484: CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY : 



pinged against tlie steep cliff, it was very deep. Here was tlie only point in its route, so far as 

 we recall, where tlie epithet was applicable which Milton gives to its English namesake, when 

 he speaks of — 



"Utmost Tweed, or Ouse, or gulphy Don." 



This very noticeable portion of the river was known as the "Big Bend." (We may observe 

 here that in retaining its English name, the Don has lost the appellation assigned to it by the 

 French and the aborigines. The Grand Eiver, on the contrary, has retained its French name, not- 

 withstanding its English oflicial designation, which was the Ouse. The Rouge, too, has kept its 

 French name. It was the Nen ; and the Indians, it is said, styled it The River of Easy Entrance 

 (Katabokokonk). The Thames, however, has wholly dropped its French title, LaTranche. We 

 may subjoin that the Humber was anciently called by some, St. John's River, from a trader 

 named St. John ; and by some, Toronto River.)— Towards the summit of the high bluff just men- 

 tioned, the holes made by the sand-martins were numerous. Hereabout we have met with the 

 snapping turtle. Tlxis creature has not the power of withdrawing itself wholly within a shell. 

 A part of its protection consists in the loud threatening snap of its strong horny jaws, armed 

 in front with a beak-like hook bent downwards. What the creature lays hold of, it wiU not let 

 go. Let it grasp the end of a stout stick, and the sportsman may sling it over his shoulder, and 

 so carry it home with him. When allowed to reach its natural term of life, it probably attains 

 a very great age. We remember a specimen captured near the spot at which we are pausing, 

 which, from its vast size, and the rough, liehen-covered condition of its shell, must have been 

 extremely old. We also once found near here a numerous deposit of this animal's eggs ; all 

 white and spherical, of the diameter of about an inch, and covered with a tough, parchment-like 

 skin. The ordinary lesser tortoises of the marsh were of course plentiful along the Don : their 

 young, frequently to be met with creeping about, were curious and ever-interesting little objects. 

 Snakes too there were about here, of several kinds : one, often very large and dangerous-looking, 

 the copper-head, of a greenish brown colour, and covered with oblong and rather loose scales. 

 The striped garter-snake, of all sizes, was very common. Though reported to be harmless, it 

 always indulged, when interfered with, in the menacing action and savage attempts to strike, of 

 the most venomous of its genus. Then there was the beautiful grass-green snake ; and in large 

 numbers, the black water-snake. In the rank herbage along the river's edge, the terrified piping 

 of a pursued frog was often heard. It recurs to us, as we write, that once, on the banks of the 

 Humber, we saw a bird actually in the grasp of a large garter-snake— just held by the foot. As 

 the little creature fluttered violently in the air, the head of the reptUe was swayed rapidly to 

 and fro. All the small birds in the vicinity had gathered together in a state of noisy excitement ; 

 and many spirited dashes were made by several of them at the common foe. No great injury 

 having been as yet inflicted, we were enabled to effect a happy rescue. 



Prom the high sandy cliff, to which our attention has been drawn, it was possible to look down 

 into the waters of the river ; and on a sunny day, it afforded no small amusement to watch the 

 habits, not only of the creatures just named, but of the fish also, visible below in the stream ; 

 the simple sunfish, for example, swimming about in shoals (or schools, as the term used to be) ; 

 and the pike, crafty as a fox, lurking in solitude, ready to dart on his unwaiy prey with the 

 swiftness and precision of an arrow shot from the bow. 



XXIV.— FROM THE BIG BEND TO CASTLE FRANK BROOK. 

 Above the "Big Bend," on the west side, was " Rock Point." At the water's edge hereabout 

 was a slight outcrop of shaly rock, where crayfish were numerous, and black bass. The adjoin- 

 ing marshy land was covered with a dense thicket, in which wUd gooseberry bushes and wUd 

 black-currant bushes were noticeable. The flats along here were a favorite haunt of woodcock 

 at the' proper season of the year : the peculiar set of little twitters uttered by them when 

 descending from their flight, and the very different, deep-toned note, the signal of their having 

 alighted, were both very familiar sounds in the dusk of the evening. — A little further on was 

 " the Island." The channel between it and the " mainland " on the north side, was completely 

 choked up with logs and large branches, brought down by the freshets. It was itself surrounded 

 by a high fringe or hedge of the usual brush that lined the river-side all along, matted together 

 and clambered over, almost everywhere, by the wild grape-vine. In the waters at its northern 

 end, wild rice grew plentifully, and the beautiful SYr^eet-scented white water-Uly or lotus. 



