History of Western Maryland. J. Thomas Scharf
with the brown thrush and meadow-lark, are at home here, with more than twenty varieties of warblers; several kinds of wading birds, and the belted kingfisher, the blue heron, the white egret, the bittern, lesser heron, night heron, fly-up-the-creek, and several other kinds find congenial hunting-grounds along the shores of the streams. The birds of prey, such as the golden and bald eagle, the fish-hawk, and a score of hawks and owls, add to the list, while the various swallows, martins, swifts, pigeons, doves, and woodpeckers serve to furnish a catalogue of forms of great diversity and eminent beauty.
The reptiles and fish likewise comprise numerous species of curious appearance or of value for food. Among the former, the great snapping-turtle, the slider, two kinds of mud-terrapins, the musk-turtle, the land-tortoise, the gray swift, and six-lined skink may be mentioned as conspicuous and well-known creatures. Of the worm-shaped reptiles, the dreaded rattlesnake and the copperhead still occur among the low rocks in the wilder parts of the back country, besides which three kinds of water-snakes, four varieties of garter-snakes, the blowing viper, the chain and milk-snakes, the great horse-runner and common black snake, the delicate green snake, and a dozen other species affect most parts of the region where vegetation grows thickly. Of frogs, most of the kinds common to the Atlantic region occur in moderate numbers. Thus two forms of toad, two tree-toads, the bull-frog, leopard frog, woods frog, savannah cricket, and spring frog are numerous in most of the low grounds and wet meadows. The Crustacea are represented by four kinds of crayfish, the fresh-water shrimp, and a host of sow-bugs, besides the minute forms peculiar to the streams and ponds.
The insects form an almost countless assemblage of both noxious and useful forms. Beautiful butterflies of large size and brilliant colors abound in the fields of clover, fly swiftly along the edges of the open woods or settle upon conspicuous flowers standing by the river's brink. Gay sphinxes protrude their long beaks into the throats of the tubular flowers, and four kinds of large silk-worm moths find a home in the forest or field. Attractive but noxious wood-boring beetles destroy the hickory, walnut, and oak trunks or limbs; and the fruit-trees are sometimes attacked by the Aegeria, plumb weevil, apple-moth, or web-weavers, and measuring caterpillars of many varieties. Of horseflies more than a dozen kinds are more or less known; mosquitoes affect the country along the Potomac River and larger creeks, and the other flies, many of them studded with golden and silvery markings, make a host too great to enumerate. The broad-winged dragonflies dash with unapproachable swiftness over the surface of every pond and creek, and the crimson-winged Hetaerina balances itself over the waters of Rock Creek and the canal.
The next part of this belt which claims attention lies in Carroll County. It forms a triangular tract in the southeastern corner of the county of about ten miles from northeast to southwest, and of about six miles from northwest to southeast. On the east it is bounded by the north branch of the Patapsco River, and on the south by the west branch of the same river. It forms a part of the great archaean belt of rocks which, crossing from Baltimore County, passes through Howard into Montgomery. Here, however, it is built into higher uplands, and is characterized by the prevalence of granitic rocks. These rise in high, broad domes, reaching to an altitude of more than four hundred feet above the level of the sea. The granites and gneiss are exposed in fine sections along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad near Sykesville, standing at high angles in great dark, forbidding masses. These form but a few hills between the serpentine formation on the northeast and the metalliferous belt on the west. Taken altogether, it constitutes a wedge of country embracing types of most of the mineral aggregations belonging to the oldest formations of the State. Within this small area may be found copper, soapstone, limestone, white quartz, and the minerals of the magnesian and chloritic series, in great abundance. Soapstone has been excavated in considerable quantities from a large quarry, and copper has been worked in the Springfield and adjoining mines. The limestone valley which runs in a line continuous with Marriottsville is a valuable addition to the resources of the neighborhood in supplying the lime as a fertilizer where it is much needed. Crossing the ore-bearing belt, the talcose and slaty rocks are reached, which characterize the region in general.
