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HISTORY

VERMONT,

N ATU11A L, CIVIL AND STATISTICAI

IN THREE PARTS,

APPENDIX

185a

H\ ZADOCK THOMPSttBL

THE

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Entered according to act of Congress, in the .year 1853, by
ZADOCK THOMPSON,

in the Clerk's office of the District Court, for the District of Vermont.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

A little more than ton years have now elapsed sinee the publication of my
Natural, Civil and Statistical History of Vermont. In that work I endeavored
to collect and present as concisely and clearly as I was able, and, at the same
time, as fully as the state of knowledge and my prescribed limits would permit—

I. An account of the Natural History of the State, embracing its physical
geography, zoology, botany and mineralogy.

II. The Civil History of the State, comprehending the settlement of the ter-
ritory, the organization of the government, and the progress of legislation and
improvement, together with a full account of the controversy with New York,
the negotiations with the British in Canada, and of our various political, literary
and religious institutions.

III. A Historical and Statistical Gazetteer, embracing a full account of all the
counties, towns, streams, &c, in the State, arranged in alphabetical order.

Since the publication of that work, rail roads and the magnetic telegraph have
been introduced into the State, and very considerable changes have taken place.
A Geological Survey of theState has been commenced, but was discontinued,without
any full publication of the results ; in consequence of which, the greater part of
the discoveries made and the facts elicited, have been lost to the State and the
world ; while a very small additional appropriation in 1847, would have secured
to the State a Final Report on the Geology of Vermont, which would have been
not only creditable to the State Geologist, but an honor and treasure to theState.
But notwithstanding the loss, which has been occasioned, by this penny wise and
pound foolish policy of the legislature, our general knowledge of the geology, and
of the mincralogical productions of tlio State, has been greatly enlarged by the
information elicited and made public during the continuance of the survey.

During the last ten years, I have spent a large portion of my time in collecting
and preserving facts in relation to the natural and civil history of the State,
thinking that the time might possibly come, when I should be warranted in the
publication of a new and improved edition of the whole work. But the new
materials having largely accumulated, and the number of copies of the original
work, on hand, beingsuch as to afford no encouragement for a speedy republica-
tion of the entire work, I concluded to select some of the principal items into the
form of an Appendix, which might be bound with the remaining copies of the
original work, and also be bound separately for those who already have the origi1
n.il work and desire the Appendix.

partment of Natural History. This is not owing to any lack of materials fur
making additions to the other parts, but because those materials could not be so
conveniently used in .heir separate condition. Additions to a work of this nature

PRELIMINARY REMARKS.

are, necessarily , fragmentary ; and to be used advantageously, they must be in"
corporate*! by re-writing the whole. But as this could not be done without re-
printing the whole, I have selected, for the Appendix, such materials as I thought
would be most interesting and useful in their separate state ; and these, fov the
most part, relate to Natural History.

Since the publication of my work in 1S412, much light has been thrown upon
the early history of our State by the antiquarian researches of Henry Stevens,
Esq., and facts have been developed, which remove the mystery from certain
transactions in our revolutionary struggles. But the introduction of these mat-
ters into the Appendix would require a repetition of much of the history of that
period, to make it intelligible, and, consequently, more room than can he spared
for it.

The history of our legislation during the last ten years, if fully written, would
furnish an interesting and instructive chapter; but that, too, is excluded lor the
want of room. Perhaps the most important acts of legislation within the time,
are those which relate to schools and the sale of alcoholic liquors. But, these
several acts have not yet been fully tested by experience. The general school
law of 1845, appeared to have been drawn with much care, and to promise an
efficient provision for the advancement of primary education in the State, and it
is to be regretted that it had not been more fully tested, before it was mutilated
by repeals and additional enactments ; and was violated by the body which enac-
ted it, by their neglect to appoint a State Superintendent of Schools. But in
spite of all obstacles, I am happy in believing that the cause of education is
advancing, and that one of the most efficient causes of this advancement in our
large villages, is the establishment of Union Schools. These schools furnish to
the children of the poor the same advantages which are enjoyed by those of the
rich, for pursuing the higher branches of study, and thus afford a universal stim-
ulus in all the classes in the several schools, which form the union.

To almost every article in the (.iazctteer, alterations and additions might be
made, but, for the reasons already stated, it was deemed inexpedient. If life
and health should be spared for a few years longer, it would afford me much sat-
isfaction to re-write the whole work, and, by incorporating in it the additional
material, make it more worthy of the approval and patronage of my fellow citi-
zens, but, as the great expense would preclude me from the possibility of being
able to publish a new edition, that satisfaction is not likely to be realized.

Z. THOMPSON.

Burlington, April (J, 1853.

THOMPSON'S VERMONT

JJart jFirat,

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT,

CHAPTER I.

DESCRIPTIVE AND PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF VERMONT-

Section 1.

Situation, Boundaries, Extent and Divis-
ions.
Situation. — Vermont is situated in the
northwestern corner of New England,
and lies between the parallels of 42J 44'
and 45° of north latitude, and between 3°
35' and 5° 29' of east longitude from the
Capitol of the United States at Washing-
ton, or between 71° 33' and 73° 25' of
west longitude from Greenwich Observa-
tory.* The most eastern extremity of

tuiU's given in this work arc in nil cases reckoned
from the L'aptlol of the United States. The longi-
tude of the dipnoi from Greenwich, according to
the most recent observations, in ?7J 1' 43". It is
very much to he lamented that the longitude of
places in Vermont is so imperfectly known. We
are not aware that a single point within the mate
lias been determined with any pretensions to ac-
curacy. True, a few solar eclipses have lieen ob-
served and some calculations have been made, for
the purpose of deducing from them the longitude of
the places ; but the only observations within our
knowledge, which have hitherto boen regarded as
entitled to any degree of confidence, were those of
tho sohir eclipse of 181 1 , made at Burlington by Prof.
James Dean ami John Johnson, Esq., and at Kul-
land by Dr. Williams. The longitude of the Uni-
versity of Vermont, deduced from these observa-
tions by Dr Bowdilch, was 733 14' 34", and of Hilt-
hind court house 72° 57' '27' ' west from Greenwich
observatory, and in accordance with these has the
longitude of the different parts of the state been
laid down upon our maps. In 1838, the author pre-
pared, with much caie, lor observing the large solar
.eclipse of that yen/, for the purpose of determining
Px.i. J

Vermont is in the township of Canaan^
and the most western in the township of
Addison. This state lies nearly in the
middle of the north'lemperate zone. The
longest day at the south line of the state,
is 15h. l)m. i)s.,and at the norlh line, 15h.
25 m. 50s.

Boundaries. — Vermont is bounded on
the north by the province of Canada, on
the east by New Hampshire, on the south
by Massachusetts, and on the west by
New York. The north line of the state
runs upon the parallel of latitude 45»
north. Tins line was first surveyed by
commissioners appointed by the provinces
of New York and Canada, in the year
1767. Jt was afterwards run, but very
erroneously, by I. Collins and I. Carden.
in 1772. In 180.6, Dr. Samuel Williams
made some observations with the view of
ascertaining the true north lineof the state,
and still further observations were made ia
1818, by Messrs. Hassler and Tiarks, sur-
veyors under the treaty of Ghent. Ac-

\\ v

i)f the University. Hut the oppoilu-
UvoraMc.the sun being hid by clouds
„.-alcr part of the eclipse. Of the be-
ginning he had a tolerable observation, and from this
alone he carefully calculated the longitude by I>r.
BowdiUh's piecept.s, and the result waa 73u 10' 30,J
for the longitude of the University , or about 4m. less
than was obtained from the preceding obser
and, as he is inclined, from other cir

think it as near an npprcxi

to the

loo

giiudo as any yet obtained, lie has adopted it io tlii*
work.

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

cording to the latter, the -15th parallel lies
a little to the southward of the line pre-
viously established, but it is not yet finally
settled. The eastern boundary was t s-
tablished by a decree of George III, July
20th, 1764, winch declared the western
bank, of the Connecticut river to be the
western boundary of New Hampshire".
The southern boundary is derived from
a royal decree- of March -1th, 1740, and
was surveyed by Richard Hazcn, in Feb-
ruary and March, 1741 . This line, which
was the divisional line between Massachu-
setts and New Hampshire, was to run due
west from a point three miles to the north-
ward of Patucket falls, till it reached the
province of Now York. It was run by
the compass, and ten degrees allowed for
westerly variation of the magnetic needle.
This being too great an allowance, the
line crossed the Connecticut river 2'
57" to the northward of a due west line.
In consequence of this error, New Hamp-
shire lost 59,873 acres, and Vermont 133,-
897 acres, and the south line of the state
is not parallel with the north line. The
western boundary was settled by the gov-
ernments of Vermont and New York at
the close of their controversy, in 1790.
This line passes along the western boun-
daries of the townships of Pownal, Ben-
nington, Shaftsbury, Arlington, Sandgate,
Rupert, Pawlet, Wells and Poultney, to
Poultney river ; thence along the middle
of the deepest channel of said river, East
bay and lake Champlain to the 45th de-
gree of north latitude, passing to the east-
ward of the islands called the Four Broth-
ers, and to the westward of Grand Isle
and IslelaMotte. The portion of this line
between the southwest corner of the state
and Poultney river, was surveyed in 1813
and 1814, and the report and plan of the
survey are in the office of the Secretary
of State at Montpelier.

Extent and Area. — The length of Ver-
mont from north to south is 157 A miles,
and the average width from east to west
57A miles, which gives an area of 9,056 -}-
square miles, or 5,795,960 acres. The
length of the north line of the state is 90
miles, and of the south line 41 miles, but,
on account of the great bend of the Con-
necticut to the westward, the moan width
of the state is considerable less than
the mean between these two lines, as
above stated. The width of the state
from Rarnct to Charlotte through Mont-
pelier, which is 50 miles nearer to the
northern than to the southern boundary,
is only about 60 miles. On account of
the irregularities in the western and east-
ern boundaries, bol ii these lines are lon-
ger than the mean 1 ingth of the state, the

former being about 175 miles, and the lat-
ter, following the course of the Connecti-
cut, 215 miles.'- The state is divided into
two equal parts by the parallel ut' 4-ld.
9m. north latitude, and also by the meri-
dian in Id. 19m. of east longitude. These
two lines intersect each other near the'
western line of Northfield, and about 10
miles south westerly from Montpelier, and
the point of intersection is the geogrujihi-
cal cadre of the stale.

Divisions. — The Green Mountains ex-
tend quite through the state from south
to north, and, following the western range,
divide it into two very nearly equal parts.
These form the only natural division,
with the exception of the waters of lake
Champlain, which divide the county of
Grand Isle from the counties of Franklin
and Chittenden, and the several islands
which compose that county, from each
other, and from the main land. For civil
purposes the state is divided into 14 coun-
ties, which are sub-divided into 245 town-
ships, and several small gores of hind,
which are not yet annexed to, or funned
into, townships. The names of the coun-
ties, the date of their incorporation, thu
shire towns, and the number of towns in
each county at the present time (1842,)
are exhibited in the following table :

CniP. L

DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.

KiCK OF THE COUNTRY.

MU.NCH'AI. SUMMITS.

D I A G It A M
%%\Ofthe relative, altitudes of some of the principal Heights in Vermont ahure the sen.

I.

or Worth I'otik. ofAUi

107tl i i

-ll.St t'ui.ic-1's Hump, --

i.tOau'Plirowsbury Mountain,

■J«J83iTJin None, or South Peak ulWIunalielJ M.

J924 Killiiigton Peak, ■

3700 Equinox Mountain, Manchester,

Ascatnoy Mountain,

#

20G3 Middleuury turnpike
19 J-2,Poru turnpike,
loe:! Kcyo* lumjtiko, -

951 Summit levolnt Roxlmry, . . . .—
SOS Summit level at Williainatownj —

791 Manchwter villiugo

48.1 Montpelier villiago,

430 Norwich University, -

370iUuiv(irsity of Vermont, .... —
00;Sur face of Lake Champiain, • •==z

-.*0»

>-~V,-?.,r,--^£2^

Section II.

Face of the country.

Mountains — Tlie surface of Vermont is
generally uneven. A few townships along
the margin of lake Champiain may be
called level j but with these exceptions,
the whole state consists of hills and val-
leys, alluvial Hals and gentle acclivities,
elevated plains and lofty mountains. The
celebrated range of Green Mountain;',
which give name to the state, extends
quite through it from 6outli t< . north, keep-
ing nearly u middle course between Con-
necticut river on the east and lake Cham-
plain on the west. From the line of Mas-
sachusetts to the southern part of Wash-
ington county, this range continues lofty,
and unbroken through by any considera-
ble streams; dividing the counties of
Windham, Windsor and Orange from the
counties of Bennington, Rutland and Ad-
dison. In this part of the state, the com-
munication between the eastern and west-
ern sides of the mountain was formerly
dillicult, and the phrase, going urn- tlu
■iiiouutain, denoted an arduous business.
But on account of the great improvement

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of the roads, more particularly in their
more judicious location near the streams,
the dilriculty of crossing the mountain has
nearly vanished. In the southern partof
Washington count}', the Green Mountains
separate into two ranges. The highest of
these ranges, bearing a little east of north,
continues along the eastern boundaries of
the counties of Chittenden and Franklin,
and through the county ol Lamoille to
Canada line ; while the other range strikes
oil' much more to the east through the
southern and eastern parts of Washing-
ton county, the western part of Caledonia
county and the north western part of Es-
sex county to Canada. This last, is called
the height of lands, and it divides the
waters, which fall into Connecticut river,
in the north part of the state, from those
which fall into lake CJiamplaih and lake
Meinphrcmagog. This branch of theGreon
Mountains, though it no where rises ko
high as niauy points of the western branch,
is much more uniformly elevated : yet
the acclivity is so gentle as to admit of
easy roads over it in various placi s.
The western range, having been broken
through by the rivers Winooski, Lamoille
and Missisco, is divided into several sec-
tions, these rivers having opened passa-
ges for good roads along their banks, while

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Chap. I.

MOUNTAINS.

KIVI'.US AMI STKKAM3.

the intervening portions are so high and
eteep as not to admit of roads being made
ov^t' them, with the exception of that por-
tion lying between the Lamoille and Mis-
b'isco. This part of the Green Mountains
presents some of the . most lofty summits
in the state ; particularly the Nose and
Chin. in Mansfield, and Camel's Hump in
Huntington. These, together with other
important mountains and summits in the
Btate, are exhibited in the foregoing table
and cut, and will also be described in the
Gazetteer, under their respective names.
The sides, and, in most cases, the sum-
mits of the mountains in Vermont, are
covered with evergreens, such as sprace,
hemlock and fir. On this account the
French, being the first civilized people
who visited this part of the world, early
gave to them the name of Verd Mont, or
Green Mountain ; and when the inhabi-
tants of the New Hampshire Grants as-
sumed the powers of government, in 1777,
they adopted this name, contracted by the
omission of the letter d, for the name of
the new state.*

* This name is said to hnvo been adopted upon
the recommendation of Dr. Thomas Young — (see
part 2d, page lOti.) The following account of die
Christening of the Green Mountains, is given by the
ltev. Samuel Peters in his life of the Rov. Hugh
Peters, published ul New York in lbOT.

" Veid-Mont was a name given to the Green
Mountains in October, 1763, by the Rev. Dr.
Peters, the first clergyman who paid a visit to the
30,000 settlers in that country, in t he presence of
Col. Taplin, Col. Willes, Col. Peters, Judge Pe-
ters and many others, who were proprietors of a
large number of townships in that colony. The
ceremony was performed on the top of a rock
standing on a high mountain, then named Mount
Pisgah because it provided to the company a clear
sight of lake Champlain at the west, and of Con-
necticut river at the east, and overlooked all the
trees and hills in the vast wilderness at the north
and south. The bapiism was performed in the
following manner: Priest Peters stood on the
pinnacle of the rock, when he received a bottle ot
spirits from Col. Taplin ; then haranguing the
company with a short history of the infant settle-
ment, and the prospect of its becoming an impreg-
nable barrier between the British colonies on the
south and the laie colonies of the French on the
north, which might be returned to their late own-
ers for the sake of governing America by the dif-
ferent powers of Europe, he continued, ' We have
here met upon the rock Elain, standing on Mount
Pisgah. which makes a part of thetvei lasting hitl,the
spine of Asia, Afi icaand Anieri(:a,holding together
tlie terrestrial ball, and dividing the Atlantic from
the Pacific ocean — lo dedicate and consecrate this
extensive wilderness to God manifested in the
flesh, and to give it a new name worthy of the
Athenians and ancient Spartans, — which new
name is Verd Mont, in token that her mountains
and hills shall be ever green and shall never die.'

Rivers and Streams. — The rivers and
streams lying within the state of Vermont
are very numerous, but small. They, in
most cases, originate among the Green
Mountains, and their courses are short
and generally rapid. Connecticut river
washes the whole eastern border of the
state, but belongs to New Hampshire, the
western margin of that stream forming
the boundary line between New Hamp-
shire and Vermont. The Connecticut re-
ceives the waters from 3,700 square miles
of our territory. It receives from Ver-
mont, besides numerous smaller streams,
the waters of the eleven following rivers,
viz : Wantasticook, or West, fcjaxton's,
Williams', Black, Ottaquechy, White,
Ompompanoosuc, Wait's, Wells', Pas-
suinpsic, and Nulhegan. Clyde, Barton
and Black river run northerly into Mem-
phremagog lake. Missisco, Lamoille,
Winooski and Poultney river and Otter
creek flow westerly into lake Champlain,
and the Battenkill and Hoosic westerly
into Hudson river. Deerfield river ruii3
southerly from Vermont and falls into the
Connecticut in Massachusetts ; and the
Coatacook and Pike river head in the
north part of the state and run northerly
into Canada, the former uniting with
Massuippi river at Lenpxville and the lat-
ter falling into the head of Missisco bay.
All these streams and many smaller ones
will be described in the Gazetteer under
their respective names.

No country in the world is better sup-
plied with pure and wholesome water
than Vermont. There are scarcely any
farms in the state which are not well wa-
tered by springs, or brooks; and none,
with the exception of those upon the isl-
ands in lake Champlain, which are not in
the vicinity of one, or more, considerable
mill stream. But while Vermont is so
abundantly supplied with water, there is,
probably, no part of our country in which
so little stagnant water is found. The
waters of the lakes and ponds are usually
clear and transparent, and nearly all the
springs and streams are brisk and lively.
It is a common remark that the streams
in this state have diminished very 'much
in size, since the country began to be
cleared and settled, and it is doubtless
true to some extent. Many mills, which

lie then poured out the spirits and cast the bottle
upon the rock F.lnni."

Thero is no doubt that the name Verd Mont had
been applied to this range of mountains long pre-
vious to the above transaction, (if, indeed, it evor
took place;) hut we do not find that tlie name Verd
Mont, or Vermont, was ever applied to the territory
generally known as the New Hampshire Grants,
previous to tho declaration of the independence of
the territory in January, 1777.

CuiP. 1.

DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.

I AB I i ANU I'ONtJS.

LAKE CilAMI'J-AlJf.

formerly had an abundance, have ceased
to receive the necessary supply of water
during a considerable portion of the year ;
and many mill sites, which were once
thought valuable, have, from the same
cause, become entirely useless. One of
the principal causes of this diminution of
ou» »trruni!) is supposed to be the cutting
down of the forests, which formerly threw
off immense quantities of vapor into- the
aUnoaphcrc, which was again precipitated
Upon the earth in rain and snow. But it
u believed that the quantity of water
Which annually passes off in our streams
ia not t»o much less than formerly as is
generally imagined. Before the country
waa cleared, the whole surface of the

Ft.. oinl was deeply covered with knives,
tniiM, and logs, and the channels of all
U»r stnallri streams were much obstruct-
ed by the asm*. The consequence was,
that, when the anows dissolved in the
spring, or the raina fell in the summer,
the waters were retained among the
leave*, or retarded by the other obstruc-
tion*, so aa to pass off slowly, and the
streams were kept up, nearly uniform as
to sire, during the whole year. But since
the country has become settled, and the
obstructions, which retarded the water,
removed by freshets, when the snows
melt or the rains fall, the waters run off
from the surface of the ground quickly,
the streams are raised suddenly, run rap-
idly, and aoon subside. In consequence
of the water being thus carried off more
rapidly, the streams would he smaller
than formerly during a considerable part
of the year, even though the quantity of
water be the same. It is a well known
fact that the freshets in Vermont are
Snore sudden and violent than when the
Country nti new.

Tb* watrra of the lake*, ponds and
otrram* arr universally soft, mutable with
•nop, mud in gr.nrral free from foreign
substance*. And the same may be said
of most of the springs, particularly on the
Greeu Mountains, and in that portion of
the state lying east of these mountains.
The waters of most of the springs and
wells in the western part of the state
are rendered hard and unsuitable for
Washing by the lime they hold in solu-
tion, and there are many springs which
are highly impregnated with Epsom salts,
and others containing iron, sulphuretted
hydrogen, &c. These mineral springs
will be described in another place.

Lakes and Pomls. Small lakes and
ponds are found in all parts of Vermont,
but there are no large bodies of water
which lie wholly \ ithin the state. Lake
Champlain lies bet ,veen this state and the

state 'of New York, and more than half o^
it within the limits of Vermont. It ex-
tends in a straight line from south to
north, 102 miles along the western boun-
dary, from Whitehall to the 45th degree
of latitude, and thence about 24 miles to
St. Johns in Canada, affording an easy
communication with that province and
with New York. This lake is connected
with Hudson river, at Albany, by a canal
t>4 miles in length ; so that the towns ly-
ing on the shores of Lake Champlain
have direct communication by water with
the cities of Troy, Albany, Hudson, and
New York, and, by means of the great
western canal, with the great western
lakes. The length of this lake from:
south to north, measured in a straight line
from one extremity to the other, and sup-
posing it to terminate northerly at St.
Johns, is 12G miles. Its width varies from
one fourth of a mile to 13 miles, and the
mean width is about-l^ miles. This would
give an area of JJG? square miles, two
thirds of which lie within the limits of
Vermont. The waters, which this lake
receives from Vermont, are drained, by
rivers and other streams, from 4Utid miles
of its territory. Its depth is generally
sufficient for the navigation of the largest
vessels. It received its present name
from Samuel Champlain, a French noble-
man, who discovered it in the sprimr of
161)9, and who died, at Quebec in 1635,
and was not drowned in its waters, as has-
been often said.* One of the names giv-
en to this lake by the aborigines is said to
have been Caniudcri- Guarunte, signifying
the mouth or door of the country.! If so,
it was very appropriate, as it forms the
gate-way between the country on the St,
Lawrence and that on the Hudson. The
name of this lake in the Abenaqui tongue
was Pctawd-lovque, signifying alternate
land and water, in allusion to the numer-
ous islands and projecting points of land
along the lake. Previous to the settle-
ment of the country by Europeans, this
lake had long been the thorough-fare be-
tween hostile and powerful Indian tribes,
and its shores the scene of many a mortal
conflict. And after the settlement, it
continued the same in reference to the
French and English colonies, and subse-
quently in reference to the English in
Canada and the United States. In con-
sequence of this peculiarity of its loca-
tion, the name of Lake Champlain stands
connected with some of the most interest-
ing events in the annals of our country;
and the transactions associated with the
names of Ticonderoga, and Crown Point,

See Part II, p. 2. fSpaflonl'sGaz.ofN.Y., p. 03.

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part J.

MKMl'MIO.

BAYS, SWAJIPS,

and Pla.ttsbiirglir and many other places,
united with the variety and beauty of the
scenery, the neatness and accommodation
of rile steamboats, and tlie unrivalled ex-
cellency of their commanders, render a
tour through this lake one of the most in-
teresting and agreeable to the enlightened
traveller. A historical account of the
most important transactions upon Lake
Champlain, together with some account
of the navigation of the lake, and partic-
ularly of the steamboats which have been
built upon it, will be found in part second,
and a much more minute description of
the lake under its name in part third.

Memphrcmngog lake is situated on the
north line of the state, and about midway
between lake Champlain and Connecticut
river. It extends from south to north,
and is nearly parallel with lake Cham-
plain. It is 30 miles long, and the aver-
age width about two miles. One third
part of this lake lies in Vermont; the oili-
er two thirds in Canada. The name of
this lake in the Aben ,qui tongue was
Mt:m-plow-buuauc, signifying a large ex-
panse of water. Tins, together with nu-
merous smal! hikes and ponds, which lie
wholly within the state, will be described
in part third, either under their names, or
in the account of the towns in winch they
are situated. There is abundant evidence
that most of our lakes and ponds were
formerly much more extensive than they
are at present, and that they have been
diminished, both by the deposit of earthy
matter brought in by the streams, and !."y
the deepening of the channels at then-
outlets ; and there is also sufficient proof
of the former existence of many ponds in
this state, which have long since become

bay

dry land by the operation of the same
causes. Several of these will be pointed
out in the descriptions of the rivers in
part third, particularly in the description
of Winooski river, Rarton river, &.o.

Bays. — The shores of Lake Cham-
plain are indented by numerous bays,
most of which are small and of little con-
sequence. Missisco bay is the largest of
these, and belongs principally to Vermont,
lying between the townships of Alburtvh
and llighgate, and extending some dis-
tance into Canada. The other bays of
most consequence, lying along the east
shore of the lake and belonging to Ver-
mont, are M'Quam bay in Swanton, Re-
lamaqueen bay lying between St. Albans
and Georgia, Mallets bay in Colchester,
Burlington bay between Appletree point
and Red Rocks point, Shelburne bay be-
tween lied Rocks point and Pottier's
point, Button bay in Forrisburgh, and
Kast bay between" We. Lhaven una7 White-

hall. Resides these there, are several
smaller bays lying along the east shore of
Lake Champlain, and a considerable
at the south end of Lake Memphremaa„e
called Scuth bay. Most of these b;i_ys
will lie mure particularly described under
their names in part third, and also some
of the most important bays lying along
the west shore of Lake Champlain, and
belonging to New York.

Swamps. — These are hardly of suffi-
cient importance to deserve a separate no-
tice. Though considerably numerous,
they are, in genera!, of small extent, and,
in meny eases, have been, or may be
drained and converted into excellent
lands. They are most common in (he
northern and northeastern parts of the
state. In 'the county of Kssex are several
unsettled townships, which are said to be
made up of hills and mountains with
swansps lying between theni, which ren-
der 2hem to a great extent incapable of
settlement. There is a considerable tract
of swampy land at the south end of Mem-
pi. r. mngog lake, and another in rligh<rate
about the mouth of Missisco river. When
the country was new, there were many
[ stagnant coves along the margin and
(among the islands of Lake Champlain,
which, during the hotter parts of the sum-
mer, generated intermittent and bilious
fevers. But, since the clearing of the
country, these have bech, to a considera-
ble extent, tilled up, and, with the causes
which produced them, those disorders
have nearly disappeared.

Islands. — The principal islands be-
longing to Vermont, are South Hero,
North Hero, and La Motto. South Hero,
calhd also Grand Island, is 13 miles long,
and is divided into two townships, by the
name of South Hero and Grand Isle.
North Hero is about 11 miles long, but
very narrow, and constitutes a township
bearing t|le snine llame ;1S t|l(. is,;m|
Isle la Motte lies westward of North
Hero, and constitutes a township by the
same name. A more particular account
of these islands, and also a description of
Juniper island ami soyera] others lying
in Lake Champlain, will be found under
their names in part third. ^

Soil and Putdvetions.-— The soil of
Verm,. nt is generally a rich loam, but va-
ries considerably according to the nature
and compositions of the rocks in the dif-
ferent parts of the state. Bordering our
lakes, ponds, and rivers, are considerable
tracts of rich and beautiful intervale*

I a i

l ill,:

I'his word luu not yet f.mni

a place

■s,a ill there has l.cen mial

hwiglit, Mr. Kendall, in

,1 other

ties., liutweuse it, nom

llialoud-

Chap. I.

DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.

7

SOU. AND 1M101IUCT[0>

■i:nrri

lands, which consist of a dark, deep and
fertile alluvial deposit. These intervales
arc level tracts lying b lit little higher than
the ordinary height of the water in the
streams, and are in most cases subject to
being flooded, when the water is very
high. They were, while in a state of na-
ture, covered with a heavy growth of for-
est trees, such as oak, butternut, elm,
bultomvood, walnut, ash, and some other
kinds. Back of these flats were frequent-
ly others, elevated a few feet higher, and
covered with white pine. Still further
back, the land rises, in most eases very
gradually, into hills and upland plains,
and the soil becomes harder and more
gravelly, but very little diminished in
richness and fertility. The timber upon
these lands, wliich constitute the greater
part of tiie state, was principally sugar
maple, beech and birch, interspersed Willi
bass, ash, elm, butternut, cherry, horn-
beam, spruce and hemlock. And still fur-
ther hack the lands rise into mountains,
which are in general timbered with ever-
greens, such as spruce, hemlock and fir.
The loftiest mountains are generally rocky
nnd the summits of some few of them
consist of naked rock, with no other traces
of vegetation {ban a few stinted shrubs
and mosses; but they are, in general,
thickly covered with timber to their very
tops. Along the western part of the
state, and bordering upon Like Cham-
plain, are extensive tracts of light sandy
■oil, which were originally covered with
white, pitch and Norway pine, and in the
northern part of the state, swamps are
numerous which were well stored with
tamarack nnd white cedar. A more full
account of the native vegetables found in
tins slate will be given in a subsequent
Chapter. Since the country h.is been
oJccrrd, tl„. *.,il he*, in gen.-ral, been
fiitnn! tntl'u iciiily free from stone to ad-
mit of e*»y cultivation, and to be vitv
productive in corn, p rain and grass. With-
out manuring the intervales usually pro-
duce large crops, nnd are easily cultiva-
ted, but these crops are liable, occasion-
oily, to be destroyed by floods— the same
agency which produces the fertility of the
noil on which they grow. All parts are,
however, sufficiently fertile amply to re-
ward the labors of the husbandman, and

ln£, In-i'iiiidij it will o\pre,s our iiiciuiin;' nn;if! I.i i i!j
ami intelligibly 10 tlin greater part of our mailers,
than any oilier \sn could employ, ll may he derive.
Irani inter—within, mid vallis—a. vale, or ralley ;
and in it, specific higiiifciUion, it denotes lho.su allu-
vial fl.il«, lyii.Salo.i- the ioui-iii:i of si roa.:n, whicl.
ha>u hern, or occasionally uie overdnwod in conse-
quence of i he risirijjofilie water. For tho use oftli.
word in Liiis sunsn, wo have Uie authority of \it,
Bulkmin and Hi. Willi., i.s, the historian* of Nun
Hampshire and Vermont, nnd other ^ooU vviiters.

the farmer who is saving and industrious
seldom fails of having his Ham filled with
fodder for his horses, cattle and sheep,
his granary with corn, wheat, rye, oats,
peas and beans, and his cellar with pota-
toes, apples, and other esculent vegeta-
bles. A sufficient quantity of grain tor
the supply of the inhabitants might easily
be raised in all parts of the state, yet the
greater part, of the lands are better adapt-
ed for grazing than for tillage. The hills
and mountains, which are not arable on
account of their steepness, or rock-;, afford
the best of pasturage for cattle and sheep.
Of the fruits, nuts, berries, &c, which
grow in Vermont, both 'wild and cultiva-
ted, a more particular account will be
given in a subsequent chapter on the bota-
ny of the state.

Medicinal Springs. — There are in Ver-
mont springs which are more or less im-
pregnated with mineral, or gaseous sub-
stances, but none which have yet ac-
quired a very general or permanent celeb-
rity for their curative properties. Along
the shore of Lake Chnmplain, in the
counties of Addison nnd Rutland, the wa-
ters generally are impregnated with Ep-
som salts, (sulphate of magnesia). Some
of the springs are so highly charged with
these sails, in the dryer parts of the year,
that a pail full of the water will produce
a pound of the salts. They have been
manufactured, for medicinal purposes, in
some quantities, and, did the price of the
article make it an object, they might be
made here to almost any extent.

The medicinal properties of most of the
waters iu this state, which have acquired
any notoriety, are derived from gaseous
and not from mineral substances. In dif-
ferent towns in the northeastern part of
the state, are springs of cold, soft and
clear water, which are strongly improo-

nateil with sail

■tti

tntl

said to resemble the Harrow-Gate wati rs
in England, and those of Ballcastle and
Castli'inain in Ireland. These waters are
found to be efficacious in scrofulous and
many other cutaneous complaints, and the
springs at Newbury, Tunbridge, Flard-
wick, &C, have been much resorted to by
valetudinarians in their vicinity.

Of medicinal springs on the we- 1, side
of the Green Mountains, those of Claren-
don andAlbnrgh have acquired the great-
est notoriety. It is now about 1(1 years
ince the springs at Clarendon began to
d tlii ir immediate neigh-

tion has been annually extending, and the
number of visiters increasing, till Ihe'y
have at length become n place of consider-
able resort for the alllicted from various

sprm

hi y,

Sire

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part

CLARENDON SPRINGS,

CLARENDON AND PLYMOUTH CAVE!

parts of the country. They are situated in a
picturesque and beautiful region, 7 miles
southwest from Rutland, and have, in
their immediate vicinity, good accommo-
dations for 500 visiters. The waters are
found to be highly efficacious in affections
of the liver, dispepsia, urinary and all cu-
taneous complaints, rheumatism, invete-
rate sore eyes, and many others, and they
promise fair to go on increasing in noto-
riety and usefulness. These waters differ
in their composition from any heretofore
known, but resemble most nearly the
•German Spa water. For their curative
properties they are believed to be indebted
wholly, to the gases they contain. They
have been analyzed by Mr. Augustus A.
Hayes, of Roxbury, Mass., with the fol-
lowing results. One gallon, or 235 cubic
inches of the water contained,

Carbonic acid gas 46. 16 cubic inch.
Nitrogen gas 9.G3 " "

Carbonate of Lime 3.02 grains.

Murate of Lime ~i

Sulphate of Soda V2.74grs.

Sulphate of Magnesia )
One hundred cubic inches of the gas
which was evolved from the water, con-
sisted of

Carbonic acid gas 0.05 cubic inches.
Oxygen gas 1.50 " "

Nitrogen gas 98.45 ■" "

The Alburgh springs do not differ ma-
terially from the springs at Newbury,
Tunbridge, and other places in the north-
eastern part of the state, owing their med-
icinal properties principally to the sul-
phuretted hydrogen gas, which they con-
tain.

Caves. There are no caves in Vermont
which will bear comparison with some of
tthe caverns found in other parts of the
world, and yet we have several, which
)dre deserving the attention of the curi-
ous. Those at Clarendon, Plymouth and
Danby are the most interesting. The
•Clarendon cave is situated on the south-
easterly side of a mountain in the wester-
ly part of that town. The descent into it
is through a passage 2£ feet in diameter
and 31 feet in length, and which makes
an angle of 35 or 40u with the horizon.
It then opens into a room 20 feet lcng,
12£ wide, and 18 or 20 feet high. The
floor, sides and roof of this room are all of
solid rock, but yery rough and uneven.
From the north part of this room is a pas-
sage about 3 feet in diameter and 24 feet
in length, but very rough and irregular,
which leads to another room 20 feet wide,
30 feet long and 18 feet high. This room,
being situated much lower than the first,
is usually filled witt water in the spring

of the year, and water stands in the low-
est parts of it at all seasons'.*

The Plymouth caves are situated at tha
base of a considerable mountain, on the
southwest side of Black river, and about
50 rods from that stream. They are ex-
cavations among the lime rock, which
have evidently been made by running
water. The principal cave was discov-
ered about the first of July, 1818, and on
the 10th of that month was thoroughly
explored by the Author, who furnished
the first description of it, which was
published shortly after in the Vermont
Journal at Windsor. The passage into
this cavern is nearly perpendicular,
about the size of a common well, and
10 feet in depth. This leads into the first
room which is of an oval form, 30 feet
long, 20 wide, and its greatest height
about 15 feet. It appears as if partly filled
up with loose stones, which had been
thrown in at the mouth of the cave.
From this to the second room is a broad
sloping passage. This room is a little
more than half as large as the first. The
bottom of it is the lowest part of the cave,
being about 25 feet below the surface of
the ground, and is composed principally
of loose sand, while the bottoms of all the
other rooms are chiefly rocks and stones.
The passage into the third room is 4 feet
wide and 5 high, and the room is 14 feet
long, 8 wide, and 7 high. The fourth
room is 30 feet long, 12 wide, and 18 high,
and the rocks, which form the sides, in-
cline towards each other and meet at the
top like the ridge of a bouse. The fifth
room, very much resembling an oven in
shape, is 10 feet long, 7 wide, and 4 high,
and the passage into it from the third
room is barely sufficient to admit a person
to crawl in. At the top of this room is a
conical hole, 10 inches across at the base
and extending 2 feet into the rock. From
the north side of the second room are two
openings leading to the sixth and seventh,
which are connected together, and each
about 15 feet long, 7 wide, and 5 high.
From the seventh room is a narrow pas-
sage which extends northerly 15 or 16
feet into the rocks, and there appears to
terminate. When discovered, the roof
and sides of this cavern were beautifully
ornamented with stalactites, and the bot-
tom with corresponding stalagmites, but.
most of these have been rudely broken off
and carried away by the numerous visit-
ers. The temperature, both in winter
and summer, varies little from 44£°, which
s about the mean temperature of the cli-
mate of Vermont in that latitude. A few

* Williams' History of Vermont, vol. I, p. 29,

Chap. 1.

DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.

CLIMATE AND TEMPEKAT URE.

M Ml OKI >!.< M, 10 \L JOURNALS

rods to the westward of this cavern there
is said to be another which is about two
thirds as large.

Section 111.

Climate and Meteorology.

Temperature.— /Though situated in the
middle of the north temperate zone, the
climate of Vermont is subject to very
considerable extremes both of heat and
cold, and the changes of temperature are
often very sudden. The usual annual
range of the thermometer, in the shade, is
from about 92° above to 22° below zero
on Furenhcit's scale, though it is some-
times known to rise as high as 100°, and
at other tunes to sink as low as 3G°, and
cvun to 39° or 40° below zero. But so
great a degree of cold as I hut last men-
tioned, which is the freezing point of
mercury, has not, to our knowledge, been
experienced but twice since the means of
measuring temperature have been in use
in the state, and these were both in the
year 1335; the first on the 4th of January,
and tin? second on the morning of the
16th of December. The temperature of
the 4th of January, as noted at several

places in this state, was as follows : Mont-
pelier —40", White River -*-40°, Bradford
—38°, Newbury —36°, Norwich —36°,
Windsor —34°, f lydepark —36°, Rutland
—30°, and Burlington — 26° ; and the
temperature varied but little from the
above at those places on the 16th of De-
cember. For some time after the iirst
settlement of Vermont the thermometer
was hardly known in this part of the
country ; and since that instrument has
become common, very few meteorological
journals have been kept, and those few
have not, in general, been kept with suffi-
cient care to render them of much value,
nor have many of them been preserved in
a condition to be accessible to those who
may wish to consult them. And hence
we possess few accurate data, either for
determining the mean annual tempera-
ture of the different sections of the state,
or for settling the mooted question with
regard to a change of climate correspond-
ing to the clearing and cultivating of the
country. The results of the principal ob-
servations, to which we have access, and
which have been made in this state, to
ascertain the temperature of the months
and the mean annual temperature, are
contained in the following tables :

Rutland

Burlington.

Windsor.

Burlington.

MONTHS.

Williams.

Sunders.

Fowler

Thompson.

178'*.

1803-8.

IS06.

1828.

1832.

1833

1838.

1839.

1840.

1641

January,

18.UU

144*

22,0*

25.0J

19.7

22.8

26.1

IS.6

12.2

2.>.3

February,

16.5

18.9

26.5

31.1

19.3

15.3

12.3

24.2

28.4

19.6

March,

32.0

28.5

30. 3

32.4

30.8

28.2

32.6

36.6

31 .4

25.3

April,

41.0

39.5

38.1

3!) .2

39.4

46.1

35.8

4G.3

47.0

39.1

May,

no.o

56 3

57.1

57.6

52.4

57.0

51.7

53.3

57 2

52.8

June,

GID

66.6

66 1

69.7

61.3

59.6

68.1

60.7

65 6

67.1

July,

67.5

68.2

63.5

70.1

68.5

66.2

71.8

71.5

71.6

68.9

August,

67.5

67.6

64.3

70.2

63.3

63.3

G7.5

63.3

72 5

70.5

K picmbct

57.0

f)7.1

62 1

GO. 8

58.7

57.2

60.5

GO.G

58.3

61.9

O loUr,

II (I

43.2

49.5

Hi. 7

47.7

44.9

46.8

50.8

48 0

15.0

Norcinbcr,

37.0

33.5

36.2

33.9

35.6

34.5

31.3

34.0

35.6

35.3

December,

300

24.7

24. G

29.3
47.6

23.6
43.8

21.7
43.3

19.1

~43T6

26.2

21 1

2G.4

43.6

434

456

45.7

THT

Meteorological observations at W'dliamstown by lion. Elijah Paine

MONTHS.

1 829

1830

lTT

1831
10.9

1832
171

1 833
19.3

1834
12.5

1835
TiT)

I83G
17.3

1837
~9?7

1838|1839
23.9 15^3

1640
9.0

1 64 1

January,

21.6

February,

10.9

14.3

14.6

14. G

13.5

26.5

12.6

1(1.5

16.7

9.9 20.8

23.7

15.8

March,

23.5

26.4

26.4

25.4

23.5

27.2

25.1

22.9

23. G

30.0 25 S

26.0

21.1

Apr.l,

36.6

44.6

39.8

41.2

41.7

36.1

34.5

3G.5

31.2 41.2

4d.7

31 7

May,

64.8

49.6

53.2

54.7

48.9

48.0

S1.fi

45 !l

48.5 48.7

51 .7

17.7

June,

58.7

58.9

G4.8

59.3

55.4

57.4

59 4

58 8

(III li

63.0 54.9

63 1

July,

60.2

64. 1

64.4

G3.3 G2.3

G8.2

64 .6

G5.4

61 .2

66.2 G5.2

64.8

G2G

August,

60.7

G0.7

G3.G

G3.5

59.5

60.5

60.9

57 II

59 8

61.6 61.4

54 G 54.2

64.6

63 '.)

September,

47.!)

51 .4

53.0

53.9

52.7

50.0

53 3

52,(1

October,

42.6

44.4

44.6

43.9

1 1 .2

39.7

47.8

34.5

39.0

39.7 45.4

41.9

36 5

November,
December,

29.7

38.2

30.9

31.7

29.5

29.6

28.7

30.G

25.3 28.1

3(1 2

20.4

2, .3

24.0

•ToTt"

7. J
39.4

19.7

21.1

ig.o

4(h2~

13.1
38.8

17.8

14.4
37\5

14.1 21.4
39TT [4072

ill

39.9

21.7

39.5

"Wo

Pr. i.

2

10

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

Part i.

MEAN TEMiT.KATUKt: AT 1SII KI.I N (i TON AND WILLIAMSTOWN.

With the exception of the first three
columns in the first of the two preceding
tables, the particulars of which are not
known, all the means for the months
have been deduced from three daily obser-
vations, taken at sun-rise, 1 o'clock, P.
M. and 9 in the evening. Now, as the
tliree -daily observations at Burlington
synchronize for several years with those
at Williamstown, the two tables enable
us to make a very accurate comparison of
the mean temperature of the two places ;
and the comparison shows that the mean
temperature of Burlington, although sit-
uated 22' farthest north, is about 5° wann-
er than that of Williamstown, that of the
former being 44.0° and the latter 3D.4P.
But the cause of this difference is obvi-
ous in the location of the two places, Bur-
lington being situated on the margin of
lake Chainplain, and the place of obser-
vation elevated only 250 feet above it,
while Williamstown lies among the Green
Mountains near the geographical centre
of the state, and, the place of Judge
Paine's observation, elevated 1500 feet
above the lake.*

The mean annual temperature of Bur-
lington, deduced from all of the 12 years
observations in the preceding table, is
44.1?, and from the seven years observa-
tions by the author 44.9°, but, as the year
LSl-i"i was very remarkably warm, that
should, perhaps, be set aside, and the
mean of the other six, 41.4°,, taken as prob-
ably a fair statement of the mean annual
temperature of Burlington. The mean
annual temperature of Williamstown, de-
duced from the whole of Judge Paine's
observations, is 40. o°..

