5S Natural History of Canada, 



The rapid sketch here given shows that in a hypsometrical, as Trell 

 as from a geological, point of view, and even to a certain extent from 

 its physical structure, the Appalachian system seemed to be divided into 

 two sections of nearly equal extent ; a northern section^ which is geolo- 

 gically more ancient, comprehending the northern division from the 

 mouth of the Hudson to Gaspe ; and a southern section, which is morfe 

 modern, comprising the central and southern divisions, which are bound 

 together by more than one characteristic common to both. The separa- 

 tion is distinguished by a remarkable general depression of all the alti- 

 tudes of the eastern zone, or parallel mountain chains, a depression 

 which attains its lowest point in New Jersey in the parallel of New 

 York City. 



Passing from this region, where the Blue Ridge and the Kittatinny 

 mountains are but little more than 800 or 1000 feet high, and the Great 

 valley 50 to 150 feet, the altitude in the northern section increases 

 rapidly, but regularly, towards the northeast, where, almost in the same 

 parallel, lat. 44° N., we find the culminating points at Mount Washing- 

 ton 6288 feet high in the White Mountains, Mount Mansfield 4430 feet in 

 the Green Mountains, and Mount Tahawus or Mount Marcy 5139 feet, in 

 the Adirondack group. Further north the Adirondack group terminates, 

 and the Green Mountains lose somewhat of their continuity, but show 

 here and there, as far as Gaspe, scattered groups of mountains which 

 still preserve an elevation of 3000 or 4000 feet. 



In the southern section the altitude increases from the northeast to 

 the southwest with the same regularity but less rapidly, and it is only 

 towards the extremity of the system in North Carolina that they attain 

 their maximum elevation in the Black Mountains 6700 feet, and the 

 Smoky Mountains 6660 feet. Here, as at the north, beyond the culmi- 

 nating points the general altitude is but little diminished until we arrive 

 almost to the termination of the mountains." 



INQUIRIES BY THE COLONIAL OFFICE RELATIVE TO 

 CANADIAN NATURAL HISTORY. 



Governor's Secretary's Office, 



Quebec, Dec. 22nd, 1860. 

 Sir, — I am directed by His Excellency the Administrator of the 

 Government to transmit herewith a copy of a circular despatch 

 from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle enclosing a series of ques- 

 tions relative to the Natural History of the British Colonies : and 

 I am to request you will have the goodness to furnish His Excel- 

 lency for the information of the Secretary of State with such 

 answers as you may possess the means of giving, 

 I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Your obedient Servant, 



R, T. Pennefather, 



Governor's Secretary, 

 The Secretary Natural History Society, &c., &c., &c., Montreal. 