Carroll County, of which the preceding tract forms but a small corner, is one of the medium-sized but very productive sections of the State. It possesses an area of about four hundred and fifty square miles, and has a form somewhat like that of an anvil with the point broken off. On the north it is bounded by Pennsylvania, on the east by Baltimore County, on the west by Frederick, and on the south by Howard County. The surface of the country is broken by hills in ridges and domes, becoming higher towards Parr's Ridge, and then decreasing in height after the ridge is crossed. The hills are often very wide and rather blunt on top, grouped more or less in chains having a general southwest direction. Broad valleys lie between these, usually running from the direction of Pennsylvania, and intersecting smaller valleys and ravines at frequent intervals. A very large proportion of the county consists of cleared lands, on which are located extensive and highly productive farms. Large barns are to be seen in almost every section, surrounded by numerous outhouses, and with comparatively small dwelling-houses placed a few rods away, usually on some hillside or slight swell of the ground. In the near vicinity of these large hayricks or numerous stacks are conspicuous, and in the adjacent fields or meadows groups of well-kept cattle show the industry and care of the inhabitants. Grazing farms are especially numerous near the public roads which intersect the country in every direction, and along the railroads; and a vast supply of milk, cream, and butter is continually being transported to Baltimore and other cities and towns. Ice cream is also one of the manufactures of the country near the Western Maryland Railroad, and promises to become a great source of income in the near future.
Meadowlands, derived from the decomposition of slate rocks, and, to a smaller extent, from limestone, spread away in broad tracts near the brooks and rivulets which intersect most parts of the county. The entire region is watered by long streams of medium width, but whose tributaries are so numerous that large sections are charged with a network of constantly running pure water. Almost every extensive farm between Parr's Ridge and the new red sandstone has one or more springs, sending forth a steady stream from a depression in the hillside or from the head of a ravine. As many of these descend from altitudes far above the general level of the surface, they acquire a force which drives them over the rocks in torrents and small cascades, and affords ample power for the numerous mills, factories, and tan-yards. Parr's Ridge divides the county into two sections, the larger and more irregular one of which lies on its west side, stretching away to Sam's Creek and the Monocacy River. Several very wild tracts still remain to point out the original condition of the country. These are chiefly on the head-waters of the branches of the Patapsco River, on the east side of the county, among the outlying spurs of the ridge, but also in a few places at the source of Bear Creek and Big Pipe Creek. Approaching the ridge from that side, a high backbone of hills appears, which bends into broad curves and encloses wide, open basins of alluvial soil, enclosed like amphitheaters. Through these the various rivulets and brooks pass swiftly over bottoms but little interrupted by the broken rocks. But nearer their sources they pass through the gaps, reach the ledges of dark and hard hydromica schists, and at once begin to contend with the rugged barriers that would arrest their farther advance. Here a scene of great attractiveness presents itself Huge masses of angular rocks rest against the sides and ends of the broken ridges, while above them project the remnants of former ledges, sharp and craggy, disposed at every angle. In the old bed of the stream stand the great broken pieces which have fallen from the crest above, and a scattered heap of fragments of all sizes lies along the depression below. Trees of numerous varieties, chief of which are the oaks, maples, birches, and hickories, range in unbroken lines along the upward slopes, casting deep shadows over the sunny nooks, and giving shelter to a host of shrubs, phints, and vines that intertwine and mix in deep confusion among their piercing branches. On every sheltered rock the green, gray, and purple lichens have painted frescoes of marvelous elegance and beauty, and, crowning all, a dozen forms of ferns have woven their graceful chaplets of exquisite green over the crown of each dripping bowlder. Sparkling little springs sprinkle drops of limpid water upon the slender grasses and delicate creepers, keeping all moist, and adding their quota to the brook which aids to swell the vigorous river. All the streams of water in this region rise high up the slopes, rush down rocky channels choked with loose fragments of stone, form rapids, torrents, and cascades at frequent intervals, and display unceasing activity in wearing their channels ever deeper as they descend.