Many perennial springs, and deep
wells are found to continue nearly of the
same temperature, both in summer and
winter, and to be but very little atl'ected

by the changes of temperature which are
constantly going on at the surface of the
earth ; the temperature of these may,
therefore, be regarded as a pretty fair in-
dication of the mean annual temperature
of the climate. The temperature of a
well 40 feet deep, belonging to Mr. Sam-
uel Reed, in Burlington, has been ob-
served and noted during the year 1841 as
follows, the first number after the day of
the month being the depth in feet to the
surface of the water at the time of the
observation: Jan. 1, 14 — 4GU, Feb. 12,
]8— 44.J°, April 14, 16—44°, Junel, 10—
44°, July 20, 10— 46£Q, and Dec. 8, 20—
45^°, giving a mean of 45.1°, or .3° higher
than that deduced from the daily obser-
vations.

Winds. — For small sections of country
the prevailing winds usually take their
direction from the position of the moun-
tains and valleys. That is veiyjmuch the
case in Vermont. Through the valley of
the Connecticut and of lake Chainplain
the winds usually blow in a northerly or
southerly direction, while easterly and
westerly winds are comparatively of rare
occurrence. In the valley of lake Cham-
plain east winds are exceedingly rare, as
will be seen by the following tables.*
Along our smaller rivers, particularly the
Winooski and the Lamoille, the prevail-
ing winds are from the northwest. The
following tables contain 'the result of
observations made at Burlington, for

leven years,

d at Rutland for one

year. In the journal kept by the author
at Burlington, and from which the ta-
bles on Ihe following page were copied,
tliree observations of wind and weather
were entered each day, which synchro-
nize with the observations of tempera-
ture for the same years in the preceding
table, on the ninth page.

The following table contains the results of five years observation at Burlin<
by Dr. Saunders, and one year at Rutland, by Dr. Williams.

Place. I Time. INo.Obs.l n |ne| e Is k| s Iswlw I hw I fair, jelody

Burlington! 1S03— si 1682173911191 lW 25 431 18 1025 1 676
Rutland | J 7811 | L095|153|13|16|76|272|I82|125|256I| 45i»| 64:5

rain

snwifogl

hunt

o,;i

127 19

i

* The author has in
journal kept ut 11 y<:

s possession a meteorologi-
[iark by l»r. Ariel Hiutioon,
I iu 1 1 o< 1 of 9 years, of which ho hud intended tu
inrtcrt an abstract; but, finding the thrco daily ob-
seivations to have been made too near iho warmest
part of the day to furnish the truo moan tempera-
tureof the 24 hours, and consequently unsuitable
for comparison with the other tallies, ho concluded
in. i to insert it. In order in render meteorological
observations of service in determining the relative
temperature of places, uniformity in the method of

ol'thji renders a great part if the journals which
have been kept nearly useJoa

* Alth

iugh, nt

Burlingto

1, w

e sel,

wind Inn

i the east snlliciei

lly h

rung

vanus upi

, nui .-hi

relies, it

t line

tier part

of the i

ight

and

morning,

when the

weather i

s lai

-, to

breeze fr<

in the en

st, which

is do

iMI.

by the ro

ling dow

i of the c

ild a

r ito

tains to

supply tl

e rareltict

other win

Is, it is

1 1 icily ;i

what ocr.i

1- 111 1 we

■ii ihc lio|

are local

mil limit

it ti

nn tl

a dilt'ereii

illloi'lio

i, as in. In

died

by 1

Clouda in

^ioiis ol tl

euti

losph

DESCRIITIVE GEOGRAPHY

11

METKOUOLOGICAL TAKI.E.

IlEl: AT BURLINGTON.

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I

12 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Paht I.

ANNUAL QUANTITY OF RAIN. ANNUA!

FAX! OF SNOW.

Rain. — The quantity of water, which
falls in rain and snow in any one year,
does not probably differ very considerably
in the different sections of the state, but
observations are too (aw to enable us to

speak with much confidence on this point.
The quantity of water, however, which
falls at the same places in different years,
varies very considerably, as will appear
from the following table :

RUTLAND.

WINDSOR

in

RL1NG
Thnmus

roN.

on.

MONTHS.

Williams.

Fowler.

1789.,

1 80G.

1828.

1832.

1833.

1638.

1839.

1840.

1841.

™

Inches.

llldlCS.

Inches.

Indies.

Inches.

Inches.

Indies .

Indies.

Inches.

—

January,

3.50

2.90

1.30

3.5G

1.2G

2.52

0.85

1.26

3.49

Qt

February,

2.78

2.44

2.10

3.22

2.63

1 .32

1.20

2.19

0.60

C-3

March,

3.10

0.48

1.35

2.31

1.48

1.10

1.43

3.05

3.23

S

April,

3.01

2.78

2 75

1.9G

1.28

1 .34

1 .GO

4 69

3.54

»

May,

4.72

2.0G

2.45

5.71

9.85

4.51

2.43

2.46

2.28

r~

June,

3. ill

2.73

3.70

3.41

4.28

5.:j7

3.7(1

2,84

5.16

g

July,

2.31

4.34

5.95

3.52

7.54

3.25

G.26

4.18

2.67

•

August,

2.11

0.95

4.30

4.7G

7.:!4

2.41

1.91

3.51

1.40

M

September,

2.48

4.57

9.85

1.81

4.17

1 .33

2.91

4.71

3.62

>»

October,

5.GG

1.40

1.65

4.05

6.01

2.98

0.45

3.76

0.83

•3

November,

4.10

2.17

G.25

3.01

1.91

3.78

2.57

'> gg

2.47

k

December,

3.49

2 3G

1.G5

2.27

1.59

0.92

2.G8

2.41

3.02

a

Total,

41.17

29.18

43.30

39.59

49.21

30.83

27.99

:S7.28

32.71

■S

The depth of water, which falls during
a rain storm or thunder shower, is much
less than people generally suppose. A
fall of 4 or 5 inches during a severe thun-
der shower would not be thought at all
extravagant by persons who have paid no
attention to the accurate measurement of
the quantity which fell. But during the
seven years observations at Burlington
contained in the above table, the depth of
water which fell in one shower has nev-
er exceeded two inches, and the whole
amount in 24 hours has, in only one in-
stance, exceeded three inches, and that
Was on the 13th of May, 1833, when the
fall of water was 3.54 inches.

Snow. — For more than three months of
the year the ground is usually covered
with snow, but the depth of the snow, as.
well as the time of its lying upon the
ground, vary much in the different parts
of the slate. Upon the mountains and
high lands, snows fall earlier anil deeper,
and lie later in the Spring than upon the
low lands and valleys, anil it is believed
that they fell much deeper in all parts of
the state, before the country was much
cleared, than they have for many years
past. As little snow falls at Burlington,
probably, as at any place in the state.
The following table exhibits the amount
at this place for the last five winters :

Fa

I of

Snow

at Bui

ling

ton in

the winters

of

1837-8.

Inc.

1838

-'9.

Inc.

1839-

-'40.

Inc.

1840-1.

Inc.

184l-'2.

Inc.

Nov. 9,

2

Oct.

29,

1

Nov.

0,

2

Oct. 26,

n

Oe.t. 8,

2

" 26,

b

Nov.

7,

3A

u

9,

h

Nov. 22,

7

" 26,

3*

Dec. 10,

3

"

l!»,

o

Dec.

n,

3

" 26,27,

34

" 29,

3

11,

1

"

28,

o

"

16,

9

Dec. 7,

6

Dec. 2,

1

" 18,

3

Dec.

7,

A

u

17,

1

" 22

3

" 14,

15

» 28,

1

"

17,

1

"

28,

5

" 27,

8

" 16,

Jan. 15,

1

"

1-,

4

"

29,

4

Jan. 2,

10

Jan.

0

" 19,

2

"

23,

G

Jan.

5,

4

"6, 11,

5

" 9.

0

" 28,

12

"

29,

1

"

15,

H

(i 22 25

8A

" 27

3

Feb. 11,

h

Jan.

4,

1

«

23,

6

30,

Feb. 17,

15

" 13,

3

"

5,

U

Feb.

26,

1

Feb. 2,

2<

u 00

1

" 17,

8

"

28,

1

Marcl

i 7,

1

" G, 10,

41

" 26,

4

" 22,

1

Feb.

2,

1

"

10,

9

" 17,27,

March 7,

5

March, 6,

G

"

8,

2

"

24,

7

March 7,

5

" 15,

1

" 21,

1

"

27,

4

9,

4

" 26,

" 28,

2

Marcl

3,

1

" 29

" 30,

3

"

19,

5

Apr. G,13,

2

April, 2,

1

April

13, 3,1

" 22

92A

64

60

1

41 I

48

Chap. 1.

DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.

13

SLEIGHING

PEAIIANCKS OK IilKDS AND HLOSSOMi

In 1838-'0, sleighs run from December
23, to January 8, but tliere was no good
sleighing during the winter. In 1839-40
sleighing was excellent from December
1m', to February 5, fifty one days. In 184U-
'-11, sleighs run from November 22, to
November 20, and from December 7, to
December 12, but the sleighing was not
good. From December 27, the sleighing
was good till the 8th of January, after
which there was no good sleighing, al-
though sleighs continued to run till the
20th of March. In 1 841-'2, sleighing tol-
erable from December lri, to January 20,
after (hat no good sleighing though sleighs
run at several periods for a few days at a
time.

The deepest snows, which fall in Ver-
mont, arc usually accompanied by a north
or northeasterly wind, but there is some-
time! a considerable fill of snow with a
northwesterly, or southeasterly wind. A
long continuance of south wind usually
brings rain, both in winter and summer.
Although snows are frequent in winter
and rains in summer, storms are not of
long continuance, seldom exceeding 24
hours. Storms from the east, which are
common on the sea board, do not often
reach the eastern part of this slate, and on
the west side of the Green Mountains
they arc wholly unknown, or rather, they
come to that portion of the country from
« northeastern, or southeastern direction.
Thunder showers are common in the
months of June, July and August, but
•cldotn at other seasons. They usually
come from the west, or southwest, but are
not often violent or destructive, and very
little damage is ever done by hurricanes

or hail. The crops oftener suffer from an
excess, than from a deficiency ,of moisture,
though seldom from either.

Seasons. — During the winter the ground
is usually covered with snow, seldom ex-
ceeding one or two feet deep on the low
lands, but often attaining the depth of
three or four feet on the high lands and
mountains. The weather is cold, and, in
general, pretty uniformly so, with occa-
sional snows and driving winds, till the
beginning of March, when with much
boisterous weather there begin to appear
some slight indications of spring. About
the 20th of that month the snows begin
to disappear, and early in April the ground
is usually bare. But the snows fall some
weeks earlier and lie much later upon the
mountains than upon the low lands. The
weather and state of the ground is usually
such as to admit of sowing wheat, rye,
oats, barley and peas, the latter part of
April. Indian corn is commonly planted
about the 20th of May, flowers about the
20th of Jul}', and is ripe in October. Po-
tatoes are planted any time between the
1st. of May and the 10th of June. Frosts
usually cease about the 10th of May and
commence again the latter part of Sept.,
but in some years slight frosts have been
observed, at particular places, in all the
summer months, while in others, the ten-
derest vegetation has continuedgreen and
flourishing till November. The observa-
tions contained in the following table will
afford the means of comparing the springs
of a few years past. They are gathered
from the Meteorological journal kept by
the author at Burlington :

1

Bobim

Bong

Uiirn

Gurr

ill i

R.id 1'lum

I'liitn

and

Grab

Common

1

tut- it.

Sparrow!

Swallow*

Uloss

Ulll.

Ulosaom.

Cher

les

Apple

Apple

\ Ml

MIOO.

teen.

liloss

Ulll.

Blossom.

Blossom.

Iftfe

April 28

May

[)

May

12

May l(i

IMS.

» 23

"

1)

May 12

u

k;

" 22

1838

Mar. 2T.

Mar. 8S

" 20

"

12

" 14

"

20

Mav 21

June 3

lwnn

• •• 23

" 2d

it 21

"

4

»■ 7

it

12

» 15

May 18

1837

" 2<>

» 23

" 30

"

1G

" 19

"

28

" 30

June 2

1838

it o;{

» 31

May 2

"

M

" 22

"

26

June 1

ii 9

is:*:)

it 25

" 25

April 20

"

4

" 12

ii

14

May 22

May 26

1840

" 15

it 2i

« 21

"

3

« 12

ii

17

" 20

" 23

1*41

" 27

it 07

" 27

"

23

" 25

ti

26

ii oil

" 31

Vegetation, upon the low lands and
along the margin of the lakes and large
streams, is, in the spring, usually, a week
or ten days in advance of that upon the
high lands and mountains ; but frosts usu-
ally occur, in the fall, earliest upon the
low lands, allowing to each nearly the
same time of active vegetation. The low
lands, however, enjoy a higher tempera-

ture, and bring fruits and vegetables to
maturity which do not succeed well upon
the high lands. To the above remark,
with regard to early frosts, there are sev-
eral exceptions. On the low islands and
shores of lake Cham plain, vegetation is
frequently green and flourishing long after
the frosts have seared it in other parts of
the state, and, along several of the rivers,

14

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

Ol'l.NKSO AM) (LOSir

LAKE CHAM I' LA IN.

MSAIM'K AI1ANC :

>>' T1IK 1CJ

vegetation is protected by the morning
fogs for some time after its growth lias
been stopped upon the uplands. The
early part of the autumn is usually pleas-
ant and agreeable and the cold advances
gradually, but as it proceeds the changes
become more considerable and frequent,
and the great contrast between the tem-
perature of the day and night at this sea-
son render much precaution necessary in
order to guard against its injurious effects
upon health. The ground does not usu-
ally become much frozen till some time
in November, and about the 25th of that
month the ponds and streams begin to be
covered with ice, and the narrow parts of
lake Chainplain become so much frozen
as to prevent the navigation from White-
hall to St. Johns, and the line boats go in-
to winter quarters, but the broad portions
of the lake continue open till near the first
of February, and the ferry boats from Bur-
lington usually cross till the first of Jan-
uary. The following table contains the
times of the closing and the opening of
the broad lake opposite to Burlington,
and when the steamboats commenced and
stopped their regular trips through the
lake from Whitehall to St. Johns, for sev-
eral years past :

Lake

Lake

Mncboats

Line

Cliampl'n

Chnmpl'p

comene'd

Boats

Year.

closed.

opened.

running.

s topped.

1816

Feb. il

1817

Jan. 20

Apr. 16

1818

Feb 2

Apr. 15

1810

Mar. 4

Apr. 17

Apr. 25

1820

C Feb. 3
I Mr. 8

Feb.
Mar. 12

1821

Jan. lf>

Apr. 21

1822

Jan. 2-1

Mar. 3D

1823

Feb. 7

Apr. ;")

Apr. 15

1824

Jan. 22

Feb. 11

1825

Feb. !>

1826

Feb. 1

Mar. 24

18*27

Jan. 21

Mar. 31

1828

not ulos'd

1829

Jan. 31

Apr.

Apr. 6

1830

1831

Apr. 11

1832

Feb. 6

Apr. 17

Apr. 23

1833

Feb. 2

Apr. 6

Apr. 8

1834

Feb. 13

Feb. 20

Apr. 4

Dec. 5

1835

f JanlO

\ Feb 7

Jan. 23
Apr. 12

1 1
Apr. 21

Nov. 29

1836

Jan. 27

Apr. 21

Apr. 25

Nov. 2!)

1837

Jan. L~>

Apr. 26

Apr. 29

Dec. 10

J 838

Feb. 2

Apr. 13

Apr. 19

Nov. 26

1830

Jan. 25

Apr. 6

Apr. 1 1

Nov. 28

1840

Jan. 25

Feb. 2l)

Apr. 11

1841

Feb. 18

Apr. J 1

Apr. 28

Dec. 1

18421

not ckw'd

Apr. 13

It frequently happens that the ice con-
tinues upon the lake for seme time alter
the snows are gone in its neighborhood
and the spring considerably advanced.
In such seasons the ice often disappears
very suddenly, instances having been
observed of the lake being entirely cov-
ered with ice on one day and the next day
no ice was to be seen, it all having dis-
appeared in a single night. People m the
neighborhood, being unable to account for
its vanishing thus suddenly in any other
way, have very generally supposed it to
sink. This opinion is advanced in the
account of this lake contained in Staf-
ford's Gazetteer of New York, and the
anomaly is very gravely attempted to be
accounted for on philosophical principles.
Rut the true explanation of this phenom-
enon does not require the absurdity of the
sinking of a lighter body in a heavier. It
is a simple result of the law by which
heat is propagated in fluids. That bodies
are expanded, or contracted, according to
the increase or diminution of the heat they
contain, is a very general law of nature.
Fresh water observes this law, when its
temperature is above 40°, but below 40°
the law is reversed, and it expands with
the reduction of temperature.

When winter sets in, the waters of the
lake arc much warmer than the incum-
bent atmosphere. The surface, therefore,
I of the water communicates, its heat to the
atmosphere, and, becoming heavier in
consequence, sinks, admitting the warmer
water from below to the surface. Now
since heat is propagated in fluids almosten-
tirelybythe motion of the fluids, this cir-
culation will go on, if the cold continues, till
all the water from the surface downward
to the bottom is cooled down to the tem-
perature of 40°. It will then cease. The
colder water now being lighter than that
below, will remain at the surface and soon
be brought down to the freezing point and
congealed into ice. This accounts for the
ioe taking soonest where the water is most
shallow, and also for the closing of the
broad parts of the lake earliest in those
winters in which there is most high wind,
the process of cooling being facilitated
thereby.

After the ice is formed over the lake,
and during the coldest weather, the great
mass of water, after getting a i'rw inches
below the ice, is of a temperature 8" above
the freezing point. While the cold is se-
vere, the ice will continue to increase in
thickness, but the mass of water below
the ice will be unaffected by the tempera-
ture of the atmosphere above. Now the
mean annual temperature of the climate
in the neighborhood of lake Chainplain

Chap. 1.

DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.

15

JIIKMATIUN OF ANCHOR-ICE.

SMOKV ATMOSI'l|]:UE.

LAKt DAYS.

does not vary much from 45°, and this is
about the uniform temperature of the
earth at some distance below the surface.
While then the mass of the waters of the
lake is at 40*, and ice is forming at the
toj>, the earth, beneath the water, is at the
temperature of 45°, or r>u warmer than the
water. Heat will, therefore, be constantly
imparted to the water from beneath, when
the temperature of the water is less than
45°. The only effect of this communica-
tion of heat to the water from beneath,
(luring the earlier and colder parts of the
winter, is to retard the cooling of the lake
and the formation of ice upon its surface.
Bat after the cold abates in the end of
winter uud beginning of spring, so that
the lower parts of the ice are not affected
l.y the frusta from above, the heat, which
i» communicated from In-low, acts upon
the under surface of the ice, ami, in con
junction with the sun's rays, which pass
through the transparent surface and are
intercepted by the more opaque parts
below,* dissolves the softer portions,
rendering it porous and loose like wet
snow, while the upper surface of the ice,
hardened by occasional frosts, continues
comparatively more compact and firm. In
this state of things, it often happens that,
by a strong wind, a rent is made in the
ice. The waters of the lake are immedi-
ately put in motion, the rotten ice falls in-
to small fragments, and, being violently
agitated, in conjunction with the warmer
water beneath, it all dissolves and van-
ished in the course of a few hours.

There is one phenomenon, which is of
common occurrenncc in many of our
streams, during the coldest part of win-
ter, siid which may not at first appear
!•■«. n< liable with what has been said
•l«.tc, and that is, the formation of ice
Baton the (tone* ut the bottom of the
»'m «ii,p, uiiul!y called anthor ice. Au-
thor lea »• formed at falls and places
where tin- current is so rapid that ice is
not formed upon the surface. In the case
of running wnter, and particularly where
the water is not deep and the current
rapid, over a rough bottom, the tempera-
ture of the whole mass is probably reduced
nearly or <iuite to the freezing point be-
fore any ice is formed ; and then, where
the current is so rapid that the ice cannot
form at the surface, the ice-cold waters
of the surface, in their tumultuous de-

• A remarkable plionon
intcgrutioo of tlio ice by
my*, uud one which we I

ion attending this dis-
u influence of the sun':
iilc worthy of invest iga-

<Ile«, n» they nre sometimes called, extending per
pondicularly from the upper lo the lower surface 01
the ice, giving the mass, |i i ticulurly the lower por-
tions, somewhat the appet i ince of a honey comb.

scent, are successively brought in contact
with the stones at the bottom, which,
themselves, soon become ice-cold, after
which they serve as nuclei upon which
the waters are crystilized and retained by
attraction, forming anchor ice.

Smoky Atmosphere..— -From the earliest
settlement of this country there have been
observed a number of days, both in spring
and autumn, on which the atmosphere
was heavily loaded with smoke. The
smoke has generally been supposed to re-
sult wholly from extensive burnings in
some unknown part of the country. There
is no doubt but that much of the smoke
often is produced in this way, but it has
appeared to us, that, since smoke is not a
product, but a defect, of combustion, it
may be possible for it. to be produced even
who,,, there is no fire. We have been
led to this conclusion by observing that
the amount of smoke has notalways been
greatest in those years in which burninn-s
were known to be most extensive; and
by observing, moreover, that the atmos-
phere was usually most loaded with smoke
in those autumns and springs which suc-
ceeded warm and productive summers.
These circumstances have led us to the
opinion that the atmosphere may, by its
solvent power, raise and support the mi-
nute particles of decaying leaves and
plants, with no greater heat than is ne-
cessary to produce rapid decomposition.
When, by the united action of the heat
and moisture of autumn and sprinrr, the
leaves are separated into minute particles,
we suppose these particles may be taken
up by the atmosphere, before they are en-
tirely separated into their original ele-
ments, or permitted to form new com-
pounds. This process goes on insensibly,
until, by some atmospheric change, a con-
densation takes place, which renders the
effluvia visible, with all the appearance
ami properties of smoke.

Dark Days. — It sometimes happens
that the atmosphere is bo completely fill-
ed with smoke as to occasion, especially
when accompanied by clouds, a darkness
in the day-time, approaching to that of
night. The most remarkable occurren-
ces of this kind, within our own recollec-
tion, were in the fall of 1819, mid in the
spring of 1820. At both of these seasons,
the darkness was so great, for a while
near the middle of the day, that a book of
ordinary print, could not" be read by the
sun's light. The darkness in both cases
was occasioned principally by smoke, and
without any known extensive burninos •
but the summer of 1819, is known lo have
been remarkable for the abundant growth
of vegetation. But the most remarkable

16

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part. I.

DARK DAY.

INDIAN SUMMER.

darkness of this nature, which has occur-
red since the settlement of this country,
was on the memorable l'Jth of May,
1780, emphatically denominated the dark
day. The darkness at that time is known
to have covered all the northern parts of
the United States and Canada, and to
have. reached from lake Huron eastward
over a considerable portion of the Atlan-
tic ocean. It was occasioned chiefly by a
dense smoke, which evidently had a pro-
gressive motion from southwest to noth-
east. In some places it was attended with
clouds and in some few with rain. The
darkness was not of the same intensity in
all places, but was so great through near-
ly the whole of this extensive region as to
cause an entire suspension of business
during the greater part of the day, where
the country was settled, and in many pla-
ces it was such as to render candles as
necessary as at midnight. Several hypoth-
eses have been advanced to account for
this remarkable darkness, such as an erup-
tion of a volcano in the interior of the
continent, the burning of prairies, &c,
but by the one advanced in the preceding
article, it receives an easy explication.
The regions at the southwest are known
to be extremely productive, and to have
been, at that period, deeply covered witli
forest sand plants, whose leaves and perish-
able parts would be sufficient, during their
decay, to fill the atmosphere to almost any
extent ; and nothing more would be neces-
sary for the production of the phenome-
non, than a change of atmospheric press-
ure, which should produce a sudden con-
densation, and a southwesterly wind.

Indian Summer. — It has been said,
though we do not vouch for its truth, that
it was a maxim with the aborigines of this
country, which had been handed down
from time immemorial, that there would
be 30 smoky days both in the spring and
autumn of each year; and their reliance
upon the occurrence of that number in
autumn was such that they had no fears
of winter setting in till the number was
completed. This phenomenon occurred
between the middle of October and the
middle of December, but principally in
November ; and it being usually attended
by an almost perfect calm, and a high
temperature during the day, our ances-
tors, perhaps in allusion to the above
maxim, gave it the name of Indian Hum-
mer. But it appears that from the com-
mencement of the settlement of the coun-
try, the Indian Summers have gradually
become more and more irregular and less
strikingly marked in their character, un-
til they have almost ceased to be noticed.
Now upon the hypothesis advanced in the

preceding articles, this is precisely what
we should expect. When -our ancestors
arrived in this country, the whole conti-
nent was covered with one uninterrupted,
luxuriant mantle of vegetation, and the
amount of leaves and other vegetable pro-
ductions, which were then exposed to
spontaneous dissolution upon the surface
of the ground, would be much greater
than after the forests were cut down and
the lands cultivated. Every portion of
the country being equally shielded by the
forest, the heat, though less intense, on
account of the immense evaporation and
other concurring causes, would be more
uniformly distributed, and the changes
of wind and weather would be less fre-
quent than alter portions of the forests
had been removed, and the atmosphere,
over those portions, subjected to sudden
expansions from the influence of the sun
upon the exposed surface of the ground.
It is very generally believed, that our
winds are mure variable, our weather
more subject to sudden changes, our an-
nual amount of snow less and our mean
annual temperature higher than when
the settlement of the country was com-
menced. And causes, which would pro-
duce these changes, would, we believe,
be sufficient to destroy, in a great meas-
ure, the peculiar features of our Indian
Summers. The variableness of the winds,
occasioned by cutting down large por-
tions of the forests, wou*ld of itself be
sufficient to scatter and precipitate those
brooding oceans of smoke, and prevent
the long continuance of those seasons of
dark and solemn stillness, which were, in
ages that are past, the unerring harbin-
gers of long and dreary winters and delu-
ges of snow.

Meteors and Earthquakes. — Upon these
subjects Vermont affords nothing peculiar.
The common phenomenon of shooting
stars is witnessed here as in other parts of
the country, and those uncommon dis-
plays which have several times occurred
about the J 3th of November, have been
observed from various parts of the state.
In addition to these, several of those rare
meteors, from which meteorolites or me-
teoric stones are thrown, have been no-
ticed, but the records of them are few and
meagre. These meteors make their ap-
pearance so unexpectedly and suddenly,
and continue visible fur so short a period
of time, that it is hardly possible to make
observations sufficiently accurate to fur-
nish data for calculating their velocity,
distance or magnitude. That most re-
markable meteor which passed over New
England in a southerly direction in the
morning of the 14th of December, 1807,

CffAP. I.

DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.

17

REMARKABLE METEORS.

REMARKABLE METEORS.

and from which foil large quantities ofl
meteoric stones in Weston, Connecticut,
was seen from Rutland in this state, and the
observation there made formed one; of the
elements in Dr. Bowditch's calculations
of its velocity, distance and size. A me-
teor of the same kind passed over New
England and New York in a southwest-
erly direction a. little before 10 o'clock in
the evening of the 23d of February, 181!),
and was seen from many parts of Ver-
mont. We had the pleasure of witness-
ing it at Bridgewater in this state. The
meteor there made its appearance about
10° south of the zenith, and, descending
rapidly towards the southwest, it disap-

f eared when about 25° above the horizon.
nilred, its velocity was such over Wind-
ior and Rutland counties as to give to all,
who observed it, though at the distance of
10,20 and even '.10 miles from each other,
along the line of its course, the impres-
sion that its fall was nearly perpendicular;
and each observer supposed that it fell
within a few hundred yards of himself.
Now as this meteor was probably moving
nearly parallel to the horizon, the decep-
tion must have arisen from the rapid dim-
inution of the visible angle between the
meteor and the horizon, occasioned by the
great horizontal velocity of the meteor in
Its departure from the zenith of the ob-
server. These fncts should teach us to
guard against the illusions of our own
senses and to admit with caution the tes-
timony of others respecting phenomena
of this nature.

According to the best of our judgment,
the meteor uns visible three or four sec-
onds, in which time it passed through an
• re of near «r>tV of the heavens. Its np.
|»4rrnt diarnet'-r was about 'JO', or two
«*.-.f •?» that of the moon, and the color of
Hs i-,'M »»»»<■!> white and dazrlmg, like
Uut at iron m a fornarr in a state of fu-
•*••. It left a long train of light behind
it, sad just at the tune of disappearance a
violent scintillation was observed, and the
fragments detached continued luminous
at considerable distance from the main
body of the meteor, hut no meteoralites
are known to have fullen. Five or six
minutes after the disappearance of the
mrtcor, a very distinct report was heard
accompanied by a jarring of the earth, like
the report of a cannon at the distance of
five or six miles. Now, assuming the
correctness of the above data, and that
the report was given at the time of the
scintillation, the distance of the meteor
was then between 70 and 80 miles, and
its diameter about one third of a mile.

Another, and still more remarkable me-
teor, was seen frcn this state as well as

from the rest of New England, and from
New York and Canada, about JO o'clock
in the evening of the 9th of March, 1822.
From observations made at Burlington
and Windsor, Prof. Dean computed its
course to be S. 35° W., its distance from
Burlington 59 miles and from Windsor 8:?
miles, and its height above the earth about
37 miles when it first appeared, and when
it disappeared its distance from Burling-
ton was 144 miles and its distance from
Windsor 133 miles and its height 29 miles.
According to these computations, at the
first appearance of the meteor, it was ver-
tical over the unsettled parts of Essex
county in the state of New York, and at
its disappearance, it was over the western
part of? Schoharie county in the same
state.

Several other meteors of this kind have
been observed, the most remarkable of
which was seen from the northern part of
the state and from nearly the whole of
Lower Cunada, about 4 o'clock in the
morning of the 28th .of May, 1634. It be-
ing a time when people generally were in
bed and asleep, comparatively few had the
opportunity of seeing it. Many, however,
were awakened by its light, and still more
by its report. Residing then at Hatley in
Canada, which is 15 miles north of the
north line of Vermont at Derby, we were
suddenly awakened by a noise resembling
that of a large number of heavy carriages
driven furiously over a rough road or
pavement, and by a shaking of the house,
which caused a rattling of every door and
window. Supposing it to he an earth-
quake, we sprung out of bed and reached
the door two seconds at least before the
sound ceased. The atmosphere was calm
and the sky was perfectly clear, with the
exception of a narrow train of cloud or
smoke, extending from southwest to north-
east, and at considerable distance to the
northward of the zenith. It was nearly
motionless, and was apparently at a vastly
greater height than clouds usually lie.
Indeed there was something so peculiar
in its appearance as to make it the sub-
ject of remark and careful observation till
after sunrise, when it gradually vanished,
although at this time we had no reason to
suspect its connexion with the noise and
shaking of the earth, which had awaken-
ed us. We, however, soon learned thn!
a remarkable meteor had been seen, ami
that its course lay along the very line oc-
cupied by the remarkable cloud above
mentioned. From an intelligent young
man, who was fishing at the time on Mas-
suippi lake in Hatley, and who had a full
view of the meteor during the whole time
it was visible, we learned that it made its

Pt. i.

18

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part J.

HEW ENGLAND EARTHQUAKES.

AURORA BOREALIS.

appearance at a point a little north of
•west at an elevation of about 35°, passed
the meridian at a considerable distance
north of the zenith and disappeared in the
northeast with an altitude of about 25°.
He thought its apparent magnitude to be
8 or 10 times that of the moon, and that
it was visible about 10 seconds. It was
of a fiery red color; brightest when it first
appeared, and gradually decreased in brill-
iancy, all the time throwing oil" sparks,
till it disappeared. About 4 minutes af-
ter the vanishing of the meteor, a rumb-
ling or rattling sound, which sensibly
agitated the surface of the lake, com-
menced in the point where the meteor
was first seen, and following the course
of the meteor died away at the point where
the meteor vanished. This meteor was
vertical on a north and south line, about 50
miles to the northward of Derby in this
state, or nearly over Shipton in Canada,
and its altitude must have been at least
30 miles, and still the agitation it pro-
duced in the atmosphere was such as to
break considerable quantities of glass in
the windows at Shipton, Melbourne and
some other places. The course of this
meteor was mostly over an unsettled
Country. The most remarkable circum-
stances attending this meteor were the
train of smoke which it left behind, and
the long continued noise and shaking of
the earth.

Since the settlement of New England,
there have been recorded a considerable
number of earthquakes, and several have
been noticed in Vermont. The sound
accompanying these is usually described
as having a progressive motion ; and that,
and the shaking of the earth have been
supposed to be produced by the rushing of
steam through the cavities in the interior
of the earth, but the effect known to have
been produced by the meteor last de-
scribed, furnishes strong reasons for sus-
pecting that the cause of many, and per-
haps of all the earthquakes which have
occurred in New England, has been in
the atmosphere above instead of the earth
beneath. Had this meteor passed with-
out being seen, the sound and shaking of
the earth, which it produced, would have
been regarded as a real earthquake, and
its origin in the atmosphere would not
have been suspected.

Aurora Doreulis. — This meteor has been
very common in Vermont, ever since the
first settlement of the state ; but in some
years it is of more frequent occurrence,
and exhibits itself in a more interesting
and wonderful manner than in others. Its
mostcommon appeal nice is thatof streams
of white light shooting up from near the

horizon towards a point not far from the
zenith; but at times it assumes forms as
various and fantastic as can well be im-
agined, and exhibits all the colors of the
rainbow. It is not uncommon that it takes,
the form of concentric arches spanning the
heavens from west to east, usually at the
north, but sometimes passing through the
zenith, or even at considerable distance
to the south of it. At times the meteor is
apparently motionless, but it is not an un-
common thing for it to exhibit a violent
undulating motion like the whipping of a
flag in a brisk wind. But it is so variable
in its appearance, that it is vain to attempt
its description. We will, however, men-
tion a few of the remarkable occurrences
of this meteor which have fallen under
our own observation, and some of the at-
tending circumstances.

On the 12th of October, 1819, at about
7 o'clock in the evening, the Aurora Bo-
realis assumed the form of three luminous
resplendant arches, completely spanning
the heavens from west to east. The low-
est arch was in the north a little below
the pole star, the second about midway
between the pole star and the zenith, and
the third 10° or 15° to the southward of
the zenith. These bells gradually spread
out till they became blended with each
other, and the whole concave heavens was
lit up with a soft and beautiful glow of
white light. It would then concentrate
to particular points whose brightness
would equal that of an ordinary par-
helion, and around them would be exhib-
ited the prismatic colors melting into each
other in all their mellow loveliness. The
motions of the meteor were rapid, undu-
latory and from north to south varying a
little towards the zenith. The sky was
clear and of a deep blue color where it
was not overspread by the meteor. It was
succeeded in the morning of the 13th by
a slight fall of snow with a northwest
wind. The aurora exhibited itself in a
manner very similar to the above in the
evening of the 3d of April, 18:20, and sev-
eral times since.

But the most remarkable exhibition of
this meteor, which has fallen under our
own observation, was in the evening of the
25th of January, 1837. It first attract-
ed our attention at about half put G
o'clock in the evening. It then consisted
of an arcli of faint red light extending
from the north west and terminating nearly
in the east, and crossing the meridian 15
or 20° north of the zenith. This arch
soon assumed a bright red hue and grad-
ually moved towards the south. To the
northward of it, the sky was nearly black,
in which but few stars could be seen. Next

.?

Chap. 1.

DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.

19

AURORA BOREALli

MAGNETIC VARIATION.

to the red belt was a belt of white light,
and beyond this in that direction, the sky
was much darker than usual, but no clouds
were any where to be seen. The red belt,
increasing in width and brightness, ad-
vanced towards the south and was in the
zenith of Burlington about 7 o'clock. The
light was then equal to the full moon, and
the snow and every other object from
which it was reflected, was deeply tinged
with a red or bloody hue. Between the
red and white belts, were frequently ex-
hibited streams of beautiful yellow light,
and to the northward of the red light
were frequently seen delicate streams of
blue and white curiously alternating and
blending with each other. The most
prominent and remarkable belt was of a
blood-red color, and was continually va-
rying in width and intensity. At eight
o'clock, the meteor, though still brilliant,
had lo»t moat of it* unusual properties.

This meteor, when very brilliant, is usually
regarded as an indication of an approach-
ing storm, but, like other signs, it often
fails. It is most common in the months
of March, September and October, but it
is not unusual in the other months.

Magnetic Variation. — Very few obser-
vations have hitherto been made in Ver-
mont for the purpose of determining the
variation of the magnetic needle, and
these few have generally been made with
a common surveyor's compass, and, prob-
ably, in most cases, without a very cor-
rect determination of the true meridian;
and hence they cannot lay claim to very
minute accuracy. But since such obser-
vations may serve to present a general
view of the amount and change of varia-
tion, since the settlement of the state, we
have embodied those to which we have
hud access, in the following table.

Magnetic Variation in Vermont.

1'luc* uf OUemtion.

Dale.

Vati. west.

Latitude.

Lon.w.G'h

Authorities.

Burlington,

17113

7° 36'

44° 28'

73°

Dr. S. Williams.

"

1818

7 30

♦'

it

J. Johnson, Esq.

ti

1622

7 42

"

tt

"

it

1830

8 10

»

"

"

«t

isni

8 15

f

"

»

it

183'2

8 25

"

"

u

tt

1834

8 50

f

"

"

tt

1837

8 45

tt

<t

Prof. Benedict.

tt

18-10

9 42

it

tt

J. Johnson, Esq.

Rutland,

17B9

1810
1811

7 3
6 4
6 1

43 37

72

Dr. S. Williams,
tt

Rregato,

1801

7 0

44 10

72

Gen. J. Whitekw,

Holland,

1785

7 40

45 0

71

"

St Julintborr,

1837

9 16

44 2(3

71

Prof. A. C. Twining.

Barton,

1837

10 51

44 44

"

M»nt|N'lirr,

1829

12 25

41 17

72

Exec. Documents.

fawns!,

l?Ni

r» 52

42 4G

72

Dr. S. Williams.

r«ao«».

IN Hi

U 00

45 0

71

"

Prom repeated observation* and from
• careful examination of the linea of the
original surreys, John Johnson, Esq. was
of the opinion that in 1785, the westerly
variation at Burlington was about 7"
12' and that it diminished till the year
1WV» whpn it was about 6* 12". From
1805 the variation has been increasing
tip to the present time, 1842 ; and is now
9* 54. This would give a mean annual
change of variation of (>' since 1805, and
of 3" previous to that time. And al-
though he thought the change of varia-
tion may not have been perfectly uni-
form, yet he was of opinion that a table
constructed with the above variation
would not differ materially from the
truth. The following is such a table.

Magnetic Variation at Burlington.

Year Vat.v»iVear. Var.w Year. V

1785

17r<<)
1787
1788
178!)
1790
1701
1792
1793
17IU
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799

7°12'1800
7 9 1801
7 61802
7 31803
7 0 1804
6 571805
6 541806
6 5111807
6 481808
6 451809
6 421810
6 39J1811
6 361812
6 3411813
6 301814

6°27
6 24
621
6 18
6 1
6 12
618
6 24
6 30
6 36
6 42
6 4^

6 54

7 0
7 6

Year.

Var.w

Year.

1815

7C12'

1830

1816

7 18

1831

1817

7 24

1832

1818

7 30

1833

1819

7 36

1 834

1820

7 42

1 835

1821

7 48

1836

1822

7 54

IH37

1823

8 0

1838

1824

8 6

1839

1825

8 12

1840

1826

8 18

1841

1827

8 24

1842

1828

8 30

1843

1829

8 36

1844

8°42'
8 48

8 54

9 0
9 6
9 12
9 18
9 21
9 30
9 36
9 42
9 48
9 54

10 0
10 6

20

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

Pakt. I

KEMARKABLF, SEASONS.

GREAT FRESHET.

COMI'AKISON OF CLIMATES.

Remarkable Seasons. Although the

mean temperature of Vermont has not
usually varied much from year to year,
yet seasons have occasionally occurred,
which hecame, for a time, proverbial on
account of their unusual coldness, or heat,
or on account of an excess or deficiency
of sn,ow or rain. Of the years, which
were remarkable .on any of these ac-
counts in early times, we have no accu-
rate records. But it is universally con-
ceded that the year 1816, was the coldest,
and perhaps the dryest during the early
part of summer, ever known in Vermont,
although we have no meteorological ob-
servations for that year, and are therefore
unable accurately to compare the temper-
ature of its seasons with other years.
Snow is said to have fallen and frosts to
have occurred at some places in this State
in every month of that year. On the 8th
of June, snow fell in all parts of the State,
and upon the high lands and mountains,
to the depth of five or six inches. It was
accompanied by a hard frost, and on the
morning of the 9th, ice was half an inch
thick on shallow, standing water, and
icicles were to be seen a foot long. The
weather continued so cold that several
days elapsed before the snow disappear-
ed. The corn, which was up in many
places, and other vegetables, were killed
down to the ground, and, upon the high
lands, the leaves of the trees, which were
about two thirds grown, were also killed
and fell off. The summer was not only
excessively cold, but very dry. Very
little Indian corn came to maturity, and
many families suffered on account of the
scarcity of bread stuffs and their conse-
quent high prices.

The year, 1828, was nearly as remark-
able for warmth as 1816 was tor cold.
The mean temperature of all the months
of this year, with the exception of April,
was higher than their average mean, and
the temperature of the year 3° higher than
the mean of the annual temperatures
which have been observed. The broad
parts of lake Champlain were not frozen
over during the winter.

The year 1830 was distinguished on ac-
count of the great quantity of water which
fell in rain and snow, and especially for
one of the most extensive and destruc-
tive freshets ever known in Vermont.
Up to the 15th of July, the weather was
exceedingly cold as well as wet. It then
changed, and became suddenly and ex-
cessively warm. The following table
shows the height to which the ther-
mometer rose in the shade, on each day
from the loth of July to the 21st, inclu-
sive.

July 15. Thursday, . . . 94°
« Hi. Friday, . , . . 92
" 17. Saturday, . . . 92£
" 18. Sunday, .... 92
" 19. Monday, . ... 90
" 20. Tuesday, . . . 91
" 21. Wednesday, . . 94
Nor was the heat much diminished in
the absence of the sun. In some cases
the thermometer stood as high as e0°
during the whole night, and it sunk but
little below 80"" during any part of the
time included in the above table. Another
such succession of hot days and nights
was perhaps never experienced in the
state. From the loth up to Saturday the
24th, the weather was for the most part
clear and calm. On Saturday afternoon,
the rain commenced and continued with
only short intermissions, till Thursday
following. During the 5 days from Sat-
urday noon to Thursday noon, the fall of
water at Burlington, exceeded 7 inches,
and of this 3 85 inches fell on the 26th in
the space of about 16 hours, and this is
believed to be one of the greatest falls of
water, in that length of time, ever known
in Vermont. The VVinooski, which was
most affected of any of our large streams,
was at its greatest height in the afternoon
of Tuesday the 27th, and was then from
4 to 20 feet, according to the width of the
channel, higher than had ever before been
observed. Although the county of Chit-
tenden, and the northern p.1rts of the
county of Addison, seemed to be the sec-
tion upon which the storm spent its great-
est force, yet its disastrous effects were
felt with unusual severity throughout the
valley of lake Champlain, and in all the
northern and central parts of the state,
and the destruction of property in bridges,
mills, buildings and growing crops was
great, almost beyond computation. But
its most melancholly effect was the de-
struction of human life. By a change of
the channel of New Haven river, in the
town of New Haven, during the night,
between the 26th and 27th, several build-
ings containing families were insulated,
and afterwards swept away by the waters.
Of 21 persons, who were thus surprized
and washed away, 7 only escaped ; the
remaining 14 found a watery grave."

The whole quantity of water which fell
at Burlington, in 1830, measured 59.3 in.
being half as much again as the mean an-
nual quantity, and probably exceeding
the amount in any other year since the
state was settled.

Comparative, view of the Climate. — As
Vermont extends through 2° 16' of lati-
tude, there is, as might be expected, a
* See part III. Article, flew Huvon.

Chap 1.

DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.

21

CLIMATE OF AMERICA AND EUROPE.

CAUSES OF DIFFERENCE.

sensible difference between the tempera-
ture of the northern and southern parts,
and there is a difference still more mark-
ed between the elevated and mountainous
parts and the lower country along our
lakes and rivers; but observations are too
limited to enable us to form any accurate
comparison between the different sections
of the state." Between the climate of this
Btate and that of those portions of other
8tates, lying in the same latitude, there is
no material difference, with the excep-
tion, perhaps, of the sea-coast of New
Hampshire and Maine, whose mean an-
nual temperature may be a little higher.
But between Vermont and the countries
of Europe, lying in the same latitude,
there in a remarkable difference, the tem-
perature of the latter being no less than
''iL higher than ours; and there is a
hke contrast, increasing towards the
north, Uu.cn the whole western coast
of Eurvpfl and the eastern coast of North
America.

