428 



and the Ottawa valley formed at one time the chief outlet, although Lake Simcoe 

 and the chain of lakes connecting with the Trent Valley may also have formed a 

 similar outlet. It is probable that further research may prove the different char- 

 acter of the fauna of this lake to be due to its geological history. 



THE HUDSON'S BAY SYSTEM. 



With the exception of the great rivers flowing from the Height of Land to 

 James' Bay, their immediate neighbourhood and the larger lakes in their course, 

 comparatively little is known of the part of Ontario belonging to this system. 

 A rapid survey of these with reference to the map will therefore suffice. 



Lake Abittibe is situated seventy miles north of Lake Temiscaming, and 

 just on the other side of the watershed from the head waters of the River Blanche. 

 It is situated in a northward continuation of the clay plain in which that river 

 arises, and is 245 feet higher than Lake Temiscaming, being only 60 feet lower 

 than the Height of Land portage. The other branches of the Moose River 

 similarly originate in lakes, often of considerable size, near the Height of Land, 

 and the same is true of the Kenogami and other rivers flowing northward into 

 the Albany. The latter river, from its origin in Lake St. Joseph, flows east 

 and north through upwards of 500 miles on its way to the sea. Between Lake 

 Joseph and Lac Seul is the height of land which separates the tributaries of the 

 Nelson River from those of the Albany. The area of Ontario, bounded on the 

 east by this watershed, and that between Lake Superior and the tributaries of 

 Rainy River, is of very considerable size, and everywhere studded by lakes great 

 and small; over 2,500 square miles of water are included in this tract of the Pro- 

 vince. Lac des Milles Lacs is one of the largest of these lakes ; it discharges into 

 Rainy Lake through the Seine River, but the Lake of the Woods and Lac 

 Seul are the chief reservoirs of the Nelson River system within Ontario. These 

 discharge themselves into Lake Winnipeg by the Winnipeg River in the one 

 case, and its tributary, the English River in the other. The Lake of the Woods 

 is seventy miles in length and has an area of over 1,000 square miles, the greater 

 part of which, 627 square miles, lies within the limits of the Province. It is 1,062 

 feet above sea-level, but 350 feet higher than Lake Winnipeg and consequently the 

 River Winnipeg offers a series of magnificent falls and rapids in its course. The 

 Lake of the Woods is very irre2;ular in its contour, a peninsula jutting in from 

 the east, separates the southern shallower part — " Lake of the Sand Hills " — from 

 the northern deeper portion, which is studded with islands and is almost sub-di- 

 vided into three separate bays or lakes, connected by narrows, Lac Plat on the 

 west, Clearwater Lake in the middle, from which the Winnipeg River issues at 

 Rat Portage, and Whitefish Lake on the east. 



Lac Seul nearly equals the Lake of the Woods in area, but occupies a long 

 narrow irregular cleft, which resembles in character the lake-like reaches of En- 

 glish River, through which it joins the Winnipeg. In conclusion it is only neces- 

 sary to remark that this district of Ontario is interesting as containing the 

 highest waters of the Province. 



This short account of the Lakes and Rivers of Ontario will facilitate 

 reference in discussing, where possible, the geographical distribution of species, 

 but it must be insisted that a systematic survey with this end in view is 

 necessary before any authoritative statements as to the geographical limitation 

 of species within the waters of the Province can be made. 



