34 THE CANADIXV NATURALIST. [Vol. vii.. 



abroad over the emerging land, and the West Indies assumed 

 the appearance which they now present to us, having, as regards 

 their fauna, two groups, one with South American, the other 

 with Mexican affinities. 



It is not a little curious that when Columbus discovered these 

 islands, he found them occupied by two races of men — the war- 

 like and aggressive Caribs inhabiting the Windward Islands, and 

 the mild and docile Indios dwelling in the G-reater Antilles. 



(To he continued.') 



GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF HURON COUNTY, 



ONTARIO. 



By John Gibson, B.A. 



Principal of the x\lmonte High School, Out. 



Before commencing a description of the geological structure 

 of this County, a few words on the physical outlines of the district 

 are necessary. Situated on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, 

 and bounded on the north by the County of Bruce; on the east 

 by the Counties of Wellington and Perth ; and on the south by 

 the Counties of Middlesex and Lambton, this portion of Ontario 

 is not only remarkable for its natural scenery and fertility, but 

 has of late years, through its boundless resources of rock salt, 

 attained a somewhat conspicuous position in the commercial 

 world. Generally speaking the character of the region is gently 

 undulating, with here and there a few limestone outcrops and 

 escarpments on the north-eastern limits, which, by their disin- 

 tegration, have to no small extent enhanced the quality of the 

 surrounding land. The average altitude above the sea-level is 

 about 950 feet, although between the Townships of Tuckersmith 

 and Hibbert there is a rida-e which rises to a summit-level of 

 1,050 feet. The streams as a rule are small, and undergo rapid 

 oscillations of level, increasing in the spring to torrents of con- 

 siderable volume, and conspicuously diminishing towards the 

 fall, when numerous small deltas are formed in the low lands, 

 composed for the most part of thin alluvial accumulations. 

 The Maitland River which forms the dividino; line between the 

 Townships of Goderich and Colborne is exceedingly tortuous in 

 its course. It was formerly denominated the Red River by the 