This singular contrast was observed by
the earliest navigators, who visited the
coast of North America, and has since
been confirmed by numerous meteorolog-

• As llio extremes of host and cold were not
ted m ilui preceding meteorological tables, we liavo
colluded iu the following table the extronicR of
cold which have been entered at sunrise upon
journals kept at three different places within the
• (at* since 1629. Degrees in all cases below zero.

ical observations. A comparison of the
journals kept in this country with those
kept in Europe shows us that the climate
of Vermont, which lies in the latitude of
the southern part of France, is as cold as
that of Denmark, situated 11 or 12° fur-
ther nonh. The following table exhibits
pretty nearly the mean temperatures a-
long the coasts of the two continents, with
the differences, from the 30th to the 6Uth
degree of latitude.

Tabic.

r**r.

If lUuil.UUWH.

Burlington.

llydepark.

1M3

Keh 5.

11°

IKW

Jan. 31,

w

ItCll

Dec. 9i.

18

Dec. 14°

l&M

1 . '.. 94,

99

Jan. 26, 16

i- vl

Jan. 19,

96

Jan. 19, 20

Dcc.15, 12°

l«t

!'«-. 15,

Id

Jan. 21, 2d

li»

i • . 4,

91

Jan. 4, 36

It*

Peb 9,

'-Si

Feb. 18, 34

i-vrj

J... 4
It*. 11,

in

l>ee 22, 15

Jin. 20, 34

•«*>

IS

Jan 91, 13

Feb. 2, 93

i*»

J . -> V « ,

It

Jan. 24, 16

leb 10, 22

!**•

l«a. le,

17

Jan. la, 16

J Ml

»-•*.. »,

■

Jan. 4. 10

It ««ill appear from various observations and
ciif uminntoi, that during calm weather, when
lb* sua doe* not shine, the temperature of vallies
and low situations is lower than that of the high
lands, but in \iiwly weather and when the sun
tbinrs, it is coldest on the high lands. In confir-
mation of this statement, in part, wo give the fol-
lowing extract of a letter to the author from the
Hon. Elijah Paine, of Williamstown, (see pnges 9
an I 10.) " I have found," says he, " that in ex-
tremely cold, still weather, the mercury in the
ibnuiometer at Burlington, Montpelier, at North-
Acid, on Dog river, on the low lands at the
mocting-house in this town, at Wood.Hock, Hano-
ver, N. if., and even nt Albany, N. Y., has some-
limes been 14 degrees lower than in mine. Some-
times, even in March, I have found the difference
equally great, when the wind was light ami the
weather very cool fi.r the. season. But the reverse
is the ease in extremely cold, windy weutlior. I
bare known my thermometer in such weather 11
degrees lower than tcme of those I have men-
tioned."

Lat-i

Eurove.

America. Differ-

tuile.

Mean 'J emp.

Mean Temp.

ences,

30 •>

70.1°

66.8"

3.3°

35

66.5

60.5

6.0

40

63.1

54.2

8.9

45

56.8

45.0

118

50

50.8

37.9

12.9

55

46 0

28 0

18 0

60

40.0

18 0

22.0

A contrast so remarkable, as is exhibit-
ed in the preceding table, has been the
source of much speculation, but, as it ap-
pears to us, without throwing much light
upon the true cause of the phenomenon.

Among the earliest writers who at-
tempted to account for it was Father Bres-
ani, an Italian Jesuit, who spent most of
his life in Canada. He says that " a cer-
tain mixture of dry and moist makes ice,
and that in Canada there is a remarkable
mixture of water and dry san*dy soil ; and
hence the long duration of cold and great
quantities of snow." To this he adds an-
other cause, which is "the neighborhood
of the northern sea, which is covered
with monstrous heaps of ice, more than
8 months of the year." FatherCharlevoix,
who visited Canada in 1720, and from
whose travels the forgoing opinions of
Bresani are taken, says" that, in his opin-
ion," " no person has explained the cause,
why this country is so 'much colder than
France in the same latitude." "Most
writers," he continues, "attribute it to
the snow lying so long and deep on the
ground. But this only makes the difficul-
ty worse. Whence those great quanti-
ties of snow?" His own opinion is that
the cold and snow are to be attributed to
the mountains, woods and lakes. Many
European writers have supposed the great
lakes, which abound in the country, to
be the cause of the coldness of our cli-
mate ; while others have imagined that
there must be a chain of very high moun-
tains in the interior of the continent, run-
ning from southwest to northeast, which
produce the coldness of our north wester-
ly winds. Doct. Dwight supposes these

* Charlevoix's Travels in America, Vol. 1. p. 130-

22

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

CHANGE OF CLIMATE.

CUUKENTS OF THE OCEAN-

winds to be descending currents from the
higher regions of the atmosphere; and
hence their coldness. Doct. Holyoke at-
tributed the coldness of our climate to the
extensive forests of evergreens. Doct.
Williams, the able historian of Vermont,
attributed it to the forest state of the
country-, and has endeavoured to prove
that, eighteen centuries ago, the climate
of Europe was even colder than that of
America at the present time.* But other
writers have, with equal plausibility,
shown that no considerable change has
taken place in the mean temperature of
Europe within that period. f The fact,
moreover, that the western coasts of
America, which are wholly uncultivated,
are very much warmer than the eastern
coasts of Asia in the same latitude, which
are cultivated to considerable extent,
shows that these differences of tempera-
ture do not depend upon cultivation, nor,
indeed, upon any of the causes which
have been mentioned, but upon some more
general cause. And this cause, we be-
lieve, is to be sought in the inlluence of
the ocean upon the prevailing winds in
high northern latitudes. We regard the
ocean as the great equalizer of tempera-
ture upon the surface of our globe — as the
instrument for distributing the heat of
the equatorial regions towards the poles
and bringing thence cold towards the
equator, and thus meliorating the climate
of both. We look upon it as a truth es-
tablished both by theory and fact that
there is a general circulation of the wa-
ters of the ocean between the equatorial
and polar regions— that the warm water
from the equator is flowing along the sur-
face of the ocean towards the poles, while
the colder water from the poles is ad-
vancing along the bottom of the ocean to-
wards the equator. Such a motion of the
waters might be inferred, as the result of
the unequal distribution of heat through
the oceanic mass, increased by the rota-
tion of the earth on its axis. But inde-
pendent of this, facts furnish indubitable
proof of its existence. The temperature
of the earth, at a distance below the sur-
face, being a pretty correct index of the
mean temperature of the climate, with-
out the circulation we have supposed, the
temperature of the ocean at consider-
able depths, ought, particularly in the
warmer parts of the year, to be as
high, at least, as the mean annual tem-
perature. But on the contrary, observa-
tion proves it to be much lower. In lati-
tude fciT", where the mean temperature is
39°, Lord Mulp-rave found, on the 20th

Willian

Hi, i,

Vol

f Edinburgh Review, Vol. XXX, p. 25.

of June, when the temperature of the air
was 48£°, that the temperature of the
ocean at" the depth of 4081) feet, was 26",
or tiJ below the freezing point. On the
3 1st of August, in latitude 6'.)° where the
annual temperature is 38°, that of the air
being 59£°, the temperature of the water
at the depth of 41138 feet was 32°.* At
the tropic where the temperature does
not vary more than 7° or 8° during the
year, at the depth of 3600 feet the tem-
perature of the water was found to be on-
ly .r):S->, while that of the air was 84°,
making a difference of 31°, and indicating
a degree of cold in the lower parts of the
ocean nearly 25° more intense than is ever
experienced in the atmosphere in that
latitude, t How else can we account for the
coldness of these waters, but by suppos-
ing them to come from higher latitudes in
the manner we have described ?

Of the opposite motion of the warmer
waters along the surface of the Atlantic
ocean, from the equatorial towards the
polar regions, the gulfstream, the currents
setting along the western coasts of Nor-
way, and the vast quantities of tropical
productions, lodged upon the costs and
islands of the northern ocean, afford a-
bundaut proof.

Now this transportation of the colder
waters towards the equator and of the
warmer waters towards the poles, serves,
as already remarked, to mitigate the other-
wise intolerable heat of the fornrer, and
the excessive cold of the latter; and af-
fords an obvious manifestation of the wis-
dom and goodness of providence. And
it is to the influence of the warm superfi-
cial waters of the ocean, which have
come from tropical regions, upon the
winds, or currents of the atmosphere, that
we are to look for the cause of the differ-
ence of temperature in the climate of the
eastern coasts of North America and the
western coasts of Europe, ami also in that
of the eastern coasts of Asia and the west-
ern coasts of North America. If we ob-
serve the gulf stream, which is only a
concentration by the trade winds of those
warm waters which are flowing norther-
ly along the surface of the ocean, we
shall perceive it to be very narrow, pre-
senting to Hie atmosphere only a small
surface of its warm water, while nenr the
American coast. But as it proceeds to
the northeist its warm wafers are spread
out upon the surface of the ocean and are
thrown directly along or upon the west-
ern coasts of Europe. Observation also
shows that the prevailing winds in high
northern latitudes, are from a north west-

* Com
t Phil.

it Rumfonl's Essays, Vol. II.
Transactions, 1752.

-c 301.

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS.

IKDF.RS OF MAMMALIA.

erly direction, or passing nearly at right
angles across the great northeasterly cur-
rent of the ocean, and we believe it to be
the influence of these warm waters of the
ocean upon the westerly and northwester-
ly winds, which produces the phenomenon
in question. On the eastern coasts of
North America, these winds come from
mountainous, snowy regions, or from
lakes and seas, which are covered with

ice the greater part of the year; and
hence they are excessively eold. In their
progress over the Atlantic, they are grad-
ually wanned by imbibing heat from the
surface of the ocean, so that when they
arrive upon the continent of Europe, their
temperature is so much elevated as to
produce the remarkable difference obser-
ved between the climates of the coasts of
the two continents.*

CHAPTER II.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

Preliminary Observations.
All animals are divided by Baron Cu-
vier, the celebrated French naturalist,
whose arrangement we shall endeavor
mainly to follow, into four general divis-
ion^ viz. 1. I'ertcbratcd animals, or such
a-, have a spine, or back bone, II. Mollis-
tout animals, or such as have no skele-
ton, [II. Articulated animals, whose trunk
is divided into rings, and IV. Radiated
unimaU, or zoophytes 'l\w first division
embraces the mammalia, the birds, the rep-
tiles and the fishes; the second, the shell
fishes; the thud, the insects, and the
fourth, polypi In this work we shall at-
«< nipt but little beyond an account of our
tertcbralrd and moluscous animals.

MAMMALIA.
Th* Mammalia are such animals ns
Mrcal* thru VOUOff, and are divided by
Carter into the following orders :

I. HtwM,--haring two hands and three
kinds of teeth. Man is the only species.

II. Quadrumana — animals having four
hands and three kinds of teeth. Mon-
kirc and baboons belong to this order.

III. C'amicora — having three kinds of
t*Mh and living principally upon animal
food, as the dog, cat, ivc.

IV. Afarru/Ha/ to-producing their young
prematurely and bringing them to perfec-

tion in an abdominal pouch, which inclos-
es the teats, of which the opossum is an
example.

V. Rodentia — have large incisory teeth
suitable for gnawing, and grinders with
flat or tuberculated crowns, but no canine
teeth, as the rat, beaver, &lc.

VI Edentata — having no incisory teetli
in either jaw, and in some genera no teeth
at all, of which the sloth and ant eater
are examples.

VII. Puc/njdcrmata having either

three or two kinds of teeth, toes variable
in number and furnished with strong
nails or hoofs, and the digestive organs
not funned for ruminating, as the horse,
elephant and hog.

VIII. Ruminantia — having no incisory
teeth in the upper jaw, cloven hoofed
feet, and four stomachs fitted for rumina-
ting, or chewing the cud, as the ox,
sheep, deer, &C.

IX. Cctar.ca — Aquatic animals having
their bodies shaped like fishes, as the
whale, dolphin, &c.

Of these nine orders of animals, only
three are found in Vermont, in a wild
state. These are the Carnivora, the Ro-
dentia and the Ruminantia. We have one
order more, the Pachi/da-mat.a, among
our domestic quadrupeds, including the
horse, ass and hog.

• 111

dr.*..,

Daniult in I,

I!

for ll.o I
of ennti

llU»i»lc,l hy in condi

i«t. (.vi.Muro of l In; a
riMil , but, tt 1I.0 hi
Uuoma dryer and wl

>lo<;icaI essays cn-
flier temperature of
Mils in a different
tlio northwesterly winds
lpor rtnd Unit tho caloric,
sutiun, raises the general
mspliere on the western
i proceed eastward, they
:. thoy reach thu eastern

If tl

for to b<3 condf
lo not produce an elevatic

of

of the

moinenon undet consideration, the quantity of

in the eastern in proportion us thu tcmperaluro
ii|jhpr, hut so far as observations extend tho ru-
se of this seems to he tiue, the quantity of nun
tho eastern eoust being greatest.

24 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

CATALOGUE OF QUADRUPEDS, CARNIVEROUS ANIMALS.

JiATS.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

The following, is a catalogue of the na-
tive quadrupeds of Vermont, arranged in
the order, in which they are described in
the following pages :

Order CAHSiyonx-Carnivcrous Animals.

Vcspcrtilio subulatus,
" pruiuosus,
" carolinensisy
" noctivagans,
Sorez Forsteri,

" brevicaudus,
Scalops canadensis,
Condijlura macroura,
Ursus anu.ricanus,
Procyon lotor,
(iulo luscus,
Mustela vulgaris,
" crminca,
" visun,
" canadensis,
u martes,
Mephitis a nuricanus,
Lutra brasiliensis,
Canis lupus,
" falous,
" var.decussatus
" var.argentatus
Felis canadensis,
" rufa,
" concolor,
Phoca vitulina,

Say's Rat.

Hoary Bat.

Carolina Bat.

Silver-haired Bat.

Forster's Shrew.

Short tail Shrew.

Shrew Mole.

Star-nosed Mole.

Black Bear.

Raccoon.

Wolverene.

Weasel.

Ermine.

Mink.

Fisher Martin.

Pine Martin.

Skunk.

American Otter.

Wolf.

Red Fox.

Cross P'ox.

Black or SilverFox.

Lynx.

Bay Lynx.

Catamount.

Common Seal.

Order Rodentia — Gnawing Animals.

Castor fiber,
Fiber zibcthicus,
Jlrvicola riparius,
Mus decumanus,
" rattus,
" musculus,
Gerbillus canadensis,
Jlrctomtjs monax,
Sciurus r.increus,
" niger,
" lutdsonius,
" striata s,
Pteromys volucclla,
Hystrix dorsata,
Lepus americanus,
" virginianus,

Beaver.
Musk Rat.
Meadow Mouse.
Norway Rat.
Black Rat.
Common Mouse.
Jumping Mouse.
Woodchuck.
Gray Squirrel.
Black Squirrel.
Red Squirrel.
Stiped Squirrel.
Flyino- Squirrel.
Hedge Hog.
Rabbit.
Hare.

Order Ruminantia- Ruminating Animals.

Cervus alecs, Moose.

" canadensis, Elk.
" virginianus, Common Deer.

Order CARN1VORA.
The animals of this order have three
kinds of teeth, a simple, membranaceous
stomach, and short intestines. They live
principally on flesh, or animal food.

Genus Vespertilio. — Linnaus.
Genaic Characters. — Teeth from 32 to 36, —
incisors A canines 1. I grind. .4.1 A-H to 5.5
Upper incisors in pairs, cylindrical and pointed;
the anterior grinders simply conical, posterior
having short points or prominences. Nose,
simple, without grooves, or wrinkles; ears,
with an auriculum, lateral ami more or less large ;
tongue smooth, and not protractile; index finger
with but one phalanx, the middle with three, tho
annular and little finger with two; tad comprised
in the interfumoral membrane ; sebaceous glands
under the skin of the face, which vary in different
species.

The bats consist of a great number of
species, but they agree very nearly in
their general form and habits. They pro-
duce and nourish their young in the man-
ner of other quadrupeds, but unlike them
they .are furnished with delicate mem-
branous wings upon which they spend
much of their time in the air, thus seem-
ing to form the connecting link between
the quadrupeds and birds. They are noc-
turnal in their habits, lying concealed
during the day, but venturing abroad on
the approach ofevening, during the early
part of which they may be seen flitting
lightly and noiselessly through the air in
quest of food, which consists chiefly of in-
sects. At such times they often enter
the open windows of our dwellings and

imetimes commit depredations upon our
larders, being exceedingly fond of fresh
meat. Their nocturnal habits manifest
themselves in the domesticated state as
well as the wild, and it is with difficulty
that they are made to mount upon their
wings, or take food during the day, but
in the evening they devour food vora-
ciously and fly about the room without
reluctance. On the approach of winter
bats retire to dry caverns and hollow trees

here they suspend themselves by the
hooked nails of their hind feet, and thus
remain in a torpid state during the win-
ter. They void their excrement, which
found in abundance in these retreats,
by reversing their position and suspend-
ng themselves by the hooks upon their
thumbs till their object is accomplished,
when they resume their former position.
Bats produce their young in June or July,
and have from one to three at a time.
The teats of the female are situated on

e chest and to these, as we are assured
by Dr. Godman, (Nat. His. I. 56.), the
young attach themselves so firmly as to
be carried about by the mother in her
flight, till they have attained a considera-
ble size. The four following species are
all that have hitherto been distinguished
in Vermont. It is, however, probable
that othersmay hereafter be detected.

Chat. l2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT

• 41 A I.AI.

Akol.lNA HAT.

SAY'S BAT-
Vuftrl ilio sululotus. — Sat.
DtSCftirTIOK. — Head short, broad and

flat; dow blunt with a small, tlut, naked
mi, ill. , eyes smull, situated near the
tan and covered with fur; ears longer
U»»a Ih« head, thin ovate, obtuse, and
l» iv at the baae behind ; tragus thin,
W«-%jlv tuttiUtr below, tapering upwards
»*J tvJ.r.g m an obtUM lip, at about two
lk*t4t Um> krtfbt ofth* rar ; color of tin-
hack tvHommIi bio*n. the belly yellow
4»h fraj ; ftor aoft and floe, and black tail
towards the rooti ; head covered with
fur, excepting about the nostrils; color
blackish about the mouth; whiskers few,
•hort and stiff; membrane between the
hind legi broad, thinly covered with
fur next the body, and tapering to a point
near the extremity of the tail, which it
envelopes; toes of the hind feet long;
hooked thumb including the nail \ of an
inch. Length of the specimen before
me, from the nose to the insertion of the
tail, 2 inches; tail 1J inches; spread of
the wings, 10 inches.

HlSToRY. — This Bat seems to be distrib-
uted very generally through the conti-
nent. It was first described scientifically
by Mr. Say, in the notes to the account of
Long's expedition, from a specimen ob-
tained at the foot of the Rocky Moun-
tains. It was afterwards minutely descri-
bed by Dr. Richardson from specimens ob-
tained on the upper branches of the Sas-
katchewan and Peace rivers.* Speci-
men! have since been obtained from Lab-
rador, Georgia, Ohio, New Hampshire
and Columbia river. It is one of the small-
est, and, I think, the most common Bat
found in Vermont, especially in the cen-
tral mountainous parts, where it enters
the houses in the evening and is easily
raptured. The specimen, from which my
description was drawn was taken in Wa-
terbury.

THE HOARY BAT.

Vcspertilio pruinosus. — Say.

Description. — Ears broad, shorter than

the head, broadly emarginate behind,hairy

on the outside more than half the length.

Fauna Boreali At
Ft I.

ina, pa

4

and at the central part of the inside , tra-
gus bent, club-shaped and blunt at the
tip. Canine teeth large and prominent;
incisors in the upper jaw conical with a
tubercle near the base, very near the ca-
nines, and nearly in a line with them ;
snout cartilaginous ami moveable ; nos-
trils wide apart. Eyes black and promi-
nent. Fur on the body blackish brown
at. its base, then pale 'brownish yellow,
then brownish and terminated with clear,
delicate white, like hoarfrost; furonthe
throat, on and about the ears, and on the
inside' of the wings towards their base,
fulvous; snout, chin, margin of the ears
and tin' posterior part of the wing mem-
brane, blackish ; the anterior part of the
wings and the base of the fur on the in-
lerfeinoral membrane, dark chestnut.
Tail, wholly end. raced in the inlerfemoral
men. bra.,,-, which is thickly covered with
fur, except at the very posterior extremi-
ty. Length of the specimen before me,
from the snout to the extremity of the
tail, 5j inches ; spread of the wings, when
fully extended, Hi£ inches.

History. — This bat was also first de-
scribed by Say in Long's expedition and
has since been minutely described by
Richardson,* Coopert and others. It has
been found in most pails of the United
States and was obtained by Dr. Richardson
as far north as ]at.54?. It is not common
in Vermont, but is occasionally met with.
The only Vermont specimen, which I have
examined, and that from which the pre-
description was drawn, was sent
e by my friend, David Reed, Esq.,
of Colchester. It was taken at his place
in Colchester the latter part of October,
1841, and was kept alive for some time in
a large willow basket with a fiat cover of
the same material. On opening the bas-
ket, lie was almost invariably found sus-
pended by his hind claws from the central
part of the cover. When the basket was
open, he manifested little tear, or disposi-
tion to 11 y, or get away, durinn- the day
time, but in the evening would readily
mount on the wing and fly about the
room, and on lighting always suspended
himself by his hind claws with his head
downward. He ate fearlessly and vora-
ciously of fresh meat when offered to him,
but could not be made to eat the common
house fly.

CAROLINA BAT.
/ 'fujiertilio ca rolincnsis.—G rorrRov.
Description. — Ears rather large and
naked. except on the backside near the

cedii

me a

* Fiuina Ho real j Aniei
t Am.uls N, V Lyceu

IV. 54.

26

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

SU.VEK-IIAIKI'.II BAT.

FORSTER S SHREW.

head, einarginate on the outer posterior
edge, tragus shorter and less pointed than
in Say's Rat. Head long and narrow;
canine teeth very prominent; snout, in-
terfemoral and wing membranes black
and entirely naked; a few scattering
hairs on the feet. Fur on the head and back
long and color uniform bright ferrugin-
ous ; beneath yellowish brown; last joint
ot'the tail not enveloped in the membrane.
Bones supporting the membrane very ap-
parent. Length of the specimen before
me, from the snout to the extremity of the
tail 4 7 inches, head and body 3 inches,
tail 1.7, fire arm 1.8, tibia .7, spread of the
wings 11.5 inches.

History. — Of the history of this bat I
know nothing. It is said to be quite
common in the southern states particular-
ly in the Carolinas and Georgia and also
on Lonjr Island near New York. The only
specimen I have seen and that from which
the above description was made, was ta-
ken in Burlington, and deposited in the
museum of the college of Natural Histo-
ry of the University of Vermont by Mr.
John II. Morse, a student of the Univer-
sity. A Vermont specimen of this species
is also preserved in the museum of Nat.
His. of Middlebury college.

SILVER-HAIRED BAT.
Vesptrtilio noctivagans. — Le Conte.
Description. — Ears dusky black, rath-
er large, naked on the anteriqr portion,

somewhat ovate and obtuse, with two
emarginations, on the outer posterior bor-
der, produced by two plaits; naked with-
in, and with the tragus moderate, ovate
and obtuse. Color above, a uniform dark
dusky brown, approaching to black. On
the back the fur is somewhat glossy and
tipped with silvery white, forming an
interrupted line across the shoulders,
and thence irregularly mixed down the
centre of the back. Interfemoral mem-
brane thickly hairy on the upper part be-
coming thinner downward and naked near
the border. Tip of the tail projecting
about a line beyond the membrane. Feet
hairy. Wing membrane entirely naked.
Beneath very similar to the upper parts,
though the light colored tips of the hairs
are more yellowish. Total length 3.6 in-
ches, tail 1 f>, fore-arm 1.8, tibia .8, spread
of (he wings 11 inches.

History. — This Rat I have not seen in
Vermont, but 1 am informed by my friend
Prof. Adams that there is a specimen of
it, which was taken in this state, in the
museum of Natural History of Middlebu-
ry College. The above is Mr. Cooper's

U N. V. Lvccnn

lis. Vol. IV. n. 9

description of this Rat*, who says that " it
was first described in 1831 by Major Lo
Conteand Dr. Harlan, and that it may be
easily recognized by its dark black-brown
fur tipped with white on the back." It
was named V. noctivagans by Le Conto
and V. .Judiboni, by Harlan, and the for-
mer of these names is retained, because
Le Conte's account was first published.

Genus S o r r.x . — Linnccus.
Generic Characters. — Teeth variable from 39
lo 34. The two middle upper incisors honked
and denlated at their ba-,e ; the. lower ones
slanting and elongated ; lateral incisors small,
usually live on each side above, and two below;
grinders, most commonly 4 on each side ahoro,
and 3 below. The body is covered with fine,
short fur ; toes, five on each foot, separate, fur-
nished with hooked nails not proper for digging:
head and nose elongated, the latter moveable ;
ears short and rounded ; eyes small but visible.

«ssS

FORSTER'S SHREW.
So ret t'orstcri. — Richardson.

Description. — Color yellowish brown
or dark olive above, bluish white or cin-
erous beneath ; base of the fur plumbeous
for two thirds its length both above and
below ; teeth white at the base and at
their points, deep chestnut brown ; tail
long, four sided, covered with short hair
and terminated in a fine pencil of hairs;
feet small, light flesh-colored and nearly
nuked; nails slender and white ; whiskers
half an inch long, light brown. Length
of the head and body 2 inches, tail 1.4,
head .9, from the eye to the point of the
nose .3.

History. — This little animal is occa-
sionally met with in our pastures and
fields, having their places of retreat in
stone walls and under old fences and logs.
The specimen from which the above de-
scription was made was taken in Bridge-
water and is now in my possession. This
shrew was first described by Dr. Richard-
son who says that it is common throughout
the fur countries, even as far north as the
67° of latitude and that its delicate Toot-
steps are often seen imprinted on the
snow when the temperature is 40 or .r>0°
below zero.* It is also found according
to Dr. Rachman on Long Island in the
vicinity of New York.t

*Fauna Horeali, vol. I. page 0.

[Journal Acad. Nut. Sci. of t'liil. vol. VII.

CUAP. fi.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

27

iHuHT-TAU.EO SHREW.

illlli.W MOLE-

THE SHORT-TAILED SHREW.
Sorez tirccicaudus. — Say.

Description. — Color of the head, body
and tail dark plumbeous brown above, a
little lighter beneath ; lips naked fleshy
and flesh-colored J extremity of the snout
brown, notched ; teeth tipped with dark
chestnut brown at their points fading in-
to white »t their base ; feet flesh-colored,
nrtrl) naked and .lender ; nail* slender,

• kite on th<- fore feci, and on the hind
(.<Ubf»taut brown at the banc and white
at lite Uf. Tl* inner Utc on each foot is
•Jtortcat, line outer a little longer and the
other thrre nearly equal, the third being

• httlr the longest. The tail ia squarish,
largrat lit the middle, slightly strangula-
te d at the base and sparsely covered with
abort hair*; whisker* whitish, sparse,
half an inch long, situated between the
eve and the anout and turned backwards.
N.> external ear, opening large. Total
length of the specimen before me 4-8
inches, to the origin of the tail 3-8, tail 1,
head 1-1, hind foot to the point uf the
longest nail .6.

Huron*. — This species of Shrew bears
a very considerable resemblance to the
bhrew mole in its general appearance,
but is much inferior to it in size, and dif-
fer* from it remarkably in the structure of
ila fore feet. As they seldom venture in-
to cleared fields, very little is known of
their habits, but in the woods they are of-
ten *• en and heard rustling among the
leaves and digging little holes into the
ground, probably in quest of food. This
and the preceding species are occasionally
caught and brought in by cats ; but they
will seldom attempt to eat them on ac-
count, probubly, of their disagreeable mus-
ky odor. In addition to the foregoing we
certainly have one other species, and pro-
bably mure, but they require further ex-
amination.

Genus Scalops. — Cuvier.

Generic Characters. — Teeth 36 to 44 — Incisors

f canines .«'.<! or JS-iL grinders 3_a or A_A
crowns of tho grinders furnished with sharp tu-
bercles ; nose lung and pointed; eyes very small ;
no external ears ; fure feet very broad and strong,
Willi long flattened nails fit for excavating the
c»rili ; hind feet small and thin, with slender,
arched nails; tail ^liort ; body thickly covered
wiili fine, soli fur, \\l ,i;h is perpendicular to the
•atu , kit five toed.

^ESSSSSSa^e^

THE SHREW MOLE.

Scalops aquaticus. — Li N n a: u s .

Scalups canadensis. — Dcsmarcst.

Desciui'tion. — Color, grayish brown ;
body, plump, cylindrical and tapering
from the shoulders backward ; nose long,
terminated by a button shaped cartilage ;
eyes and ears concealed by the fur; fore
feet broad and strong, with the toes united
up to the roots of the nails; nails broad,
flat and strong; palms naked, bordered
by small still" hairs, above slightly cover-
ed with grayish down; hind legs and feet
slender and delicate, with slender, sharp,
hooked n.uls; tail short and covered with
hair. Length of thespecinien before me,
from the nose lo the insertion of the tail,
;').:< in. tail 1 in. head 1.3 in.

History. — The Shrew Mole inhabits
fields and meadows, but seems to prefer
the banks of rivers and other watercours-
es. In its habits it resembles the other
moles. Its large and powerful paws are
well calculated for digging in the earth,
and by their aid it is enabled to burrow
with surprising quickness. They spend
most of their time in the ground, where
they form extensive and connected gal-
leries, through which they can range at
pleasure to considerable distances and iu
various directions, without coming to
the surface. In excavating these galle-
ries, they throw up, in a manner dillicult
to be explained, little mounds of loose
earth, by which their burrows may be de-
tected. These mounds occur at distan-
ces, from one to three feet, and are from
three to six inches in height, but exhibit
externally no appearance of passages in-
to the burrows. The fur of this animal
is exceedingly beautiful, being thick, fine,
soft and even, with delicate glossy, or sil-
very reflections.

Genus Condylura. — Illigcr.

Generic Characters. Teetli, 40 Incisors

A canines A-4 grinders A-4 — In the upper
jaw are two large, triangular incisors, two very
small ones, and on each side a large, strong ca-
nine. In the lowei jaw the few incisors slant
forward, ami die canine on each Mile is small an. I
pointed. Body cylindrical, clumsy, and covered
with short thick fur, which is perpendicular to die
skin ; nose elongated and sometimes furnished
with a membranous crest disposed in the form of a
star around ihe nostrils ; feet live-toed ; lure feet
broad and strong, filled fur digging ; bind feel
slender ; eyes very small ; no external ear.

23

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

Part I.

>ed mole.

THE BLACK BEAK.

THE STAR-TJOSED MOLE.
Condylura macroura. — Harlan.

Description. — Color dark brown ap-
proaching to black; body cylindrical; nose
long, tapering and surrounded at the ex-
tremity by a fringed membrane, having
twenty points; tail nearly as long as the
body, strangulated at the base and then
becoming suddenly enlarged as if swollen
and thence tapering to a point. The tail
is scaly and sparsely covered with stiff
hairs. The tore legs very short ; the
paws large and naked, excepting the ed-
ges, which are fringed with stiff hairs;
nails long and flat with cutting edges.
The hind feet are naked, long and nar-
row, and the nails long, slender and sharp
resembling birds claws; eyes concealed
and very small; no external ear, 4 pec-
toral mammae ; length from the nose to
the insertion of the tail 4.7 inches, tail 2.8
inches, hand .7 inches, longest nail .3 inch-
es, hind foot 1.

History. — This animal being rare, its
habits are not well understood They ap-
pear, however, from what is known of
them, to be similar to those of the other
moles. They are usually found about
old buildings, fences and stone-walls, and
they occasionally find their way into
cellars of dwelling houses. I have two
specimens of this animal, both of which
were before me, while making out the
foregoing description. The color of one
is a little darker than the other, but they
scarcely differ in any other respects.
They were both caught in Burlington,
one in lc'3U, in the cellar of the Rev. G.
G. Ingersoll, and the other in 1840, on
the surface of the ground in a door-yard.
Their fore feet are so closely attached to
their bodies, that they serve but little pur-
pose except for digging, and their prog-
ress upon the surface of the ground, is ex-
tremely slow, labored and awkward. Like
the shrew moles, they probably reside
most of the time in the ground and ven-
ture abroad only in the night. On ac-
count of their clumsiness they are fre-
quently drowned in cisterns and tubs of
water and are sometimes brought in by
cats ; but cats are not fond of eating them
on account of the musky odor which
they have in common with the shrew and
shrew mole. It proceeds, as in the other

cases, from a while viscous lluid contain-
ed in a sack near the vent. -

Genus Ursus. — Linnaus.
Generic Character!; — Teeth, 32 to 44,— incis-
ors S. tannics 1..L grinders ±.i to 1-1.
Three of the grinders on each side in each jaw,
are lar"e, with square tuberculous crowns ; the
other are small, most of which appear late and
are shed early. Body thick, covered with Strong
hair; ea,s Ion" and slightly pointed ; toes, five,
furnished with strong, curved claws, calculated
for climbing or burrowing ; tail, short.

THE BLACK BEAR.
Ursus americawus. — Pallas.

Description. — Color shining black ;
hair long and not curled; nose fawn col-
ored, projecting, brightest about the an-
gle of the mouth, and terminated by a
naked black snout; forehead slightly arch-
ed ; ears oval, rounded at the tip and far
apart ; palms and soles of the feet short
in comparison with the brown bear ;
claws black and strong with the hairs of
the feet projecting over them ; tail short.

History. — The specimen from which
our description is drawn was killed in
Williston in 1833, and presented to the
College of Natural History of the Univer-
sity of Vermont. It measures 6 feet from
the nose to the tail ; tail 2 inches; height
of the ears 4 inches ; height to the top of
the shoulders 3 feet; rump 2 feet 4 in-
ches. This Bear, which is found through-
out all the woody parts of North America,
was formerly very common in Vermont,
and continues so plentiful at the present
day, that our Legislature continue in
force a law allowing a bounty of $5 each,
for its destruction. It appears from our
Treasurer's reports for several years past
that the number of bears for which the
bounty has been paid has varied from 40
to :".() annually. The black bear, under
ordinary circumstances, is neither Very
camiverous nor very ferocious. Its fa-
vorite food consists of vegetables, such as
Indian corn, nuts, berries and roots. But
when these fail, it is compelled by neces-
sity rather than choice to resort to ani-
mal food. In such cases, impelled by
hunger, it will sometimes attack and de-
stroy young cattle, sheep and hogs, but

Cup. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

29

T1IK KACCOO."

T1IK WOLVERENE.

will seldom, if ever, attack a person ex-
cept in defence ol* its cubs, or when pro-
voked, or wounded. The early settlers
of tliiti State suffered most from them in
consequence of their ravages upon their
fields of Indian corn. They entered the
fields in the night when the corn was in
the milk and broke down and devoured
the ears with great greediness ; and it
wus a common business for the settlers to
watch for them with guns and shoot them
while committing their depredations ; and
in this way large numbers were annually
killed. During the fall, when their food
is ubundant, bears usually become very
fut, and, as tlie winter sets in, they retire
to ■umu natural den among the rocks, or
uprooted trees, or into souk- hollow tree,
wfeera liny remain in a torpid stale and
• illiiul fi«»tl until the return of warm
weather in lhc Spring. The female pro-
duces her young during Iter hibernation
and has from one to five at a litter, but the
more common number is two. Their pe-
riod of gestation is about 15 or 1<J weeks,
snd during this time the females conceal
themselves so effectually that we have no
record of any being killed while pregnant
though they ore often discovered while
the cubs are Very small. When the bears
first leave their winter quarters, they are
said to be about as fut as when they retir-
ed in the fall, but with exercise they short-
ly lose their fat so as to appear in a few
days much emaciated. When the bear is
in high order he is valued for his flesh,
his grease, and his skin. He is, with the
exception of the moose, the largest native
quadruped found in Vermont, and has
been frequently killed weighing from 400
to 500 pounds. Their skins are worth
from §i'J, to jji-l, or $o according to their
sue and quality.

GcvCs PhocvuN. — Storr.

Gtmtrie Churncttrt TVelli 40, — Incisors

j( canines l.lf grinders flfl Tim thiee first
iriadsrs «i each side m each jaw, are pointed,

iiio other* are luberciilalcd. Body low sel ; nose
pointed ; riternal oars small, oval ; tail long and
pointed ; feci rive toed ; nails sharp ; mamma; six.

THE RACCOON.
Procyon lutar. — Cuvier.
Description. — General color blackish
gray which results from the hairs being

alternately ringed with black and dirty
white ; belly lighter ; tail bushy, like that
of the fox, but more tapering, surrounded
by alternate rings of dark and yellowish
white, about six of each ; head roundish
with the snout projecting beyond the up-
per jaw and terminating in a smooth black
membrane through which the nostrils
open; face whitish in front, with a black
patch surrounding the eye and descend-
ing to the lower jaw, and a black line de-
scending from the forehead between the
eyes; pupils of the eyes round ; the ears
oval, rounded at the tip and the edges of
a dirty white color; legs short ; whiskers
strong. Usual length of the head and
body 22 inches, tail 9 inches; height 12
inches.

History. — Raccoons were very plenty
in till parts of Vermont, when the coun-
try was new, and they exist in the moun-
tainous and woody parts in considerable
numbers at the present time. In the gen-
eral aspect of this animal there is some
resemblance of the fox, but. in its move-
ments it is more like the bear. It also
like fthe bear subsists both upon animal
and vegetable food and its destructive pro-
pensity is well known. It sleeps during
the day in its nest in some hollow tree or
among the rocks, and prowls for its prey
during the night ; and is said to destroy
many more animals than it consumes,
merely sucking their blood or eating their
brain. It sometimes makes great havoc
in the farmer's poultry-yard, and being an
excellent climber scarcely any roost can
be placed beyond his reach. But it proba-
bly does most mischief in the fields of In-
dian corn, of which it is extremely fond,
while the corn is soft, or " in the milk."
Here it breaks down and destroys much
more than it eats. The Raccoon is said
to be fond of dipping its food in water be-
fore it eats it, and hence, Linmeus gave it
the specific name ol lotor, which signifies
washer. The price of the skin is variable,
from 17 to 37£ cents. The largest of
these animals in Vermont, weigh about
32 pounds, according to Dr. Williams,
who says that its flesh is eaten and con-
sidered very excellent food.

Genus Gui.o. — Cuvier.
Generic Charade**.— Teeth 3G to CS— Incis-
ors &% canines, U I. grinders i-1 or 4-f.
The three first grinders in the upper jaw, and
four first in the lower are small, succeeded by
a large carniverous or cutting tooth, and small
tuberculous teeth further back. Body low ; head
moderately elongated ; tars short and round ; tail
short ; feet with five toes armed with crooked
nails.

30

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part L

THE WOLVERENE,

THE WEASEL,

THE WOLVERENE.

Gulo luscus. — Sauine.

Description. — Head broad and round-
ed ; jaws like the dog ; ears low, rounded
and much hidden by the fur : back arch-
ed ; tail low and bushy ; legs thick and
short- and the whole aspect of the ani-
mal indicates more strength than activi-
ty. Color dark brown, passing into al-
most black on the back in winter with a
pale reddish brown band passing from
each shoulder along the flanks and meet-
ing on the rump. Fur similar to that of
the bear, but not so long nor valuable.
The tail is thickly covered with lung
black hair. Some white marking on the
throat and between the fore legs ; legs
brownish black ; claws strong and sharp.
Length 2 feet 6 inches; tail (vertebra)
7 inches; tail with the fur 10 inches.

History — This animal was occasional-
ly found when the country was new, in all
parts of the state, but was never very plen-
tiful. For many years past, however, it lias
been known only in the most woody and
unsettled districts, and in such places it
is now extremely rare, none having been
met with to my knowledge for several
years. According to Dr. Richardson,
from whose work the above description is
abridged, this animal is quite common in
the fur countries at the north, and is a
great annoyance to the hunters, robbing
their traps of game, or of the bait, which
they do so dexterously as seldom to be
caught themselves." The Wolverene is
represented as being very fierce and car-
nivorous in its disposition, and many mar-
vellous stories have been told of its cun-
ning and artifice and gormandizing pro-
pensities,which are totally unfounded. Its
food ordinarily consists of mice, moles,
hares and other small animals, seldom
meddling with larger ones, excepting such
as have been previously killed or disabled.
It produces once a year from two to four
cubs which are covered with a downy fur
of a pale cream color. It is found through-
out all the northern parts of North Amer-
ica, even as far north as the 75th degree
.of latitude.

Genus Mustela. — Linnwus.
Generic Character*. — Teeth 31 or 3S — Incis-
ors '1 canines J -I grinders A-:l or Jl~JL
u> l I ' B is' do

Second inferior incisors on eacli side slightly re-
ceding ; canines sliong; grinders cutting; the
anterior false grinders conical and compressed ;
true grinders trilobate, the last with a blnnt crown.
Body long and cylindrical ; head small and oval ;
ears short and round ; let's short ; toes 5, armed

with sharp, crooked claws, and gland* producing
a strong, fetid secretion.

►Fuuna ISoreali, 1. 41

THE WEASEL.
Mustela vulgaris. — Linnaeus.

Description. — Color above, in summer
dull yellowish brown deepening into hair
brown on the upper part of the head and
nose, and yellowish white beneath, the
brown extending in a rounded spot into
the white behind the angle of the mouth;
tail next the body the same color as the
back, but darker as it approaches the ex-
tremity, where it is quite black, and the
hairs terminate in a point resembling that
of a camel's hair pencil. Color in winter
wholly white, excepting the posterior
half of the tail, which is always black, or
reddish brown. Forehead flatish ; ears
slightly pointed ; eyes small, black and
lively; body long and cylindrical; tail
short, less "than half the length of the
body. Length of the head antibody of
the specimen before me 8 inches; tail
{vertebra) 2 inches.

History. — The Weasel, though no-
where greatly multiplied, is frequently
met with in all parts of Vermont. It is
generally seen in stone walls, old fences
and heaps of bushes. When in sight it
seems to be always in motion and its mo-
tions are very (puck. When in a stone
wall or heap of bushes he will sometimes
show himself for an instant in half a doz-
en places in the course of half that num-
ber of minutes. The weasel feeds upon
mice, young rats, young birds and birds
eggs, and sometimes commits depredations
upon the eggs and young of our domestic
fowls. It is not uncommon lor it to enter
the barns and granaries and cellars of the
farmers in quest of food, and particularly
in pursuit of mice, of which it destroys
large numbers, and on which account it
might be regarded as a public benefactor,
were it not for its occasional depredations
upon the poultry yard. The female pro-
duces her young several times in the
course of the year and has from three to
five at a litter. But notwithstanding then-
apparent fecundity, they never become
very numerous.

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

31

THE KRMI.NK.

THE MINK.

:4t\ v

mmw*

THE ERMINE.

Mustela erminca. — Linn. Gmel.

Vulmius eriiiiiieci. — Cuvicr.

Description. — Color, both in summer
and winter, nearly the same as that of the
Weasel, excepting that the upper parts
of iJic Ermine are darker in summer and
the under part* a clearer white than tl i «-
Mine parts of the Weasel. The Ermine
also grows to a larger size than the Wea-
sel and is likewise more tliick set, its
forehead and nose more convex; its ears
broader and more rounded, and its tail u-
bout twice as long in proportion to the
length of the body. Length of the head
and body of the specimen before me 8 in-
ches ; tail (vertebras) 'M>. The tuft or pen-
cil at the extremity extends about .7 inch-
es beyond the vertebra; both in this and
the Weasel.

His Tory. — Tt has been a matter of dis-
pute whether this and the preceding ani-
mal do or do not belong to the same
species. Dr. Harlan describes them as
two," Dr. Godman, as one. t With these
authorities before him, Dr. Richardson
says that both these species are, indubita-
bly, inhabitants of the American conti-
nent, the Ermine extending to the most
remote arctic districts and the Weasel as
far north, at hast, as the Saskatchewan
rirei 5 Dr. Williams also describes the
two as distinct species, and says that the
Ermine, which be colls »« one of the great-
est beauties of nature" sometimes weighs
I A ounces, but that the Weasel is smaller. §
The skin of the Ermine, in its winter pe-
I age of pure white, was formerly held in
yrry high estimation, and was much worn
t'T the nobility anil high functionaries of
Corupe upon their robes and drosses, and
particularly by judges. Thence it became
the emblem of judicial purity, and the
judgo who was any way corrupted was
Mid to have soiled his Ermine. The value
<>f the skins at present is hardly sufficient
to pa) for collecting them. The Ermine
in tit summer dress is, in many places,
callrd the Stoat

• Psnoa Amriicsna |
| Fauna tk>iv«li, I.

fNnt. His. I. p. 19:

v\ His. Vi. 1 p. III.

