20 LAKE SUPERIOR. 



" 6. Hamamelidce, (witch liazel,) named probably from its flowering in 

 the fall. Fruit in four little nuts. No species of this family in Europe. 



" 7. TiliacecB, leaves unsymmetrical. Tilia americana, (bass-wood,) 

 leaves smooth below. 



" 8. Acerinece, Gen, Acer, (maple,) leaves in three main lobes, sub- 

 divided into five. 



" 9. Ampelidce, (the grape family,) petals dividing below sooner than at 

 the. apes. Great variety of species in America, but not suitable for making 

 wine. Three species on Goat Island." 



The south shore of Lake Erie is flat and monotonous ; red, crumb- 

 ling banks, surmounted by a forest broken only by an occasional 

 log-house. At one time high land visible on the horizon, being a 

 spur of the Alleghanies. 



In spite of all glorification on the score of the " Great Lakes," 

 it must be confessed that the Lower Lakes at least are only geo- 

 graphically or economically great. Any one accustomed to the sight 

 of the ocean has to keep in mind the square miles of extent, 

 to preserve his- respect for them. Their waves, though dangerous 

 enough to navigators, have not sufficient swing to carve out a rocky 

 shore for themselves, or to tumble any rollers along the beach, and 

 thus the line where land and water meet, in which, as has been 

 well said, the interest of a sea-view centres, is as tame as the edge 

 of a duck-pond. Much of this character is doubtless owing to 

 the flat prairie country by which they are mostly surrounded. 



In the afternoon heavy clouds rolled up from the N.W., and a 

 squall was evidently approaching. At this time we saw a steamer 

 in the distance outside of us, with her flag union down. On reach- 

 ing her we found she had broken her crank. After some clumsy 

 manoeuvring we got alongside, and her captain persuaded the owner 

 of our boat, who was on board, to " accommodate " him by towing 

 him into Cleveland. This kind turn would delay us many hours, and 

 was by no means necessary for the safety of the boat, since there 

 were other ports under the lee. Nevertheless, our owner (although, 

 as we learned, he was to be paid nothing for the trouble,) agreed, 

 and took them in tow. But shortly after, the squall coming on, it 

 was found that our machinery wovild not stand the additional strain, 

 and she Avas accordingly cast off to shift for herself. We arrived at 



