114 EXPEDITION TO THE 



beyond this they rise somewhat, but present few hills ; the 

 river runs in many places over a pebbly bed. The country 

 assumes a more smiling appearance, which led us to antici- 

 pate the meeting wdth limestone rocks; we saw none along 

 the river, but some precipices, seen at a distance, were sup- 

 posed from their horizontal stratification to be composed 

 of limestone. On the river the rocks seldom appear in 

 place; where we saw them they were principally mica- 

 slate, sometimes, however, sienite. Dr.*Bigsby found stau- 

 rotide in the slate of this river. 



The country is much drier; there are fine pieces of mea- 

 dow land ; the grass is of a pleasanter, livelier green ; the 

 vegetation more luxuriant ; the white maple is seen ; the 

 birch attains a larger size. We observed here, however, as 

 we had for a long time past, a total absence of walnut, 

 hickory, and beach. The poplar is very abundant on Rainy 

 river. 



Among the animals which are occasionally seen here, 

 are the bear, otter, wolverine, carcajou, moose, squirrel, 

 wolf, weasel, beaver, muskrat, fox, &c. The martin, and 

 fisher are very abundant. The principal fish in the river is 

 the sturgeon. 



Among the objects which chiefly atti'acted our notice, 

 were the interesting ephemera which we had seen on 

 Winnepeek river. They became so abundant on Rainy 

 river towards sunset, that they presented the appearance 

 of a snow storm. They continued for some time, until 

 they were driven by the wind into a small tributary val- 

 ley where they formed white clouds, beautifully relieved 

 against the dark green of the forest, deepened in its shade 

 by the approach of night. The ensuing morning their dead 

 bodies were seen floating on the stream, and drifted by the 

 wind into small coves near the shore. From their great 