THE MINK.
Mustrla vison. — Linn. Gmel.

Puturms vison. — Cuvier.

Dkscription. — The head is depressed
and small ; eyes small and far forward ;
ears low and rounded ; neck and body
long and slender; tail round and thick
next the body and tapering towards the
tip ; legs short ; toes connected by short
hairy webs ; claws nearly straight, sharp,
white and concealed by the fur. The fur
is of two sorts, a very dense down mixed
with strong hairs ; shortest on the head
and increasing in length backwards ; color
of the down brownish 'gray ; that of the
hairs varying indifferent parts from choc-
olate brown to brownish black ; occasion-
al white spots about the throat; two oval
glands which secrete a very fetid fluid.
Length of the head and body 2U inches,
tail 1) inches.

History. — The Mink is a common ani-
mal in Vermont- Its favorite haunts are
along the banks of streams, where it
dwells in holes near the water, or in the
ruins of old walls, or in heaps of Hood
wood, or in piers and abutments of bridges.
It does not venture far from the streams
and when pursued betakes himself imme-
diately to the water. It does not run well
on land, but swims and dives admirably,
and can remain a long time under water.
When irritated it ejects a thud, which
diffuses a very unpleasant odor. Its line
short fur, Otter-like tail, short legs and
webbed feet, all denote its aquatic nabits.
Its fur though not highly prized, is more
valuable than that of the Musk rat.
The food of the Mink consists of frogs,
fishes, muscles and fish spawn ; and also
rats, mice, younj birds and other small
land animals. They sometimes enter the
poultry yard, where they make great hav-
oc among the fowls, by cutting off their
heads and sucking their blood. It is not
a very timid animal when in the water,
but dives instantly at the flash oT a gun,
which makes it difficult to shoot them. It is
easily tamed and in that state is very
fond of being caressed, but, like the cat,
is easily offeuded, and, on a sudden pro-
vocation, will sometimes bite its kindest
benefactor. This animal is found through-
out the 1 1 nited Stales anil British Ameri-
ca, but there has been some confusion

32

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part 1.

FISHER MAR'l

riNK MARTIN.

with regard to its name. The Mink pro-
duces from three to six at a litter. When
fully grown their weight is ahout four
pounds. Mink skins are worth from 20
to 40 cents, according to quality.

^*C«wVy

Vm*l/y?»r777:

THE FISHER MARTIN.
Muslela canadensis. — Linnjeus.

Description. — Head, neck, shoulders
and top of the back, mixed with gray and
brown ; nose, rump, tail and extremities,
brownish black ; sometimes a white spot
under the throat, and also between the
fore and hind legs ; lower part of the fore
legs, the fore feet and the whole of the
hind legs, black; tail full, black, lustrous
and tapering to a point ; fur on the
head short, but gradually increasing
in length towards the tail ; the head has
a strong, roundish, compact appearance ;
the ears are low semicircular and far
apart, leaving a broad and slightly round-
ed forehead ; fore legs short and strong ;
toes on all the feet connected at the base
by a short web which is covered on both
sides with hair. Length from the nose to
the insertion of the tail, '-21? inches ; tail,
including the fur, 16 inches.

History. — This animal is known in dif-
ferent places under a great variety of ap-
pellations, but in Vermont it is usually
called the Fisher, or Fisher Martin. This
name is, however, badly chosen, as it is
calculated to deceive those unacquainted
with the animal, with regard to its na-
ture and habits. From its name the inex-
perienced would conclude that it led an
aquatic mode of life, and that like the ot-
ter, it subsisted principally upon fishes
But this is by means true ; and they,
who have had an opportunity to observe
its habits, aver that it manifests as much
repugnance to water as the domestic cat.
It may, perhaps, sometimes devour fishes,
which are thrown upon the shore, but it
usually subsists by preying upon small
quadrupeds, birds, eggs, frogs, &c. like
the martin and other kindred species. It
is said to kill the porcupine, by biting it
on the belly, and then devour it. It lives
in woods, preferring those which are low
and damp. This animal is much valued
for its fur, and considerable numbers are
taken in the state, annually. The price
of the skin varies fiom $1 to $2. It is

sometimes called the Pekan, or the Pelca
JVcasnl, or the Fisher Weasel.

THE PINE MARTIN.
Mustcla martes. — LinNjCus.

Description. — General color, fulvous
brown, varying in different individuals,
and at different seasons, from bright ful-
vous, to brownish black ; bright yellow
under the throat; hair of the tail longer,
coarser and darker than that of the body ;
the color on all parts darker and more
lustrous, and the fur more valuable in
winter than in summer ; nose and legs,
at all seasons, dark, and the tip of the ears
light. The fur of this animal is of two
kinds, one coarse and the other fine and
downy. The usual length of the head
and body, 18 inches; tail, 9.

HisroKY.-In Vermont the name of Mar-
tin and Sable are indifferently applied to
this animal, but the latter incorrectly, as the
true sable is not found in this country. In
works on natural history it is usually de-
nominated the Pine Martin. This animal
was formerly very plentiful in most parts
of the slate, but it is at present chiefly
confined to the mountainous and woody
portions. Though small it is much hunt-
ed for its fine and valuable fur, which,
with the clearing and settling of the coun-
try, has very much reduced their num-
bers. Many are, however, still taken on
the forest-clad mountains along the cen-
tral part of the state. They are usually
caught in traps baited with some kind
of fresh meat. Their food consists of
mice, hares, partridges, and other birds.
They often rob birds nests of their eggs, or
young, and will ascend trees for that pur-
pose, or to escape pursuit. When its re-
treat is cut oft", it will turn upon its assail-
ant, arch its back, erect its hair and hiss
and snarl like a cat. It will sometimes
seize a dog by the nose and bite so hard,
that, unless the latter is accustomed to the
combat, it suffers the little animal to es-
cape. It is sometimes tamed and will L
manifest considerable attachment to its
master, but never becomes docile. Mar-
tins burrow in the ground. The female
is smaller than the male. Her time of
gestation is said to be only six weeks, and
she brings forth from four to seven at a
litter, about the last of April. A full

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

33

THE AMERICAN UTTKK.

grown martin weighs about four pounds.
The price of prime skins is from j$l, to

Genus Mephitis. — Cuvier.
Generic Characters. — Teeth 34 — incis-
ors, & cunine 1.1 grinders A-l ; canines
strong and conical ; superior tuberculous teeth ve-
ry lurgn and as broad as ihey are long ; the inferi-
or grinders with two tubercles on the inside.
Head short; nose projecting; feet five toed,
hairs on the bottom, and furnished with nails
suitable for digging ; trunk of the tail of moderate
h-nglh, or very short; hair of tho body long, that
of the tail »ery long; and glands, which secrete
an excessively fetid liquor.

THE SKUNK.
Mephitis americana. — Desm.

DescitirTiow. — General color black,
with a white spot between the ears, which
often extends along the sides towards the
hips in the form of the letter V, and a nar-
row strip of white in the face; tail bushy,
tipped with white; nails of the fore feet
•Iron;/ and about the length of the palm;
hair on the head short, longer on the body
and very long on the tail. Length from
the nose to the insertion of the tail l(j inch-
es, head 4A inches, body 11£ inches, tail
(trunk ID, tuft 4) 14 inches."

History. — The skunk is a very com-
mon animal in Vermont. It is not con-
fined to the forests, nor to the thinly set-
tled parts of the country, but frequently
makes its residence in the midst of our
villages. During the day ho shelters him-
self in stone walls, or beneath barns, or
out buildings, and prowls for hisjfood du-
ring the night. This consists of eggs,
young birds, mice and other small quad-
rupeds and reptiles. He frequently does
considerable mischief in our poultry yards,
bff the destruction of eggs and fowls.
\vhut renders this animal most remarka-
ble is its peculiar weapon of defence.
When pursued, or attacked, it has the
power of ejecting in the face of its enemy
a fluid of the most nauseating and stifling
scent, which exists in nature. This fluid
is secreted by glands situated near the
root of the tail, and seems to be designed
wholly as ii means of defence, being total-
ly independent of the ordinary evacua-
tions. When undi: turbed the skunk has
Pi. i 5

no disagreeable odor, and whole nests of
them may lie under a, barn floor for
months, without betraying their presence
by their scent. The flesh of the skunk
when the odorous parts have been removed
is well flavored and wholesome food.

Genus Lutra. — Briss.
Generic Characters. — Teeth 3(3 — Incis-
ors, «i canines 1-1 grinders S—5. • canines of
moderate length and hooked; the first superior
grinder small and blunt, the second and third an-
ting, the fourth with a strong spur on the inner
side, the fifth with three external poinls and a
broad internal spur; the inferior vary from five lo
six but resemble the superior. Head largo and
Rationed; ears short and round ;'body very long,
and low upon the legs ; tail long, flattened hori-
zontally nud tapering ; feet webbed ; nails crooked
and sharp ; body covered with a fine fur mixed
wiih long bristly hairs ; two small oval glands se-
creting a fetid liquor.

THE AMERICAN OTTER.
Lutra brasilicnsis. — Desm.

Description. — Color dark reddish glos-
sy brown ; pale or whitish about the throat
and face ; head globular ; neck long ; body
long and cylindrical; tail depressed at
the base ; feet webbed, short and strong ;
5 toes on the anterior feet, and 1 with the
rudiment of a 5th on the posterior. To-
tal length of one of the largest size, 4
feet; length of the head 4£ inches, tail
17 inches, height 10 inches, circumfer-
ence at the middle of the back 19 inches.

History. — The Otter lives in holes in
the banks of creeks and rivers, and feeds
principally upon fish, frogs and other
small animals. They were formerly very
common in this state, particularly along
the streams which fall into lake Cham-
plain and lake Memphremagog. Otter
Creek derives its name from the great
abundance of otter, which formerly in-
habited its banks. They are now become
scarce, but are occasionally taken at sev-
eral places within the state.

The Otter is an active, strong and vora -
cious animal. When attacked and una-
ble to escape they fight with great fierce-
ness, and when fully grown are more
than a match for a common-sized dog.
The teeth of the Otter are &harp and stiono-

34 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Paht L

THE COMMON WOLF.

THE COMMOB WOU".

and his bite very severe. His legs are
very short and his feet webbed, on which
account he seems to be better fitted for
swimming than for running upon land ;
and he is so eminently aquatic in his hab-
its that he is seldom seen at much distance
from the water. This animal when fully
grown measured according to Dr. Wil-
liams; 5 or six feet in length and weighed
about '30 pounds, but the total length of
those taken at present seldom exceeds
4 feet. The price of the skin is at pres-
ent from 5 to 7 dollars, but it has been at
times in such demand as to be worth 10
or 12 dollars.

Genus Canis. — Linnceus.
Generic Characters. — Teeth 42 — Incis-
ors « canine i.i grinders b_b The iliree

> 0 I 1 J » ° 17"

first grinders in the upper jaw are small and edged,
and are termed false molars, or grinders ; the
great carnivorous touth above bicusped, with a
small tubercle on the inner side, and two tubercu-
lous teeth behind each of the carnivorous ones.
Muzzlo elongated, naked and rounded at the ex-
tremity ; tongue smooth, ears pointed and erect in
ihe wild species; fore feet with 5 toes and hind
feet with 4, having robust nails.

THE COMMON WOLF.
Canis lupus. — Linnjeus.
Description. — General color yellow-
ish or reddish gray, blackish on the shoul-
ders and rump, and yellowish white be-
neatb, but varying much according to age
and climate, being in some cases nearly
black and in otbers almost white.* On
the back and sides there is usually an
intermixture of long black, and white hairs
with a grayish wool, which partially ap-
pears, giving to those parts a grayish hue,
which deepens along the back into black ;
hair on the back part of the cheeks, bushy ;
tail straight and bushy like that of the fox
and nearly the color of the back ; eyes
oblique; ears erect; teeth very strong.

♦Difference of colour lias been tho occasion of the
division of this species into the following varieties :
Variety I. Lupiii crriseus, Common Gray Wolf.
2. Lupus ulbus, White WolT.
" 3. Lupus slide, Pied Wolf.
'< 4. Lupus nubihts. Dusky Wolf.
" 5. Lupus ater, Black Wolf.

Length of the specimen in the collections
of the College of Natural History of the
Vermont University, from the nose to the
tail 4 feet 3 inches, tail 17 inches ; height
at the shoulder 2 feet.*

History. — For some years after the set-
tlement of this state was commenced,
wolves were so numerous and made such
havoc of the flocks of sheep, that the keep-
ing of sheep was a very precarious busi-
ness. At some seasons particularly in
the winter they would prowl through the
settlements by night in large companies,
destroying whole Hocks in their way, and,
after merely drinking their blood and per-
haps eating a small portion of the choicest
and tenderest parts, would leave the car-
cases scattered about the enclosure and
go in quest of new victims. Slaughter
and destruction seemed their chief de-
light; and while marauding the country
they kept up such horrid and prolonged
bowlings as were calculated, not only to
thrill tenor through their timorous vic-
tims, but to appall the hearts of the in-
habitants of the neighborhood. Though
the sheep seems to be their favorite victim,
wolves sometimes destroy calves, dogs,
and other domestic animals; and in the
forest they prey upon deer, foxes, hares
and such other animals as they can take.
Impelled by hunger thr-y have been
known in this stale to attack persons,*
but they usually flee from the presence of
man. The wolf bears a strong resem-
blance to our domestic dog ; is equally
prolific, and its time of gestation is said to
be the same. It produces its young in
the early part of summer, having from
four to eight at a birth. Between the dog
and the wolf prolific hybrids have often
been produced, which however partake
more of the nature of the wolf than of the
dog.

Wolves have always been so great an
annoyance that much pains, have been ta-
ken for their extermination, but at pres-
ent, their number is so much reduced
that comparatively very little damage is
done by them in this state. The legis-
lature, however, continues in force a law,
giving a bounty of $20 for the destruc-
tion of each grown wolf within the state,
and $10 for each'sucking whelp of a wolf;
and the amount paid annually for wolf
certificates is usually From one. to two hun-
dred dollars. The largest wolves killed
in Vermont have weighed from 00 to 100
pounds. The only part of the wolf which
is valuable is its skin, which affords a
warm and durable fur.

*This specimen is distorted by too much slutting.
ft was killed in Addison county about ten yemt Hgo.
♦Williams Hist. I. 101.

1792583

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT

35

nirc REI»

THE CROSS FOX,

THE RED FOX.

Canis fulvus. — Desmarest.

Description. — General color yellow-
ish red, or straw yellow, less brilliant to-
wards the tail ; chin white ; breast dark
gray ; belly whitish, tinned witli red to-
wards the tail; fronts of the legs and feet
black; tail very bushy and less ferrugin-
ous than tlur body, the hairs being mostly
terminated with black, giving it a dark ap-
pearance, will) usually a few white hairs
nt the tip; eyes noar to each other; —
length of the head and body 23 inches;
tail including the hair 1G inches ; height
of the shoulder 13 inches.

flisroRv. — The Fox has always been
proverbial for slyness and cunning, and
to illustrate fhese traits of character in
the human species this animal has been
largely taxed by fabulists, particularly by
VF.sop, who composed his fables 2400 years,
ago. Foxes have their residence chiefly
in holes, which they dig in the earth, or
of which they get possession by ejecting
the woodchuck from his. These burrows
have two or more entrances and usually
extend under ledges of rocks or roots of
trees so that digging out the animal is of-
ten attended with considerable labor.
Though sometimes seen skulking about
in the day time, or basking in the sun,
the Fox does not usually venture much
abroad excepting in the night. He then
prowls for his prey through the woods
and fields and even among our out-build-
ings. His food consists of hares, rats,
mice, small birds and poultry. He is said
sometimes to feed upon frogs, snails and
insects, and is fond of several kinds of
berries and fruits. The fable of the fox
and sour grapes, shows that the partiality
of this animal for the fruit of the vine
was understood in the days of iEsop.
The Fox is a great annoyance in many
jtarts of the state, sometimes destroying
young iambs and often making great hav-
oc among the poultry. A bounty of 25
cents each has been for several years
paid for killing Foxes within the state;
and the amount paid out of the treasury
on this account has varied from $1000 to
$'2000 annually, showing that from 4000
to 8000 foxes ha\ c been annually destroy-

ed. The law authorizing the bounty was
repealed in 1841.

The red Fox is the common fox in Ver-
mont, as well as in all the northern parts
of the United States and Canada. Much
doubt has existed with regard to the iden-
tity of this fox with the common fox of
Europe, Canis vulpes, but it is atpresent re-
garded by the best naturalists as a distinct
species. The particulars in which the
two species differ are pointed out by Dr.
Richardson in his Fauna Boreali America-
na, Vol. J. p. 9i. This fox is sometimes
taken in traps, but he is so sly and sus-
picious that to trap for him successfully
requires much skill. The best fox hunters
attribute their success to the use of assa-
fcetida or castoreum, with which they
rub their traps, believing the foxes to be
attracted by such perfumes. The fox ia
however more commonly taken in Ver-
mont, by being shot under the pursuit of
the hound. When the hound is put upon
their track they do not retreat directly to
their holes, nor lead off to any considera-
ble distance in one direction, but take a
circuit around the base of some hill which
they will often encompass many times be-
fore they proceed to their burrows. The
hunter, knowing this to be the habit of
the fox, can judge of the course he will
take and is enabled to place himself in a
situation to shoot the animal as it passes.
The skins of red foxes, if prime, are al-
ways valuable and the price for several
years past has been from ,-f;l to $1,25 and
sometimes a little higher according to
quality. The fox is a prolific animal. It
produces its young usually in April and
has from three to six at a litter.

THE AMERICAN CROSS FOX.
Canis fulvus. — Var. decussalus.

Description.— A blackish stripe pass-
ing from the neck down the back and
another crossing it at right angles over the
shoulders; sides ferruginous, running into
gray on the back ; the chin, legs and
under parts of the body black, with a few
hairs tipped with white ; upper side of the
tail gray ; under side and parts of the
body adjacent, pale yellow ; tail tipped
with white. The cross upon the shoul-
ders is not always apparent even in speci-
mens, which, from the fineness of the fur,
are acknowledged to be Cross Foxck.
Size the same as the common Fox.

History. — Instead of considering the
Cross Fox a distinct species, as most A-
merican writers have done, I have con-
cluded to adopt the opinion of Dr. Rich-
ardson, who regards it merely as a variety *
of the common fox. In form and size

!

36

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THE BLACK, Oil SILVER FOX.

THE LYNX.

the Cross Fox agrees very nearly with
the red fox, ami differs from it chiefly
in color, and perhaps a little in the fineness
of its fur. The skin of the Cross Fox
bears a much higher price than the red fox,
which is owing- almost entirely to the
color. The price of a prime skin of this
fox in Vermont is from $1,50 to $2,50.

THE BLACK, OR SILVER FOX.
Canis ful ens. — Var. ar«cntutus.

Description. — Color sometimes entire-
ly black and shining, with the exception
of the tip of the tail, which is white ; but
more commonly hoary on some parts from
an intermixture of hairs tipped with white;
the nose, legs, sides of the neck, hlack, or
marly so; fur long and thick upon the
body and tail, and short on the paws and
face ; soles of the feet covered with woolly
fur. One of the largest of this variety
measured from the nose; to the insertion
of the tail 31 inches, and the tail, includ-
ing the hair, IS inches.

History. — The Black or Silver Fox is
regarded by Dr. Richardson as another va-
riety of the common fox. It is much less
common than the preceding variety and
usually grows to a larger size. It has
sometimes been taken in Vermont, but
very seldom. Its fur isexceedingly valu-
able, prime skins being worth from $10 to
$15 each.

There is another variety in Vermont,
which is not uncommon, called the Savipson
Fox. The fur is coarse resembling wool
and of little value. The Gray Fox, Canis
virginlanus, is said to have been taken in
this state, hut as I have seen no Vermont
specimen, it is here omitted. As we have
before said, it is disputed whether our
common red fox is, or is not identical with
the common fox of Europe. Harlan,
God man, Richardson, and others, de-
scribe it as a distinct species. But Dr.
McMurtrie, the translator ofCuvier's An-
imal Kingdom, says that the Cards fulvus,
or American red fox, is identical with the
European, and was introduced into the
LTnited States many years ago by some
Englishmen, who thought they afforded
better sport than the American species.*

Genus Fei.is. — Linnccus.

Generic Characters. — Teeth 30 — Incis-
ors g canines 1.1 grinders A.* Inferior in-

u ' i i • ' a 3 •

cisors forming a regular series ; canines very
strong : grinders, above, two conical ones on each
side, one carnivorous one with three lobes and a
small tuberculous one, below, two false compres-
sed simple grinders and one carnivorous bicusped.
Head round, jaws short, tongue actileated ; ears

Cilvier'a Animal Kingdom, Vol. J, p. 433.

in general short ami triangular; pupils of the
Jyes in some circular and in others vertically
ival ; fore feet with 5 toes, hind feet with 4, ail
urnished with long sharp retractile claws.

THE LYNX.

Felis canadensis. — Linnjeus.

Description. — General aspect hoary,
sometimes mottled ; lighter and yellow-
ish beneath, the extremity of the hairs be-
ing white, and below, yellowish brown ;
head rounded ; ears erect, terminated
with hlack pencils or tufts, ].h inch loinr,
hlack at the tip, with a hlack border on
the posterior side. Anterior border yel-
lowish. Base of the jaws surrounded by
a fringe of long hair, intermixed with
gray hlack and white ; brownish around
the mouth, white beneath ; whiskers black
and white ; tail terminated with black ;
legs yellowish ; toes 4 on each foot, much
spread ; nails sharp, white and concealed
in long silky fur or hair. Total length 3
feet 4 inches; tail 5 inches. Height of the
back 1 foot 4 inches ; height of the ear I:]
inches.

History. — The Lynx was never very
greatly multiplied in Vermont, hut when
the country was new, it was frequently
met with, and individuals have been ta-
ken occasionally, down to the present
time. It resembles in fierceness and subt-
lety the other animals of the cat kind,
preying upon hares, rabbits, mice and oth-
er small animals. Nor does it confine
itself to small game, but sometimes des-
troys larger animals, such as deer, sheep,
calves &c. This it is said to do by drop-
ping upon them from branches of trees,
clinging upon their necks with their sharp
claws and opening their jugular veins
and drinking their blood. Sheep and lambs
have sometimes been destroyed by them
in this state. This animal is found in
large numbers in the vicinity of Hudson's
Hay. Their skins are valuable and the
Hudson Bay Company procure annually
from seven to nine thousand of them. The
flesh of the Lynx is used for food and is
said to resemble that of the hare. It is a
timid animal and makes but little defence
when attacked. Its gait is by bounds but
not swift. It swims well and will cross
lakes 2 miles wide. It breeds once a year
and has two young at a time.

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

TIIK KAY LYNX.

:ata MOUNT.

THE BAY LYNX.
Felis rufa. — Guildensted.

Description. — Color yellowish, or red-
dish brown. Inferior parts of the throat
white, or whitish. Eyes encircled with
a whitish band. Front and portions about
the upper lip striped with darkish; hides
yellow. Ears short, tufted with black
hair springing from the back of the ear,
near the tip. Inside of the legs spotted
witli brown. Tail short, terminated with
•lurk brown, nnd obscurely banded. —
Fringe of hair longer than in other parts
near the base of the jaw. Ears surround-
ed posteriorly with a black border, within
which is a triangular patch of yellowish
white. Length of the head and body, 2
ft. \\ inches; tail, 4 inches; height, 16
inches.

History. — This animal has been fre-
quently met with in our woods, and has
perhaps been most generally known by
the name of Wild Cut. It is, however, to
be distinguished from the smaller wild
cats with long tails, which are met with,
and which have probably sprung from the
domestic cat. In its habits it resembles
the preceding species, preying upon squir-
rels, birds, and other small animals. This
animal is now very rare, being only occa-
sionally seen, in the most unsettled parts
of the State.

THE CATAMOUNT.
Felis concolor. — Linnjeus.
Description. — General color, brown-
ish red on the back, reddish gray on the
sides, and whitish or light ash on the bel-
ly; tail, the same color as the back, ex-
cepting the extremity, which is brown-
ish black, not tufted ; chin, upper lip,
and inside of the ears, yellowish white;
the hairs on the hick are short, thick,
brownish, and tipped with red; on the

sides and belly, longer, looser, lighter,
and tipped with white; hairs of the face
like the back, with whitish hairs inter-
mingled, giving it a reddish gray tinge:
body long, head round, jaws strong;
teeth strong; canines conical; claws
strong, retractile, and of a pearly white
color. Dimensions of the specimen from
which the above description is drawn —
length from the nose to the tail, 4 ft. 8
inches; tail, 2 ft. G inches; from the top
of the head to the point of the nose, 10
inches; width across the forehead, 8 in-
ches; length of the fore legs, 1 ft. 2 in-
ches; the hind legs, 1 ft. 4 inches.

History. — This ferocious American an-
imal has been known in different places
under a great variety of different names.
In the southern and western parts of the
United States it is called the Cougar,

laud it

iwn by the name of Cata-
mount, or Panther; while in Europe it
has more commonly borne the name of
Puma. This is the largest and most for-
midable animal of the cat kind found in
America. In form it bears considerable
resemblance to the domestic cat, but
when fully grown is about two-thirds the
size of a lion. It, however, differs from
the lion in not having the tail tufted, and
the male being without a mane. These
animals, though scattered over all the
temperate and warmer parts of the conti-
nent, do not appear to have been any
where very numerous. They were for-
merly much more common in Vermont
than at the present day, and have at times
done much injury by destroying sheep
and young cattle. They usually take
their prey, like the common cat, by creep-
ing softly within proper distance, and then
leaping upon it and seizing it by the
throat. If the victim be a large animal,
like a calf, sheep, or deer, they swing it
upon their back, and dash off' with great
ease and celerity, into some retired place,
where it is devoured at leisure. Some
years ago one of these animals took a
large calf out of a pen in Bennington,
where the fence was four feet high, and
earned it off" on his back. With this load,
he ascended a ledge of rocks, where one
of the leaps was 15 feet in height.* Dur-
ing the day the Catamount usually lies
concealed, but in the night prowls for his
prey, and in early times his peculiar cry
lias often sent a thrill of horror through a
whole neighborhood. When the country-
was new, much precaution was consider-
ed necessary, when travelling in the
Woods in this state, in order to he secure
from the attacks of this ferocious beast.

Willi

History, Vol. 1, p. i04.

58

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part.

■HE COMMON SEAL.

'J' I IK BEAVER.

Travellers usually went well armed, and
at night built a large fire, which served
to keep tlits cautious animal at a distance.
Under such circumstances a catamount
will sometimes approach within a few-
rods of the fire, and they have been thus
shot in this state bj' aiming between the
glaring eye-balls, when nothing else was
visible. The Catamount will seldom attack
a person in the daytime, unless provoked
or wounded. In the New York Museum is
the skin of one of these animals, of which
the following account is given in Dr. God-
man's Natural History.* " Two hunters,
accompanied"' by two dogs, went out in
quest of game, near the Catskill moun-
tains. At the foot of a large hill, they
agreed to go round it in opposite direc-
tions,and when either discharged his rifle,
the other was to hasten towards him to aid
him in securing the game. Soon after part-
ing, the report of a rifle was heard by one
of them, who, hastening towards the spot,
after some search, found nothing but the
dog, dreadfully lacerated and dead. He
now became much alarmed for the fate of
his companion, and, while anxiously look-
ing round, was horror struck by the harsh
growl of a catamount, which he perceiv-
ed on a large limb of a tree, crouching up-
on the body of his friend, and apparently
meditating an attack on himself. Instant-
ly he levelled his rifle at the beast, and
was ho fortunate as to wound it mortally,
when it fell to the ground along with the
body ofhis slaughtered companion. His
dog then rushed upon the wounded cata-
mount, which, with one blow ofhis paw,
laid the poor creature dead by its side.
The surviving hunter now left the spot,
and quickly returned with several other
persons, when they found the lifeless cat-
amount extended near the dead bodies of
the hunter and the faithful dogs." So
recently as 1830, one of these animals
sprang upon an unfortunate woman, as
she was passing along a road in Pennsyl-
vania, and killed her instantly. t

The weight of a full grown catamount
is usually about 100 pounds. One of the
largest taken in this State, to my knowl-
edge, was killed in Roxbury, in Decem-
ber, 1821. It measured 7 feet from the
nose to the extremity of the tail, and
weighed 118 pounds. Under the name of
panther, our legislature give a bounty of
$21) each for the destruction of this ani-
mal within the state.

THE COMMON SEAL.

Pkoca vitulina. — Linna:us.

But what ! exclaims one, the Seal in

Vermont— that inland mountain state ?

Be not surprised, kind reader. It is even
so, and there are living witnesses of the
fact. While several persons were ska-
ting upon the ice on lake Champlain, a
little south of Burlington, in February,
1810, they discovered a living seal in a
wild state, which had found its way
through a crack and was crawling upon
the ice. They took off their skates, with
which they attacked and killed it, and
then drew it to the shore. It is said to
have been Ah feet long. It must have
reached our lake by way of the St. Law-
rence and Richelieu ; but it was not as-
certained whether the poor (fat) wander-
er had lost his way, or having taken a miff
at society, was seeking voluntary retire-
ment from the world — of deals.

Order RODENTIA — Cuvicr.
This is the same as the order Glires of
Linntcus, and embraces those animals,
whose teeth are fitted for gnawing. They
have two large incisors in each jaw, sep-
arated from the grinders by a vacant space.
No canine teeth. The grinders in some
of the genera have flat or ridged crowns,
and in others blunt tubercles. Under
jaw articulated by a longitudinal condyle ;
stomach simple ; intestines long ; Cfficum
large ; mammas variable in number.
They feed generally on vegetables, but
the species with tuberculaled grinders
are nearly omnivorous.

Genus Castor. — Linnir.us.
Generic Characters. — Teeth, 20 — incis-
ors 2. no canines, grinders, 1-A. Incisors.

o l '6 '44*

very strong, smooth on the outside, and angular
within ; grinders have a fold on the internal edge,
and three similar folds on the outer edge of the
upper teeth, which are inverted in the lower ones.
Kyes, small; ears, short and round; feet, live
toed ; fore feet short ; hind feet longer and pal-
mated ; tail, large, flat, and scaly ; a pouch near
the root of the tail in the male tilled with an unc-
tuous, odoriferous secretion.

Vol. 1,

301.

f Griff. Part V, p. 438.

^fi^£c^s^&!*f--

THE BEAVER.

Castor fiber. — Linn.<eus.

Description. — Fur dense, consisting

of two sorts, one coarse, long, and of a

chestnut, or reddish brown color, the oth-

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT

89

THK lil.AV IK.

THE BEAVER.

er shorter, very fine and of smoky or sil-
very gray ; head flattened ; nose short
and thick ; eyes small ; ears short, thick,
rounded and covered with short fur ; neck
short ; body thick ; back arched ; tail flat
arid broad horizontally, oval and covered
With oval angular scales ; fore legs very
short and small ; and the fore feet are us-
ed as hands .for conveying food to the
mouth ; hind feet with long, hard and
callous soles, and long toes connected by
a web. The usual length of the beaver
from the nose to the origin of the tail, is
from 30 to 40 inches, and the tail about J 1
inches long and G broad at the widest
part. The usual weight of a full grown
Beaver is stated by Dr. Richardson to be
about twenty-four pounds.

History. — The beaver, though former-
ly a very common animal in Vermont, is
probably now nearly or quite extermina-
ted, none of them having been killed
within the state, to my knowledge, for
several years. The last, of which I have
any account, was killed, in Essex county,
12 years ago.* The vestiges of its la-
bors are, however, still found in " the
beaver meadows" in all parts of the coun-
try. The peculiarities in the form of the
beaver, and especially the remarkable in-
stinct, which guides him in the construc-
tion of his dwelling, have always render-
ed him an object of admiration, and ma-
ny accounts of him have been published,
most of which abounded in exaggeration
and fable. The following account by
Ilearne, who studied the habits of this an-
imal for 20 years, in the fur countries
around Hudson's Bay, is pronounced by
Dr. Richardson,* who, himself, had the
best opportunity for ascertaining its truth,
to be the most correct and free from ex-
aggeration, which has ever been publish-
ed.

" Where beavers are numerous, they
construct their habitations upon the
banks of lakes, ponds, rivers, and small
streams; but when they are at liberty to
choose, they always select places where
there is sufficient current to facilitate the
transportation of wood and other necessa-
ries to their dwellings, and where the
water is so deep as not to be frozen to the
bottom during the winter. The beav-
ers that build their houses in small riv-
ers and creeks, in which water is liable
to he drained off, when the back supplies
are dried up by the frost, are wonderfully
taught by instinct, to provide against that
evil, by making a dam quite across the
stream, at a convenient distance from

• I-otier of i ho Hon. J. I'arker, of Orleans, to the
Author, Sept. 07, 1841.
f Fauna Boreal! Americana, Part 1. page 108.

their houses. The beaver dams differ in
shape, according to the nature of the
place in which they are built. If the wa-
ter in the stream have but little motion,
the dam is almost straight ; but when the
current is more rapid, it is always made
with a considerable curve convex tow-
ards the stream. The materials made
use of, are drift-wood, green willows,
birch and poplars, if they can be got; al-
so mud and stones, intermixed in such ;i
manner, as must evidently contribute to
the strength of the dam ; but there is no
order or method observed in the dams ex-
cept that of the work being carried on
with a regular sweep, and all the parts
being made of equal strength. In places
which have been long frequented by beav-
ers undisturbed, their dams, by frequent
repairing^ become a solid bank, capable' of
resisting a great force both of water and
ice ; and as the willow, poplar and birch,
generally take root and shoot up, they by
degrees form a kind of regular planted
hedge, which I have seen in some places
so tall that birds have built their nests
among the branches.

"The beaver-houses are built of the
same materials as their dams, and are al-
ways proportioned in size to the number
of inhabitants, which seldom exceeds four
old and six or eight young ones ; though,
by chance, I have seen above double that
number. Instead of order or regulation
being observed in rearing their houses,
they are of much ruder structure than
their dams; for, notwithstanding the sa-
gacity of these animals, it has never been
observed that they aim at any other con-
venience in their houses, than to have a
dry place to lie on ; and there they usu-
ally eat their victuals, which they occa-
sionally take out of the water. It fre-
quently happens that some of the large
houses are found to have one or more
partitions, if they deserve the appellation;
but it is no more than a part of the main
building, left by the sagacity of the beav-
er to support the roof. On such occa-
sions, it is common for those different
apartments, as some are pleased to call
them, to have no communication with
each other but by water ; so that, in fact,
they -may be called double or treble hous-
es, rather than different apartments of
the same house. I have seen a beaver-
house built in a small island, that had
near a dozen different apartments under
one roof; and, two or three of these only
excepted, none of them had any commu-
nication with each other but by water.
As there were beavers enough to inhabit
each apartment, it is more than probable
that each family knew their own, and al-

40

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

1'aiit I.

11IE BKAVF.R.

ways entered at their own doors, without
any further connection with their neigh-
bora than a friendly intercourse, and to
join their united labors in erecting their
separate habitations, and building their
dams where required. Travellers, who
assert that beavers have two doors to
their houses, one on the landside, and the
other next the watqr, seem to be less ac-
quainted with these animals than others,
who assign them an elegant suite of apart-
ments. Such a construction would ren-
der their houses of no use, either to pro-
tect them from the attacks of their en
eniies, or guard them against extreme
cold weather.

" So far are beavers from driving stakes
into the ground, when building their
houses, that they lay most of the wood
crosswise, and nearly horizontal, _and
without any other order than that of leav-
ing a hollow, or cavity in the middle ;
when any unnecessary branches project
inward, they cut them off with their teeth,
and throw tliem in among the rest, to pre-
vent the mud from falling through the roof.
It is a mistaken notion, that the wood work
is first completed and then plastered ; for
the whole of their bouses as well as their
dams, are, from the foundation, one mass
of mud and wood, mixed with stones, if
they can be procured. The mud is always
taken from the edge of the bank, or the
bottom of the creek or pond, near the door
of the house ; and, though their fore paws
are small, yet it is held so close up between
them under their throat, that they cany
hoth mud and stones, while they always
drag the wood with their teeth. All their
work is executed in the night ; and they
a;e so expeditious, that in the course of
one night I have known them to have
collected as much mud as amounted to
some thousands of their little handluls.
It is the great policy in these animals to
cover the outside of their houses every
fall with fresh mud, and as late as possi-
ble in the autumn, even when the frosts
become pretty severe, as by this means it
soon freezes as hard as a stone, and pre-
vents their common enemy, the wolver-
ene, from disturbing them during the
winter. And as they are frequently seen
to walk o"er their work, and sometimes
to give a flap with their tail, particularly
when plunging into the water, this with-
out doubt, has given rise to the vulgar
opinion that they use their tails asatrow-
el, with which they plaster their houses ;
whereas that napping of the tail is no
more than a custom, which they always
preserve, even when they become tame
and domestic, and move particularly so
when tiny are startled "

Judge Parker, who has devoted consid-
erable attention to the habits of our native
quadrupeds, after confirming the above
statement of llcarne, in relation to the
structure of the dams and houses of the
beaver, observes : " 1 have thought the
correct judgment exercised by the beaver
in the selection of the place for his dam,
to be the most remarkable part of his
character. The choice seems to be made
with reference to the plenty of timber
suitable for his food, and the proportion,
which the space to be overflowed bears

to the length of the dam ; and wi

regan

to these, they seem to judge as correctly
as man. So far as they have fallen under
my own observation, 1 have always found
them at the very best places, which could
be selected on the whole stream. One chief
object of their pond seems to be, to float
timber, which is to serve them for food,
to their dwellings ; and where the water
does not prove deep enough for that pur-
pose, they deepen it by digging a trench
along the bottom, and cutting oil' the logs
which lie in their way, with their teeth.
1 have seen logs 20 inches in diameter,
which had been thus cut off and remov-
ed."*

Their food during the winter consists
principally of the root of the pond lily,
Nupkur lutcum, which they find in the
water beneath the ice. They also feed
upon the bark of the poplar, birch and
willow, which they cut down in the fall
and drag into the water opposite the doors
of their houses, as a part of their supply
for the winter. In the summer they rove
about, feeding upon different kinds of
herbage anil berries, and do not return to
repair their houses and lay in their winter
stock of wood till towards fall. When
they are to erect a new habitation, they
fell the timber for it in the spring, but do
not begin to build till August, and never
complete it till cold weather sets in.

The beaver is a cleanly animal, never
allowing any excrement or filth within
its lodge. They are said to pair in Feb-
ruary and bring forth their young in the
latter part of May, producing from four
to eight at a litter. Beavers seldom cut
down trees which exceed 5 or G inches in
diameter, and they always leave the top
of the stump in the form of a cone. They
gnaw all round the tree, but direct its
fall by cutting one side higher Hum the
other. The weight of a full grown beav-
er does not often exceed 30 pounds,
though, according to Or. Williams, tiny
have taken in Vermont weighing from
•10 to 60 pounds. 1

CiiAr.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

41

II F. MUSK-UAT.

Genus Fiber. — Cuvier.

Generic Characters. Teeth, 16— Tncisors

? no caniiK's, grinders 3-3 Lower incisors

„, I ft y .,

sharp pointed and convex in fronl ; grinders wiib
Hal crtfwns, furnished with scaly, transverse zig^
8,i» lamina; ; four toes-, with the rudiments of a
fifth, on the fore feet ; five toes on the hind foot.
having the edges furnished with stiff hairs, used
in swimming, like the membrane of palmated feet;
tail long, compressed laterally; both sexes secrete
tin odoriferous, musky unguent.

THE .MUSK EAT.
Fiber zihethicus. — Di:sm.

Description. — General color, yellow-
ish, or reddish brown, lighter, beneath ;
body thick and Cattish, with a short head
and indistinct neck ; incisory teeth very
large; lips covered with coarse hair; nose
short; eyes small and lateral, and partly
concealed by the hair ; eats low, oblong,
Covered with hair and inconspicuous ; tail
nearly as long as the body, flattened later-
ally, and covered with small brown scales,
interspersed with short black hairs ; legs
and feet covered with short, brown shin-
ing hair ; toes 5 on each foot; thumbs
very small ; claws strong and sharp ; a
brown spot beneath the tip of the under
jaw. Length of the specimen before me,
from the nose to the origin of the tail L3
inches ; tail Uh inches ; weight 3i pounds.

History.— Music Rats, or Musquashes,
as they are often called, have a strong
smell of musk, ' particularly the males.
Their fur is used in the manufacture of
hats, and great numbers of their skins
are shipped to Europe. Dr. Richardson
iinforms us that from four to live hundred
thousand are annually imported from
North America into Great Britain. Musk
Rats wore very numerous in Vermont
when the country was new, and their
skins afforded to the early settlers an im-
portant article of export. Although now
much diminished, they are still found in
considerable numbers, inhabiting the
hanks of our larger streams.

In its aquatic and nocturnal habits, ns
well us in its appearance and the mode of
constructing its dwelling, the Musk-rat is
closely allied to the heaver. Like the
beaver he is an excellent swimmer, dives
well and remains for a considerable time
under water. It is only in low swampy
situations that the Mm! -rat. resorts to the
Construction of habitations above ground
I'r.i. C

These are made principally of mud mixed
with grass, and in the form of a dome, with
a warm bed of leaves and grass within.
The only place of entrance is from beneath,
and from tins there are usually several
subterranean passages leading in different
directions. When ice forms over the sur-
face of the swamp, they make breathing
holes through it, which they sometimes
protect from frost by a covering of mud.
When disturbed in their dwellings, the
Musk-rats retreat through their subter-
ranean passages. They feed principally
upon the roots and bark of aquatic plants,
but do not, like the beaver, lay in a store
of provisions for the winter.

During the winter several families of
Musk-rats usually reside together. Rut
when warm weather approaches, they de-
sert tin ir house, and during the summer
live in pans and rear llieir young, of which
they have from three to six at a litter.
They are very watchful and shy, seldom
venturing abroad during the day time, and
hence they are very seldom seen, even in
nighborhoods where they are known to
abound. They run badly upon the land,
but swim with facility and dive instantly
on perceiving the flash of a gun, usually
giving a smart blow upon the water, with
the tail, in the act of diving. They are
usually taken in steel-traps. The skins
are of little value, seldom bringing more
than 17cts. and often less than 1U cents.

Genus Arvicola.
Generic Characters.— -Teeth 1G— Incis-
ors =. no canines, grinders A-?.. The grinders
arc flat on the crowns, and marked with zigzag
lines of enamel. Four toes ami the rudiments of
a fifth on the fore feet ; on the hind foet five iocs;
Iocs furnished with weak nails, but neither palnn-
led nor furnished with hairs on their borders ; ears
larse ; tail round, ban v, and nearly as long as the
body.

THE MEADOW MOUSE.
Arvicola riparius. — Or.n.
Description. — General color above
grayish brown, resulting from the fur,
being plumbeous at the base, and tip-
ped with gray and reddish brown ; be-
neath 1 1 fill yellowish lead color; head

rather large ; ears.broatl-, short, and slight-
ly covered with hair on both sides to-
wards the margin, opening large and ap-
parent; eyes moderately large, black and
unconcealed ; whiskers few and blackish;
tail short and sparsely covered with
short still" hairs; legs and feet slender;
tees, four, with a rudiment of a fifth on
the fort feet, the second toe longest and
the outer .shortest; five toes behind, the

42

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

IE MEADOW MOUSE.

NORWAY on BROWN HAT.

three middle ones nearly equal. Length
of the specimen from which the above de.
scription was made, 5 inches ; tail 2 in-
ches.

