Flora and Fauna 



fragrance of many species of flowers growing without cultivation 1901 

 and in countless numbers, in the ever-varying forms and hues of ay 

 foliage, and in the continually shifting panorama of the animated 

 creation so near the scenes of human activity and occupation and 

 yet so free from their usual effects, will find upon the borders of 

 the river, within its chasm and on the islands which hang upon 

 the brink of the great cataract, an abundant gratification of his 

 taste and an exhaustless field for study. 



To such a person — to all, in fact, who realize how ennobling 

 it is to the heart of man to be brought at times face to face with 

 Nature, whether in her beauty or her sublimity — it must always 

 be the source of profound satisfaction to know that by the wise 

 and liberal policy of the State of New York and the Dominion 

 of Canada so large an area of country contiguous to the river and 

 the Falls has been made a public property, and, placed forever 

 beyond the reach of vandal hands, is now dedicated, for all 

 time, to the highest and most exalted purposes. 



Although in this volume a chapter has been devoted to the 

 geology of Niagara, by one abundantly qualified for the task, 

 nevertheless, for a proper presentation of the Natural History of 

 the Falls and of the region of which it is the centre, a passing 

 glance should here be bestowed upon the geological record of 

 Goat Island and the river within whose embrace it lies, to bring 

 out more clearly the relation to it of its Fauna and Flora. For 

 this purpose it is not necessary to explore the measureless periods 

 of time in which the imagination of the geologist is accustomed to 

 range at will. It is demonstrable that in a scientific sense the 

 Island itself is of a trifling antiquity. In fact it would be diffi- 

 cult to point out in the western world any considerable tract of 

 land more recent in its origin. 



There is every evidence to believe that the Niagara River has 

 excavated its enormous chasm since the close of the period -known 

 to geologists as the Glacial Age. Whether before the coming on 

 of the Glacial Age the upper lakes were connected or not with 

 Lake Ontario (a proposition which seems to be well received in 

 31 481 



