The southern shore, seen from the lake, seems to lie in regular ridges running from south to north; some few are parallel with the lake-shore, possibly where some surmountable impediment turned the current the subsiding waters; but they all find an outlet through their connexion with ravines communicating with the lake.
There is a beautiful level tract of land, with only here and there a solitary oak growing upon it, or a few stately pines; it is commonly called the "upper Race-course," merely on account of the smoothness of the surface; it forms a high tableland, nearly three hundred feet above the lake, and is surrounded by high hills.

This spot, though now dry and covered with turf and flowers, and low bushes, has evidently once been a broad sheet of water.

To the eastward lies a still more lovely and attractive spot, known as the "lower Race-course;" it lies on a lower level than the former one, and, like it, is embanked by a ridge of distant hills; both have ravines leading down to the Rice Lake, and may have been the sources from whence its channel was filled.

Some convulsion of nature at a remote period, by raising the waters above their natural level, might have caused a disruption of the banks, and drained their beds, as they now appear ready for the ploughshare or the spade.

In the month of June these flats are brilliant with the splendid blossoms of the _enchroma_, or painted cup, the azure lupine and snowy _trillium_ roses scent the evening air, and grow as if planted by the hand of taste.
A carpeting of the small downy saxifrage _[FN: Saxifraga nivalis.]_ with its white silky leaves covers the ground in early spring.