History. — We have doubtless as many
as two or three species belonging to this
genus, but the)' have not been sufficient-
ly examined to enable roe to speak with
confidence respecting them. Meadow
mice are quite common in most parts of
the state, and at times they become so
greatly multiplied as to do much injury
to the meadows and to the stacks of hay
and grain. They have their burrows in
the banks of streams, and under old
slumps, logs and fences ; and in neighbor-
hoods where they are plenty, numerous
iurrows may be seen along the roots of
the grass, forming lanes in which they
may travel in various directions from
their burrows. Their nests are some-
times constructed in their burrows, and
are also found at the season of hay har-
Test, in great numbers, among the vege-
tation upon the surface of the ground.
They are built of coarse straw, lined with
fine soft leaves, somewhat in the manner
of a bird's nest, with this difference, that
they are covered at the top, and the pas-
sage into them is from beneath. These
nests frequently contain 6 or 8 young
ones. The meadow mice, though very
prolific, have many enemies which serve
in a measure to check their undue
multiplication. Large numbers of them
are destroyed by owls, hawks, foxes, cats,
&C, and the country people, when at la-
bor in the field, are vigilant in putting
them to death.

Genus Mus. — IJnnaus.
Generic Characters. — Teeth 1G — Incis-
ors Z no canines, grinders .3.1 The grinders

2 ' a 3 3* c

art; furnished with blunt tubercles. Destitute of
cheek pouches; fore feet with four toes, and a
wart in the place of a thumb, covered with an ob-
tuse nail; hind feet will) five toes; nails Ion;;,
shar|», and incurved; tail long, tapering, naked,
and scaly ; some part of the hair of the body lon-
ger and stiffer than the rest; ears oblong, or
round.

THE NORWAY RAT.
.Mus decumamis. — Pall.
Description. — General color, light red-
dish'brown intermingled with ash, light-
er and grayish beneath ; feet pale flesh
colored, and nearly naked ; tail nearly as
long as the body, covered with small dus-
ky scales, with short stiff hairs thinly
scattered among them; four toes and a
small tubercle in place of a thumb before,
five behind ; nails small, light horn color,

and slightly curved; whiskers of unequal
length, partly black and partly white.
Total length of the specimen before mi!,
which is a female, from the snout to the
tip of the tail, 16 inches; head 1.8; body
7.5; tail 6.7. Six pectoral and six ven-
tral mamma;.

History. — This rat, which is at pres-
ent the common rat of the United States,
is supposed to have been originally a na-
tive of Persia, or India, and was first
known in Europe in the early part of the
18th century. It was carried to Eng-
land, about the year 1750, in the timber
ships from Norway, and from this cir-
cumstance it received the name of JS'ur-
wuij Hal. Front Europe it was brought
over to America, about the commence-
ment of the American Revolution, and is
now diffused over the greater part of the
continent. The Norway, or, as often call-
ed, the Brown rat is very prolific, bringing
forth from 10 to JG at a litter, and but for
its numerous enemies, and its own rapa-
cious disposition, it would soon become
an intolerable pest. Happily, however,
for man, they are not only destroyed by
weasels, eats, and dogs, but they are very
destructive enemies to one another, both
in the young and adult state. They are
sometimes caught in traps, but on account
of their caution and cunning it requires
much art. The surest way of destroying
them is by poison, and arsenic is com-
monly used for that purpose, but so many
fatal accidents occur from having this pois-
on about our buildings, that its use is not
to he recommended. If poison is to be
used for the destruction of rats, the pow-
der of nux vomica, mixed with meal and
scented with oil of rhodium, should be em-
ployed, and it is found very effectual for
that purpose. The brown rat is a deadly
enemy to the black rat, and destroys it, or
drives it from the neighborhood. It also
destroys mice. But it do*es not confine
itself to the destruction of noxious ani-
mals. It often devours eggs, chickens,
and the young of other domestic fowls.
It however becomes the greatest nuisance
and does most mischief by the destruc-
tion of grain, fruit, roots &c. in our gra-
naries and cellars. The graphic charac-
ter given it by Dr. God man will not be
disputed by any who are acquainted with
its habits. " It must be confessed," says
the Doctor, "that this rat is one of the
veriest scoundrels in the brute creation,
though it is a misfortune in him rather
than a fault, since he acts solely in obe-
dience to the impulses of nature, is guid-
ed by no other law than his own will, and
submits to no restraints, but such as are
imposed by force. He is, therefore, by

Chap. %

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

43

:HK BLACK HAT.

TlfK COMMON MOUSE.

no means as bad as the scoundrels of a
higher order of beings, who, endowed
with superior powers of intelligence, and
enjoying the advantages of education, do
still act as if they possessed all the vil-
lainous qualities of the rat, without being
able to offer a similar apology for their
conduct. Among quadrupeds this rat
may be considered as occupying the same
rank as the crow does among birds. He
is one of the most impudent, troublesome,
mischievous, wicked wretches that ev-
er infested the habitations of man. To
the most wily cunning lie adds a fierceness
and malignity of disposition that frequent-
ly renders him a dangerous enemy, and a
destroyer of every living creature he can
master, lie is a pure thief, stealing not
only articles of fund, for which his hun-
ger would be a sufficient justification, but
nil'-!. line, which can be of no possible
Utility to him. When be gains access to
u library he does not hesitate to translate
and appropriate to his own use the works
of the most learned authors, and is not so
readily detected as some of his brother pi-
rates of the human kind, since he does
not carry off his prize entire, but cuts it
into pieces before he conveys it to his
den. He is, in short, possessed of no one
quality to save him from being universal-
ly despised, and his character inspires no
stronger feeling than contempt, even in
those who are under the necessity of put-
ting him to death."*

THE BLACK RAT.
J\fus rait us. — Linn.

Description. — Head elongated ; snout
pointed; lower jaw very short; eyes
large and projecting ; ears naked, large,
broad and nearly ovate; whiskers long;
five flat toes on the hind feet, and on the
fore feet four, with a nail representing a
thumb; lateral nails, both behind and be-
fore, very short ; tail marly naked, and
furnished with scales disposed in rings,
amounting in some cases to 2~>() ; color
cinerous black, lighter beneath ; whiskers
black ; top of the feot covered with small
white hairs ; mamma,' 12. Length of the
head and body 7 inches, tail 7.5 inches.

Historv. — It seems to he a matter of
some doubt whether this Rat is indige-
nous in this country or was introduced
from Europe. But whethe introduced,
or indigneous, it is certain that they were
very numerous here before the introduc-
tion of the preceding species. It is stated
by Dr.WilliaiasI that neither the Norway
rat, nor the Black rat, was known in Ver-

* Natural History Vol. 2. — paga 78.
t History of Vermont, Vol, J, p. J13.

inont till some time after the settlement
of the state was commenced, but that,
when he wrote, they had become quite
common. The Norway or Brown rat is
now the common rat in all the older parts
of the state; and yet it is buta few years
since it was said that none of these rats
had ever been seen in the county of Or-
leans.

THE COMMON MOUSE.

Mus musculus. — Linn.

Description. — CoJor, dusky gray above

and ash gray beneath; forehead, reddish;

whiskers, slender, numerous and black :
feet, white; nails, reddish with white
points ; tail, round, sparsely covered with
very short hairs, and tapering from the
insertion to the extremity ; ears large.
Total length about seven inches, of which
the tail constitutes one half. A variety
of this mouse which is wholly white is
frequently met with in the neighborhood
of lake Champlaip, on both sides of the
lake, and another variety, less common,
is while spotted with black.

History. — This mischievous little crea-
ture, like the preceding, did not exist in
North America at the lime of the discov-
ery of this continent by the Europeans,
but finding its way over in ships, in bales
of merchandize, &c, by its great fecun-
dity it tilled the country with a rapidity
equal to the advancement of the new set-
tlement,and is now very common through-
out all the settled parts of the continent.
This mouse takes up his resilience chiefly
in houses, bams and granaries, where he
is often exceedingly troublesome, and
does much mischief. He is very apt to
find his way into cellars and pantries, of-
ten by gnawing holes through boards, and
he is sure to nibble every kind of eatable
that falls in his way. On thi/; account,
and on account of the peouliar odor which
he communicates to the places which he
frequents, the mouse, though a beautiful
and sprightly creature, is every where re-
garded with disgust. The mouse builds
its nest very much like Unit of a bird,
lining the inside with wool, cotton or oth-
er soft materials. It brings forth young
several times during the year, and has
from G to 10 at a litter, so that its multi-
plication, when unchecked, is exceeding-
ly rapid. Aristotle, in his history ot ani-
mals, mentions that a pregnant female of
this species was shut tip in a chest of
grain, and in a short time 120 individuals
were counted, from which it would ap-
pear that the mouse was as much distin-
guished on account of its fecundity 2000
years ago as it is at present.

44

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT,

Taut 1,

THE JUMl'ING MDL't

THE WOOOCHUl K

Genus Geukillus. — Dcsmarcst.
Generic Characters. — Teeth, 16 — Incis-
ors -L, no canines, griiulurs .■?.:«., The grinders
arc tuberculous ; the lir-ii with three, iho sim-.ow
with two audlhelhii I with one tubercle. Ilea,
elongated; ears moderately Ions, rounded at Ihc
extremity; fore feet sliorl with four toes and i
rudimentary thumb; hind feel long, having fm
toes wi h nails ; each f>»ot with a proper metatar-
sal bone ; tail long, and more or less hairy.

THE JUMPING MOUSE.
Gerhillus cemadensis. — Desm.

Description. — General color, yellow-
ish brown above, grayish yellow on the
faicles, and yellowish white on the belly ;
tail tailoring, longer than the body, sparse-
ly covered with very short hair, and the
tuft at the end very small; head small, nar-
row and pointed; lore legs very short; hind
leys very long; nails blender and sharp;
ears moderate and covered on both sides
with short hair; upper incisors grooved
on the outside. Length of the specimen
before me, from the nose to the insertion
of the tail 4 inches, head 1 inch, body o
inches , tail 5 inches, hind leg d inches ,fore
leg -\ of an inch.

History. — This timid and active lit-
tle animal is frequently met with in the
grain fields and meadows in all parts of
the state. When not in motion it might
be mistaken for a common field mouse ;
but its usual method of progression is very
different. It sometimes runs on all its
feet, but it more commonly moves by leaps
on its hind legs, particularly when pur-
sued. It will often clear five or six feet
at a leap, and its leaps are made in such
quick succession that it is not easily
caught. On examination, it is found to
differ considerably in form from the mouse,
particularly in the great disproportion be-
tween the fore and hind legs, the latter
being more than twice the length of the
former. In this respect it resembles the
kangaroo of Australasia, and the jerboa
of the eastern continent. They pass the
winter in a torpid state and are not usu-
ally out in the spring before June.

Genus a n c i o m y s . — Geoffrey.
Generic Characters. — Teeth 22 — Incis-

jriiulcrsfuruishodwidiridj.'csaudiubBrcleA Body
hick and heavy ; head and eyes large ; ears sliorl ;
laws strong; fore feet iviih four toes and a rudi-
nemary thumb; hind feel with ti\o toes; nuils-
itrong and compressed ; tail generally short, hairy-

v-f-r^

,-^^)X^y .

?%**.&>*.<.

THE WOODCHUCK.
Jlrctomys monax. — Gmki.iv.
Description. — General color, grayish
ferruginous brown, paler beneath and ap-
proaching to red between the legs; top
of the head and nose brown; feet and
nails black ; whiskers black and stiff,
standing in three clusters on each side ;
tail covered with long reddish brown hair.
Length of the specimen before me from
the nose to the insertion of the tail 16^
inches; head 3£ inches, body 13 inches,
trunk of the tail f> inches, with the hair
extending \S inch beyond, fore legs 4 inch-
es, feet 2£ inches; longest nail .6 inch ;
hind legs 4h inches; feet 15 inches; lar-
gest nail .4 inch. Weights lbs. This
though an adult is not one of the largest

History.— The Woodehuck is a com-
mon and well known animal in all party
of the state. They are found both in the
woods and open fields, where they reside
in pairs or families, in holes ,which they
dig in the ground. These holes are usu-
ally made beneath a large rock, or stump,
or in the side of some dry bank, and are
sometimes very extensive, consisting of
several apartments with several open-
ings. In these recesses they form their
nests of dry leaves and grass in which
they spend much of their time in sleep.
Their food is entirely vegetable, of which
they eat various kinds. They are par-
ticularly loud of clover and beans, and
are occasionally injurious to the farmers
by the extent of their depredations.
When feeding they frequently rise upon
their haunches to reconoitre, raising their
fore feet like hands. In this position,
when the weather is fine, they will some-
times sit for hours at the entrance of the
holes, but they seldom venture far abroad
in the day time. On the approach of
cold weather they confine themselves to

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

45

THE ORAY SQUIRREL.

HLAOK SQUIRREI

their holes by closing the passage be-
tween themselves and the surface of the
{.'round and spend the winter, like bears,
in 11 torpid state.

The Wooclchuck is a cleanly animal,
is capable of being tamed, in which state
it becomes playful and fond of attention.
It-is a low-set, clumsy animal, and when
the retreat to his bole is cut off, he will
boldly face a dog in battle, and is fully a
match for one of his own size. His bite,
with his long and projecting incisors, is
very severe. The female produces from
four to six at a litter. The weight of a
Woodchuck of the largest size in Ver-
mont when fat is 10 or 11 pounds. Its
flesh is sometimes eaten, but is not much
esteemed. Sometimes called Ground Hog.

Genus Sciukus. — Linnaus.
Generic Characters. — Teeth 22 — Jncis-
ori I no canines, grinders {.-&, The upper in-
cisors arc flat in front ami wedge-shape at the ex-
Iremity, the. lower are pointed anJ compressed
laterally. The grinders are tuht-icular. B,i,|y
small and elongated : head small ; ears erect •
eyes large ; fore feet wiih four toes and a tubercle
instead of a tlunnli ; hind feet with five long toes
all furnished widilnng hooked nail-; tail long ami
frequently shaggy; two pectoral and six ventral

THE GRAY SQUIRREL.

Sciurus cluereus. — G.mei.in.
Description. — General color, gray
above and white beneath ; sides of the
head and body, and the exterior of the legs,
reddish fawn mixed with gray ; inside of
the legs and thighs bluish white ; tail
large and bushy, composed of hairs mark-
ed with zones alternately fawn and black,
and tipped with white; ears without pen-
cils, rounded and covered with very short
hair; whiskers black, 2£ inches long.
Length of the specimen before me, from
the nose to the insertion of the tail, 10
inches; tail, (trunk 0£, tuft 2 J 1H inch-
es. Weight l.J pound.

History. — According to Dr. Williams,
the Gray Squirrel was formerly the most.
common squirrel i ■ i Vermont. It is still

found in considerable numbers
plentifully at present than son

ilh

of tl
com
perl

nil,

t less
i some of the
well as some
nine years, be-

xceedingly multiplied, and then,
, for several years very few of
them will he seen. This sudden increase
and diminution of their numbers, seems
to depend upon two causes, the supply of
food and the severity of the winters.
Their great multiplication generally fol-
lows a mild winter, which was preceded
by a productive summer. I believe it to
be generally true that when one species
becomes very plentiful, the others become
so too. The Gray Squirrel prefers woods,
which abound in oak, walnut, butternut
and chestnut, because these furnish him
with such food as he prefers. During
I he fall they collect a supply of food for
tin- winter, which they carefully depos-
it in hollow trees or obscure recesses.
Their nests which are built with sticks
and lined with leaves, are usually placed
in the forks of large and lofty trees, or in
the hollows of old trees, and in these they
spend most of their time during the win-
ter, leaving them only to visit their de-
positories of food for the purpose of ob-
taining a supply. This is one of the most
active and beautiful of our squirrels. It
is easily tamed, and, in captivity, is re-
markably playful, but rather disposed to
be mischievous, often using its teeth to
the injury of the furniture. About a cen-
tury ago these squirrels were so trouble-
some in Pennsylvania that government
granted a premium of Wil a head for their
destruction, which in 17-lit, amounted to
£8,000 sterling; from which it would ap-
pear the number killed in one year was
about 1,280,000.

THE BLACK SQUIRREL.
■lei urns nigcr.—* Linn a: u s .

Description.— Top of the head, back,
tail and extremities id" the feet, covered
with hair of a deep black color; throat,
breast and belly brownish black, lighter
on the flanks; ears short, black, ami not
pencilled ; smaller and the tail proportion-
ally shorter, and the fur softer than in the
precccding species. Length of the head
and body about 8 inches.

II. >tory.— The Black Squirrel is much
less common in Vermont than the gray
squirrel, particularly in the western parts,
and is perhaps, frequently confounded
with a blackish variety of the gray squir-
rel. Having obtained no specimen of
this Squirrel, I have copied, above, tiie de-
scription contained in Dr. Harlan's Fau-
na Americana. According to Dr. Will-

46

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THK RED SQUIRREL

THE STRIPED SQUIRREL

iams our largest black squirrels weigh but
2.| lbs., while our largest gray squirrels
weigh 3£ lbs.

THE RED SQUIRREL.
Seiurus Hudsonius. — Gmfj..

Description. — Color, reddish gray a-
bove, and whitish beneath, with a dark
line extending along each side, separating
the color above from that below ; eyes
black ; whiskers long and black ; hairs of
the tail cinerous at their base and then
black, tipped with red on the upper side,
and with yellow on the under. Length
of the specimen before me, from the nose
lo the insertion of the tail, 7£ inches;
tail, (trunk 5, hair 1,) t> inches.

Histohv. — This animal is every where
known in Vermont by the name of Red
Squirrel. They are much more common
than either of the preceding species, and
in some seasons they have multiplied so
exceedingly as to be a great annoyance
to the farmer, and do considerable dam-
age by their depredations. They spend
most of their time in the tops of trees,
feeding upon nuts of various kinds, and

upon

seeds contained in the burs of

spruce and hemlock. Their nests are
usually in the hollow of some old tree,
and here they lay up for winter their
store of provisions, often amounting to
several gallons, and consisting of butter-
nuts, beechnuts, acorns, and different
kinds of grain. Their food in summer
consists of grain, sweet apples, and differ-
ent kinds of berries, as well as nuts. In
the fall and early part of winter they of-
ten come around our barns, and purloin
their subsistence from our granaries. This
squirrel is often called the Ckickurcc, prob-
ably from its noisy chatter when alarmed.
It is also called the Hudson, or lludsun
linij Squirrel.

THK STRIPED SQUIRREL.
Seiurus Striuius. — Klein.
Description. — Top of the head dark
reddish gray ; eye-lids whitish ; neck
gray ; back striped, having a black stripe
along the spine, then on each side a broad
reddish <rray stripe, then another black
stripe, succeeded by a white stripe, and,

lastly, a reddish brown stripe ; the throat,
bell)', and inner surface of theiegs, white ;
head tapering from the ears to the nose ;
forehead slightly convex ; nose covered
with short hairs, with a black spot near
the extremity; ears short, rounded, and
covered with very fine hair, which is red-
dish brown within ; tail less bushy than
in the preceding species, blackish above,
and red beneath, bordered with gray.
Length of the specimen before me, from
the nose to the insertion of the tail, 6 in-
ches; tail (trunk 34; in., tuft f in.) 4 in-
ches.

History. — The Striped Squirrel is more
common in Vermont than either of the
preceding species, and differs from them
in being furnished with cheek pouches,
in which it carries the food it collects, to
its store-house. It also differs from the
preceding in having its chief residence in
the ground, while the others inhabit hol-
low trees, and hence it has received the
name of Ground Squirrel. It is likewise
frequently called the Chipmuck, or C/tip-
piitsr Squirrel, from its note ; and it is al-
so called in many places the Hackee.

This squirrel is generally seen running
along upon the lower rail of fences, or sit-
ting upon stone walls or logs. When
frightened they immediately retreat to
their holes, which they enter with a pe-
culiarly shrill chil-tc-rie, indicative of safe-
ty, which is as much as to say, " catch
me now if you can." When their retreat
to their hole is cut off, they become much
alarmed, and, in such cases, will some-
times ascend trees, hut they betray much
timidity, and will seldom go up more than
20 or 30 feet Their burrows are by the
side of stone walls, fences, or the roots of
trees, and) in places where their food is
easily obtained. These burrows are often
extensive, with two openings, at consid-
erable distance from each other, and what
is remarkable, is that the dirt which has
been removed in making the excavation,
is no where to be found. This squinel
retires to its burrow on the approach of
cold weather, where it spends the
winter, subsisting upon its stores of nuts
and seeds, which it had carefully provi-
ded, and being seldom seen after the be-
i-innin«r of November, before the first of
April.

Ckncs Pteromys. — Cuvier.

Generic Cluiracters. — Teeth 22 — Incis-
ors, 2-^ no canines, grinders, |-£ Head
round; ears short and rounded; eyes large ; fore
feet with four elongated iocs, furnished ivilh .slurp
nails and a rudimentary thumb, having an obi use
nail ; hind feet with five long toes, much divided,

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

47

THE FLYING SO.UIRREI

THE HEDGE HO<

and adapted for seizing ; tail long, villose ; skin of
ihe sides extending from the anterior to the poste-
lior extremities forming a kind of parachute.

THE FLYING SQUIRREL.
Pteromya tolucella. — Desmarest.
Description. — General color, reddish
gray above, yellowish white beneath ;
head large; nose rounded; eyes large,
black, prominent, and far apart, and sur-
rounded by a blackish ash color, with a
white spot over each ; ears broad, round-
ed, and nearly naked ; whiskers black,
two inches long; tail long, thickly covered
with fine long fur, brown above, lighter be-
neath, and flattened ; a bony appendage,
about an inch long, proceeding from the
wrist, and used in stretching the flying
membrane. Length of the specimen be-
fore me, from the nose to the insertion of
the tail, (i inches ; tail f>i inches ; spread
of the membrane, measured across the
breast, G.1 inches.

History. — This interesting little ani-
mal is frequently met with, living in fam-
ilies, in all parts of the State, but is nev-
er so greatly multiplied as some of the
preceding species of squirrels. They usu-
ally inhabit the hollows of trees, and feed
upon nuts, grains, seeds and buds. Their
wings are not calculated for rising in the
air and flying in the manner of bats and
birds. Consisting only of an extension of
the skin of the flanks, they form only a
kind of parachute, by which they are sup-
ported for a while in the air, and are thus
enabled to sail from one tree to another at
a distance of several rods. In proceeding
through the forests, they first ascend
high upon a tree, and, leaping off" in the
direction of another tree, and at the same
time spreading their wings, they are ena-
bled In sail, while descending, to a con-
siderable distance and to alight on the
tree designated, near the irround. This

they ascend, and proceed in like manner
to another tree, thus passing to a consid-
erable distance without coming to the
ground. Their habits are nocturnal, and,
unless disturbed, they seldom leave their
nests in the day time. When this animal
sleeps, it rolls itself up, and so wraps its
large flat tail over its head and limbs as
completely to conceal them, and give it
the appearance of a simple ball of fur.
The flying squirrel is often tamed as a
pet, but is more admired on account of its
singular form, soft fur, and gentle dispo-
sition, than for its sprightliness and.activ-
ity.

Ge.vus IIvstrix. — Linntnts.

Generic Characters. — Teeth 20 — Incis-
ors, £ no canines, grinders A-A, The grind-
ers have flat tops, but are furnished with ridges
of enamel. Head strong and convex ; muzzlo
thick and turned ; ears short aud rounded ; tongue
furnished with spiny scales; lure feet, will) four
toes, mid the rudiment of a thumb ; hind feet
with five loes ; nails strong on all the feet ; body
covered with spines, intermixed with strong hair ;
tail more or less long, and sometimes prehensile.

THE ITKDGS HOG.
Hystrix dorsatu. — G mei.in.

Description. — General color, brown-
ish black; hair rather long, thick, and in-
terspersed with spines or quills, which
vary from 1 to 4 inches in length ; quills-
black at the tip, below brownish, and,
white towards their base. Ears small,
and covered by the hair; snout short and
thick. Legs and feet covered with hair,
the latter armed with long curved nails.
Tail thick, flattened, and not prehensile.
Length 26 inches; tail 8; height of the
back II.

UisTMiir.— The Hedge Hog was origin-
ally very common in Vermont, but is now
confined principally to the mountainous
and woody parts, where it is still found
in considerable numbers. This animal is
remarkable, principally, on account of the
quills or spines, which are intermingled
with the hair, on nearly all parts of its
body; and as he runs very baddy, and is
moderate and awkward in all his move-

4.8

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part

TlIK AMEItlCAN HA IJ KIT.

'HE VAltYING HAKE.

incuts, he relies mostly upon his quills
for defence and safety. When his en-
emy approaches, if allowed sufficient
time, he will generally retreat to a fissure
among the rocks, or take refuge in the
top of a tree, which he ascends with fa-
cility : but, if overtaken, he places his
head between his fore legs, draws his bo-
dy into a globular form, anil erects his
barbed spines, which now project in all
directions. In this condition they defy
the attack of all enemies but man. The
fox, the wolf and the dog attempt to seize
him only to be severely wounded in the
nose and mouth by the sharp projecting
quills. These quills, being barbed at the
extremity, and adhering in the wound,
are detached from the owner, and by
their rankling, and by penetrating deep-
er and deeper, not only discourage the at-
tack of the assailant, but very often occa-
sion his death. The vulgar notion that
this animal lias the power of projecting or
shooting his quills at bis assailant, is with-
out a shadow of foundation.

The (pulls of Die Hedge Hog are highly
prized by the aborigines on all parts of
the continent, and are used by them in
various ways as ornaments of their dress-
es, pipes and war instruments. For this
purpose they are dyed of several rich and
permanent colors, cut into short pieces,
strung upon threads or sinews, and then
wrought into various forms and figures
upon their belts, buffalo robes, moccasins,
&.C., and in these operations they mani-
fest considerable ingenuity and a great
deal of patient perseverance.

The Hedge Hog is a solitary, sluggish
animal, seldom venturing to much dis-
tance from his retreat among the rocks.
Their food consists of fruits of different
kinds, roots, herbs, and the bark and buds
of trees. Their flesh is sometimes eaten,
and is esteemed by the Indians as tin-
greatest luxury. They have three or four
young at a litter, and their period of ges-
tation is said to be 4ll days. The Hedge
Hog or American Porcupine, when full
grown and fat, weighs about 1G pounds.

Genus Letus. — Linmcus.

Generic Characters. — Teeth, 93 — Incis-
ors Xf no canines, grinders .2-1. This upper in-
cisor* are placed in pairs, two wedgo-jhaperl
widi a longitudinal furrow in front, and two smal-
ler ones intermediately behind ; the under incisors
square, grinders with flat crowns and transverse
lamina; of enamel. Head rather lar^o ; ears
Ion" ; eyes large, projecting laterally ; lore feel
with five toes , bind foisi with four very long toes ;
all the toes armed with moderate sized nails,
wliicli are slightly arched , bottoms of the feet

hairy ; tail short, hairy and elevated ; mammae
froni 6 lo 10.

V

THE AMERICAN RABBIT.
Lepus amcricunvs.

Description. — Color, above grayish
fawn, yraried with blackish brown and red-
dish ; more red about the shoulders than
elsewhere ; a whitish spot before the eyes
and another behind the cheeks; breast
and belly white; feet reddish before with
the point of the foot lawn color; upper
part of the tail the color of the back, be-
neath white, fur on the body white in
winter, but the ears and tail are ol the
same gray color summmer and winter.
Length 14 inches, head 3A ears 2\, tail 2
inches.

History. — This animal though strictly
a Hare has acquired very generally in this
country the name of Rabbit. Indeed the
name of Rabbit is not only applied to this
species,butalso to the following,and this is
distinguished by the appellation of Gray
rabbit, on account of its not becoming so
while in the winter as the other. This ia
the most common species of hare through-
out the United States, and is also one of
the most prolific species. It produces its
young three or four tunes in the course
of the year and has from from live to sev-
en at a birth This animal has been sup-
posed to form burrows in the earth like
the European Rabbit, but this is probably
a mistake. It is true they are sometimes
found in burrows, but it is believed to be
only in cases in which they have taken ref-
use in the holes of foxes or woodchucks.

THE VARYING HARE.
Lcjjus Virginia n vs. — II \ n i.an.
Df.sluii'i ion. — General color, in its
summer dress, reddish brown, darkest
along the back, lighter about the should-
ers, and passing into white on the belly.
Ilairson the upper pails bluish at their
base, then light reddish yellow, and tip-
ped with black. Chin and ears bluish
white mixed with reddish brown, the lat-
ler margined exteriorly, towards the tip,
with black, and slightly edged with while ;
orbits surrounded by reddish fawn ; flanks
tinged with orange; sides of the feet whi-
tish; soles covered with lonrr hair of a

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT

49

till) VARYING HARK.

Tin: moosk.

tawnv yellow color. Ears and head of
equal length J tail very short ; nails long.
(lightly arched, compressed at the base,
ami entirely covered by the hair. Incis-
ors above and below nearly equal, the for-
mer slightly arched and marked by a lon-
gitudinal groove. Length of the speci-
men,before me, which was taken in Sep-
tember, from the nose to the root of the
tail, 1G inches ; tail, including the fur, 1^;
earn 3^5 hind foot, 5^. Color, in its win-
ter dress, white, or nearly so, resulting
from the hairs being bluish at their base,
then yellowish fawn, tipped with white.

History. — This hare is quite common
in Vermont, and, in the winter season, is
usually called the white rabbit. It is less
prolific than the preceding species, pro-
ducing its young only once or twice ayear,
and having from 4 to G at a time. The
young are able to see at birth, and are
covered with hair. They are able to pro-
vide for themselves in a very few days, af-
ter which they receive but little aid from
their mothers. The hares feed in sum-
mer upon grass, juicy herbs, and the
leaves and buds of shrubs, but in winter,
when the snow is deep, they gain a pre-
carious subsistence from the buds and
bark of bushes and small trees. The bark
of the willow, birch, poplar, and the buds
of the pine, are with them favorite arti-
cles of food. The hares are the most timid
and defenceless of all quadrupeds, and no
animals have more numerous or formidable
enemies. They are pursued and destroy-
ed in great numbers, by men and dogs,
by eagles, hawks, and owls, and by all the
carnivorous beasts of the forests ; and yet,
notwithstanding this destruction, nature
has sufficiently provided, in their great
fecundity, for the preservation of the sev-
eral species. When pursued, the Ameri-
can rabbit soon becomes wearied, and to
avoid being overtaken, takes shelter in
some hole in the earth, in a heap of logs,
or stones, or in a hollow log, but this spe-
cies is so fleet as to be in no fear of being
overtaken by its pursuers, and, therefore,
does not seek concealment. It has been
ascertained by measurement that it can
leap 21 feet at a bound, and its body is so
light in comparison with its broad furry
feet that it is enabled to skim easily along
the surface of deep snows, while the wea-
ried hounds plunge in at every bound,
and soon give up the hopeless pursuit.
The skin of the hare is of no value, but
the flesh is considered nourishing food.

Order RUMINANTIA.
Animals of this order have three kinds
of teeth. They have no incisors in the
upper jaw, but have u ually eight in the
Pt. i 7

lower, which are opposed to a callosity on
the upper gums, in some* species there
are canines only in the upper jaw, and
others have thein in both. The grinders
are twelve in each jaw, marked with two
double crescents of enamel on their
crowns, of which the convexity is out-
wards in the lower, and internal in the
upper jaw ; articulations of the jaw adap-
ted for a triturating motion. The limbs
are disposed for walking ; the feet with
two hoofed toes ; the two bones of the met-
acarpus and metatarsus, consolidated in-
to one; organs of digestion calculated for
ruminating, consisting of four stomachs ;
intestines long ; two or four inguinal
mammse. The males have horns, and the
females, too, in some species ; food always
vegetable. The most remarkable faculty
of these animals is that of rumination, or
of returning the food into the mouth for
the purpose of chewing it a second lime,
called chewing the cud, and hence the
name of the order, Ruminantia.

Genus Cervus. — Linnmus.
Generic Characters. Teeth 32, or 34 —

Incisors SL — canines «.» or J .1 grinders ii-6

8 no oo6 06*

The canines, wliere they exist, are bent back and
compressed. Head long, terminated by a muz-
zle ; eyes large, pupils elongated transversely ;
most of the species have a lachrymal sinus; ears
long and pointed ; tongue soft ; horns solid, decid-
uous, palmated, branched, or simple, in the males ;
females destitute of horns, except in one species;
four inguinal mamniiu.

"^S^Vi^nu^^.

THE MOOSE
Cains alecs. — Linn

Description. — Head 1
fore the eyes and enlat

ig, narrow be-
:d towards the
mouth, which has some analogy to that of
the horse ; upper lip exceedingly devel-
oped and very thick ; nostrils, ;i lateral
slit, more open anteriorly than behind ;
eyes small, near the base of the horns ;

50

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

I' ART I.

lachrymal pits small; neck short; ears
very large and thick ; hums, consisting
of a very large flattened expansion, fur-
nished with numerous prongs on the ex-
ternal bonier, with a large isolated branchof
the principal stock. Tail excessively short.
A tuft of long hair, like beard, beneath
the throat, in both sexes, and a protuber-
ance in the same place in the mule. Legs
long ; feet long, and placed obliquely on
the soil. Hair coarse and friable. Gen-
eral color fawn-brown. Dimensions, as
given by Dr. Harlan : length from the
nose to the base of the tail, G ft. 10 in. ;
height before, 5 ft. 2£ in.— behind, a ft.
4% in. ; length of the head, 2:5 in.; ears,]!)
in.; horns, &7 in.; neck, 18 in.; tail, U
inch. Weight of the horns sometimes GO
pounds.

History. — Moose were formerly very
plentiful in Vermont, and in many places
the early settlers depended upon their
flesh for no inconsiderable part of the sub-
sistence of their families. They are now
exterminated from all portions pf the stale
excepting the county of Essex, in the
northeastern part. There they are still
found, and several were killed there du-
ring the two last winters. The head and
horns of one nf these, obtained by Judge
Parker, of Orleans, and now in his pos-
session, weighed !>o pounds, of which the
horns are supposed to constitute one half.
The hide and quarters of this Moose, when
dressed, weighed a little more than 800 lbs.
The height of its horns exceeded 3 feet,
and the distance between their tips was
more than 5 feet, and larger than this are
not often found at the present day. But
it would appear from the statement of Dr.
Williams that larger individuals were ta-
ken in early times. He says that one of
these animals in Vermont was found by
measure to be 7 feet high, and that the
largest Moose were estimated by the hun-
ters to weigh from 1300 to 1-100 pounds.
The food of the Moose consists of grass,
shrubs, the boughs and bark of trees, es-
pecially the beech, which they seem to
prefer above all others, and a species of
maple, Acer pcnnsylvanicum, which is call-
ed Moosewuod. In summer they keep
pretty much in families. In winter they
herd together, sometimes to the number
of 20 or 30 in a company. They seem to
prefer cold places ; and when the snow is
deep they tread it down for a space of sev-
eral acres, forming what is called a yard.
Within this space they range, and sub-
sist upon the twigs and bark of the trees,
while the snow remains deep upon the
ground. In order to cat from the ground,
they are obliged to kneel or spread their
forelegs, on account of the shortness of

their neck. They move with along sham-
bling trot, and with a rattling of their
hoots, winch may be heard at a consider-
able distance. Their course is swift and
straight, and they leap over the highest
fences with ease. The males only have
horns, which are shed and reproduced an-
nually. The rutting season is in Septem-
ber, and the young are produced about
the first of June, usually two at a birth.
The female is smaller than the male.*
This annual was called Monsall by the
Algonquin Indians, Or j«7iai by the French
inhabitants of Canada, and Muosc, or
Moose Den; by the English. t

Since the above was written, I have
had an opportunity of examining a living
Moose in Burlington. It was a female,
two years old, and had then been in cap-
tivity about two months, having been ta-
ken in Canada, near the north line of this
state, in March, 1S42. The height at the
shoulder was about 6 feet, and it agreed
fully with my description, so far as it is
applicable to the female, that sex being
without horns. It had become so tame
as to be led by a halter without difficulty.

THE ELK.
Cervus canadensis. — Gmf.l.

Description. — Head well formed, ta-
pering to a narrow point ; ears large and
rapidly moveable ; eyes full and dark ;
horns lofty, graceful, with numerous
pointed cylindrical branches, which curve
forward. The hair is of a bluish gray
color in autumn ; dark gray during the
winter, and ut the approach of spring as-
sumes a reddish, or bright brown color,
which it retains during the summer. The
croup of a pale yellowish white or clay
color. Colors nearly the same in the two
sexes; but the females are without horns.
Height at the withers, according to Dr.
Harlan, 4 feet, the horns.3 feet, first ant-
ler 1 foot, second 10 inches, length of the
tail 2 inches.

History. — The horns of the elk have
been often found in Vermont, which may
be regarded as sufficient proof of the for-
mer existence of that animal within the
state ; and if the animal was found here
after the settlement of the state was com-
menced, it is doubtless now completely
exterminated. Elks live in families.
Their rutting season is in September, and
the young, one and sometimes two in
number, are produced in J11I3'. Their horns
are generally shed in March. This spe-
cies is said to be still found in numbers

* Williams' History, Vol. ], p. 99.
t Harlan, Fauna Americana, p. 2:i:7

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT

51

COMMON Di:

TIC Ql

in the western states. A specimen of this
species, preserved in the Philadelphia
Museum, measures seven feet and seven
inches from the tip of the nose to the
base of the tail, and the horns measure
three feet and ten inches. The animal
was 13 years old.

THE COMMON DEER.

Ccrous tsirginianns. — Gmel.

Description. — Form light and slender ;

color reddish fawn in sui

incl

gray-

ish in winter; horns moderate, with an
antler placed high on the inside of each
shaft, and two or three others on the pos-
terior side, turned backwards, but varying
with the age of the animal; lachrymal
pits formed by a fold in the skin; muzzle
partially developed ; tail proportionally
longer than in the preceding species, and
thin; no canine teeth. Length 5 feet 5
inches, tail 10 inches, height 3 feet,
length of the head 12 inches, of the
horns, following the curvature, 22 inches.
Weight from DO to 130 pounds.

History. — When the country was new
this deer was one of the most common
and valuable quadrupeds found in <>ur
forests, and upon its flesh were the first
settlers of the state, to a very considera-
ble extent, dependent for food. Indeed
so eagerly was it hunted, and still so
anxious were the people for its preserva-
tion, that a law for its protection from the
10th of December to the 10th of June
was one of the earliest acts of our legisla-
ture. But notwithstanding all that has
been done for their preservation, their
numbers have been constantly diminish-
ing within the stale, till they have be-
come exceedingly scarce, except in a few
of the most unsettled and woody sections.
The range of this species is very exten-
sive, reaching from Canada to the Oro-
noco in South America. In its form this
deer is slender and delicate; and its neck
and tail proportionally longer than in

most oilier species ; but at the same time
it possesses great muscular power, and
runs with surprising speed. It is a very

keen sense of hearing and smellinjr, it is
found to be very difficult to approach
within gun shot of him without his taking
alarm. In the fall the deer are in good
condition, and the venison valuable. In
the winter they herd together, und, when
the snow is deep, they form what are
called "yards," where they tread down
I he snow and gain a scanty subsistence by
browsing the trees and bushes. During
this period they become very lean, and
neither the skin nor tthe flesh is of much
value. They produce their young- in the
early part of summer, and have two, and
sometimes three, at a birth. The fawns
niv at first reddish, spotted with white.
They lose their spots ill autumn and be-
come gray in winter, 'fins coat is shod
about the first of June and in summer
they are nearly red, which color continues
till A ngust and then changes to blue. The
skin is said to be thinnest in the gray,
toughest in the red and thickest in the
blue; the skin and the flesh being most
valuable in the blue. The horns of the
male are shed in January. The deer is
said to manifest great enmity to the Rat-
tle-snake. When it discovers one of
these reptiles, it leaps into the air above
it and alights upon it with all four of its
feet brought together in the form of a
square, and this operation is repeated till
the hated reptile is destroyed.

DOMESTIC QUADRUPEDS.

Thus far we have confined ourselves to
an account ofthe Quadrupeds which have
been found m Vermont in a wild state.
In addition to these we have several <]iia.l-
rupeds which have been introduced and
are kept, in a domesticated state. The fol-
lowing is a list of such as may be regard-
ed as permanent residents.

Order Carnivora.

Canis familiar is, The Dog.

Fells calus, The Cat.

Order Pachyderm ata.
F.qnus ntbtillus, The Horse.

Equus nsiwts, The Ass.

Sus scrofa, The Hog.

< >RDER RlM ISANTI A.

Eostaurus, The Ox.

Ovis aries, The Sheep.

There are a few other Quadrupeds,
which are sometimes kept as a matter of
curiosity, such as the Goat, the English
Rabbit, the Guinea Pig, cVc.

52

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

1JAIIT I.

TIIE JUOO.

THE DOG.
Canis familiar is. — Linn.
The Dog has been in a domesticated
state from time immemorial ; and from
him lias sprung so great a number of va-
rieties, that it is perhaps impossible to de-
termine which now approaches nearest to
the original stock. The dog is mention-
ed as being a familiar animal nearly two
thousand years before the Christian era,
but the allusions to him in the Bible seem
to imply that he was formerly more san-
guinary and savage in his disposition than
at present. The dog is the only quadru-
ped which lias been the companion of
man in every state of society, and in eve-
ry region and climate of the earth, and no
other animal manifests so great and so
faithful an attachment to his master as
this ; and this attachment seems to arise
from the purest gratitude, and truest
friendship. In works on natural history
we have no less than sixty permanent va-
rieties of the dog named, and described.*
In Vermont, each family in the country
usually finds it convenient to keep one
dog, and very few have more than one.
In our villages a few dogs are kept, (bet-
ter if fewer,) but as a person's standing in
society is not here, as in some countries,
indicated by the number of his dogs, the
dog mania has never prevailed to any
considerable extent, and consequently lit-
tle pains have been taken to procure rare
and popular varieties. As the expense of
keeping a dog is generally much more
than the profit, and as direful consequences
are to be apprehended when dogs are nu-
merous, from the occurrence of hydropho-
bia among them, we should by no means
regret the reduction of the dogs in this
stale to a moiety of their present number.

THE DOMESTIC CAT.
Felis cuius. — Linn.
Our domestic Cat is said by Cuvier to
have been originally from the forests of
Europe, where it is still found in a wild
state. The color of the wild animal is
grayish brown on the back and sides, with
dark transverse undulations, while below
it is lighter colored, and the inside of the
thighs and feet are yellowish. There are
three bands upon the tail, the inferior
third of which is blackish. In the domes-
ticated stale this animal varies, as is well
known, in the length and fineness of its
hair, but infinitely less so than the dog,
and is also much less submissive and af-
fectionate. The Cat renders essential
service by the destruction of vermin, and

Biown'a Zoolu'-icul Ti

Book, Vol. 1, p. 75.

most families consider it to their advan-
tage to keep one at least upon their prem-
ises. Cats were formerly held in so high
estimation on account of their mousing
qualities, that in the 10th century laws
were passed in England regulating the
price of them. It was also enacted, that
" whoever stole or killed the cat that
guarded the granary of the prince, should
forfeit an ewe, with her fleece and lamb,
or as much wheat as, when poured upon
a cat, suspended by its tail, (the head
touching the tloor,) would form a heap
high enough to cover the creature to the
tip of its tail."

Okdf.r PACHYDERM ATA.
This order is named from the thickness
of the skin of the animals which compose
it. They have two and sometimes the
three kinds of teeth. The four extremi-
ties are furnished with toes, variable in
number, and terminated with strong nails
or hoofs. They have no clavicles; and
the organs of digestion are not formed for
ruminating. We have no animal of this
order existing in Vermont in a wild state,
and only three, the Horse, the Ass, and
the Hog, which have been introduced.

Genus Equus, Linn.^us.
Generic Ckuracters. — Teeth 40 — Incis-
ors S canines!.!^ grinders JL-S-, Grinders
furrowed on each side with flat crowns, and sev-
eral ridges of enamel ; between the canines and
grinders a vacant space. Upper lip capable
of considerable motion ; eyes lar^e ; ears ralher
large, pointed and erect; feet with a single vis-
ible toe, covered with a strong hoof; tail with
louy hair, or in some species with a tuft at the
extremity; two inguinal teats; stomach simple
and membranous ; intestines and coecum large.

THE HORSE.

Equus cuballus. — Linn.eus.
This generous and noble spirited ani-
mal, next to the sheep and the ox, has
probably been the most useful servant of
man At what period he became domes-
ticated we have at present no means of
knowing. It must, however, have been
soon after the deluge, if not before that
event, as there is mention of the horse
and his rider in the book of Genesis near-
ly iiOOO years before the Christian era.
The horse is the associate and assistant
of man in war, in the chase, and in the
works of agriculture, of the arts and of
commerce. Although wild horses exist
at the present day in several parts of the
world, yet it is believed that there are
now no wild horses, which have descen-
ded in a wild state from the original stock.

Ciup.2.

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

53

THE MULE.

