78 THE GEOLOGY OF MINNESOTA. 



(Nicollct, 1836 



natural beautif-s of the country are, however, impressed with a character of sternness and melan- 

 choly ; the silence and solitude of which are interrupted or revived only by the water-fowl that 

 congregate about its waters to nestle amidst and fatten upon the wild rice. The naturalist, 

 however, has still an endless field of observations, in the insect world ; for everywhere life mani- 

 fests itself in some form or other. It is, indeed, remarkable that the more we advance to the 

 north (to within a certain extent, nevertheless), the more the mosquito appears to be abundant, 

 as every voyageur knows by sad experience. 



The lakes to which I have just alluded are distributed in separate groups, or are arranged in 

 prolonged chains along the rivers, and not unfrequently attached to each other by gentle rapids. 

 It has seemed to me that they diminish in extent, on both sides of the Mississippi, as we proceed 

 southwardly, as far as 43 P of north latitude ; and this observation extends to the arctic region, 

 commencing at Bear's lake, or Slave lake, Winnipeg lake, &c. It may be further remarked that 

 the basins of these lakes have a sufficient depth to leave no doubt that they will remain charac- 

 teristic features of the country for a long time to come. Several species of fish abound in them. 

 The white-fish (Corregonus albus) is found in all the deeplakes west of the Mississippi, and indeed 

 from lake Erie to the Polar sea. That which is taken in Leech lake is said by amateurs to be 

 more highly flavored than even that of lake Superior, and weighs from three to ten pounds. 

 There is another species of this white-fish, called by the Indians tuliby or ottuniby (the Corregonus 

 ariedi) which resembles it, but is much less esteemed. Both species furnish a wholesome and 

 palatable food. Among the other species of fish that inhabit these waters, are the mashkinonye, or 

 mashkilonge ; the pike or jack-fish ; the pickerel or gilt carp ; the sucker or true carp ; the perch ; 

 a species of trout called by the Chippeways naniogim, &c., &c. These lakes, which are somewhat 

 deep, swarm with leeches ; and among the amphibious reptiles there are several species of terrapin 

 and turtle, of which Mr. Say has described three of each kind in the appendix to the second expe- 

 dition of Major Long. 



FOSSILS COLLECTED BY MR. NICOLLET. 



Appendix C of Mr. Nicollet's report contains names of fossils collected 

 at different points in Iowa, Missouri, Dakota, and the following at the falls 

 of St. Anthony in Minnesota : 



Strophomena, allied to S. (ilternata. 



Strophomena, new species. 



Orthis testudinaria ? (Murch. Sil. Syst. pi. 20, fig. 10). 



Orthis poly gramma? (Murch. Sil. Syst. pi. 21, fig. 4). 



Orthis (three new species). 



Steriocisma (resembling Twbnifiila xchlothriini. Dal.) 



Atrypa (new species). 



Pleurototnaria (new species numerous). 



Euomphalm, allied to Maclun'tex mwjna (Des.) 



Euomphalus, resembling E. sculptun (Sowerby). 



Phratymolites, same as in the Trenton limestone in N. Y. 



Phragmolites, new species. 



Bellerophon bilobatm. 



Orthoceras (two species, undetermined). 



