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the Ottawa, and extends upwards along its principal tributaries for nearly 

 one hundred miles, we have,but little reliable information. It is possible, 

 therefore, that a few notes, founded upon a somewhat extensive two 

 years' wanderings through this territory, may possess some points of 

 interest to the readers ot our journal, more particularly in view of the 

 fact that, by means of canoes, many charming holiday excursions can 

 be made along the network of streams and lakes, which intersect 

 this northern country, presenting not only beautiful bits of natural 

 scenery, but, to the student of nature, excellent opportunities for ex- 

 tending our knowledge of the plants, insects, birds, etc., of our more 

 immediate vicinity. 



Among the more important of the streams which traverse the 

 Laurentian area north of the Ottawa, are the St. Maurice, the Rouge, 

 the North Nation, the Lievre, the (iatineau, and the upper part of the 

 Ottawa itself: to the west of Ottawa city, are the Black, the Coulonge, 

 the Dumoine and the Kippewa, by means of which, and by crossing 

 short portages, the great chain of lakes lying to the north, for thirty 

 to one hundred miles, are rendered easily accessible. Most of these 

 lakes abound with fish, such as pike, bass and trout, while the woods 

 are alive with deer. The Gatineau itself can be traversed for over 200 

 miles to its source, whence, by a short carry, it is possible to reach the 

 Ottawa on the west, and then descend to Lake Temiscamingue; or, if it is 

 preferred, an equally short portage will enable one to launch his canoe 

 on the head-waters of the St. Maurice, by descending which, after a 

 journey of about 250 miles, through some of the grandest scenery of 

 the Laurentides, he can reach the St. Lawrence at Three Rivers, half 

 way between Quebec and Montreal ; or a route can be taken northward 

 which will reach the country of Lake St. John, from which a descent 

 can be made by the Saguenay. Along the Gatineau and the Rouge 

 well constructed roads extend for over 100 miles, and thus anyone 

 desirous of investigating the botany and other branches of natural 

 history in this section, can very easily and quickly place himself in an 

 almost entirely unknown country in this resp:ct. 



While it iiiust be admitted that much of the country occupied by 

 Laurentian rocks is rough and unfitted for agricultural pursuits, there 

 are a great many areas, often of considerable extent, to which this 

 remark will by no means apply. On the Gatineau and Libvre, after 