THE HOG.

The wild horses in Asia and America are
ull descended from such as had been for-
merly domesticated, and had been set at
liberty. These wild horses are said to be
very numerous, going in troops upon the
prairies at the southwest, anil that the In-
dians supply themselves with horses, by
catching and taming them. The period
of gestation in the horse is 11 months and
in the domesticated state the colt is al-
lowed to suck 5 or G months. At the
age of two years the sexes are separated ;
at three they are handled and at four are
broke to the saddle and harness, and are
capable of service and of propagating
without injury to themselves. The life
of the horse is from 25 to 31) years, but
they aro not of much value after they
reach '.JO years. The age of a horse may
be pretty neurly ascertained by his teeth.
According to Cuvier the milk teeth appear
about 15 davn after the Coll ix foaled , at
2\ years the middle ones are replaced ; at
3<J the two following ones , and at 41 the
outermost ones or corners. All these
teeth have at first indented crowns, which
are gradually worn down by use and en-
tirely effaced at 7 years old. The losver
canine teeth appear at 3 years old, and
the upper ones at 4. They remain poin-
ted till G, and begin to peel off at 1U.

Vermont produces excellent horses and
considerable pains have been taken to in-
troduce the best varieties. The greatest
part of the labor upon the farms, and
nearly the whole of the travel and trans-
portation in this state is performed by hor-
ses, and large numbers of fine horses are
annually sent to market out of the state.
The whole number of horses in Vermont,
(including the mules, which are very lew,)
according to the returns of 1640, was as
follows ;

6,074
3,462
6,200
4,360
4,9(i9
8,440

60,402.

THE ASS.
Equus asinus, — Linn^us.
The Ass is distinguished by his long
ears, by the tuft which terminates his tail,
and by the black cross on his shoulders.
His usual color is a brownish gray. He
was originally from the great deserts of
central Asia, where these animals are still
found in a wild state, and where they
range in immense herds from north to
south, according to the season. The Ass
in the domesticated state, is a patient,
submissive and serviceable animal, and in
many parts of the world is almost the only

one employed as a beast of burden. It is
much more sure-looted than the horse,
and on that account is much used in
rough mountainous countries. The hoarse-
ness of the bray of the Ass is well known,
and it is produced by two small, peculiar
cavities, situated at the bottom of the lar-
ynx. The Ass is not kept in Vermont for
its labor, but a very few are kept for the
production of Mules from the mare.

The Mule. — The Mule is an unprolif-
ic hybrid, produced betwixt the horse and
the ass. When the sire was ahorse and the
dam a she-ass, the olfspring was termed
Hinnus by the ancients, but when the sire
was a jack ass and the dam a mare, it was
then called Mulus. At some periods a
considerable number of Mules have been
produced in Vermont, but they have al-
ways been reared for exportation, none
of them being kept within the state for
their labor.

Genus Sus. — Linnaus.
Generic Characters. — Teeth 42 or 46 —

incisors, i or & canines. JL.1 grinders, 1-1
> a u« 'ii>fa ' 7 v

Lower incisors directed obliquely forward, the up-
per ones conical ; the canines protruded and bent
upwards ; grinders simple and tuberculous Body
covered with bristles; no.se elongated, cartilagin-
ous and furnished with a

THE COMMON HOG.

i!us scrvfa. — Lin.na;us.

wild state,

Addison,

5,425

Orange,

Bennington,

3,397

Orleans,

Caledonia)

5,852

Rutland,

Chittenden)

4,231

Washington,

Kssex,

1,207

Windham,

Franklin,

4,127

Windsor,

Grand Isle,

1,101

Lamoille,

2,597

Total number

The color of the Hoc
is blackish brown mixed with gray.
Its tusks strong, prismatic, curved out-
wards and slightly upwards ; its body short
and thick ; its ears erect, and the young
are striped with black and white. In the
domestic state it is subject to very great
variety, both in form and color, l'ork or
the flesh of the Hog, has always been to
the people of Vermont one of the most
important articles of food. When the
country was new, the first settlers of the
state depended, to a very considerable ex-
tent, upon the spontaneous productions
of the forests for the menus of fattening
their hogs. Hogs are extremely fond of
acorns, beech nuts, and other nuts, and
with these the forests abounded. Win n,
on the occurrence of frosts in autumn,
these nuts began to fall from the trees, it
was the practice of the early settlers to
turn their hogs into the woods and let
them run till the setting in of winter and
the fill of deep snows, when they were
usually found in good condition to be
butchered. But on account of the great

54

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

Taut. I.

number of bears, wolves and catamounts,
which embraced every opportunity to de-
stroy then), the fattening of hogs in tins
way was, at best, a precarious business.
In some places, where a considerable num-
ber of hogs were turned into the woods
together, a person was kept with then to
protect them during the day, and collect
them into a place of safety for the night,
and often has our blood chilled in our
veins as we have heard our fathers nar-
rate, with quivering lips, their bloody
struggles with brum for the possession of
a favorite hog. Almost every family in
the state fattens one hog, or more than
one, for their own use, and by most of our
farmers, more or less are fattened for mar-
ket. Hogs are usually butchered in this
state when about 20 months old, and
their weight when dressed is from 150, to
4U0 pounds, according to kind and condi-
tion. Considerable pains have been taken
within a few years to improve our bn ed id
hogs, and several new varieties have been
introduced, one of the latest and most ap-
proved of which is called the Berkshire
Hog. The Hog is a prolific animal, pro-
ducing young twice a year, and often
having 14 pigs at a litter. The period ot
gestation is 4 months. The hog increases
in size for about 5 or 6 years, and some-
times lives 'JO years. The number of hogs
in the several counties in Vermont, ac-
cording to the returns of 1840, was as fol-
lows :

Acl'lison,

14,305

nminington,

9.901

Cnluilmiia,

18, '.I'll

Chittemlon,

25,3 10

Essex,

J,(i3'.

Franklin.

8,9U5

Graud Isle,

3,17'J

Lamoille,

Gknus Bos. — Linnaus.
Generic Characters. — Tee*ii 32 or f!0—
Incisors -£or^ canines £, gnndurs«..$. llouil
large; forehead straijjlit ; muzzle square ; horns oc-
cupying llie crest of [lie forehead; eyes largo;
ears funnel shaped; dewlaps on On: neck ; female
with an udder, having four leats ; tail long and tuf-
ted; horns simple, conical, round wiili various in-
flections, sometimes directed laterally.

THE ox.

Bos taurus. — Linn.
We here use the term ox in a general
sense, to denote neat cuttle, the male of
which is called bull, and the female cow,
although it is ordinarily applied to the
male in an altered working state. Neith-
er the native country of the ox, nor the
time when he was reclaimed from a wild
etate, is now certainly known. It must,

nvever, hi
:ry early p

ive been domesticated at a
eriod, as the keeping of cattle
is mentiom d as an occupation before the
Hood." After that event the keeping of
catlle and sheep afforded the means of
subsistence and constituted the principal
part of the wealth of a large proportion of
the human race ; and has continued to do
so down to the present time. We read
that when Abraham was in Egypt, 180
years before there is any mention id' the
horse, he was possessed of sheep and ox-
en ;t and this account of the early domes-
tication and acknowledged value of the
ox is confirmed by the records of profano
history. This animal was held in so high
estimation as to be an object of worship
in Egypt, and among the Hindoos was
highly venerated and believed to be the
first animal created. The traditions of
the Celtic nations also enrol the cow
among the earliest productions, and rep-
resent her as a kind of divinity.

Cattle, like most other domesticated
animals, have run into a very considera-
ble number of varieties, and it is now,
perhaps, impossible to ascertain which
approaches nearest to the original stock.
The cattle winch were first introduced
into this country by the early settlers,
were such as were the common cattle of
Great Britain 150 or 200 years ago, and
from these the present stocks have gen-
erally descended, and, till within a few
years past, very little pains have been ta-
ken for their improvement. These, com-
ing from different parts of England, Scot-
land and Ireland, consisted of many va-
rieties, which here became amalgamated,
and which have here formed what may In-
called the American stock, retaining, like
our American people, many both of the

which it is descended.' E„r many years
past much pains have been taken to im-
prove the breeds of cattle, particularly in

these improved breeds have been intro-
duced into this country. The most ap-
proved of these are the Ayrshire and
Durham, and these are doubtless in many
respects superior to our native cattle.
Still, it is the opinion of many, that the
proper method of improving stocks of
cattle is not by the introduction offoreign
materials, but by selectiiiLr, lor breeders,
from our native stocks, the best varieties,
and, from these, those individuals which
possess the properties desired in the high-
est perfection. In this way we shall be
sure to have a race of cattle which is
adapted to our country and climate, and

Genesis IV— 20. f Genesis XU— 10.

Chap. 2.

QUADRUPEDS OF VERMONT.

THE SHEEP.

but a few years would elapse in the pur-
suance of this policy, before we should be
as proud to compare the American stock
of cattle with the cattle of foreign coun-
tries as we now arc: to compare the Amer-
ican with foreign nations.

Upon lands which are uneven and
rough, the farming operations are carried
onto better advantage by oxen than by
horses, and on' this account large num-
bers of oxen are kept for labor in Ver-
mont, particularly in the central and east-
ern parts; but cattle are here raised
chiefly for the dairy and for market. No
part of our country affords better grazing,
and for the production of good beef cattle

nutter and cheese, V
;e comparison with

limy challenge comparison with almost
any part of the world. According to the
grand list of the slate in 1841, there were
§1. Lid oxen, and I54.GG9cow3. Thennm-

31,130 oxen, and l54,6G9c

ber of cattle of every description a

to the returns of 1(340, was as follow

ord

li.

i _• 1 1 1 n

39,71s
16,870

32, tit if
24 .MS

6,837
2<>,%.~

5,4<;:i
lti.ji:

trm

36,855
18,3113
40,029
25,415
4-2,661
5i,6ti;t

381,341

Genus Ovis. — Linnaus.
Generic Characters. — Teeth 3'2 — Incis-
ors o canines « "finders E.«, Horns com-

8 » u > 6_ 6

limn to boih sexes, ofien wanting, particularly in
(lie female; ibid;, angular, wrinkled transversely,

ored, turiiin
hurl ; two in

orally and sp
r of two kind
a! mammas.

rally ;
; tail

THE SHEEP.
Oris arles. — Linn.

In the 4th chapter of the book of Gen-
esis we read that Abel was a keeper of
sheep; from which it appears that this
animal has existed in a state of domesti-
cation from the very beginning of our
race. And we learn from history that
man has, in almost all ages of the world,
depended upon the sheep for a very con-
siderable share of his food and clothing.
In the Scriptures the sheep is frequently
mentioned, and the lamb, which is the
young of this animal, on account of its
gentleness and meekness, was employed
under the Mosaic dispensation to prefig-
ure the meek and lowly Jesus — " the
Lamb of God which taketh away the sin
of the world."*

The sheep first introduced into this
country by the European settlers, were of

Jul

29.

a large, hardy, coarse woolled variety, and
before the commencement of the present
century very little pains had been taken
to improve their quality or increase their
numbers. The first fine woolled sheep in-
troduced were the Merinos, from Spain,
in 1802. In that year Chancellor Liv-
ingston imported a buck and two ewes in-
to New York, and Col. I). Humphreys
imported '200 sheep of this breed, and pla-
ced them on his farm near New Haven,
Ct. lint these sheep attracted very little
attention till the embargo of 1808 and
the non-intercourse which followed it had
cut off the accustomed supply of woollen
goods from England. In JS09 and I8J0
nearly 400 Merinos were shipped to this
country by the Hon. Win. Jarvis, then
American consul at Lisbon, and these,
together with about 2,500 imported by
others, were distributed over the greater
part ol the United Slates. A considera-
ble number of the Merinos introduced in-
to this country by Consul Jarvis were
brought by him to Vermont, and placed
upon his unrivalled farm in Weathers-
field ; and from the importations above
mentioned nearly all the Merino sheep in
the United States have been derived.

History informs us that Merino sheep
existed in Spain as early as the days of
Augustns Caesar, and as the name signi-
fies beyond sea, they were probably im-
ported thither from some other country.
In 17b".">, 100 Merino bucks and 200 ewes
were transported from Spain into Saxony,
and subsequently many more. In these
Saxony Merinos the wool became much
improved, and from this improved race
importations have taken place into the
United States, under the name of Saxony
sheep. The first, consisting of only two
or three bucks, were imported in JdV?3,by
Col. James Shepherd, of Northampton,
Mass. The two following years a consid-
erable number ol' Saxony sheep were im-
ported by the Messrs. Searles, of Boston,
and the year 182G witnessed the introduc-
tion of no less than 2,500. From these
and subsequent importations the Saxony
sheep are now scattered into various parts
of the country, and in many places
crossed with the Merino and the coarse
wooled sheep In Vermont (hey have
been introduced into many towns, but are
not very generally diffused over the state.

There are, probably, few countries in
the world heller adapted to the rearing of
sheep than New England, and the soil
and climate of the hills of Vermont seem
to be peculiarly suited to that purpose.
Experience has likewise shown that while
the Merino and Saxony sheep thrive here
in a remarkable manner, their wool sul-

56

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

MS], ASKS OK Sll K.K1'

STUUC "I'UKi: OK BIRDS.

fers no deterioration in quality, but with
suitable attention is rather improved.
Sheep require an airy location, both in
summer and winter. In summer they
thrive much better in elevated, dry pas-
tures than on low, moist lands. In win-
ter they should be yarded from the last of
November till the latter part of April, but
should never be crammed, in large num-
bers, into small or tight enclosures. They
should be salted weekly both in summer
and winter, and at all seasons have free
access to pure water. The best season
for lambing- is thought to be from the 1st
to the 10th of May. The daily allowance
of food per head for sheep in winter
should be 3 lbs. of hay, or 2 lbs. of hay
and half a pint of oat meal, or other food
equivalent.

Sheep are subject to several diseases,
the most common and fatal of which are
the foot-rot and scab. The most approved
remedy for the former consists of 3 parts
of blue vitriol and 1 of verdigris pulver-
ized as fine as Indian meal and mixed
with a sufficient quantity of sharp vine-
gar to make it as thick as milk. The
vinegar should be nearly as hot as boiling
water when poured upon the other ingre-
dients, and the mixture should be stirred
briskly while hot. This mixture may

be put on with a paint-brush, being care-
ful to apply it thoroughly to those parts
of the feet which are most inflamed. For
the. scab the best remedy is to immerse
the sheep, excepting the head, in a strong
decoction of tobacco, scrubbing thorough-
ly the parts affected. The best time for
doing this is immediately after shearing;
but it may be done any time during the
season. For lambs the decoction should
be weaker. For the. bloat in sheep a great
spoonful of castor oil mixed with a tea-
spoonful of pulverized rhubarb may be
given in about a gill of hot water. It
may be poured down the sheep's throat
with a great spoon.

From ]fc30 to 1837 wool met with a
ready sale, and commanded a high price,
in consequence of which the farmers of
Vermont, during that period, devoted
their chief attention to the production of
wool, and the flocks of sheep, in most
parts of the state, were increased many
fold. The whole number of sheep in the
several counties, in 1840, was as follows:

Addison,

2lil,OIO

Orange,

156,053

Uennington,

104,731

Orleans,

4(i,lili9

Caledonia,

100,886

Rutland,

27!,7-->7

Chittenden,

11 0,77-1

Washington,

110,*72

Essex,

14,188

Windham,

1M,3:IG

Franklin,

87,3^5

Windsor,

234,820

Grand late,

27,151

Lamoille,

40,'J-JO

Total number,

1,081 8W

CHAPTER III.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

Preliminary Observations.
Birds are organized for flight ; have a
double respiratory and circulating sys-
tem, and produce their young by eggs.
They are distinguished from all other ver-
tebratcd animals by being clothed with
feathers. Their whole structure is adap-
ted for flying. Their bones are hard and
hollow, which give them at the same
time lightness and strength. Their lungs
are attached to their ribs, and are com-
posed of membranes penetrated by orifi-
ces, which permit a free passage of the
air into almost all parts of the body.
Birds have long necks, and bills compo-
sed of horny substance, but they are al-
ways destitute of teeth. Their organ of
smell is situated at the base of the bill, and
is generally hid by the feathers. Their

tongue is principally cartilaginous, and
their taste probably imperfect. Their eyea
are so constructed that their sight is very
acute, whether the object be near or dis-
tant. In addition to the eye-lids, they
have a membranous curtain to cover and
protect the eye. Birds which fly by day
have no external ear, but owls, or such
as fly by night, have one, but it is notso
much developed as in quadrupeds. The
brain of birds is remarkably large. Their
wind-pipe consists of entire rings, and, at
the lower end, when' it branches oft' to the
lungs, it is furnished with a glottis This
is called the lower larynx, and with this
the voice of birds is produced, which
has great compass, owing to the large vol-
ume of air contained in the air vessels.
Most birds undergo two moults annual-

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

j|ii)i:ns ok birds.

( ! K N i: H V

ly. In some species the winter plumage
differs considerably from that of the sum-
mer ; and the male and female also vary
in color in many species. The digestion
of birds is rapid in proportion to the ac-
tivity of their life and the force of their
respiration. Their stomach is composed
of three parts ; namely, a crop, a mem-
branous stomach, and a gizzard. The giz-
lard is armed with two strong muscles,
ond, by the assistance of small stones,
which the fowl swallows, grinds up the
food, and thus performs the office of mas-
tication.

The velocity with which birds travel
through the air exceeds that of any ter-
restrial animal. Eagles, and many other
birds, fly at the rate of (JO miles an hour.
Most birds are migratory, very few com-
paratively spending tin- whole year in the
■a me neighborhood. The crow, the par-
tridge, and a few species of woodpeckc rs,
owls, hawks, and water fowl, are all
which are known to reside permanently
in Vermont. Several species are seen here
in winter which are never seen in sum-
mer, and many are seen to pass northerly
in the spring and return to the south in
the fall, which make scarcely any stop
with us.

The characters by which birds are dis-
tinguished into orders and genera are de-
rived principally from the formation of
the bill and feet. We have adopted the
classification of Temminck, which is fol-
lowed by Mr. Nuttall, in his valuable
Manual of Ornithology. The following
are the Orders.

I. linjmces — birds of prey.

II. Omnivores — living on all kinds of
food.

III. Inscctivorcs — feeding on insects.

IV. Granivores — feeding on grain

V. Zygodactyli — with the toes disposed
in opposite pairs.

VI. Tcauirostrcs — birds with slender
bills.

VII. Alcijoncs — with three toes before,
united, and one behind ; the tarsi being-
very short.

VIII. Chelidoncs— with three toes be-
fore, divided, or only united at the base
by a short membrane ; the back toe often
reversible.

IX. Columbcr. — with toes before entire-
ly divided, and one behind.

X. Gallince — with three toes before,
united by a membrane ; the back toe join-
ed to the tarsus above the joint of the oth-
er toes.

XI. Grdilatorcs — with long slender
legs, naked above the knee ; three toes
before and one behind, all nearly on the
same level.

Part i. 8

XII Pinnatipcdcs— with the tarsi slen-
der and compressed ; Chre'e toes before
and one behind, with a rudimentary mem-
brane along the toes, the posterior one
joined interiorly to the tarsiis.

XIII. Palmipedes — with short feet,
more or less drawn up to the abdomen ;
anterior toes partly or wholly connected
by a membrane.

The following table contains a list of
the Birds of Vermont, arranged in the or-
der in which they are described in the
subsequent pages.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.
Order Rapaces — Birds of Prey.
Falco Icucocephahis, Bald Eagle.
u chrysaetos, Golden Eagle.
" halitetus, Fish Hawk.

" lineatus, Red-should'd Hawk.

" pemisylvanicus Broad winged [lawk.

« fuscus,

Slate colored Iluwk

" J'tregrinus,

Large fooled Hawk

" jjalumbariuSj

Cos- Hawk.

'♦ Cooperi,

Cooper's Hawk.

Marsh Hawk.

" borcalis,

Red-tailed Hawk.

" columburius,

Pigeon Hawk.

Strix usio,

Screech Owl.

" funcrca,

Hawk Owl.

" nyctea,

Snowy Owl.

" virginiana,

Great-horned Owl.

" ciiurui,

Cinereous Owl.

" brachyotus,

Short-cared Owl.

" uebulosa,

Barred Owl.

" acadica,

Saw-Whet.

" americana,

Bam Owl.

Order Omnivores

— Food of all kinds.

Slurnus Ivdovicianiis Meadow Lark.

Icterus baltimore,

Baltimore Oriole.

" phasnicus,

Red Wi ,1 Black Bii

" pecoris,

Cow Black Bird.

'• anripennis.

Bob-u-lmk.

Quiscalus versicolor

Crow Black Bird.

" fcrrugincus

Rusty Black Bird.

Corvus americanus,

Common Crow.

" corax,

Raven.

" oris talus,

Blue Jay.

" canadensis,

Canada Jay.

Paras atricapillus,

Chicadee.

" hudsonicus,

Hudson Bay Tilniouse.

Bo7HbydUa curoliwmxis,

Cedar Bird.

Order Inskctivor

:s — Living on Insect.

Lanius burcolis,

Butcher Bird.

Muscicapa tyrannis

King Kirtl.

» fusca,

I'hccbee.

" circus,

Wood P. wee.

" acadica,

Small Pewee.

" canadensis.

Spotted Flycatcher

Vireo Jlavifrons,

Yellow lln-i.uieil V ii <• i

" noveburacensi

S While eyed Vireo.

" olivaccus,

Red eyed Vireo.

" solilarius,

Solitary Vireo.

r>{<

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

CATALOGUE UK lilHi

;.-, c i:n era .*n

Tardus rafus,
« fdivox,

Brown Thrush.
Cat Bird.
Robin.

" WUsonii, Wilson's Thrush,

" iiovcboraccnsis Ni:\v York Thrush.
" aurocapilius, Golden crowned do.
" solitarius, Hermit Thrush,

Syleia.corbaata, Yeliow crowned \\ arblci

» petechia, . Yellow red poll do.
" testica, Summer Warbler.

" maculosa, Spotted Warbler.
" rubricapilla, Nashville Warbler.
■' virens, Black diroaied Green do.

" pinvs, Pine Creeping do.

" ca-rulca, Casrulean Warbler,

" Blackburnice, Blackburn's Warbler
" icterocephala, Chestnut sided do.
" canadensis, Black throated do.
" trichnsr Maryland yellow throat.

" vermivora, Worm eating Warb'r
" varia, Black ic White Creepi r.

Regulus caie.ndv.lus, Ruby crowned Wren
" tricolor, Fiery crowned Wren
Troglodytes anion, J louse Wren.
' " hyemalis, Winter Wren.
" americanus, Wood Wren.
*/„//„ lVilsonii, Blue Bird.

jJtithos spinolclla, Brown Lark.

Order Gkanivorks — Living on Seeds.
Emberha nivalis, Snow Buntino-.

oramiuca, Bay winged Bmiting
savanna, Savannah Buntin..-.
Pringilla vieludia, Song Sparrow.
" hyemalis, Snow Bird.

" canadensis, Tree Sparrow,
" , socialis, Chipping Sparrow.

" rancor am. Field Snarrovv.

iia/ii^

" (mb*, Cold Finch.

" linuria, L'inc Linnet.

" iZ/rtca, Ferruginous Finch.

" pennsylvanica White throat. Finch
" lnucophrys, White crown. Finch
" arctica, Arctic ground Finch

" eniihnqjluhalma Towhe-ground Find
" purpurea-, l'urplc Linnet.

Pyrrkula enucleator, I'me Grosbeak.

Loxia currirostra, Common Crossbill.
" leucojjtcra. White Winged do.

Order Zygodactyi.i- — The tots inpairs

CoccyrusamerieaniisYcllow hill Cuckoo
dominions. Black billed Cuckoo

Pints auratus, Gold « in«. Woodpecker

" erylhroerphalus, Bed beaded do.
" wir/if.0, Yellow belli. .1 do.

r/llusl

pvbes,

II

VV

cli.ee

Downy Woodpecker
A i otic three toed do.

Order Trxvirostues— slender bill Birds.

Sitta carolimnsis, While breast, Nuthatch.
" canadensis. Red bellied Nuthatch

Certhia familiaris, Brown Creeper.

Trochilus colubris, Iti by throat FImn'*> Bird.

Okdkr Algyones. — Halcyons.
Mccdo alcyon, Belted King Fisher.

Order Cheejdo.nes— The Swallow Tribe
llirundo purpurea, Purple Martin.
rvfa, Barn Swallow.

fulva, Clili" Swallow.

tzYo/or, White bellied Swal.
" ripariu, Bank Swallow.
Ct/pschis pclusgius, Chimney Swallow.
Caprimvtgw vodfirus, Whip-poor- Will.
" tirgmianus, Night Hawk.
Order Cor.u.MBiE— The Pigeon Tribe.
Columba migratoria,Vafisenirer Pigeon.

" carol inensis, Carolina Dove.
Order Gallium.— Gallinaceous Birds.
Melcagris gallopavo Wild Turkey.
Perdix virginianus, Quail.
Tetrao umbellus, Partridge.

" canadensis, Spruce Partridge.
Order Graixatores — Wading Birds.
Calcdris arcnaria, Sanderling Plover.
Falun amcricana, Common Toot.
Grus amvricana, Whooping Crane.
Ardea nycticorux, Night Heron.
" Jhrodlas, Cieat Blue Heron.
" vircscens, Green Heron.
Totamis Barlramius Upland Plover.

chloropigius, Solitary Taller.

•' maculurius, Spotted Taller.
Scolopax ll'ilsonii, Common Snipe.
liasticolu minor, Woodcock.
Order Pinnatipedes — Lobe-footed Hints
Podiccy* ,mroli„crms, Pictl-bill Dobchick.
OliliKU l'.M MiviiDKs—lf'cb-footcd Hints.
Larvs Bonapart'u, Bonapartian Cull.

» atricilla, Black headed (.nil.

Anscr canadensis, Canadian (louse.
dnas snousa. Wood Duck.

Mallard.

Dusky Duck.

Blue winced Teal.

spousa,

base has,
obscura,
discors.

Mtrguj men
Colymbasgh

ialt

Coos;

liOOL!.

dor.

BIRDS OF PRFY.
Birds of this order are distinguished by

their 1 ked bills and powerful claws.

They pursue and destroy other birds and
small quadrupeds; and they are among
birds what the carnivora are amonir quad-
runeds.

G

Ge

^^ ilh I.

s F.vi.co. —Liaa. and Tern.
Character.— The head covered

ry ai the base; the I.,
nded, ami both sorneti
i lateral, rounded, oroi

i

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

1IIK U.H.li EAGL

THE COLD

■ml open; tarsus clothed ivith feathers or scaly ;
U.e iocs, three before ami one behind— ihu exteri-
or tou cutmuouly united to llie adjacenl emu by a
maiiiliHmu; nails sharp, strongly hooked, mova-
ble una retractile ; mil feathers, twelve.

This Genus embraces the Eagles, Falcons,
Hunks, Kites and Buzzards, and is divided by
luudt-rii Ornithologists into no less than ten gen-
era ; hut we deem it unnecessary u> give the dis-
tmtlivu characters ul these >;cncra in tliU work.

THE BALD EAGLE.

Fa! co Icucuccjilmlus. — Lin n xus.

Description. — Color of the body and
wings deep lively brown or chocolate ;
Iicad, upper part of the neck, tail and tail
coverts clear while ; bill, cere and feet
yellow, with the soles of the feet rough
mid warty; iris light yellow. Length of
the female :1 feet, spread of the wings 7
feet; male "2 01 *J inches shorter. The
white of the head and tail is not clear till
the third year, being previously blended
with grayish brown.

JIisroBV.— The Bald Eagle is found in
lire northern parts of both continents, but
in much more common on the western
than on the eastern continent. It is
found in all parts of the Dinted Stales,
and is frequently seen in Vermont, but is
not known to breed within the stale.
This Eagle is the adopted emblem of our
country, but we should hesitate to ac-
knowledge him to he the true representa-
tive of our national character. He has
the reputation of being a free-booter, liv-
ing by robbing the fish hawk of his hon-
est gains. For this purpose he take:, his
stand upon some lofty tree growing near
the shore, and when he sees the fish
hawk rise from the water with his prey,
lie commences the pursuit, and the fish
hawk, in order to efl'i ct his own escape,
* compelled to aban in the fruit of his
fiber, which is hum 'diately secured by

Io his ii

ds,

the eagle and home aw;t
When tins L-ugle cannot |
cient supply offish, which
food, it preys upon other hi
quadrupeds and reptiles. The nest of the
Bald Eagle is built in the top of some
lofty tree. It is constructed of slicks
lined wiili coarse grass. The eggs, ac-
cording to Audubon, are from two to fuur,
and are of a dull white color. They are
usually hat, bed in May, and require the
aid of tire parents in procuring food till
September.

THE GOLDEN EAGLE.

I'.ilco ctirysaUos.—I.iHS.
Dr.scnirnux.— Bill bluish :ray at the
base, bla.k at the tip; cere yellow ; eve-
brows lighl blue; iris chestnut ; fore
part of the head, cheeks, throat and un-
der parts, dec,

ii ; hind head, poste-
rior and lateral parts of the neck light
brownish yellow, the shafts and conceal-
ed parts of the feathers deep brown. The
back deep brown, glossy, with purplish
reflections; wing coverts lighter ; prima-
ry quills brownish black ; the secondaries,
with their coverts brown, tlu.se next the
body more or less mottled with brownish
white, excepting at the ends; edges of
the wings at the ilex ore pale yellowish
brown. Tail dark brown, lighter tew aids
the base, with a few irregular whitish
markings; tail long, slightly rounded.
Wings long ; 4th quill longest, and the
Ii first abruptly cutout on the inner webs.
Length Ud inches, spread of the wings
7 feet; bill along the hack 2- inches;
edge of lower mandible •„>.>.; tarsus IA ;
middle toe and claw 4A ; hind claw !>].
Extremities of the folded wings 1 inch
short of that of the tail.— Jludubon.

Historv.— The Golden Eagle, though

has sometimes been known to build its
nest and rear its young within the slate.
The nest is placed upon tliu inaccessible
shelf of some rugged precipice, and con-
sists of afew sticks and weeds barely suf-
ficient to keep the eggs from rolling'dow n
the rocks The eggs are two or three in
number, '.'}, inches long, of a dull white
color with undefined patches of brown.
These eagles feed upon yoring lawns,
hares, raccoons, wild turkies-., partricb'i ;
and oi her quadrupeds and bird., but will
feed on putrid flesh, only when severely

The following description
una specimen preserved in
tiie College of Natural Hi

Un

CO

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

\ WK.

II E RKO-SH<

l> II A\v

Deschiption. — General color grayish choco-
lale brown resulting from the feathers being dark
chocolate edged with brownish ash ; feathers
white at Qui base, which makes it appear spotter]
will) while when the feathers are disturbed; tail
with irregular whitish marks lunar. Is the base.
Bill clear blue-black; upper mandible obtusely
toothed.; tarsus roundish", two thirds feathered;
feet strong, iocs rasp-'. i!re on the underside. Length
from the point of the bill lo the end of the tail 3
feel 7 inches, folded w ii.g :.; in-hes; tail beyond
the folded wings Go inch, *; I, on. the lip of the
upper mandible alouu she curve to the cere 2.5.
width of the cere .<J. under mandible 2.9, depth
ol the upper bill 1.2, middle toe without the nail
2.5 inches.

This eagle was killed several years ago near
Burlington. U W2s discovered sitting upon the
beach apparently asleep, and in that condition it
was approached and killed n ill) an oar. It would
appear troni ihc partially feathered tarsus to be-
long to the family of sea eagles, and 1 was at first
disposed to consider ii the young of the Bald Ea-
gle, hm by measuring I fo 1 it lo be larger than

the adult of thai species. Though it differs some-
what in color, ii resembles Audubon's figure of the
Washington Eaglu mora nearly thanany other.

THE FISH HAWK.
Fulco haliastus. — Savig.

Description.— General color of tho
upper parts dusky brown, tail barred with
pale brown. The upper part of lite head
and neck white, the middle part of the
crown dark brown. A broad hand of
brown from the hill down each side of the
neck ; upper parts of the neck streaked
with brown ; under parts whitish; anterior
tarsal feathers tinged with brown. Hill
brownish black, blue at the base and mar-
gin ; cere light blue ; iris yellow ; feet pale
greenish blue tinged with brown; claws
black. Length 23 inches ; spread of the
wings 54 ; lull, along the back,'2; tarsus
2J ; middle toe 3.—.:lu/lubon.

History.— The Fish Hawk is quite
common during the summer along the

whole coast of the United States and is
also seen along the lakes and rivers in
the interior, it usually arrives in New
England about the first of April and de-
parts to the south again in the fall. Ac-
cording to Audubon some of them winter
about New-Orleans. This hawk subsists,
as its name would imply, principally up-
on fish, which it takes by hovering over
the water and plunging upon them as they
rise near the surface and then hears them
off in its talons. They sometimes catch
fishes in this way weighing four or five
pounds. They breed all along the coast
of the middle states. Their nest is usu-
ally placed in the top of a large tree near
the shore and is of great size, sometimes
measuring four feet in diameter and the
same in height. It is composed of sticks
intermingled and lined with seaweed and
grass. The eggs are 3 or 1 in number, of
an oval form, yellowish white color and
spotted with reddish brown. The arrival
of the Fish Hawk along the sea coast in
the spring is hailed with joy by the fish-
ermen, who regard it as the harbinger of
the arrival of shoals of fishes.

^V#\

THE RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.
Fulco Lincutus. — Gmkl.
Description. — Color of the head, neck
and back, yellowish brown, resulting from
the feathers being dark brown, edged with
ferruginous ; wings, and wing coverts
spotted and lipped with white ; tail dark
brown, tipped with white, crossed by four
narrow grayish white bars. Breast and
belly bright ferruginous, with a black line
along tin- shafts of the feathers, ami spots
of yellowish white. Vent, femorals, and
under tail coverts, of a tight ochrcy tint,
with some of the feathers spotted with
brown, and the outer femorals long and
barred with ferruginous. Legs and feet
bright yellow ; bill and claws dark horn
color. Length of the specimen before me,
19 inches ; folded wing 13, reaching he-

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

61

T1IL UHOAII-W1NUKU HAWK.

THE SI.AT

yond the tliird white bar on the tail ; tail
Ct, reaching 2£ beyond the folded wings.

History. — In Vermont this hawk pass-
es, with several other species, under the
general name of Hen Hawk, but is some-
limes distinguished as the Red Hen Hawk.
It confines itself more to the woods than
bevetal other species, where it may be
Been flying among the trees, or sitting up-
on a limb watching for the appearance of
u squirrel, or some oilier small animal, up-
on which he may make a repast. This
hawk breeds in Vermont. Its nest is
about the size of the crow's nest. It is
placed in the forked branch of a high tree,
lnude of sticks, lined with moss. Its eggs,
usually four or live in number, are laid in
April. They are of u broad, oval form,
granular on the outside, and of a light blue
color, spoiled toward* the small end with
ri-ililir.li brown. Whenever their nests
are approached, they manifest much un-
easiness, and their Ktt-o6 becomes very
loud and angry.

THE BROAD-WINGED HAWK.
Fttlco pcnnsylvanicus. — Wilson.

Description. — General color of the
bead, back and wings above brown, tinged
with buff on the neck ; wings very faint-
ly barred with black; tail short with three
brownish white bars, and narrowly termi-
nated with the same. Breast brownish buff
spotted with white ; belly, sides and fe-
inorals, white with the feathers thickly
marked with large hastate spots ofyellow-
isli brown; vent and under tail coverts
white with a few spots. A brown stripe
from the mouth towards the throat ; bill
bluish black, nostrils oval, head large and
flattened above; cere and legs yellow;
legs short and strong ; tarsus shielded
with parallel scales ; anterior outer toes
slightly connected; space between the
nostril and eye bristly ; wings broad, the
fourth quill longest; the three first ab-
ruptly notched on their inner webs.
Length of the specimen before me, which
is a female, 15 inches; spread of the
wings 33$.

History. — This hawk bears a consid-
erable resemblance to the preceding ; it is,
however, though smaller, proportionally
more thick and robust, less ferruginous,
has a shorter tail, and is without the white
marking on the exterior of the wings.
The Broad-winged Hawk breeds in Ver-
mont, and the specimen from which the
above description was made, was shot,
while building her icst, in Burlington, in
April, 1610. Within her were found five

eggs in different stages of cnlargcnn
one of which appeared to be fully gro
with shell quite hard and in a condit

to be deposited ill the nest. Its color <
light sky-blue finely specked with bin
towards one end, with a smooth surf;
The nest of Ibis hawk is about the sizi
the crow's, built in the top of a tree \\
sticks, and lined with grass, roots i
moss.

THE SLATE-COLORED HAWK.
Falco fuscus. — Gin i.i.in.

Description. — Form slender; general
color above reddish slate, the- feathers
being brown slate slightly edged with
rufous; scapulars and upper tall coverts
with large concealed white spots ; wings
obscurely barred with dark and light
brown ; tail with alternate bars of black-
ish brown and dark ash, five of each, the
terminal bar being ash edged with white ;
chin, throat and belly yellowish white
with aline or brown stripe alono- the shafts
of the feathers on the chin and°throat, and
large tear shaped reddish brown spots on
the belly; thighs reddish, lighter on the
outside, with large hastate spots on tho
outside, making them appear barred ; un-
der tail coverts pure white ; bars on the
under side of the wings and tail distinct;
legs and feet yellow ; claws black ; bill
bluish black ; cere greenish yellow ; iris
bright yellow. Length of each of two
specimens before me 13.4 inches, spread
of the wings 24 inches, folded wing 8,
tail (j.2, reaching 3.5 beyond the fofded
wings, tarsus 2.5, bill along the ridge .6 ;
along the gap .8.

History.— This hawk is very common
in Vermont, and generally passes under
the name of Pigeon Hawk. It is usually
seen in our fields and pastures, flying very
swiftly near the surface of the ground in
search of its prey, which consists of small
birds, mice and reptiles. It sometimes
approaches our dwellings and carries off
young chickens. This species is very
widely diffused over our country, being
found, according to Audubon, as far south
as Texas, and according to Richardson as
far north as Int. 51°/ The nest of thia
hawk is built sometimes in rocky cliffs
and sometimes on trees. The eggs are
usually four or five in number, rounded
at both ends, of a livid white color, blotch-
ed with chocolate. This is the Sharp-
shinned Hawk, figured and described by
Audubon in his Birds of America, I — 100,
plate 25.

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THE LARGE-FOOTED

AWK. "llli: MAKSI1 11

THE LARGE-FOOTED HAWK.

Video pcrcgrinus. — Gmkl.

Description. — Head and hind neck
grayish black, tinged with blue ; the rest

of the upper parts dark bluish gray, indis-
tinctly barred with deep brown. Quills
blackish brown, w.ith elliptical reddish
white spots on their inner webs. Tail
grayish brown, marked with about twelve
bars. Throat and fore neck white ; a
broad band ofblackish blue from the an-
gle of the in. mlh downwards ; sides,
breast and thighs reddish white, trans-
versely marked with dark brown spots in
u longitudinal series ; under wing leath-
ers whuisli, transversely barred" Bill
blackish blue at the lip, pale green at the
base; cere oil green; bare orbital space
orange; iris hazel; feet lemon yellow;
claws brownish black. Length ~H>.\ in. ;
spread of the wings 30 inches.— Audubon.
History. — This hawk is common to
both the eastern and western continents.
It is found in most parts of the United
States, and, according to Audubon, has,
within a lew years, become much more
common than formerly. 1 am not sure
that any of this species have been taken
in Vermont, but, from their being com-
mon in neighboring states, the probabili-
ty of their existence here is so strong that
1 have thought it best to place it in my
list. According to Nuttall it builds its
nest in the most inaccessible clefts of
rocks, and lays 3 or 4 eggs, which are of
a reddish yellow color, spotted with
brown.

THE COS HAWK.
Fdl co palumbarius. — LiNN.

Description. — Adult male, dark blu-
ish gray above ; the tail with four broad
bands of blackish brown; the upper part
of the head grayish black ; a white band,
with black lines, over the eyes; lower
parts white, narrowly barred with gray,
and longitudinally streaked with "dark
brown. Young, brown above ; the leath-
ers edged with reddish white; the head
and hind neck pale red, streaked with
blackish brown; the lower parts yellow-
ish white, with oblong longitudinal dark
brown spots. Length 24 inches ; spread
of the wings 47 — A udu bon.

History. — This hawk is rare in Ver-
mont, but is sometimes met with in the
northern part of the state. The Gos-
Hawk in Europe is sometimes trained for
falconry. Its disposition is very savage,
and it is withal so much of a cannibal as
sometimes to devour its own young.

Their ordinary food consists of young
hares, squirrels, young geese, partridges,
pigeons, and oilier smaller birds and quad-
rupeds. It builds its nest in the manner
of the crow, in the central part of the top
of a high tree. Us egos, usually ;S or -1,
are of a bluish white, marked and spotted
with brown.

COOPER'S hawk:.

Falco Cuopcri.—BuuAV,

Description.— Tail rounded ; tarsi mod-
erately stout. Adult mule, dull bluish
gray above; the tail with four broad bands
ofblackish brown, and tipped with while;
upper part of the bead grayish black ;
lower parts transversely barred with light
red and white; the throat white, longitu-
dinally streaked Female similar, with the
bands on the breast broader. Young, um-
ber brown above, more' or less spotted
with white; the tail with four blackish
brown bar:, ; lower parts white ; each
feather with a longitudinal, narrow, ob-
long brown spot. Length, male ^Jt) in.,
female 22,— spread 3G, 38.— And. Legs
and feet yellow; cere greenish yellow;
iris bright yellow. Tail reaches 5 inches
beyond the folded wing.— Kultall.

History. — This is quite a common
hawk in Vermont, and, with several oth-
ers, passes under the general name of
Hen Hawk. Nor is the name in this case
inappropriate, since this bawl;, more fre-
quently perhaps than any other, bears off
hens and chickens from the farm yard.
This hawk breeds in this state, and its
nest, according to Audubon, is usually
plaeed in the forks of the branch of an
oak, towards the lop, and resembles that
of the crow, being composed of crooked
slicks, lined with' grass and a few feath-
ers But that they do not build upon trees
exclusively appears from the fact that a
nest of tins hawk, containing two eggs,
was found, a few years a"o, by George
11. Peek, Esq., built upon the ground, in
Burlington. The eggs are usually 3 or 4,
almost -lobular, large for the size of Ilia
bird, of a dull, white color, strongly gran-
ulated and rough.

THE MARSH HAWK.

Falco cijuneus. — Linn.
Description. — Color of the male blu-
ish gray ; quill feathers white at their ori-
gin, arid black towards the extremities;
interna] base of the wines, rump, belly,
sides, thighs, and beneath the tail, white,
without spots ; upper pari of the tail cin-
ereous gray, with ends of the feathers whi-

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

<;,;

Tin: l-

lisli. Iris and feet yellow. Female, dif-
ty brown above, with the feathers border-
ed with rusty ; beneath rusty yellow, with
large longitudinal brown spots ; quills
banded exteriorly with dark brown and
black; interiorly with black and white;
rump white, with rusty spots; two mid-
dle tail feathers banded with blackish and
dark gray ; lateral feathers banded with
yellowish red and blackish. Length 22
inches. Male 1 or 2 inches less. Youn^
Very similar to the female. — A'tittall.

History. — This very commoi. species
of hawk is also known by the name of Hen
Hawk and lien Harrier. It is very wide-
ly diffused, being found in Europe, Afri-
ca, North and South America, and the
West Indies. This hawk builds its nest
upon the ground ill swampy woods, or
in marshes covered with sedge or reeds,
ll »elrcls a spot a little elevated above the
surrounding inar.-b, and the nest is com-
pactly built of dry reeds and grass. The
eggs are usually Jour, bluish white, and
sometimes sprinkled and marked with
pule reddish brown. This hawk feeds up-
on partridges, plovers, and smaller birds,
and also upon lizards, frogs, and snakes.

THE RED-TAILED HAWK.
Falco borealis. — Gmei .

DrscrunioN. — General color dusky
brown tinged with ferruginous above, be-
neath whitish with dark hastate spots;
wings dusky, barred with blackish; tail
rounded, 'extending 2 inches beyond the
wings, of a bright brown or brick color,
with a single baud of black near the end
and tipped with brownish white. Chin
white, lull grayish black; iris, cere, sides
of the mouth ami legs yellow, breast
somewhat rust colored; Vent and femo-
rals pale ochreous, the latter with a few
heart shaped spots of brown. Length 'JO
to ~'"2 inches, spread of the wings 45
inches. — A'ultall.

