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BULLETIN OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 
one would naturally infer that it is post-glacial, the original pre- 
glacial course cutting across the bend along the courses of the 
streams and lakes which occur there. And I ventured such a 
prediction in an earlier note in describing Mitchell Lake and sur- 
roundings (Note No. 87). But this supposition is wholly 
erroneous, for the river preserves its ripe, gentle smooth character 
all around the bend, and is evidently in an ancient and mature 
walley. Its abrupt bend to the north is simply a minor winding 
around drift hills in the wide valley. The origin of the great bend 
in the valley is of course a question of much interest. Turning 
to the map we note that it is directly in line with the valley of 
Portage Brook extending up towards Dunn Lake through the 
Mitchell Lake Basin (Note 87) ; furthermore, in continuation of 
its direction off to the southeastward I' saw a marked high gap in 
the plateau and beyond this gap, in the same direction, there is, 
as shown on the map, a valley occupied by a brook (Whitney 
Brook) . And I myself noted that where this brook enters the Lower 
North Branch that valley has a swing in the same direction. I 
have not traced it farther, but the direction continued eastward 
would carry it through Guagus to Mullins Stream Lake just be- 
low which comes one of those remarkable great bends which 
characterize all the valleys of this region (Note 93). We may 
therefore be dealing here with remnants of a very ancient valley 
parallel with the little Southwest Miramichi and the other rivers 
south of it, perhaps one of the original Northumbrian system. 
But although the course of the river around the big bend is 
thus very ancient, it nevertheless seems plain that at some time its 
course was across the bend by way of the Hickey Lakes. Such 
a valley can be seen from the great burnt hills just above the 
bend, and seems consistent with the topography of the section as 
far as known. 
Below the bend the character of the river changes for a time ; 
here its course is obstructed with hugh granitic boulders making 
it very rough. This rapid water extends a short distance but 
occurs once more a mile or two lower down, where granite ledge 
rock forms the valley wall. Except for these two places the 
river seems to retain its gentle attractive character, winding in 
