1S89-90.] THE FORMATION OF TORONTO ISLAND. 241 



In this connection, it is interesting to investigate the history of these 

 streams. And, in order to do so, it will be necessary for us to go back to 

 a period anterior to the subsidence of the waters to their present level. 

 All indications point to an ancient lake beach at the foot of the cliff or 

 terrace, which is situated just north of the present limits of Toronto, and 

 which runs parallel with the shore at a distance ranging from nothing at 

 Scarboro' Heights to two or three or more miles in other places. The 

 evidence is pretty strong that the water remained at this level for a some- 

 what lengthened period. And here I must call attention to a difTerenee 

 of opinion entertained by our two previously mentioned friends, Mr. 

 Fleming and Mr. Hind. Mr. Hind interprets Mr. Fleming to say, that 

 at the time of the subsidence of the water to its present level the Don 

 began to exist. Mr. Hind takes exception to that view, and I think cor- 

 rectly. For we cannot imagine the large section of land, forming nearly 

 the whole of this Province as at present, without any water-courses. But, 

 on the contrary, the first acre that appeared above the surface of the water 

 would have its miniature streams, and, as the continent gradually emerged 

 from the water, these channels would become longer and broader and 

 deeper. And I believe that when the lake stood at its former level, the 

 Don, Humber and other streams existed pretty much as they do now, 

 the only difference being that their mouths were situated at the then ex- 

 isting shore-line. Remember, I do not say that Mr, Fleming says what 

 Mr. Hind says he does. 



Now, we can easily discover what became of the immense amount of 

 detritus brought down by those streams. It formed the present site of 

 Toronto, and the stratum of clay that extends out under the Island and 

 to an indefinite distance beyond. The sandy portions we find deposited 

 first near the ancient beach and the clay farther removed, and as we 

 would naturally expect, the Humber being the mightier of the two 

 rivers, the greater was the amount of material brought down, and the 

 more would the bed of the lake be filled up, so we find the land higher 

 in proximity to the Humber, and the descent is from the west to the 

 east. This accounts for the numerous ravines that were washed out in 

 the present site of Toronto after the subsidence of the water, all having 

 a general direction from N.W. to S.E. One word more as to what caused 

 the subsidence of the water to its present level. The writers I have pre- 

 viousl)' referred to, do not throw much light on that part of the subject 

 but, fortunately the President of the American Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science, in a lecture delivered in this city last year, 

 showed very conclusively that it was owing to the melting away of an 

 immense glacier or ice-field that extended along our northern shore and 

 cut off the exit of the water by the St. Lawrence. Previous to that time, 