History.— The Red Tailed Hawk, ac-
cording to Audubon, is a constant resi-
dent in all parts of the United Slates
This hawk feeds upon young hares and
other small quadrupeds and birds. He is
so strong and powerful as to be able to
overcome and bear off doves, goslinos and
dunghill fowls, ancl his depredations up..
th>- farmer's poultry yard are bj no mean
of rare occurrence. And yet he is so sh
and wary, that it is extremely difficult 1
approach near enough to shoot him with
a gun, of the use of which he, like the
crow, seems to have an intuitive knowl-
edge. The best method of geftingashot
at these wary birds i i open land is to ap-
proach them on horseback. The Red-

Tailed Hawk breeds in Vermont. Its
nest is built in the fork of a lofty tree, and
is composed of sticks, twigs, coarse grass
and moss. The eggs are -1 or f>, of a dull
white color, blotched with brown and
black.

THE PIGEON HAWK.

Falco coltiiii.hiirius, Linn.

Description. — Whole upper parts of a
deej) dusky brown except the tail which
is crossed by five narrow whitish bars ;
beneath yellowish or reddish white, spot-
ted and streaked with brown. The bill
is of a light bluish gray, tipped with
black ; cere and skin round the eye green-
ish ; iris deep hazel; legs yellow; claws
black ; feathers on the thighs remark-
ably long. Female with the cere and legs
greenish yellow; upper parts dark gray-
ish brown ; the lower pale and spotted as
m the male. Young with the head red-
dish brown, streaked witli dusky, mother
respects resembling the female. Length
of the male 11 inches, spread of the wings
'JW.— jVult. Ami.

History. — The Pigeon Hawk is much
less common than several other of the
smaller species of hawk. Audubon in-
forms us that this hawk breeds in Nova
Scotia, New -Brunswick and Labrador.
The nests are usually placed upon tie- tup
of small firs with which those countries
abound, at the height of 10 or 12 feet
from the ground. They are built of sticks
slightly lined with moss and feathers.
Theeggs are usually live, and are an inch
and three quarters in length. Their
ground color is a dull yellowish brown,
thickly clouded with irregular blotches of
dull dark reddish brown." This hawk is
shy and watchful, seldom being seen out
of the forests It feeds upon small birds,
mice and reptiles.

Gen u s

r.'i'iiis.

Generic Characters. — Beak compressed,
bent from its origin ; base surrounded by a cere,
covin-, 1 wholiy, or in pari, by still' erect bans;
head large, much feathered ; nostrils lateral,
rounded, open, pierced in die anterior margin of
the cere, concealed by hairs directed forwards;
eyes w) lanrc; orbiis . u rounded |,v leaitiers ;
k-ns ami feet leathered, frequently to the very
claw: . t; ,i widi three Iocs Ix-lbru and one behind,
separate; the exterior r< versiblo; iirxi quills den-
oted on their anterior border, the third longest.

This Genus embraces the ( l« ! Family, and i*

genera. The owls are called nocturnal birds of
prey, because they seek their prey chiefly by
night. The pupil of the Owl's eye is so lar-.'e

Q\ NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THK SCREECH OWL. THE TtMWK OWL.

THK

SM)WY OWL.

and admits so man)' rays of light that they are
dazzled, ami unable to sec by the full light of day,
but by faint twilight and by moonlight they appear
lo sue clearly. Several ofllie species arc furnish-
ed with ear-liko lutis, and arc called liorncd owls.

THE SCREECH OWL.

Strix asio. — Linn.

Buho asio. — Aud. Birds Am. 1—147, pi. 40.

Description. — Upper parts pale brown,
spotted and dotted with brownish black ;
n pale gray lino from the base of the up-
per inaudible over eacli eye ; quills light
brownish gray, barred with brownish
black ; their coverts dark brown ; secon-
dary covertswith the tips white; throat yel-
lowish gray, lower parts light gray, patch-
ed and sprinkled with brownish black ;
tail feathers tinged with red. Young,
with upper parts light brownish red ; each
feather with a central blackish brown
line ; tail and quills barred with dull
brown; a line over the eye and the tips
of the secondary coverts reddish white;
breast and sides light yellowish gray, spot-
ted and lined with brownish black and
bright reddish brown; the rest of the low-
er parts yellowish gray ; the tarsal feath-
ers pale yellowish red. Length 10 inch-
es ; spread 23. — Aud.

History.— This little owl is found in
nearly all parts of the United States, but
is much more common in northern than
in southern sections. The Screech Owl
is by no means rare in Vermont, and ma-
ny a Green Mountain lad, as he has been
passing through a wood in a dark night
lias felt his hair rise, his heart leap,
and himself flying as upon wings of the
wind, at the terrilic scream of this bird,
perched in a tree just over his head. Al-
though more common in the fall and fore
part of winter, many of them spend the
summer and rear their young in this
stale. Their nest, which is made of grass
and feathers, is placed at the bottom of a
hollow tree or stub, often not more than
(j or 8 feet from the ground. The eggs
are white, of a globular form, and usually
4 or 5 in number. Only one brood is
raised in a season. Tie young become

fully feathered in August, when they ap-
pear as described above. This owl is of-
ten designated as the Little Screech Owl,
and is also called the Mottled Owl.

THE HAWK OWL.

Strix funerca. — Gmelin.

Sarniafunerca— Aud. Am. Birds, I — 1 10, pi. 27.

Description.— Tail long, much round-
ed, the lateral feathers two inches shorter
than the middle. Upper part of the
head brownish-black, closely spotted with
white; hind neck black, with two broad
longitudinal bands of white spots; the
rest of the upper part dark brown, spotted
with white ; tail with eight transverse
bars of white, the feathers tipped with the
same; facial disks grayish white, mar-
gined with black ; lower parts transverse-
ly barred with brown and dull white. —
Aud. Bill yellow; feet thickly feather-
ed ; nails horn-color.— Nutt. Length of
the male 1G inches ; spread of the wings
3'J ; female larger.

HtsTouv. — This species forms the con-
necting link between the hawks and the
owls, having, in several respects, a con-
siderable resemblance to both, and hence
its name, Hawk-Owl. We are informed
by Dr. Richardson that this owl is com-
mon throughout the fur countries from
Hudson's bay to the Pacific ocean, and
that it is more frequently shot than any
other. It must, however, be a rare bird
in the United States, generally, since the
indefatigable Audubon confesses that he
has never seen it alive. Rut it is because
he has not visited the north part of our
own state that he has been denied this
pleasure ; for he is assured by no less au-
thority than Dr. Thomas M. Brewer, of
Boston, that the Hawk-Owl is so common
about Memphremagog lake in Vermont,
that a dozen of them may be procured by a
good gunner in a day, and tli,at their nests,
which are in hollow trees, are frequently
met with. Its eggs, according to Rich-
ardson, are white, aud usually two in
number.

THE SNOWY OWL.

Strix mjclca. — Linnjeus.

Surma iiyctca.— And. Am. Birds, I— 113, pi. 38.

Description. — General color white,
more or li;.ss spotted and barred with
brown ; the tail rounded and extending a
little beyond the folded wings; the sec-
ond and fourth quills equal, the third lon-
gest; bill bluish black, curved from the
base ; upper mandible thickly studded
with stiff, bristly white feathers; throat
and lens covered with soft, pure white

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

65

THE GREAT HORNED OWL.

IEKEOUS OWL

down, which becomes hairy upon the feet,
and marly conceals his long, black, and
bhnr|i claws. Length ofthe specimen be-
fore me 27 inches ; spread of the wings 50
inches; longest quill ]."> inches.

History. — The principal residence of
this species of owls is in the northern-
most parts of both the eastern and west-
ern continents. ■ It is very common in
Lapland, Iceland, and in the countries
around Hudson's Bay, and its large size
and thick downy plumage are well titled
to resist the climate of those icy regions.
"In those dreary wilds, surrounded by
almost perpetual winter, he dwells, breeds
and obtains his subsistence. His white
robe renders him scarcely discernible
from the overwhelming snows where he
reigni like the boreal spirit of the storm.
Hid loud, hollow, barking growl, 'tcltoich
'trhowh, 'icfioirh, hah, hah, huh, and other
more dismal cries, sound like the unearth-
ly ban of the infernal Cerberus, and
heard amidst a region ol cheerless soli-
tude, his lonely and terrific voice aug-
ments rather than relieves the horrors of
the scene."* The Snowy Owl seeks his
food by day as well as by night, and in
the midst of winter many of them are
compelled to proceed to the southward
to procure the means of subsistence. At
Biicli times they are seen, usually in
pairs, in various parts of the U. States.
They do not make their appearance in
Vermont until winter is fully set in, and
leave us with the earliest indications of
spring. They breed in the regions far to
the north, and arc said to make their nest
upon steep rocks, or old pine trees, and
to lay two eggs, which are of a pure
white. They feed upon other birds, mice,
rats, and other small quadrupeds.

THE GREAT HORNED OWL.

■sir;

nrginiana. — Gmel

1} ub o Virginia nas. — \ud. Ami. Birds, 1—113, pi. 30.

Description.— Bill black ; iris bright
yellow. Above whitish and ferruginous,
thickly mottled with dusky; face ferru-
ginous, bounded by a band of black. A
whitish space between the bill and thi-
eves. Beneath marked with numerous
transverse dusky bars on a yellow and
white ground; vent paler. Feet covered
Willi hair-lik,' pale brown feathers; tail
rounded and broad, reaching an inch be-
yond the wings, mottled with brown and
tawny and crossed with (j or 7 narrow
bars of brown; chin whitish. Horns
broad, :\ inches long, formed ol' 12 or 1 1
feathers, with black webs and edged with

IV

brownish yellow. Length of the male 21
inches, female '.' inches longer. — JVutt.

History. — This is one of the largest
species of American Owls, and is found
through all the regions from the gulf of
Mexico to Hudson's bay. It breeds in
this state and in somr of the unsettled
woody parts is quite cuinmon. Its nest,
which is large, is built of dry sticks and
lined with leaves and some feathers. The
eggs are from three to six in number,
about the size of those of the common
hen, but rounder and of a yellowish white
color. This owl is often called the Cat
Owl, from the resemblance of its face to
that of the cat. It confines itself mostly
to the retired and dark thickets ofthe for-
ests, and particularly to thickets of spruce
and othcrevergrcens, and, in man}' places
during the summer these owls may be
heard responding to one another their
irtiitgli ho ! icuugh ho', loaugh hot) — during
the whole night Their food consists of
various kinds of birds, hares, squirrels
and other quadrupeds, and they some-
times come around our barns, and carry
off our domestic fowls. These owls are
said sometimes to have pounced upon
cats, mistaking them perhaps for rabbits,
but finding themselves to have caught a
Tartar, they are generally very willing to
relinquish their grasp.

THE CINEREOUS OWL.
Strix cinerea . — G m e l .
Syrnium cinereum.— Aud. Am. Birds, I— 130, pi. 35.
Description.— Upper parts grayish
brown, variegated with grayish white in
irregular undulated markings; the feathers
on the upper part of the head with two
transverse white spots on each web ; the
smaller wing-coverts of a darker brown,
and less mottled than the back ; the outer
scapulars with more white on their outer
webs ; primaries blackish-brown toward
the end, in the rest of their extent mark-
ed with a i\-\v broad light-gray oblique
bands, dotted and undulated with darker;
tail similarly barred; ruff-feathers white
towards the end, dark brown in the cen-
tre ; disks on their inner sides gray, with
black tips, in the rest of their extent
grayish-white with G bars of blackish-
brown irregularly disposed in a concen-
tric manner ; lower parts grayish-brown,
variegated with grayish and yellowish
white ; feet barred with the same. Length
:;0.i inches ; spread, 4&.—j3utl.

History.— This is the largest species
of owl known in this country. Il is only
occasionally met with in the northern
parts of the United States, but further
north it is by no means a rare hud, bchnr

66

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

nir. SIIOKT-KARKU OWL.

UK BARRED OWL.

according to Dr. Richardson common in
tlie woody districts between Hudson's Bay
and the Pacilic ocean, as far north as the
US" of latitude. Dr. II. found a nest of
one of these owls on the 22d of May,
containing three young. It was built of
sticks on the top of a balsam poplar, and
was lined with leathers. The eggs are
said to be spotted. This owl is rarely
seen in this state, but occasionally makes
his appearance here in tlio depth of win-
ter.

THE SHORT-EARED OWL.
Strix brachyota. — L a t ii a m .

Otusbrachyotus-Aud. Am. bird* I— 110, pi. 33.

Description.— Ear-like tufts inconspic-
uous, consisting of 2 or 3 short feathers ;
general color ochreous spotted with black-
ish-brown ; face round, the eyes blackish ;
tail ochreous with about 5 brown bands,
not extending beyond the wings, and
tipped with white ; beneath yellow with
longitudinal spots of blackish-brown ; iris
bright yellow ; bill black; feet and toes
feathered. Female with the general tints
paler. Length from 1:3 to 15 inches.—
Mitt.

IIistorv. — This species migrate to the
south iu the fall, and during the winter
are so numerous in Florida that Audubon
says that he has shot no less than seven
of them in a single morning. They pro-
ceed to the north on the approach of
spring for the purpose of rearing their
young, but some of them are known to
spend the summer, and, occasionally, to
breed as far south as Pennsylvania. This
owl is found in Vermont, and 1 am as-
sured by Dr. Brewer that it breeds in
the northeastern part of the state;. It
builds its nest upon the ground, and its
eggs, which are about four, are of a dull
bluish white color. The short-eared owl
is attracted by nocturnal fires, and will
sometimes approach so near as to be
knocked down with a stick.

THE BARRED OWL.

Strix ncbulosa. — Linn/lus.
Description. — General color umber-
brown, spotted and barred with white and
yellowish white tibove ; beneath whitish,
barred transversely on the breast ami
longitudinally on the belly with umber
brown, and having large sagittate spots
of the same on the feathers towards the
tail; tail long, reaching -1 inches beyond the
folded wings, rounded, tipped with white,
convex above, and crossed by six broad bars
of umber brown, separated by narrow
bars of yellowish white ; plumage in front

of the eye ends in long black hairs; bill
yellow ; legs covered with feathers, ex-
tremities of the toes covered with scales;
nails lonir, sharp, and of a dark horn color.
Length 20 inches.

IIistorv.— The Barred Owl inhabits
both the eastern and western continents.
It is found in all parts of the United
States, and is one of the most common
owls found in Vermont. It does not con-
line itself to the woods, but comes around
our dwellings and is often seen among
our shade trees ami orchards in the midst
of our villages. 1 have before me two
specimens, both of which were shot in the
village of Burlington. Their food con-
sists of young hares, squirrels, mice,
grous and other birds, and also of frogs
and other reptiles. They sometimes destroy
chickens. This owl, according to Au-
dubon, does not build a nest, but lays its
eggs, in the latter part of March, upon
the soft rotten wood in a hollow tree, and
sometimes in the old nest, of a crow or
red-tail hawk. The eggs are of a globu-
lar form, pure white, with a smooth shell
and from 4 to G in number.

THE SAW-WIIET.
Strix acadica. — Gmel.

Vlula acudicu.-Aud. Am. Birds, 1— 133, pi. 33.
Description. — General color above
olivaceous brown, scapulars and some of
the wing-coverts spotted with white ; the
first six primary quills obliquely barred
with white; tail darker, with two narrow
white bars ; upper part of the head streak-
ed with grayish-while ; ruff white, spotted
with dusky. Lower parts whitish ; the
sides and breast marked with broad elon-
gated patches of brownish-red. Length
of the male 7£ inches, spread 17. Female
H.-l, \8.—~lttdubun.

"History.— This little owl is not un-
common in Vermont, ami it is generally
known by the name of Saw-Whet ; and
this name is derived from the sound of its
peculiar note, which resembles tliat of
the tiling of the teeth of a large saw.
People, who are unacquainted with this
bird, travelling in the forest, are often
deceived by its note, supposing them-
selves to be approaching a saw-mill, while
far remote from any settlement. Audu-
bon relates that he himself was several
limes deceived in this way. This bird
is sometimes called the Little Owl, or
' Little Acadian Owl.' It is retired and
solitary in its habits, confining itself dur-
ing the day to evergreen and other thick-
ets of the forest. For rearing its young,
the Saw- Whet lakes possession of the old

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

67

THE BARN OWL.

ill K m i;a IMIW l.A KK

or of a hollow cavity of an old tree. The
eggs are of a form approaching to globu-
lur, are of a glossy-white color, and are
from three to six in number. This owl
feeds upon mice, beetles, moths and
grasshoppers.

THE BARN OWL.
Strix am e ricu na. — Audubon.

Description. — Bill pale grayish yel-
low ; claws and scales brownish yellow.
General color of the upper parts grayish
brown, with light yellowish-red interspers-
ed,produced by very minute mottling, each
feather having towards the end a central
streak of deep brown terminated by a
small oblong grayish-white spot ; wings
hi 111 1 la rly colored ; secondary coverts ami
outer edge* of primary coverts with n
largo proportion of light brownish-red,
fading anteriorly into white, each feather
having a small dark brown spot at the tip.
Length and spread, male 17, 42 ; female
18, Ai).— Audubon.

History. — This owl, though very com-
mon in the southern states, is so rare at
the north-east, that Audubon says that
he has never seen it to the eastward of
Pennsylvania, and yet I am assured by
Dr. Brewer that it is not only found in
Vermont, but breeds here. This owl is
entirely nocturnal in its habits, and when
disturbed in the day time Hies about in a
irregular, bewildered manner. Audubon
supposes its food to consist entirely of
small quadrupeds. This owl is said to
bear a close resemblance to the StrixjJam-
mat, or White Barn Owl.

OMNIVOROUS BIRDS.
These have the bill robust, medium-
sized, and sharp on the edges ; upper
mandible more or less convex, and notch-
ed at the point; feet with four toes, three
before and one behind; wings of medium
length ; quill feathers terminating in a
point. They live, for the most part, in
companies or flocks and are monogamous.
The greater part of them build their nests
on trees, hut some of the species occupy
the crannies of old walls, and some build
upon the ground. Their principal food
consists of insects, worms and carrion, to
which they often add grain and fruit.

Genus St urn us. — Liniueus.
Generic Characters. — The bill in the
form of a lengthened cone, depressed and some-
what blunt, will, (la- edges vertical; above some-
what rounded. Nostrils partly closed by an arched
membrane. The tongue narrowed, sharp, and
cli'l'i at the point; the h!M,| nail longest ami lar-
gest; the fust quill short, die second and third
lonaest.

THE MEADOW LARK.

Sturnus ladovicinnus. — Linnaeus.

Description. — The color above is va-
riegated with black, bright bay and ochrc-
ous; beneath and a line over the eye
bright yellow ; a black crescent on the
breast; tail wedge-form, feathers pointed,
and the four outer ones nearly all white;
bill brown above, bluish white beneath,
conical with deep rounded sinuses at the
ba.se; legs and feet large, reddish white.
The sexes differ but little in color, but in
the young the yellow is much fainter.
Length of the specimen before me 10
inches; folded wing, 5.

History. — The Meadow Lark is a
harmless bird, and is common in all parts
of the United States, and particularly so
in Vermont, where it breeds in large
numbers. Their residence is chiefly in
meadows and old fields. They build their
nest in some thick tuft of dry grass. It
is usually constructed of the coarse grass,
lined with finer blades of the same, and
approached by the bird through a con-
cealed covered way, and hence they are
not readily found. The eggs are large
and white, with a bluish tint, and marked
with brownish spots. They are usually
4 or 5 in number. The food of the Meadow
Lark consists of the larva: of various kinds
of insects, worms, beetles and grass seeds ;
but it does not meddle with fruits and
berries. It is of a shy, timid and retiring
disposition, usually spending the whole
summer in the moist meadows, and only
retiring from them on the approach of
winter.

Genus Icterus. — Brisson.
Generic Characters. — Bill in the form
of an elongated sharp pointed cone, some what
compressed, rounded above, and rarely somewhat
curved ; with the margins inflected. Nostrils
oval, covered by a membrane. Tongue sharp and
del! at the tip. Tarsus longer than the middle
toe ; innar toe bat liille. shorter than the outer, and
nearly equal to the hind one ; middle toe longest ;
hind nail twice as large as Ihe others. Wings
sharp; first and second primary, but little shorter

female vet y different from the male, and the young

resemble the female.

68

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

Tart I.

THIS II A I.TIM I) 111

tiik ki:d-\\ iN(,i:i) in ACK-r.nin.

THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE.
Ictci us Baltimore. — Bonaparte.
Description. — Color ot' the shoulders,
rump, lateral tail feathers, breast and
belly

1 feathers

ight orange ; head, back, wings,
middle tail feathers and chin black ; wing
feathers and coverts slightly edged witli
white on their outer webs; bill bluish
horn color; legs, feet and nails brownish ;
iris hazel. In the female and young the
orange is pale, and the parts which are
black in the male are grayish ; tail even ;
hind toe and nail strongest.; bill very
acute ; '2d and lid primaries equal and
longest. Length of the specimen before
me 7 inches; folded wing, -!•].

History.— The Baltimore Oriole, or
(Soltlen Robin, as he is here more common-
ly called, is one of our most gay and live-
ly birds. It arrives in Vermont in the
early part of May, nnd about the begin-
ning of June may be seen busily engaged
in the construction of its nest. For this
purpose they usually select a flexible
branch of a tree standing on the side of a
gentle declivity. The nest is suspended
from this by strings or threads in the form
of a pendulous cylindrical pouch 5 or G
inches in depth. The exterior is formed
of strings, strips of bark and other fibrous
substances, and the interior lined with
grass, moss, wool, hair or downy sub-
stances. The eggs are usually 4 or 5 in
number. They are white with a faint
tinge of blue, and are usually marked
at the large end with irregular brownish
lines and spots. The period of incubation,
according to Audubon, is 14 days, and
the same pair frequently rear two broods
in a season. Though shy and suspicious,
they seem to prefer building their nests
upon the high trees in the open laud by
the side of roads and about farm-houses.
They feed their young principally with
soft caterpillars, and (be male and female
both unite in this labor. The food of the
old birds consists mostly id' caterpillars
and insects of different kinds. They are
also fond ofcherries, i unants and straw-

berries, but do not often commit depreda-
tions upon these fruits hi our gardens.
They are thought to possess an extraor-
dinary relish for green peas, as they some-
times attack those growing in our Har-
dens. They split open the pod without
detaching it from the vine, and, as is gen-
erally supposed, for the purpose of obtain-
ing the young and tender peas. But Mr.
Peabody informs us that it has been as-
certained by Dr. Harris, that the Oriole-
opens the pods not for the sake of the
peas, but for the grub of the pea-bug ; and
that instead of mischief, lie is perform-
ing a service, for which he is more de-
serving of gratitude than reproach. Al-
though we have several birds which oc-
casionally do a little mischief in our fields
and gardens, it is at least doubtful whith-
er we have any which would not lie found
to be beneficial rather than otherwise,
were their history fully known. From
its manner of building, 'this bird is often
called he Haiw lHrd, or liana A'csl.

THE RED-WINGED BLACK-BIRD.
Icterus jihtinicrus. — D.vuii.

Description. —Color of the male rich
flossy black, with the exception of the
lesser wing coverts, in which the lower
row of feathers is of a bull* orange color
tipped with white, and the rest of a bright
scarlet; legs, feet and bill glossy black,
the latter an elongated, straight, sharp-
pointed cone, slightly flattened in front;
iris hazel ; tail rounded, reaching 2 inches
beyond the lidded wings. Length of the
specimen before me i) inches, the folded
wing r> inches, spread of the wings 13J
inches. The female is considerably smal-
ler than the male, and her general color
dull reddish brown. The lesser wing
coverts usually exhibit something of the
reddish and (/range hue, but seldom, if
ever, is tin; bright scarlet observed in the
female.

History.— This singularly marked bird
usually arrives in Vermont early in April,
and takes up its residence' in Hocks in the
marshes and swamps. Here they com-
mence buildino their nests about the mid-

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT,

69

Till: COW HLACK-lllRI

die of May. These are usually construct-
ed in a thicket of alders, or other bushes,
at the height only of a few feet from the
ground, and are made of the leaves of
Hags, swamp-grass, &c, something in the
form of that of the Golden Robin. The
eggs, varying from 3 to 5 in number, are
bluish white, with irregular faint purple
markings on the larger end. About the
beginning of September they begin to col-
lect in flocks, and sometimes do consid-
erable damage to the unripe com. Hut
it is believed that the advantage derived
from these birds in the destruction of
larva- and insects in (Ik; spring of the
year vastly more than compensates for all
tin; damage they do It is stated by
Kalm, that after a great destruction of
these and the common Black-Birds for
the legal reward of lid. per dozen, in 1748,
the worms and grubs multiplied so ex-
ceedingly as to destroy a great part of the
grass in New England.*

THE COW BLACK-BIRD.
Icterus pecoris — Ti:m.

Description. — Color glossy black with
violet reflections from the back and breast;
head and neck above and below dusk}'
cinainon brown ; bill robust, conical, acute,
slightly compressed Inwards the end, and
of a" glossy black color; upper mandible
rounded and encroaching a little upon
the forehead, sides of the lower mandable
inflected; nostrils basal and partly cov-
ered; neck short, body robust; tarsus
compressed, acute behind and covered
anteriorly with seven Iongisb scutella;
toes free, lateral ones nearly equal ; legs,
feet, and claws brownish black. Tail
rather short and slightly forked. 'Wings
longish, curved, slightly rounded and the
L'd and 3d quills longest. Length ofthe
specimen before me 7 inches; folded
wing A}-,, spread ofthe wings lv>, tail reach-
es 1 inch beyond the folded wing. Fe-
male less than the male, and of a dusky
color.

ILstouy.— The Cow Black-Bird de-

rives its name from its habit of being
much among the cattle as tliey are feed-
ing in the pastures. Its food consists al-
most entirely of inserts, and it might he
regarded as a public benefactor were it
not for certain habits which render it de-
testable and prevent its receiving the
credit to which its good qualities would
otherwise entitle it. Being strangers to
the joys which spring from conjugal fi-
delity and having a strong aversion to do-
mestic cares, this bird contrives to escape
them by laying its eggs in the nests of
other birds. This it 'does in the absence
of the owners of the nest, and when the
owners return they usually manifest much
uneasiness and make strong etlbrts to
throw out the intruded cg>r. When they
do not succeed in this, they often build
a flooring over the strange egg and ele-
vate the subs so as to form a new nest
within the old. Rut in many cases cir-
cumstances will not allow them time for
this labor, and then they are obliged pa-
tiently to submit to the imposition. The
CiTif of the Cow-Bird is always hatched
first, and the young by its superior size
often smothers the lawful heirs. The
proprietors of the nest, however, feed the
foundling and treat it with the same kind-
ness as if it were their own offspring.

A case of this intrusion of the Cow
Black-Bird occurred in Burlington in
1840, in the garden of my friend R. G.
Cole, Esq. Cashier of the Burlington
Bank. He had noticed a pair of common
yellow birds, Fringilla triads, busily en-
gaged for several days in building a nest
upon one of his trees. A day or two af-
ter he had supposed it complete, he no-
ticed that it had suddenly undergone a
very considerable enlargement, so much
so that his curiosity was excited, and
upon examining it he' found that it consis-
ted of two nests, one within the other, and
that the lower nest contained an egg of
the Cow Black-Bird. The upper nesMvas
entirely of cotton, ami upon the circum-
stance being known, it was found that
my friend JMr.S.E. Howard, whose yard is
adjacent to the garden containing the
nest, had observed two birds eagerly
searching his premises for building mate-
rials, and that he had, with his accustom-
ed liberality, purposely thrown out sev-
eral handfiils of cotton, all of which dis-
appeared in tin- course of a few hours,
and were found neatly wrought into the
nest above-mentioned.

The egg of the Cow Black-Bird is a
little larger than that of the Blue bird,
oval, whitish tinged with green and spot-
ted with brown. Its notes are affected
and unpleasant.

70

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

Tin; BOB-O-LINK.

THE CROW BLACK BIRD.

THE BOB-O-LINK.

Icterus agripennis. — Hon at.

Description. — The spring dress of the
male: — the top of the head, wings, tail,
sides of the neck, and whole under plu-
mage, black, with the feathers frequently
■skirted with brownish yellow ; back of
the head yellowish white ; scapulars,
rump, and tail coverts white, tinged with
ash ; extremities of the tail feathers similar
to those of the woodpeckers ; bill bluish
black ; legs dark brown. Color of the/c-
'niale, the young, and the male, in autumn
and winter, varied with brownish black
and brownish yellow above, dull yellow
beneath. Length of the specimen before
me ? inches; spread of the wings Jl^ in-
ches.

History. — This is a common bird in the
summer throughout the United States. In
many parts it is called the Rice Bird, or
Rice Bunting, from the circumstance of
its feeding much upon wild rice. It is
•also sometimes called the Sl.un/c Much
Bird, from the resemblance of its black
•and white markings to those of the
skunk. But Bob-o-link is its most common
designation. This bird does not usually
make its appearance in Vermont till the
latter part of May, and the males are gen-
erally seen a few days earlier than the fe-
males. They take up their residence in
the low meadows, and upon these and the
neighboring ploughed fields they destroy
vast'numbers of insects and larva;; and
this kind of food being abundant, they
seldom leave it for the purpose of doing
injury by feeding upon grain or fruits.
Hence they are rather regarded as bene-
factors, and being of an animated, jovial
turn, though somewhat boisterous, they
arc received on their return in the spring
with a hearty welcome. The Bob-o-link
builds its nest on the ground, among tin-
grass. It is placed in a slight depression
and constructed of grass, coarse on the
outside and lined with that which is finer.
The female lays from 4 to 6 eggs, which
are of n dull yellowish white color, spot-
ted with brown. About the hist of July
the males put oil' then black and white

nuptial dress, and assume thegray, unosten-
tatious garb of the female "and the young,
and by the middle of August they begin
to collect in Hocks in the swamps and wet
meadows, and soon alter leave for a more
southern climate.

Genus Quiscalus.— VieUlot.
Generic Characters. — Bill bare, coin-

tho b;

bent inwards; upper mandible forming an acute
angle with the Gathers of the head, curved from
llie middle, projecting bevond the lower, and pro-
v ided with a long heel u i'tliin. Nostrils oval, half
eluded by a membrane. Tongue cartilaginous,
flattened, torn at the ^ides and cleft at the point.
Tarsus a little longer than the middle toe; inner
loe free, outer one united at llie base to the middle
one Wings moderate in length ; lsi primary
equal to the olh, and hut little shorter than the 2d,
3d, and 4th, which are longest. Tail of 12 feath-
ers, inoie or less rounded.

COMMON CROW BLACK-BIRD.

Quiscalus versicolor. — Vieiixot.

Description. — Color of the head, neck,
and breast, deep violet, with greenish and
purplish reflections; back, belly, and scan-
ulars dark bronze color; wings and tail
reflecting various shades of purple, with
green blue and coppery tints. Bill and
legs black. Upper mandible longer, but
not so stout as the lower, and the keel
within large. Feet and claws strong. Iris
bright gamboge yellow. Tail of 1 '/feath-
ers, rounded or wedge form, and reaching
*.i inches beyond the folded wings. Length
of the specimen before me 12 inches; tail
5j; folded wings 5.7; bill above 1.2, to
the angle of the mouth 1.4. Length of
the female usually 11 inches.

History.— The Crow Black Bird is an
active and sociable bird, which warns us
by his loud, clanking note, late in the
spring, that he is once more in our fields
and gardens, apparently unconscious that
there can be any objection. He is one of
those creatures concerning which it is dif-
ficult to say whether tiny are friends or
foes ; sometimes they are the one and

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

71

THE RUSTY BLACK-BIRD.

sometimes the other, and it is only by
striking a balance between the service
and injury, that we can determine how to
regard them. That he pulls up corn for
the Bake of the seed is undeniable ; but it
is also true that lie devours immense num-
bers of insects, grubs and caterpillars.
Perhaps it may be possible to secure his
services and prevent his depredations.
Some attempts to effect this object have
already been made, by soaking the seed
in some solution, which shall make it less
palatable to the bird.' Crow Black Birds
build their nests in communities, some-
times on bushes and sometimes on lofty
trees, and several nests are frequently
Been upon the same tree. The nest is
Comported outwardly of mud and coarse
gruB.and ib lined inwardly w ith hue grass,
hair, Ac. The eggB, usually "» or (>, are
greenish, ■polled with dark olive. Only
one brood is usually reared in a Reason.
About tin; time the leaves fall in autumn
tin" old und young collect in very large
Hocks and commence their migration to
the south, laying the whole country un-
der contribution as they advance.

THE RUSTY BLACK-BIRD.
Quiscalus ferrugineus. — Lath.
Description. — General color of the
nuilr, deep black, with greenish and bluish
reflections ; bill and feet black ; iris pale
yellow. Wings long; second quill lon-
gest ; tail long, slightly rounded ; plumage
soft, blended, and glossy. Bill straight,
tapering, and compressed from the base ;
nostrils, basal, oval, half closed above by
a membrane. Body rather slender; feet
strong ; tarsus covered anteriorly with a
few long scutella. Length 9| inches;
spread 14 A, in males. General color of
the female brownish black ; the sides of
the head over the eyes, and a broad band

sath it, light yellowish brown ; the

G K.N US Co RVV S—LuinWVS.

Generic Characters.— Bill thick, straight

nils b
fcalhei

hind, I

fuel iviih time, loes befure and one he-
ded; the tarsus longer than die middle
toe ; wings pointed; lirst quill short, third and
fourth longest. The tail consists of 12 feathers.

be]

feathers of the lower parts more or le
margined with brownish. Bill, iris, and
feet as in the male. — Audubon.

History.— The Rusty Black Bird, call-
ed also the liusty Graldc, passes through
this state in its spring and fall migrations,
and is sometimes seen here in considera-
ble Hocks, particularly in the fall. Some
of them probably breed in the north part
of the state. They resemble the Red-
winged Black Birds in their habits and in
the construction of their nests, which are
built upon low bushes in moist meadows.
The eggs are 4 or 5, of a light blue color,
.streaked and dashed with lines of brown
and black.

l'eaborly,

^pT

THE CROW.
Comts timer icanus. — Audubon.

Description. — Color black and glossy,
with violet reflections from the wings,
tail and shoulder feathers ; tail rounded,
and extending an inch and a half beyond
the folded wings ; bill, legs, feet and
claws black ; bristly feathers incumbent
upon each side of the bill covering the
nostrils; the fourth quill feather longest;
usual length lit inches.

History. — The Crow is found in all
parts of the world, and is one of the few
large birds which pass the whole winter
in Vermont. During the winter the Crows
reside in Hocks, but on the approach of
spring they separate into pairs, and retire
into the forests for the purpose of rearing
their young. During this period they are
vigilant, suspicious, and upon any real or
supposed intrusion upon their purpose
they become very noisy. They build
their nests upon lofty trees, and usually
select for that purpose such as have thick
tops, in which the nests can be more ef-
fectually concealed. On this account the
pine and other evergreens are often cho-
sen. The nest is constructed exteriorly
of sticks, plastered with earth, and lined
with moss, wool, or other soft substances.
Their eggs, from -1 to (J in number, arc of
a pale green color, marked Willi streak ts
and blotches of brown. The Crow is om-
nivorous, devouring insects, worms, car-
rion, fish, grain, fruits, snakes, frogs and
other reptiles, and also the eggs of other
birds. In the spring of the year he does
the agriculturist c
pullinir ui> the voi

d tl

kemi

isiueranle uamage ny
g Indian corn for the
on which account a

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

in: UAVEf

Tin; iu.uk jay.

bounty of 10 cents a head for his destruc-
tion was, for a time, authorized by legisla-
tive enactment. To prevent his depreda-
tions upon the com fields various kinds of
scare-crows have been devised, but that
which is most commonly resorted to at
present, consists in stretching threads of
cotton yarn across the field in various di-
rections. To compensate for the mischief
which they do, it must be acknowledged
that crows do the farmer some service by
the destruction of grubs and insects, be-
sides acting as general scavengers in re-
moving the carcases of dead animals. It
is said they know how to break open nuts
and shellfish,in order to eat what is within,
by letting them fall from a great height
upon the rocks below ; and there is a sto-
ry that, as a certain ancient philosopher
was walking along the sea-shore gather-
ing shells, one of these unlucky birds,
mistaking his bald head for a stone, drop-
ped a shell-fish upon it, and thus killed at
once a philosopher and an oyster.'*

The crow is easily tamed, and soon
learns to distinguish those who have the
care of him, but is of a thievish propensi-
ty, and often carries off valuable articles
and hides them by thrusting them into
holes and crevices.

THE RAVEN.
Corvus corux. — Linnjeus.

Description. — Color of the plumage
deep black, glossed with blue and purplish
blue, the lower parts with green ; feathers
of the foreneck lanceolate and elongated ;
tail much rounded, reaching 2 inches be-
yond the wings ; nasal feathers half the
length of the bill; bill and feet black;
iris dark chestnut brown. Length 20" in-
ches, spread 50. — .-hid. Rich.

History. — The Raven is a well known
bird, being found in almost all parts of
the world." Dr. Richardson says that it
abounds in the fur countries, and extends
its migrations northward even to the po-
lar seas. It has for several years been
less frequently seen in Vermont than for-
merly, and it was always a ran; bird
here compared with the crow. It feeds
principally upon the carcasses and olfals
of the larger animals which are slain by
hunters or wolves, or that die by disease.
The Haven does not, like the crow, build
its nest upon a tree, but in the inacces-
sible clefts of lofty precipices. The Raven
is easily tamed, and manifests much at-
tachment to its keeper. It. may be taught
to imitate the human voice and to articu-
late many words very distinctly.

Nutull.

M^

THE BLUE JAY.
Corvus cristatus. — Linn a: us.

Description. — General color light blue
above, grayish white beneath ; a stripe of
black passes over the head and down on
each side of the neck, forming a collar
under the throat ; a black spot before each
eye connected by a black line over the
base of the bill ; crest pale blue in front,
approaching to black on the back part ;
outer webs of the primaries, and both
webs of the secondaries and wing coverts
bright blue, the two latter barred with
black and tipped with white; tail of 12
feathers, wedge-form, bright blue, barred
with black excepting the two outer feath-
ers, and tipped with white excepting the
two inner ones; mouth, bill, legs, feet
and claws black. Length of the specimen
before me 11 inches.

History.— The Blue Jay is one of our
most elegant and lively birds. It is com-
mon in every part of the United States,
and is found as far north as the (JGth° of
latitude. It breeds in Vermont as well
as in almost or quite every other slate in
the Union. They are somewhat migra-
tory, most of them proceeding to the
south in the fall. Audubon says they are

very numerous

ie southern states dur-

he winter. They arc* most plentiful
in Vermont in autumn, when they com-
mit depredations upon fields of corn and
oats. The greater part of them proceed
to the south before winter sets in, but
some remain with us after the snows fall,
and pui loin a scanty subsistence from our
corn cribs and granaries. These birds are
truly omnivorous, feeding upon almost
any thing which falls in their way. In the
summer season it destroys the eggs and
young of other birds. When confined in
a cage with several other birds, it has
been known to kill and devour them all.
The Blue Jay is a very active, noisy bird,
and is capable of imitating the voice of
the sparrow-hawk so nearly as to frighten
all the small birds in the neighborhood.
Its nest, which is composed of twigs and

Ciiai'. 3

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

73

Tilt CANADA JAY.

Till. C111CADKK. THE

HUDSON U.IV

riTMOUSE.

fibrous roots, is built in trees. Tlie eggs
■ re -1 or 5, of a dull white color, spotted

with brown.

THE CANADA JAY.
Coram canadensis. — Linn.

Description. General color dark

leaden gray ; hind head black; forehead,
collar beneath, and tip of the tail brown-
ish white ; interior veins of the wings
brown and partly tipped with white ; bill
and legs black ; iris dark hazel ; plumage

black

dark
and
aped.

prom

Sex
dies : s

;nt;

alike
ead,

l the n
spreads

of the head loose
long and wedge-sl
color. Length 11
—.Kultall.

History. — This jay, which is called
tonic places the Whiskey Jacl;,uiid in othe
the Carrion llirJ, inhabits principally b
tween the 4-lih and Goth parallels of
north latitude. It i« found in the state of
Maine, and in tho north parts of New
Hampshire, Vermont and New York, but
is seldom seen further to the southward.
It breeds in each of the states above nam-
ed. The nest is usually placed in the
thick top of a spruce or fir, at the height
of G or 8 feet from the ground. It is pla-
ced near the trunk of the tree, and is
made of twigs and fibrous roots, lined
with moss and grass. The eggs are from
4 to G, of a light gray color, faintly mark-
ed with brown. They ^-ed, during the
summer, upon worms and insects, and,
during the winter, they are driven by ne-
cessity to feed upon the buds and leaves
of spruce and fir.

Genus Parus. — Linnaus.
Generic Characters.— Bill short, straight,

conic, compressed, enlin

iuy bristles at die base ;
ndt-d ubo

id and

upper mandible lon-
ger, rouuuea aoove and slightly curved; nostrils
at the base of the bill, rounded and concealed by
the advancing feathers ; tongue blunt and clofi oi
entire, and acute ; fret rather large, toes aliuosl
wholly divided ; the nail of the hind toe strongest
and most curved; fourth and filth primaries longest
The female and yning differ but little from tin
adult male. Moult, annual ; pluina«c, loii» aia
slender.

THE CHICADEE
Paras atricapilius. — Li
Description, — Th : whole
of the head, nape, chin and thr
Pt. i. 10

white lii
ing beneath the

the side of the neck; hack ash color;
quill and tail feathers brownish black,,
edged with grayish white ; belly brown-
ish white, deepening into brownish yel-
low upon the sides and beneath the tail ;
bill black; legs and feet bluish; fifth
quill feather longest; fourth and sixth
nearly as long ; tail long and rounded.
Length 5£ inches, tail 2:\ ; folded wing
^.7, spread of the wings Gij.

History. —The Chicadee, or Black-
cap Titmouse, seems to be common
through the whole continent, from Mex-
ico to the 65th degree of north latitude.
They rear their young in all parts of the
United States. For that purpose they take
possession of the hollow of a decayed tree
or of the deserted holes of the wood-
pecker, or where these are not to be
had they excavate a cavity for themselves
in some rotten stub of a tree. The ma-
terials of which the nest is composed, ac-
cording to Audubon, vary in different dis-
tricts, but are generally the hair of quad-
rupeds in considerable quantities, and
disposed in the shape of a loose bag or
purse lining the inside of the excavation,
while others have said that without
constructing any nest, they lay their
eggs, usually G or 8, upon the dry rotten
wood at the bottom of the cavity. The
eggs are white, with specks of brownish
red. This industrious little bird resem-
bles the wood-peckers in many of its hab-
its, running round upon the trunks and
limbs of the trees with the greatest case,
frequently with its back downwaid, while
searching for its food. Late in the fall,
they may be seen inconsiderable numbers
about our orchards and shade trees, and
they doubtless render essential service by
destroying the eggs and larvae of insects
which have been deposited in the crevi-
ces of the bark, to be hatched the next
spring

THE HUDSON BAY TITMOUSE.

Parus hitdsonicus. — Lath.
Description. — General color dull lead-
en, tinged with a light brown ; head um-
ber brown ; throat, and fore neck black,
with a bind of whit?- under each eye ;
breast and belly grayish white-, sides light
yellowish brown. Bill black, short,
straight, slightly convex and acutely poin-
ted ; iris dark brown ; feet had color.
Length 5 inches, spread 7. Female re-
sembles the male, but the colors are dul-
ler.— Audubon.

HlSTOKV.— This species is much less

common in Vermont than the preceding,

74

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THK CKHAH, OK C1IEHKY lilKD.

INSKCTIV KUDUS lilltllS.

and is not often seen farther to the south-
ward than the north pari of this state. It
breeds in the state of Maine, and some of
them very probably rear their young in
the northeastern part of this state. Its
nest, like that of the preceding-, is in the
hollow cavity of an old tree, and one,
which Audubon found in Labrador, was
completely lined with fur.

Genus Bombyciela. — Brissan.

Generic Characters. — Bill short, strai
and elevated ; upper mandible slightly curved
wards die lip, and provided with a strongly id
ed tooth ; nostrils at the base of the bill, c
open, hidden by stiff hairs directed forw;
tongue cariilaginous, broad at the tip and lac
ltd ; feet with three toes directed forward,
one backward, the exterior united lo ihe middle
Wings moderate, 1st and 2d primaries long
the spurious feathers very short. Susies alik
appearance and both crested.

