monocacy. North Branch, or Lost Creek, is a most interesting stream. It rises in the mountains some three miles northwest of Cashtown, and after flowing a short distance it disappears from view for more than a mile, during which distance its course can be easily traced by the gurgling and rushing of water below the surface. Willoughby’s Run rises near Goldenville, in Butler Township, and is interesting because of its historic associations in connection with the battle of Gettysburg. Rock Creek rises in the vicinity of Hunterstown and, after pursuing a tortuous course and receiving many tributaries, unites with Marsh Creek at the Maryland line. It also played an important part in the great battle. Middle Creek rises along the eastern slopes of Green Ridge, in Hamiltonban Township, about two miles east of Caledonia Springs. It flows southeast, passes near Fairfield, after which it courses to the south. One of its principal affluents is Muddy Run, which also has its source in the South Mountain eastward of the headwaters of Middle Creek. White Run rises in the neighborhood of Bonneauville, and after being joined by Plum Run, unites with Rock Creek about a mile south of the Baltimore pike, in Mountjoy Township. Little’s Run has its beginning in the fields and woods east of Bonneauville, and finds its way into Rock Creek near Black’s lower grave-yard. The Bermudian rises in Cumberland County, near the boundary line, and flows through Tyrone, Huntington and Latimore Townships into York County near Bragtown. Latimore Creek also rises in Cumberland County, flowing in a southerly direction, and finds its way into the Bermudian near Bragtown. Opossum Creek rises near the northern boundary of the county in Menallen Township, and empties into the Conowago in Butler Township. Little Conowago rises in the “Barrens,” about five miles east of Littlestown, pursuing a winding course, and flowing into the Big Conowago a couple of miles west of New Oxford. Little Marsh Creek rises near the foot of Green Ridge, in Hamiltonban Township, about three miles east of Caledonia Springs, flows in a southeasterly direction, emptying into Big Marsh Creek near Hammer’s factory, in the northeastern part of Highland Township. Miley’s Run rises in Reading Township, flows south a few miles, and empties into the Conowago west of East Berlin. Swift Run rises in Mountpleasant, and in its course receives Brush Run, flowing into Big Conowago. Deep Run rises in Berwick Township and also finds its way into the Conowago. Beaver Creek takes its rise in the Pigeon Hills, flowing northward, and discharging its waters into Big Conowago near East Berlin. Alloway’s Creek rises in Germany Township and flows in a southwesterly direction into Maryland. Tom’s Creek has its source in the mountains in the southwestern corner of Hamiltonban Township, and crosses the State line into Maryland about two miles west of Emmittsburg, receiving Miney Creek as an affluent near Grayson’s, in Liberty Township. The Antietam, a large stream in Maryland, along the banks of which a great battle was fought between McClellan and Lee in 1862, takes its rise at “Caledonia Springs,” two fine springs of very cool, fresh water, in the western part of Hamiltonban Township. ELEVATIONS. For the following data we are indebted to the gentleman of the second geological survey, as embraced in their report. The figures are taken from a map prepared by Prof. A. E. Lehman, assistant geologist, and show the elevations in feet above the sea level: Cashtown, 800; Rock Top, 1,210; highest point on Chambersburg pike, --st of Newman’s, 1,440; Newman’s, 1,355; Graeffenburg, 1,020; Widow Brough’s, 845; Hilltown, 780; Francis Cole’s, 890; Arendt’s Mill, 780; James Bigham’s, on Caledonia Springs Road, 1,320; Caledonia Springs, 1,450; highest point on Caledonia Springs road, three-fourths of a mile east of Springs, 1,770; highest point on Green Ridge, two miles south of Chambersburg pike, 2,000; highest point on Gettysburg and Shippensburg road, near county line, 2,100; highest point on South Mountain, near Caledonia Springs, 2,110. Center Square, in Gettysburg, is 535 feet above the level of the sea. SCENERY. Adams County has much to boast in the matter of beautiful scenery. No natural panorama in the world surpasses that which the spectator beholds when, standing on the crest of Cemetery Hill, he looks down upon the broad expanse of field, meadow and woodland, dotted with farm-houses and barns, the deep red of the newly turned-up soil in strong contrast with the verdure of growing crops and magnificent groves, and the whole landscape bounded by the outside mountain wall as far as the eye can reach. Scarcely less picturesque and grand is the view to be had from the summit of