4 .FOREST LIFE IN ACADIE. 



of similar geographical conformations in all parts of the 

 earth, is towards the south. The actual trend of its At- 

 lantic coast is from north-east to south-west — a direction 

 in which are extended its principal geological formations 

 agreeing with the course of the St. Lawrence and of the 

 Apellachian chain of mountains which terminate at Cape 

 Gasp^. Its dependency, Cape Breton, is an island, 100 

 miles long, and eighty broad, separated from Nova Scotia 

 by the narrow, canal-like Gut of Canseau, in places but 

 half a mile in width — " a narrow transverse valley," says 

 the author of " Acadian Geology," " excavated by the 

 currents of the drift period." The largest and the greater 

 proportion of the rivers flow across the province, through 

 often parallel basins, into the Atlantic, indicating a 

 general slope at right angles to the longer axis. The 

 Shubenacadie is, however, a singular exception, rising 

 close to Halifax harbour on the Atlantic side of the pro- 

 vince, and crossing with a sluggish and even current 

 through a fertile intervale country to the Bay of Fundy. 

 The Atlantic coasts of Nova Scotia are indented to a 

 wonderful extent by creeks and arms of the sea, often 

 running far inland — miniature representations of the 

 Scandinavian fiords. As might be expected, as accom- 

 paniments to such a jagged coast-line, there are numerous 

 islands, shoals, and reefs, which render navigation dan- 

 gerous, and necessitate frequent light-houses. The 

 outlines of the western shores are much more regular, 

 with steep cliffs and few inlets, somewhat similar on 

 comparison with the same features of the continent itself 

 as displayed on its Atlantic and Pacific coasts. To these 

 harbours and to the fisheries may be attributed the 

 position of the capital of Halifax on the Atlantic side. 



