Flora and Fauna 



Western Regions, Aug. 1820. 



In various places I have seen the falco lencocephalus, or bald 1820 

 eagle ; the falco ossifragus, or grey eagle ; and the falco haliaetus, 

 or osprey. . . . 



The immense quantities of fish which collect below the falls 

 of Niagara, and which inhabit that river and the mouth of Lake 

 Erie, necessarily draw together these birds, and I have never 

 seen so many as appear to occupy this region. 



Cataract of Niagara, September 1820. 



Lewiston is about seven miles from the Falls of Niagara, and 

 in passing from the former to the latter place, I observed on the 

 top of the high hill or slope of Lewiston, the remains of the old 

 way by which the French drew up their goods which they sent 

 round the cataract. A crane was fixed on the summit of the 

 hill, and an inclined plane down the descent, in which sleighs 

 were placed, and as articles were conveyed up in one vehicle 

 others were let down in another. 



Goat Island derives its name from its being appropriated to 

 goats by Stedman, the former possessor of Fort Schlosser. It 

 now belongs to individuals, and is connected with the right bank 

 of the river by bridges. It was formerly supposed that it would 

 make an excellent place for a state penitentiary on account of the 

 impracticability of passing from it previous to the erection of the 

 bridges; but this is a mistake. It can be easily reached by a 

 canoe from the place where the rapids separate at the head of 

 the island, but it is difficult to retire. Stedman used to ride to it 

 on horseback, and I saw a man who had planted potatoes on it 

 in former times. I observed trees on it, on which are inscribed 

 the names of visitors as far back as 1 769. A skeleton was found 

 buried in a grave, and indications of a canoe being made about 



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