THE 



CANADIAN 



NATURALIST AND GEOLOGIST. 



Vol. VIT. OCTOBER, 1862. No. 5. 



ARTICLE XXXL — Observations on the Geology and Physical 

 Characteristics of Newfoundland, By Moses H. Perlet, 

 Esq., President of the Natural History Society of New Bruns- 

 wick, <fec, &c. 



This well-known Island lies on the north-east side of the entrance 

 into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is separated from Canada by the 

 Gulf; its South West point, Cape Ray, approaches Cape Breton ; 

 to the North and North East, are the shores of Labrador, from 

 which it is divided by the Straits of Belleisle ; and its eastern coast 

 is washed by the North Atlantic. 



Its form is somewhat triangular, but, without any approach to 

 regularity, each of its sides being broken by numerous bays, har- 

 bours, creeks, and estuaries. In straight lines, as the sea-gull would 

 wing its flight, its circuit is not much less than 1000 miles. 



Its width at the widest part, between Cape Ray and Cape 

 Bonavista, is about 300 miles. Its extreme length from Cape 

 Race to Quirpen, at its north-east extremity, is about 419 miles, 

 measured on a curve through the centre of the island. Its area 

 is estimated at 36,000 square miles, equal to 23,040,000 acres. 



Newfoundland is the nearest part of America to Europe, the 

 distance from St. John's, the capital, to Valentia in Ireland, being 

 only 1656 miles. 

 Car. Nat. 21 Vol. VI 



