88 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [April, 



There are several islands in Nictau Lake, which, pre enting as 

 they do, great contrast to the mountain-peaks around them, should 

 not be passed over without notice. One of these only, where 

 we encamped for the night, I had an opportunity of examining, 

 Ibut the others are probably of a like description. The island re- 

 ferred to is about fifty feet in length and thirty in breadth, rising 

 to a height of about ten feet above the lake, and presenting at its top 

 a nearly smooth and level surface. The material composing it is 

 a, compact slate, and the line connecting this with the other islands 

 above mentioned would be about N. E. and S. W. There is no 

 continuation of such material observable on the Bald Mountain 

 side of the lake, nor is it probable on the other, there being nothing 

 visible but high and rugged peaks, undoubtedly igneous. I did 

 not, however, examine the shore. The sides of the island sink 

 nearly perpendicularly into the lake, and the depth of water sur- 

 rounding them must be very considerable, as we were unable to 

 reach bottom with our longest fishing lines. 



The vegetation of the island is scanty, but quite different from 

 anything else seen in this section of the province. There are no 

 full-grown trees upon it, but only one or two dwarf spruces and 

 pines, with an occasional cedar. Of herbs and shrubs I noticed 

 the following : Ledum latifolium, Sisyrinchiurtianceps, Vaccin- 

 ium Pemisf/luaiiicum, V. Vltis Idaea, V. uUginosum ? SoUdago 

 lanceolata f Potentilla Nbrvegica, Corydalis glauca, and Samhu- 

 cus puhe.ns. 



The occurrence of these islands, rising like needles from the bot- 

 tom of the lake, and so far as visible of an entirely different char- 

 acter from the mountain-peaks around, is not a little singular and 

 difficult of explanation. 



The character of this portion of the province can well be stu- 

 died from the summit of Sagamore Mountain. It is essentially a 

 high table-land, sloping gradually towards the St. John, yet in its 

 higher parts everywhere broken up into lofty hills and mountains. 

 I was unable to ascertain any prevailing direction for the chains, 

 peak after peak appearing wherever the eye was turned. The gen- 

 eral direction of the lakes is about east 20° south, their form be- 

 ing quite irregular. The Bald Mountain range seems to pursue 

 a course nearly parallel. This is nndou btedly the highest land in 

 the province, and, I have heard it stated on good authority, that, 

 with the aid of a glass, one can see to the north the mountain 