a lofty mountain about a mile east of Caledonia Springs, in Hamiltonban Township. The prospect which here spreads out before the eye in every direction is truly sublime. From several elevated points in the Pigeon Hills extensive and beautiful views may also be had. TREES AND SHRUBS. The forests of the county are noted for the variety, beauty and value of their trees. Among the most common may be mentioned the oak, hickory, chestnut, walnut, elm, gum, birch, beech, pine, sycamore, poplar, hemlock, tulip, cedar, maple, dog-wood, iron-wood and many others. Some of these trees bear conspicuous flowers. One of the finest of these is the tulip-tree, belonging to the magnolia family. It grows ordinarily to the height of eighty feet, with a perfectly straight and round trunk, often three feet in diameter at its base, gracefully tapering to the top. Its leaves are dark green in color and smooth to the touch, and look as though the tips had been cut off with a sharp knife. It blossoms in May and June, and bears many brilliant flowers, greenish-yellow without and orange within. The flowers are similar in shape to that of the garden tulip. Another flowering tree is the dog-wood. It grows to the height of ten or twelve feet, and is attractive only when in bloom. Its large, beautiful white flowers with dark veins give the tree a very fine appearance. Still another beautiful flowering tree sometimes met with in the woods is the red-bud, or Judas-tree, so called because of an old tradition to the effect that Judas, the betrayer of the Saviour, hung himself on one of these. There are also a number of flowering shrubs to be met with in the woods, especially in the mountains. Among the most beautiful of these is the laurel. This shrub grows to the height of from two to twelve feet, and when in bloom, in May and June, presents a singularly attractive appearance. The rhododendron is also a flowering shrub, a little taller and stems more crooked than the laurel, though bearing a close resemblance to it. It flowers in July and August, and when in full bloom is very pretty. FISH. The number of varieties of fish found in the streams is not large. Among the most important may be mentioned black bass, German carp, fall-fish, mullet, pike, black or spotted sucker, white sucker, cat-fish, eel, sun-fish, brook trout, chub, horn-fish, minnow and stone-roller. Black bass, brook trout, lake trout and California salmon were introduced into Conowago and Marsh Creeks some eight or ten years ago under State auspices, but with the exception of black bass the experiment was not successful. Lake trout and California salmon seem to have disappeared entirely. Not a single specimen of either is known to have been caught at any time. Brook trout are yet occasionally to be found in some of the mountain streams. Black bass have increased very rapidly in numbers, and now the two streams into which they were introduced are well stocked with them. Fine specimens weighing from three to five pounds are frequently taken with hook and line, the only mode of fishing allowable under existing laws. The number of fish steadily decreasing notwithstanding the legislation designed for their protection. This is owing probably to the gradual drying up of the streams, to the high temperature of the water during the heats of summer caused by the disappearance of shade along the banks, and the scarcity of shelter. A private fish pond owned by Mr. Joseph Wolf, of Abbottstown, was a few years ago stocked with German carp, and the enterprise promises to be successful. Mr. William Wible, of Cumberland Township, also has a private fish pond containing some fine specimens of German carp. BIRDS. The birds of the county are not very numerous. The following is a list: Wild Turkey-Black Eagle, Gray Eagle, Bald Eagle-Hawks (6 varieties), Great Northern Shrike, Turkey Buzzard, Turkey Crow-Owls (6 varieties, including Snow Owl-Pheasant, Partridge, Woodcock, English Snipe, Upland Plover, Golden Plover, Bull Plover, Rail (2 varieties), Reed Bird, Wild Pigeon, Turtle Dove-Large Blue Crane, Heron, Willet, Yellow Shanks, American Bittern, Sand Piper, King Fisher- Wild Goose-Red Head Duck, Mallard Duck, Blue Wing Teal, Spoonbill, Sprig Tail, Wood Duck, Summer Duck, Loon (2 varieties)-Wren, Chippen, Tom Tit, English Sparrow, Indigo, Pee Weet, Martin, Bee Martin, Blue Bird, Chimney Swallow, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cow or Redwinged Black, Crow Black Bird, Bell Bird, Rain Bird-Mocking Bird, Cat Bird, Thrush, Robin, Meadow Lark, Goldfinch, Golden Robin or Baltimore Oriole, Bull-finch, Cardinal or Gros Beak, Yellow or Salad Bird- Whippoorwill, Bull Bat, Common Bat-Woodchuck, Wood Pecker, Yellow Hammer or Flicker, Sap Sucker (3 varieties).