Smith's Canadian gazetteer - ElectricCanadian.com

241
Snakes arc numerous; but vonomous kinds are not so plentiful as in th-i
country more to the soutli (in the United States); of the latter are tin- rattlesnake,
adder; and the copper-head is also said to exist. The water-niucassin
is also said to be veuemous. Tiiosc which are harmless consist of the large
black snake, the small brown snake, and tlie garter snakes. Great numbers of
the snakes are destroyed by the large hawks, which seem to consider vhem a
very delicious morsel. Frogs (or (Canadian nightingales) exist in great nurnbLM-s
in the ponds and ditclies. Wild bees are also numerous: tliey make their
comb in a hollow trei-, and occasionally a tree (called a bee tree) is felled, in the
hollow of which will be found two or three hundred weight of honey.
Of entomological specimens many beautiful varieties are to be met with, and
mosquitoes are apt to form an early and sometimes rather tuo intimate an
actiuaintance with the newly arrived emigrant.
Minerals, and those of the most valuable kinds, are very abundant in the
province. Iron ore of the richest description (which is said to produce iron
equal to the Swjdish) exists in the townships of Miidoe and Marmora, in the
Victoria District; in IJathurst, in the Bathurst District, and in other places;
and bog iron ore is found in great plenty in many places, and is used extensively
for making stoves and other castings. Silver, tin and lead are known to exist
in various parts of the Province, beautiful sp.'cimens being frequently seen in
the possession of the Indians; but the exact locality of the mines is not known,
and the Indians are not willing to discover them. Copper has lately been discovered
on the Canadian side of Lake Superior, and gold is also said to have
been found. Marble of many beautiful varieties — pure white, green and yellow
striped, spotted black and white, grey and black—exists in great plenty in the
Eastern. IJathurst, Johnstown, Midland and Victoria districts, and also on Lake
Huron. Lithographic stone in the townships of Marmora and Rama : freestone,
limestone and granite are also abundant. Gypsum (or plaster of Paris) is also
found in large quantities on the Grand River and other parts. And in various
parts of the province salt has been made from brine spriu'is; the water, however,
has not generally been found sulileiently impregnated with salt to make the
operation profitable.
DIVISIONS AND EXTENT OF THE UPPER PPxOVINCE:
ITS PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENTS; RESOURCES; TRADE AND
AGRICULTURE ; EDUCATION ; ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS, &c.
Canada West commences about twenty miles above the confluence of the
St. Lawrence and the t)tiawa Rivers; and the settled portion extends towards
the west and south-west as far as Lake Huron, the River St. Clair, Lake St
Clair, and the Detroit River; and on the south it is bounded by the River St.
I..awrence, Lake Ontario, the Niagara River, and Lake Erie. From the dividing
line between Upper and Lower Canada to the Detroit River, the distance is
about 500 miles in a straight line.
Canada is generally described as a flat country; but it is only called so by
tlwse who have travelled over very little of it. Most persons who have writteu