76 BRITISH AMEItlCA. regions, are, as yet, but very imperfectly known.* A great chain of mountains, known by the general name of the Alleghanies, rises abruptly out of the Gulf of Lawrence, at Perce, between Bay de Chaleur and Gaspe, and following nearly the course of the river Lawrence, until op¬ posite Quebec , bends to the southward, and entering the United^States, divides the coast from the basin of the Ohio . The mountains of ¬ rica are generally covered to their summits with trees. They have also a greater contimiity in their ridges, and more regularity of outline, than those of . They are, besides, far from being so high as those of , Asia, or . The loftiest part of the Alleghanies is but 2958 feet above the level of the sea. Kellington Peak, Vermont , 3866 feet. The , 3550. The , in New Hampshire , 6800 feet Neither the Algonquin, nor any other moun¬ tain north of the Lawrence, is considered much above 2000 feet high. The nucleus of the Alleghany chain appears, and * I regret being unable to give a more satisfactory account than will be found in this work, of the geology and mineralogy of ; my knowledge of these interesting subjects being chiefly confined to what I have observed on the banks of rivers and lakes, on the faces of cliffs, and on the shores of the sea. Although affords to the naturalist a rich field for enquiry, yet it is a task of no ordinary difficulty to surmount the obstacles common to a wilderness country, rendered almost impassable by dense forests, fallen trees, swamps, rocks, mountains, and water-courses.