398 FAUNA OF THE SOUTHERN ALLEGHANIES. 
could be fixed upon. Thus the limit of the breeding region 
of the ten northern species above alluded to might be re- 
garded as such a boundary. This would be about the par- 
allel of the mouth of the Connectieut (or Hudson), and it 
would coincide with the northern limit of several genera and 
species of fishes. Thus Lepidosteus, Clinostomus, Ennea- 
canthus, Acantharchus and Carpiodes, do not exist north of 
this point, nor the widely distributed species Semotilus cor- 
poralis and Hypsilepis analostanus. There is, however, 
nearly as much change at the latitude of the Susquehanna, 
while at the James, Micropterus, and probably Campostoma, 
have their northern Atlantic limit.* 
II. On the fauna of the Upper Valley of the French | 
Broad River, North Carolina. —'This valley is probably the 
most extensive for its elevation above the sea, in the Appa- 
lachian region. It may be said to extend from near Ashe- 
ville at the southern extremity of the Black Mountains, to 
near the line of South Carolina, or the Saluda Mountains, 
north and south. On the east and west it is bounded by the 
Blue Ridge and the Cold Spring and other ranges, respect- 
ively, embracing the counties of Henderson and Transyl- 
vania and part of Buncombe. The French Broad River 
traverses it from south to north, taking its rise in the south- 
ern and western bounding mountain ranges. This fine val- 
ley is comparatively level, and the soil, though loamy, 
contains a considerable proportion of sand. The river pur- 
sues a level course with but few rapids, and through broad 
meadows susceptible of high cultivation. ` The climate is 
delightfully equable, being without summer heats and win- 
ter snows. The magnificent scenery, in views of the sur- 
rounding mountains, especially to the westward, have made 
it the Saratoga of Charleston and Mobile; and its claims, 
say an essay on the — of Ashes : in the Alleghanies of Ree western Vir 
stated, p. 245, tha I have since 
vine ae gi through pias. Agassiz, that it is found in Lake Champlain. 
