6 ; Captain Bayfield on the 
to us to throw considerable light upon what is now going on in 
these great bodies of fresh water. We see that extensive 
horizontal depositions are still forming which contain the 
shells of species at present residing in the lake: and that 
these depositions only require to be exposed to the action 
of the air, to become horizontal rock formations. 
Ifthe hypothesis that the lakes were once salt, (which 
we think is founded on very probable deductions drawn from 
the nature of their fish,) be really founded on fact, we may 
easily imagine a marine formation below that which is at 
present depositing. 
5. There are appearances in different parts of Lake Su- 
perior, (as well asin the other lakes,) which lead us to in- 
fer that its waters have formerly occupied a much higher 
level than at present. For in valleys at a considerable dis- 
tance from the present shores, ridges of rolled stones and shells 
were met with in parallel curves, rising one above the other 
like the steps, or rather seats, of an amphitheatre, and exe 
actly similar to that which may be observed of the present 
beaches in most bays. 
These ancient beaches attain the elevation of 40 or 50 fect 
above the present level. There are also appearances of this 
nature on the immediate shores of the lake. We shall 
mention, for instance, one near Cabot’s Head, on Lake Huron, 
where we counted no less than sevenridges of shingle, from 
the present level upwards. The highest ridge was overgrowa 
with a thick grove of spruce trees. Thesecond downwards 
had bushes or smaller trees of the same kind. ‘The third only 
small shrubs and flowers, The fourth Jichens and mosses. 
‘The rest were bare of vegetation ; and it is possible that the 
spray of the surf may reach the third ridge. ‘These appear- 
ances plainly indicate an increase of age in proportion to the 
elevation of each of the ridges. As we have seen the lakes 
under all circumstances, during a period of many years, we 
are entitled to affirm, that no partial rise of water, whether 
from 
