EIVERS FAUNA. 29 



broad, about 60 fathoms deep, with an area of some 192 square miles, 

 and only 50 feet above sea level ; Indian lake, which is 37 miles long, 

 with an area of 64 square miles ; Gander lake, which is 83 miles long, 

 with an area of 33 square miles; and Deer pond, which is 15 miles 

 long, with an area of 34 square miles. 



Rivers. — The rivers of Newfoundland are numerous, and though 

 the majority are small, yet some attain considerable size. The larg- 

 est are Exploits, Humber, Gander, and Terra Nova. Exploits river, 

 which rises near the southern end of Long range, is 200 miles in 

 length, drains an area of 3,000 to 4,000 square miles, and falls into 

 Exploits bay on the east coast. The main branch of the Humber 

 river rises 20 miles inland from Bonne baj^, is about 130 miles in 

 length, drains about 2,000 square miles, and falls into Humber arm 

 on the west coast. Gander river, 100 miles in length, flows through 

 Gander lake, and with its tributaries drains an area of nearly 4,000 

 square miles; it falls into Hamilton sound. 



Geology. — All the great ancient rock systems, between the Lower 

 Laurentian and the coal measures inclusively, are more or less repre- 

 sented at some part of Newfoundland. The principal mountain 

 ranges appear to be Lower Laurentian coming to the surface through 

 more recent deposits, most of which are nearly parallel to each other 

 in a general north-northeast and south-southwest direction. The 

 same formation also prevails on the western part of the south coast. 

 The coal measures occupj^ a large extent of the valley within St. 

 George bay, the region of Grand pond. In the peninsula of Avalon, 

 the crystalline rocks of the Laurentian period are succeeded by slates 

 and conglomerates that stretch also into Bonavista ba3^ Veins of 

 white quartz are everywhere abundant in this system, and are often 

 impregnated with ores of copper, lead, or iron, and sometimes with all 

 together. 



On the east coast, hummocks of granite protrude and are locally 

 known as " tolts ; " and this coast is marked by large and deep striae, 

 ''adiating apparentl}^ from some point in the interior. Erratic bowl- 

 ders cover nearly all the principal headlands, and are distributed in 

 great numbers about the coast ranges of hills. 



Fauna. — The animals indigenous to Newfoundland are caribou or 

 American reindeer, wolves, black bears, foxes, beavers, otters, Arctic 

 hares, weasels, etc. Amongst the birds are eagles, hawks, owls, wood- 

 peckers, swallows, and ptarmigan, which are abundant. The great 

 auk, now extinct, was once found in large numbers around the island. 

 The little auk, guillemot, and razor bill are still abundant. 



For willow grouse, locally named partridge, and other varieties of 

 grouse and eggs of same, close time begins January 12 and ends 

 September 15; birds, however, may be sold up to January 22, pro- 

 vided they are shot in season. For curlew, plover, snipe, or other 



