328 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



which in the spring atul autumn, bring down a large 

 quantity of water from the prairie above. Third Fishing- 

 Lake is connected with Fourth Fishing Lake by a rapid 

 stream flowing through the plateau, about 100 feet broad. 

 At its mouth we saw a large number of fish rising at the 

 grasshoppers, which dropped from flights of these insects 

 passing over at the time. In the same stream were many 

 large fish, and among them several individuals of a species 

 to which further reference will be made. Soundings in 

 the Fourth Lake showed 54 feet ; this depth was main- 

 tained for a long distance with great regularity. In 

 fact, these lakes appear to be nearly uniformly deep, and 

 point to an excavating force, or peculiarity of rock forma- 

 tion deserving of further inquiry. The deltas at the 

 mouth of the ravines, coming in from the prairie at right 

 angles to the general course of the valley, give a clue to 

 the mode in which the lakes were separated one from 

 the other. It is very probable that they were once all 

 united. 



Geese appeared in large numbers in the Fourth Lake, 

 and at its western end we saw a splendid flock of peli- 

 cans containing thirty-five individuals ; as we approached 

 they sailed majestically round and round, but took flight 

 before we arrived within gunshot. Magpies are very 

 numerous in the thin woods fringing the lakes ; so also are 

 grackles, the cat bird, and many smaller birds. The Fourth 

 Lake is very shallow at its western extremity, six feet 

 being the greatest depth recorded. The hills on the 

 north side are quite bare, and trees on the south side 

 are found only in the ravines. The lake is full of weeds 

 and its water emits a very disagreeable odour, but the 

 watermarks show, that during spring freshets, its level is 

 eight feet higher than in the summer season. This is an 

 important fact when taken in connection with the alleged 