THE CEDAR, OR CHERRY B.RD.
Bomhijcilla carolincnsis. — Bins son.
Description. Head, neck, breast.

k and wing coverts yellowish browi
rhest on the front of the crest anil

bac
bri|

darkest on the back ; frontlet black, with
a black line over the eye extending back-
ward under the crest ; chin blackish, a
white line along the margin of the under
jaw; belly yellow; vent white; wings
dusky ; rump and tail coverts dark ash; tail
of the same color deepening into dusky and
broadly tipped with bright yellow ; more
or less of the secondaries of the wings
sometimes ornamented with small ver-
million colored appendages, resembling
sealing wax. The bill, legs and claws
are black ; iris red. In the female the
tints are duller. Length 7A inches.

History.— This species inhabits all
parts of the United States. It is most
common in the southern states during the

winter and in the northern during the
summer. These birds are very social in
their habits., usually living in small flocks,
even during the period in which they are
rcariop- their young; and' hence we usu-
ally find several of their nests in the same
neighborhood, and often within a few
rods of each other. The nest is usually
placed in the top of a spruce or hemlock,
at the height of 15 or 20 feet from the
ground, and is constructed with sticks,
roots and grass, lined with lint, down and
other soft substances. The egos, usually
-1 or 5 in number, are of a pale clay-wl^jte,
spotted with umber at the large end.
These birds, which mostly migrate lo
the south in the fall, return to Vermont
in April, and are found here during the
summer in large numbers. During the
early part of summer they feed upon
worms iind insects, and render an essen-
tial service by the destruction of these
and the eatterpillars, which infest our or-
chards ; but this service is soon for-
gotten, and when the little bird claims
for his reward, a few of the (•berries,
which he has protected, he is only an-
swered by the gun of the ungrateful and
cruel gardener. Although they feed upon
fruits and berries of various kinds, they
seem to be more fond of cherries and the
berries of red cedar than any others, and
hence their name Cherry Bird, or Cedar
Bird.

TNSRCTIVEROUS BIRDS-
In birds of this order the bill is either
short orof moderate length. It isstraight,
rounded or awl-shaped. The upper man-
dible is curved and notched towards the
point, most commonly provided at. the
base with stiff' hairs directed forward.
The feet have three toes before and one
behind, all on the same level. The outer
toe is united to the middle one as far as
the first articulation. Their food is in-
sects in the summer, but principally ber-
ries during the colder part of the year.
Their voices are, for the most part, melo-
dious.

Genus Lanius. — Linnasus.
Generic Characters. — Bill of medium
size, strong, straight froiw die. base, considerably

com:

scd ; upper mandible much bent, toothed
and hooked towards the tip, which is acute ; base
of ihe bill without a cere, furnished with strong

bristles directed forward; nostrils close to the
base, lateral, nearly round, half closed by a vaul-
ted membrane, and nearly concealed by the bris-
tles ; tarsus longer than the middle toe ; feet with
three Iocs before and one behind, free ; the third
and fourth quills longest.

Chip. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

75

tuk nirciini miii).

THE KING mill).

THE BUTCHER BIRD.
Lanius boreal is. — Yikii.lot.

DciomrriOK.— Color above pale ciner-
eous, becoming nearly white toward* the
tail, Hing« anil tail brownish black, with
• black bar extending from tho nostril
through the eye to the neck; beneath
white, beautifully waved with pale brown;
onlrr feathers of1 tho tail partly white and
a whilinh spot on the wings just below
their coverts; legs nnd feet black; hill
and claws bluish black. Tail rounded,
extending 11 inches beyond the folded
wings; third primary longest. Length
of the specimen before me 10 inches,
spread 13.

History. — The Butcher-Bird, or, as he
is, perhaps, more generally called, the
Great Northern Shrike, though frequently
seen in Vermont, is not very common.
The specimen from which the above de-
scription and figure were made, was shot
in llurlington in May, 1842. Dr. Rich-
ardson says that this bird is common in
the woody districts of the fur countries
as far north as the 60th parallel of latitude.
Many of them migrate to the south in the
fall, but some remain in the fur countries
through the winter. Its nest is built in
the lurk of a tree, of grass and moss, and
lined with feathers. The eggs, "> or (J in
number, are of a pale bluish gray, spotted
at the large end with dark yellowish
brown. Like the king bird it attacks ea-
gles, hawks and crows, and drives them
from the neighborhood of its nest.

Genus Muscicava. — Linrutus.

Generic Characters. — Bill medium siz-
ed, rather stout, angular, considerably widened
and flattened towards the base, which is guarded
by longisli I.imI-s ; upper mandible r-hed inw-
ards the end and benl al the lip i no-trils basal,
lateral and ovoid, parlly hid by hairs ; tarsus the
same length as the middle toe or a little longer;
inner Loe free, or scarcely uniled at the base ; hind
nail more curved than llio rest, and larger than
that of the middle loe ; wings long and somewhat
sharp; first quill very short, the second shorter
than the third and fourth, which are loosest.

THE KING BIRD.
Nuscicupa tijranatis. — Bins son.

DKScniPTroN. — Color of the head when
the feathers are smooth, shining velvet
black, but when the fi -at hers are ruffled a
spot of bright ochrey yellow appears on
(he crown; hack brownish black ; wings
very dark, hair brown, the secondaries
and wing coverts edged with gray ; tail
even, pitch black, tipped with white, and
extending far beyond the wings; breast.
light ash; belly' white; hill,' logs and
feet black ; bill wide at the base gradually
narrowing to the tip ; upper mandible
with convex sides, meeting in an obtuse
ridge and hooked at the point ; short, stiff
bristles at the angle of the mouth ; second
quill longest. Length 8 inches, spread of
the wings 14.

History.— The King Bird, or Tyrant
Fly-catcher, as he is sometimes called,
spends the winter at the south, beyond the
limits of the United States. En.rly in the
spring he proceeds to the north and dur-
ing the summer is found rearing its young
in all parts of the United States, and, air-
cording to Richardson, as far north as
the ")7th parallel of latitude. It arrives
in Vermont in the early part of May, and
in the summer is common in all parts of
the state. Its nest is built in the tops of
orchard and forest trees, at various
heights from the ground, and is composed
of coarse dry grass, weeds and loose pieces
of bark, Compactly connected and bedded
with down, tow and woolly substan-
ces, and lined with line fibrous roots,
grass, and hair. The eggs are from 3 to 5,
of a bluish while color, Inaiked with
spots of deep bright brown. The same
pair frequently rears two broods in a sea-
son. The food of the king bird consists
almost entirely of insects, such as bee-
tles, crickets, grasshoppers and various
kinds of Hies and calterpillars, and the
only harm, which he is accused of doing,
is that of catching a few honey bees as
they arc gathering honey from the flow-

76

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

TIIF. PllfEBE.

THE WOOD PEWEE

Til E SM A l.L PEWEI

ers, which is very trill
the services which lie
;irul gardener. The ]
no fear of the larger l>

compared with
iders the farmer
» bird manifests
;, but. whenever,

during their breeding season, a hawk or
crow comes near his newt, he boldly at-
tacks him, pounces upon his back, and
persecutes him till he is glad to aba

the neighborhood.

dot

THE PHCEBE.
Muscicu pa fusco. — Ron a p.
Description. — General color above
brown with an olive tinge, darker on the
head ; wings and tail blackish brown, the
feathers having the appearance of being
faded and worn, and the color of their
shafts dark umber; an indistinct grayish
circle around the eye, the pupil of which
is bluish blaclt and the iris dark hazel;
belly yellowish white; tail slightly fork-
ed. Bill broad, hooked at the point, and
wholly black; legs and feet black with
sharp claws. Length of the specimen
before me G.^ inches; folded wing 3,4;
tail 2.7 and reaching 1.4 beyond the fold-
ed wings. The 3d quill longest, 2d and
4th equal.

History. — This well known and fa-
miliar bird arrives from the south about
the beginning of April and retires again
in October. During the summer it is
found in all parts of the state. It seems
to prefer building its nest beneath bridg-
es, in sheds and under the eaves of barns.
The nest is usually constructed of mud
and moss, and lined with grass, hair and
other fibrous substances, and is sometimes
built upon the top of beams, and at others
stuck upon the sides. The eggs are 4 or
5, and are white and unspotted. These
birds become very much attached to pla-
ces where they have reared their young,
and the same pair will resort to a partic-
ular locality for that purpose, many years
in succession, In illustration of this
statement I will mention one, of several
cases which have falh a under my own

observation. About the year ]82(i two of
these birds built a nest upon ;i shelf in
my wood-shed, and fur two years in suc-
cession raised broods of young-ones in
the same place. The third year when
the young were about half grown the fe-
male bird disappeared. The male bird
remained about the nest, but, not feeding
the young ones, they died.' The male
staid till fall and then left, but. returned
alone in the spring ; and for three suc-
cessive summers thatbird sung his solita-
ry and sad lament for her to wliom his
young heart and early vows had been
plighted, around the place which had
been the scene of mutual joys. J The
name of this bird is derived from the
sound of its note. It is also called tho
Pewit Flycatcher.

THE WOOD PEWEE.

Muscicapa vlrens. — Linn.
Description. — Color dusky brownish
olive ; head brownish black, slightly cres-
ted ; below pale yellowish, inclining to
white. Tail forked ; 2d primary longest;
1st much shorter than the 3d, and longer
than the (ith. Length <j inches; spread
10. The female a little smaller.— Mitt.

History. This species bears consider-
able resemblance to the preceding, but
dill'ers from it in its habits and notes. It ar-
rives later in the spring, and confines it-
self'principally to the thickets and forests.
Its nest is usually attached to the hori-
zontal branch of a tree, and is very curi-
ously constructed of grass, line roots, lich-
ens and cobwebs, held together by a glu-
tinous cement, and is so thin as to appear
almost transparent. The eggs are 4 or 5,
of a light yellowish hue, spotted with red-
dish brown towards the large end.

THE SMALL PEWEE.
Muscicapa acadica. — G m e l .

Description. — Color above dusky ol-
ive green ; yellowish white beneath, in-
clining to ash on the breast ; wings dusky
brown, crossed with two bars of dull
white ; outer edge of the 1st primary,
edges of the secondaries, and ring around
the eye, whitish ; under wing coverts pale
yellow ; S2d, 3d, and 4th primaries nearly
equal and longest. Tail pale dusky brown,
notch 'd , legs and feet black.' Sexes
nearly alike. Length 5£ inches ; spread
(J.— A'uttatt.

History. — This species is common du-
ring the summer in all the northern parts
of the United States and Canada, but
none of them were seen by Audubon or
his party in Labrador. It breeds in this

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT

77

THE SPOTTED FI.Y-CATCJIEU.

HE V1REOS.

slate, and usually fixes its nest in the up-
right forks of a small tree, at a height of
from 8 to 30 feet from the ground. The
i'ggs, from 4 to (J in number, are white
and unspotted. It feeds, like the other
species of this genus, upon hees, Hies and
moths.

THE SPOTTED FLY-CATCHER.

Muscicapa canadensis. — Linn.
Description. — Male with the upper
parts asli-gray ; the feathers of the wings
and tail brown, edged with gray ; the
head spotted with black ; loral space, a
hand beneath the eye proceeding down
(he wide of the neck, and a belt of trian-
gular spots across the lower part of the
lore neck, black ; lower parts, and a bar
from (be nostril over the eye pure yellow;
lower wing and tail coverts white ; the
third quill longest, the second and fourth
but little shorter; tail rounded. Female
similar to the male, but the colors fainter.
Young with the neck unspotted. Length
5, spread !). — Audubon.

History. — This bird, according to Au-
dubon, gives a decided preference to
mountainous districts, and particularly to
such as are covered with a thick growth
of underwood and shrubbery. We are
informed by the same high authority that
its nest is placed in the fork of a bush,
made of moss and lined with grass — that
the eggs, usually 5, are white, with a few
spots of bright red towards the large end.
It probably breeds in Vermont, but 1 have
no positive proof of the fact.

Genus Vireo.
Generic Characters. — Bill rather short, a
little compressed, and furnished with bristles at
its base ; upper mandible curved at the extremity
and strongly notched ; the lower shorter and re-
curved at the tip ; nostrils basal, rounded ; tongue
cartilaginous and cleft at the point ; tarsus longer
than the middle toe. ; wings rather acute, the 2d
or 3d primary longest. Female resembles the
male, and both sexes more or less tinged with
olive green.

THE YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.
Vireo jlavifrons. — Vif.il lot.
Description. -Color yellow-olive above,
belly white ; throat, breast, frontlet and
line round the eye yellow; lesser wing-
coverts, lower part of the back and rump,
ash; wings nearly black with two white
bars; tail blackish, a little forked; pri-
maries edged with pale ash, secondaries
with white; exterior tail feathers edged
with white; legs, feet and bill grayish-
blue; iris hazel. The yellow of the fe-

male and young duller. Length 5£,
spread [). — Nuttall.

History. — This species rears its young
in the south part of the state. Its nest is
suspended upon the limb of a tree, and is
constructed of strips of bark and fibrous
substances, which are cemented together
with saliva. The eggs are about 4 in
number, are white and spotted towards
the larger end with blackish.

THE WHITE-EYED VIREO.

Vireo noveboracensis. — Bonaparte.

Description. — Yellow olive above,
white beneath ; sides, line round the 4ye
and spot near the nostrils yellow ; wings
dusky, with two yellow hands; tail dusky
brown, forked; bill, legs and feet light
bluish-gray; iris white. Length 5.J ;
spread 7. — Nutt.

History. — This species constructs its
nest very much in the manner of the pre-
ceding, but usually builds nearer the
ground. It lays 4 or 5 eggs, which are
white, spotted towards the large end with
brown.

THE RED-EYED VIREO.
Vireo olivaceous. — Bonap.

Description. -General color above yel-
low olive; crown dark ash ; a light gray
line from the upper mandible passes over
the eye and widens behind it, with a dark
line above and another below, extending
from the eye to the rictus ; all beneath
whitish, tinged with light yellow under
the wings and on the sides ; wing and
tail feathers brownish black, with their
outer margins yellow olive ; 2d and 3d
primaries longest ; bill brown above, light-
er beneath, straight, abruptly bent and
notched at the point; nostrils roundish,
basal ; a few weak bristles at, the angle of
the mouth ; iris bright brick red ; legs
bluish gray ; tail slightly forked. Length
6 inches; tail 2A ; folded wings 3.3; bill
above .5, to the angle of the mouth .75;
tarsus .7.

History. — This is probably the most
common species of Vireo found in Ver-
mont. They arrive early in May, and
take up their residence in the forests and
the lofty trees around our fields and gar-
dens. Their song is loud, lively, and en-
ergctic. They feed principally upon in-
sects and catterpillars. Their nest is con-
structed of strings, strips of bark, and fi-
brous substances, agglutinated together
into the form of a pouch. The eggs are
3 or 1, white, with a few blackish brown
spots towards the large end. The cow
black-bird lays its egg in the nest of this

78

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

IK SOLITARY YIIU'.O.

THE J'.U'IW N Til Kl S 1 1

'HE CAT JUKI).

liird more frequently than in any othei.

The specimen from which the foregoing
description was made, was shot in Bur-
lington.

THE SOLITARY VIREO.
Vireo solilarius. — Vieil lot.

Description. -Dusky olive above ; bel-
ly white ; head bluish gray ; breast pale
c'uiereus, inclining to reddish gray on the
throat ; Hanks and sides of the breast yel-
low ; wings dusky brown, with two white
bands; tail emarginate and nearly black ;
primaries and tail feathers bordered with
light green ; a line of white from the nos-
tril to the eye, which it encircles; bill
short, broad ; upper mandible black, low-
er pale bluish gray ; iris hazel. Female
with the head dusky olive and the throat
greenish. Length 5 in. ; spread b. — Xnt.

History. — This is a rare bird in this
state; but is said to resemble the prece-
ding species in its habits. It suspends its
nest from the forked twigs of bushes, and
lays 4 or 5 eggs, which are light flesh col-
or, with brownish red spots towards the
large end.

Genus Turdus.

Generic Characters. — Bill of moderate di-
mensions, wiih cutting edges, compressed an. I
curved towards die point ; tlie upper mandible "tn-
eraliy notched towards the extremity, the lower
roundish ; a few scattered bristles ut the an*Ie of
the in. mill ; nostrils basal, lateral, rounded-, and
half closed by a naked membrane; Unique notched
at the lip; feet rather slout ; tarsus longer ilian
the middle loe, which is atluehed at the base t<>
the oilier one; wings rather short; ihu ihir.l,
I'oiirili and fifth quill longest. The female and
young differ little from the male, excepting the
young are mure spotted. They moult annually.

THE BROWN THRUSH.
Tardus rvfus. — Linnaeus.

Description. — All the upper parts, and
the under side of the tail, bright, reddish
brown ; breast and belly yellowish white,
marked with long pointed dusky spots;
wings crossed by two whitish bars, re-
lieved with black; tail long, reaching
near 4 inches beyond the wings, and roun-
ded ; bill long, slightly arched, black
above, and whitish below near the base ;
nostrils naked ; short, stiff, black bristles
over the angle of the mouth ; legs, feet
and claws dusky brown ; tarsus scutila-
ted in front ; middle toe much the long-
est ; iris bright orange. Length 11 in. ;
spread of the wings 13 inches.

History.. — This bird is known in many
places by the name of French Mocking

Birk, and surely no bird, if we except the
Mockingbird (Turdus polygiottus), excels
it in the variety and sweetness ol its song.
It arrives here from the south the latter
part ot' April, and commences building its
nest early in May The nest is common-
ly built upon the ground, or but little el-
evated above it, in some little thicket,
and is constructed with sticks and lined
with tint; fibrous roots. The eggs are 4
or f> m number, of a greenish white color,
and sprinkled all over with reddish brown
spots. During the period of incubation
the male will often sit and sing for hours
upon the top of a neighboring tree. His
music is original, but varied, full, and
charming. The food of the Brown Thrush
consists of insects, worms, berries, and
fruits of various kinds. This bird is Ijiown
in many places by the name of Thrasher,
or lied Thrasher.

THE CAT-BIRD.
Turdus felivox. — Vieil lot.

Description. --General color dark slate,
lighter beneath; top of the head, bill, and
inside of tin: mouth, black ; under tail
coverts reddish chestnut ; bill a little
hooked at the point; legs and feel brown ;
first quill very short, the -lib and 5th lon-
gest; quill feathers lighter on the outer
edocs ; tail long and rounded. Length
8£ inches; spread of the wings 11* in°

History. — The Cat Bird is very com-
mon in all parts of Vermont, where it ar-
rives from the south in the early part of
May. This bird, like most, others of the
family, is an excellent songster, and may
be beard in almost, every neighborhood
during the early part of summer, usher-
i ii ••• In the dawn with bis cheerful strains.
When this bud is disturbed while rearing
i1s young, its note is harsh and unpleas-
ant, somewhat resembling tho mewing of
a cat, and from this circumstance it un-
doubtedly received the name of Cat Bird.
The Cat Bird builds its nest in a thicket
of bushes, at the height of.", or (i feet from
the ground. It is constructed with sticks
and briars, and lined with fine thread-
like roots, which are of a dark color. The

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

79

1IIK ROBI1

W1ISON S TUKUSH.

YORK THRUSH.

cgfis are 4 or 5, of a bluish green color,
• rut without spots. Like the Mocking
Bird, the Cat Bird is often known to im-
itate the notes ol other birds, and sounds
of various kinds. The food of the Cat
Uird is similar to that of the preceding
•pccies, being made up of worms, beetles,
cherrjes, and various other insects, "
and berries.

;-uits

and blades of grass. The eggs, usually
5, are of a bluish green color and unspot-
ted. During the summer their food con-
sists of worms, insects, and various kinds
of berries. The Robin is easily tamed,
and in the domesticated state may be
taught to imitate not only the notes of
other birds, but various strains of music.

WILSON'S THRUSH.

Tardus WUsonii.— Bosaparte.

DESCRiPTioN.—Upper parts uniform light

reddish-brown, a little deeper on the head ;
quill and tail-coverts light olive- brown,
the outer webs of the former like the
back ; lower parts grayish-white, the sides
ami lower part of the neck, and a small
portion of the breast tinged with palf yel-

THE AMERICAN ROBIN.
Tardus migratorius. — Linnjeus.

Description. — Color of the head, bad
of the neck and tail brownish black ; th
back and rump dark ash ; breast dark red-
dish orange ; belly and vent while ; chin
white, spotted with brownish black; wina's
blackish brown ; the exterior edges of the
feathers faded and grayish ; exterior tail
feathers white at their inner tip; three
white spots margin the eye. Tin? bill is
lemon yellow, with a brownish tip ; legs
and feet dark brown. The young, during
the first season, spotted with white and
dusky on the breast. Length 9 inches.

History. — This universal favorite is
found, during the summer, throughout
nearly the whole of North America,
They retire to the south late in autumn.
where they pass the colder part of the
winter; hut, returning early to the north,
reach Vermont usually about the tiOth of
March ;R and their arrival is always hail-
ed with joy, as the unerring harbinger of
approaching spring. While the snow con-
tinues upon the ground, the Robin sub-
sists principally upon the berries which
remain upon the sumach, mountain ash
and red cedar. The Robin, as is well
known, is a very familiar bird, and seems
to seek to place its nest where it shall be
under man's protection. And hence we
find its nest most frequently in gardens
and orchards. The nest is sometimes
built upon a fence, a wall, or a stump,
but more commonly in the fork of aii ap-
ple-tree or other small tree. It is con-
structed with grass and mud firmly bed-
ded together, and lined with fine straw

* See p:\»e 13.

lowish brown, and in

liked with s.i

faint and undecided

triangular br,

spots ; wings with the

3d quill long,

the 1th scarcely shnrte

, and sli.rhtly

ceeding the second.

.ength 7; spi

\%—Jiudubon.

History. — This species arrives from
the south in the early part of May, and
immediately commence the construction
ol' their nests. These are built in low,
thick bushes, in the dark parts of the for-
ests, sometimes upon the ground, but
more commonly from 1 to 3 feet above it.
The eggs, 4 or 5 in number, are of an eme-
rald green without spots, and ditl'er very
little from those of the Cat Bird, with the
exception of being a little smaller. They
usually raise two broods in a season.

THE NEW YORK THRUSH.

Turdus noveboracensts ■ — Nuttai.i..
Description.— Color of the whole up-
per plumage a uniform deep hair brown ;
stripe over the eye and whole under sur-
face pale primrose yellow, marked with
pencil-shaped spots "of the color of the up-
per plumage; inner wing coverts yellow-
ish gray, spotted with brown near the
edge of the wing; bill dark umber brown
above, paler beneath ; legs brownish flesh
color. The three first quills nearly equal
and longest; tail nearly even; lateral
toes nearly equal; nails small and of the
color of the bill. Length .V, inches;
tail 2£; folded wing 3; bill from the an-
ode of the mouth i inch.

History.— The Aquatic Thrush is
quite a common bird in Vermont, but is
of retiring habits and therefore seldom
seen except in the thickest parts of the
forests. Its nest is built upon the ground
and is constructed of leaves and moss, and
lined with line roots and sometimes with
hair. The eggs are 4 or .r>, of a vellnw-

80

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Pari I.

THE THRUSHES.

THE WARBLERS.

ish white color and pretty thickly sprink-
led towards the large end with two shades
of reddish brown. The specimen from
which the above description was made
was obtained, with its nest and eggs, in
Burlington, in June, 1840. This bird from
its preference to neighborhoods of water
is sometimes called the Aquatic Thrush.

THE GOLDEN-CROWNED THRUSH.
Turd us aurocapillus. — Wilson.
Description. — Color above rich yel-
low-olive ; the tips of the wings and in-
ner vanes of the quills dusky brown ; the
3 first primaries nearly equal; a dusky
line from the nostril to the hind head ;
crown brownish orange ; beneath white ;
the breast covered with deep brown pen-
cil-shaped spots; legs pale flesh-color;
bill dusky above, below whitish. Crown
of the female paler. Length C, spread 'J.
Auttall.

History. — This bird is pretty common
in nearly all parts of the United States,
but is shy and retiring, and found only in
the thickets of the forests. Its oven sha-
ped nest is placed in the side of a dry and
mossy bank and is constructed with great
neatness. It is formed of grass and cov-
ered with leaves and sticks, having the
place of entrance upon the side. The eggs
are 4 or 5, whitish, irregularly spotted
with reddish brown. The food of this
bird consists wholly of insects and their
larva'.

THE HERMIT THRUSH.

Turd us sulitarius. — Wilson.

Description. — Color above plain deep
olive-brown, below dull white; upper
part of the breast and throat cream color;
the dusky brown pcncillated spots carried

over the breast arid under the wings
where the sides are pale olive; tail and
coverts as well as the wings strongly tin-
ged with rufous; legs pale flesh color;
bill short black above, flesh-colored below;
iris large and nearly black ; tail short and
emarginate ; 3d primary longest. The
femult: darker, with the spots on the
breast larger and more dusky. Length
7A ; spread 104. —Xutt.

History. — The Hermit Thrush is said
to inhabitevery part of the United States.
It is a solitary bird living wholly in the
woods, and is said by Nuttall to be scarce-
ly inferior to the Nightingale in its pow-
ers of song. Its nest according to Audu-
bon is placed upon the limbs of trees a
few feet from the ground, and is compos-
ed of dry weeds and leaves, and neatly
lined within with line grass. The eggs,

from4to6, are of a light blue color, sprink-
led with blotches towards the laroe end.

Genus Svlvia. — Latham.
Generic Characters. — Bill straight, slender,
awl-shaped, lusher than wide at ihe base, and us-
ually furnished willi scattered brLih-s ; lower
mandible straight, upper sometimes notched ; nos-
irils lateral, oval, situated at the base or the bill,
ami partly covered by a membrane ; tarsus longer
than the middle toe; inner toe free; hind nail
shorter than the toe ; wings short.

THE YELLOW-CROWNED WARBLER.
Sijtvia coronata. — Lat it a m .

Description. — Back dark ash, spotted
or striped with black ; crown, side^pf the
breast and rump bright yellow ; wings
and tail black, with the outer vanes of the
feathers margined with white or light ash ;
wing coverts tipped with white, forming
two white bars across each wing; outer
tail feathers on each side with a large
white spot on their inner vane ; breast
white, spotted with black ; belly and vent
white; bill black, straight, slightly bent
at the point and rounded above and be-
low ; legs and feet black; tail forked;
the 2d, \\A and 4th primaries nearly equal ;
1st hut little shorter. Winter dress and
that of the young paler, and of an oliva-
cious hue. Length of the specimen be-
fore me 5^ inches; spread of the wings
7}f inches.

History. — The Yellow-crowned War-
bler, or Myrtle Bird, as it is sometimes
called, is common in Vermont, and I
am informed by Dr. Brewer that they
breed in the north part of the state. The
nest, according to Audubon, is placed up-
on the horizontal branch of a fir or other
evergreen. It is compactly built of sticks
and strips of bark, and lined with hair,
feathers and down. The eggs are of a
rosy tint, thinly spotted with reddish
brown towards the large end. Their food
is insects and caterpillars in summer
and they feed upon seeds, and myrtle
and other berries during the winter.

THE YELLOW RED-PULL WARBLER.

I)i
deep

Sylvia petechia. -

option.— Male
ownish red ; up

it li

yellow

parts
olive streaked with brown; rump green-
ish yellow without streaks ; wings and tiiil
dusky brown with the feathers edged with
whitish or yellowish ; a bright yellow
streak from the nostril over the eye; low-
er parts yellow ; the sides of the neck, its

Chip. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT

81

WARBLERS.

lower part, and the sides of the body
streaked with deep red ; the three outer
quills nearly equal ; tail emarginate. Co-
lors oflhe female duller. The young dull
light greenish brown, tinged with gray.
Length 5«|, spread 8.J. — Aud.

History. — Very little is yet known of
the history of this bird. During- the win-
ter it is found in large numbers in the
southern stales, and early in the spring
passes through New England, to rear its
young at the north and returns again in
the fall. Audubon found them plentiful

brador and Newfoundland, in Au-
feeding their young, but did not

i'd in discovering

in I.

ff'isl
slice

'lh

nest;

ML^-:' \ ^>j~

THE SUMMER WARBLER.
Sylvia aistiva. — Lath.

Description; — Greenish yellow above;
crown and beneath bright golden yellow;
breast and sides with long spots of red-
dish orange ; wings and tail brown, edged
with yellow ; tail emarginate ; bill gray-
ish blue ; legs pale. Female with the
colors duller, and the breast unspotted.
Young greenish olive above, with the
throat yellowish while. Length 5, spread
7.

History. — This is one of our most
beautiful and musical Warblers. It ar-
rives in Vermont in the early part of May,
and the female is soon engaged in the
construction of her nest, while the male
is spending the most of his time in cheer-
ing her and the neighborhood with his
song. The Summer Warbler seems to
delight in building its nest and rearing-
its young in our orchards and on the trees
around our dwellings, as if conscious of
its ability to afford us pleasure by its
music. Several pairs of these birds are
now (June 24, 1842,) rearing their young
and warbling- in the heart of our village,
and two have their nest on a tree in my
garden. It is built of a few eoar.se straws,
shreds of bark, and woolly lint, lined with
horsehairs and bristles. The eggs are 4,
of a yellowish white color, sprinkled with
specks of pale brown towards the large
end. It is said that the Cow- Black Bird
often deposits its eggs in the nests of these
birds, and that they urn in the habit of in-
carcerating them in the manner described
L'akt i. II

on'page (J!) ; and, as I have learned since
that article was printed, that the nest
there described was built about the begin-
ning of June, much earlier than the Frin-
gitla tristis usually builds ; it is probable
that the yellow bird there mentioned, was
the Sylvia (estiva, or Summer Yellow
Bird, as this is often called.

THE SPOTTED WARBLER.
Sylvia maculosa. — Lath.

Description. — Crown ash; back black-
ish ; tail coverts, tail and wings black,
the latter crossed by two bars of white ;
rump and beneath bright yellow ; breast
spotted with black; vent while; legs brown;
bill, front, lores and behind the ear black.
female with the breast whitish, anckthe
colors duller. Length 5, spread 7\.— jftitt.

History.— This) beautiful species is
only occasionally seen in its passage to-
wards the north in the spring. It issaid
to build its nest around Hudson's Bay,
upon the willows. It is considered one of
the most musical and most beautiful of
the American Warblers.

THE NASHVILLE WARBLER.

Sylvia rubricapilia. — Wu.sox.

Description. — Yellowish green, or ol-
ive above ; breast, chin and under tail cov-
erts yellow ; belly whitish ; head and neck
dark ash, inclining to olive ; crown deep
chestnut; wings and tail hair brown;
feathers more or less edged with yellow
on the outer vanes ; tail slightly forked ;
bill brownish, straight and very .'•harp ;
legs and feet brownish yellow. The fe-
male is said to be paler beneath, grayish
and without the chestnut on the crown.
Length of the specimen before me, which
is a male, 1 j inches, spread of the wings
G.'-. in.; the 2d and 3d primaries longest ;
the 1st and 1th nearly equal.

History. — This species was discover-
ed by Wilson near Nashville, Tennessee,
and is represented by ornithologists as
being a very rare bird. Audubon says he
has never seen more than three or lour
of them. The specimen from which the
above description was made, was shot, in
Burlington, in the spring of I Ml), and is
the only one 1 have seen.

BLACK-THROATED GREEN
WARBLER.

Sylvia virens. — Lath.
, Description. — Color yellowish green
above ; beneath whitish ; front, cheeks,
sides of the neck, and line over the eye,

82

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THE WARBLERS.

WARBLERS.

yellow ; chin and throat to the breast
black; wings and tail dusky, the former
with two white bars, and the latter with
the three lateral feathers, marked with
white on their inner webs; bill black; legs
and feet brownish. Female with the chin
yellow, and the throat blackish, tinged
with yellow. Length 5, spread 7|. —
JVa«.

History. — This species, though rare,
probably breeds in tins state. Mr. Nut-
tall found oneof their nests in Massachu-
setts, in June, 1830. It was in a low, thick
and stunted Virginia juniper, and was
made of fibrous bark, and lined with feath-
ers, grass, and a few hairs. The eggs
were 4, whitish, sprinkled towards the
large end with brown and blackish.

PINE CREEPING WARBLER.

Sylvia pinus. — Lath.

Sylvicolapinns. — Aud. Am. Birds, 11. — 37, pi. 80.

Description. — Male with the upper
parts yellowish green, inclining to olive,
the rump brighter; streak over the eye ;
eye-lids, throat,breast and sides bright yel-
low, with a greenish tinge ; the rest of
the lower parts white; wings and tail
blackish brown ; secondary coverts and
first row of small coverts tipped with dull
white ; primaries edged with whitish, sec-
ondaries with brownish gray ; outer two
tail feathers with a patch of white on their
inner web near the end. Wings moder-
ate, first three quills nearly equal ; tail
emarginate. Female a.nd young brownish
above, other colors duller. Length 5,
Bpread 8. — Aud.

History. — This is one of the most
common species of Warblers in the Uni-
ted States, being met with from Louisiana
to Maine, but more abundantly at the
south than at the north. It resembles the
Creepers in running upon the trunks of
trees. Its nest is placed high upon the
limbs of trees, and is composed of dry
grass and roots, lined with hair. The
eggs, from 4 to 6, have a light sea-green
tint, and are sprinkled with reddish brown
dots, thickest towards the large end.

THE CCERULEAN WARBLER.

Sylvia coerulea — VVils.
Description. — Wings long, 3 outer
quills nearly equal, 1st and 2d longest ;
upper parts fine light blue, brighter on
the head; the back marked with longitu-
dinal streaks of blackish ; a narrow band
of black from the forehead along the lore
to behind the eye ; two white bands on
the wings ; quills black, margined with
pale blue ; tail slightly omarginate; feath-

ers black, edged with blue, with a white
patch on the inner webof each "toward tho
end; lower parts white, with a band of
dark bluish gray across the foreneck, and
oblong spots of the same along the sides.
Female with the upper parts light bluish
green, the lower yellowish ; young like
the female. Length 41;, spread 8.— Au-
dubon.

History. — This species is not very com-
mon in the northern part of the United
States. Its nest, according to Audubon,
is built upon bushes, constructed with
stalks and fibres of vines, and lined with
moss. The eggs are 4 or 5, white, spot-
ted at the large end with reddish.

BLACKBURN'S WARBLER.
Sylvia Blackhurnia. — Lath.

Description. — The head striped with
black and orange ; back black, skirted
with ash ; wings black, with a large lat-
eral patch of white ; throat and breast
reddish-orange, bounded by streaks and
spots of black; belly dull yellow, streak-
ed with black ; vent white ; tail a little
forked, 3 lateral feathers white on the in-
ner web ; cheeks black ; bill and legs
brown. Female, yellow, without orange,
and black spots fewer. Length 4£, spread
7.— JYutt.

History. — This is a rare bird in tho
United States. But few of them are seen
in Vermont, and yet it is said that some
of them rear their young here. The nest
is placed in the fork of a small tree but a
few feet from the ground, and is lined
with hair and feathers. The eggs are
white, sprinkled with red towards the
large end.

THE CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER.
Sylvia icterocephala. — Lath.

Description. — Crown yellow; feath-
ers of the back and rump black, edged
with greenish white; wings dusky, the
primaries edged with white and the sec-
ondaries with greenish yellow ; the first
and second row of coverts broadly tipped
with light yellow, forming two bars on
each wing; a triangular black spot be-
neath the eye; chin and belly white;
sides, from the black beneath the eye to
the thighs, and across the breast, bright
chestnut ; tail forked, dusky above, white
beneath ; legs, feet and bill dusky ; iris
hazel. Length 5, spread 7.

History. — This beautiful warbler is
represented by Audubon as being ex-
tremely rare in all parts of the United
States. The specimen, from which the
above description was drawn, was killed

CnAr. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

83

THE WARBLKRS

THE BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER.

GKNUS HEGULUS.

in Burlington, on the 11th of June, 1842,
and it is thought to be rather a common
bird here, and 1 have but little doubt that
it breeds in this state, although I have
never seen its nest. Audubon profes-
ses himself ignorant of their breeding
places; but Nuttall and Peabody assure

us that
found

;veral of their nests have been
Massachusetts.

THE BLACK- THROATED WARBLER.
Sylvia canadensis. — Lath.
Description.— Light blue slate above;
beneath white ; wings and tail dusky
black, the latter wedge-shaped, edged
with blue, feathers pointed, external ones
With a largo white spot; throat, cheeks,
upper part of the breast and sides under
the wings, deep black ; legs and feet
dusky yellow ; bill black ; a white spot
on the wings. The black in the female
dusky ash, or wanting. Length 5, spread
71.— jYutt.

History. — This species is rare and
very little known. Its nest, according to
Audubon, is placed on the horizontal
branch of a fir, (i or 8 feet from the
ground. The eggs, 4 or 5 in number,
are of a rosy tint, sprinkled with reddish-
brown at the large end.

THE MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT.
Sylvia trichas. — Lath.

Description. — Yellow-olive above, in-
clining to cinereous on the crown ; front
and wide patch through the eye black ;
throat, breast and vent yellow, fainter on
the belly ; wings, and unspotted wedge-
shaped tail, dusky brown ; quills of both
edged with yellow-olive ; bill black above,
pale beneath ; legs pale flesh-color ; iris
dark hazel. Female without black on the
face, and beneath dull yellow. Length
5, spread 7.—MUL

History. — This is quite a common
bird. It arrives from the south in the
early part of May. Its nest, according to
Peabody, is constructed on or near the
ground, among dry leaves, brush or with-
ered grass. The eggs, 4 or 5, are white,
with blotches and lines of brown chiefly
towards the large end.

THE WORM-EATING WARBLER.
Sylvia vermivora. — Lath.
Description. — Dusky olive above ex-
cept the wing-s and tail, which are umber
brown. Head buff, marked with 4 longi-
tudinal stripes of umber brown; breast
orange buff, mixed with dusky ; vent wa-

ved with dusky olive ; bill blackish above,
below flesh colored ; legs pale flesh color;
iris hazel ; bill stout. Length 5}, spread
3.—Jfuttatl.

History.— This active and industrious
little bird is said to arrive late from the
south and retire early, and resembles
somewhat the Chicadee in its manners
and notes. Its nest, according to Audu-
bon, is made of dry mosses, hickory and
chestnut blossoms, and the eggs are 4 or
5, cream colored, with a few dark red
spots near the large end. The nest is usu-
ally placed between two twigs, 8 or 'J feet
from the ground.

BLACK AND WHITE CREEPER.

Salvia varia. — Latu.

Description. — The crown white, bor-
dered on each side by a band of black,
which is again bounded by a line of white
passing over each eye ; ear feathers black,
as well as the chin and throat ; wings the
same, with 2 white bars ; breast back,
sides, and rump spotted with black and
white ; tail and primaries edged with
light gray, the coverts black, bordered
with white; belly white; legs and feet
dusky yellow; bill rather long, black above,
paler below. Female with the crown
wholly black, and without the black ear-
feathers. Length 5, spread 7.J. — jXuttall.

History. — This bird is found in most
parts of the United States, and in many
of its habits is closely allied to the Creep-
ers and Nuthatches. It seldom perches
upon the branches of trees, but creeps
spirally round upon the trunk and large
limbs, searching for insects and their eggs
in the crevices of the bark. Dr. Brewer
informs us that this bird builds its nest up-
on the ground. It is composed external-
ly of coarse straw, and lined with hair.
The eggs, about 4 in number, are white,
with a few brownish red spots, chiefly to-
wards the large end.

Genus Regulos. — Cuvicr.
Generic Charactcrs.--B\\\ short,straight,
very slender, subulate, compressed from the buso,
and narrowed in the middle, furnished with bil-
lies at the base, and wilii die edges somewhat
bent in ; die upper mandible is slenderly notched,
and a little curved at the lip. Nostrils basal, oval,
half closed by a membrane, and additionally cov-
ered also with two small projecting, rigid, decom-
pound feathers. Tongue bristly at the tip. Feet
slender ; tarsus longer than the middle toe ; later-
al Iocs nearly equal ; the inner one free ; hind toe
stoutest. Wings short, rather acute ; 3d and 4'h
primaries longest ; tail notched.

84

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

IJAKT I.

UK RUBV AND

;UV-( KOWM'I) \\ UI..SS.

AND WINTER WRENS,

THE RUBY-CROWNED WREN.

lli gains calendulus. — Stephens.

Description. — Color above olivaceous,
yellowish on the rump and grayish on the
head, with abright vermillion colored spot
on the hind head, which is partly con-
cealed by the dark Feathers; wings and
tail brownish black, with the outer edges
yellow ; wing coverts terminated with
white, forming a whitish bur upon the
wings ; a yellowish while line around the
eye ; beneath, brownish white on the
neck, changing into yellowish white on
the belly ; upper mandible slightly curv-
ed near the tip; legs, toes and nails long,
slender, and of a smoky brown color.
Length 4 ; spread 5i.

History.— The history of this little
songster is very imperfectly known. It
is found during the winter, in considera-
ble numbers, in the southern states, and,
in the northern states, is frequently seen
in its migrations to the north and south,
in spring and fall. Audubon has no doubt
but that it breeds in Labrador, but neith-
er he nor any other of our ornithologists
has succeeded in finding its nest. The
beautiful specimen from which the above
description was made, was killed in Bur-
lington on the 26th of April, 184:2.

THE FIERY-CROWNED WREN.

Reg u I us tricolor — Nutt.

Regit/lis satraua.—Alu\. Am. Hircls, It — 1G5, pi. 130.

Description. — Color above ash gray
on the neck, and the back yellowish
olive ; cheeks grayish white ; crown
flame colored, bordered with yellow and
black ; beneath whitish, tinged with olive

gray

bill slender and ra

short

ties at its base ; plumage loose and tufty ;
4th primary longest ; the first very short ;
legs rather long, tarsus slender. Length
4 ; spread 7. — Awduhon.

History. — This is an active little bird,
and is often seen in company with the
creepers and titmice, searching for Hies
and insects. It is put down by Dr. Brew-
er as breeding in this state. Audubon
found it rearing its young in Labrador.

Genu s Troglodytes. — Cuvicr.

Generic. Characters. — Bill slender, sub-
ulate, somewhat arched anil elongated, also acute,
compressed, and without notch; mandibles equal.
Nostrils basal, oval, half closed by a memhratne.
Tongue slender, the lip divided into 2 or 3 small
brisiles. Feel slender ; tarsus longer than tin-
middle Me ; inner too free; posterior with a lar-
ger nail than the rest. Wings short, con-
cave ui;d rounded ; 3d, 4tli, and jib primaries lon-
gest.

fe^iMj-Z^

THE HOUSE WREN.
Troglodytes asdon.— Vi kii.i.ot.

Description. — Color above reddish-
brown, darkest on the head and neck,
lighter towards the rump, feathers mostly
barred with dusky; beneath dull pale
gray, nearly white on the belly; sides and
under tail coverts barred with brown ; a
yellowish line from the upper mandible
over the eye ; cheeks yellowish gray,
spotted with brownish red ; bill dark
brown above, lighter beneath ; iris hazel;
feet flesh color ; wings short, od and 4th
quills longest; tail rather long. Length
4.], spread f»A

History. — This familiar and interest-
ing little bird is common in all parts of
the United Stales, from April until the
beginning of October, when it retires to
the south : but the place where it winters
seems yet to remain unknown. The
House Wren is sprightly, active and dili-
gent, and has received its name in conse-
quence of its delighting to make its resi-
dence in our orchards, gardens, and about
our houses. Its nest is formed with coarse
sticks, shreds of hark, hair, &c, in some
natural or artificial cavity, such as a hol-
low stump, or post, or the vacant space at
the foot of a brace in the frame of a build-
ing, or a box provided for it by the gar-
dener. And whatever the cavity select-
ed, it seems to be its object to fill it witli
sticks and other articles, leaving room
only for itself and young. The eggs,
from (> to 8, are of a reddish flesh-color,
sprinkled with reddish-brown. Audubon
lias represented this wren as feeding its
youiiH' in a nest constructed in an old hat.
The Wren manifests great antipathy to
the cat, and will scold her till the is out
of sight.

THE WINTER WREN.
Troglodytes hyt nuilis. — Vi eii.lot.
Description. -Dark brown above, cross-
ed with transverse dusky touches, except
on the head and neck, which are plain ;
the black spots on the back terminate in
minute points of dull white ; the same
colored points are seen on the first row of

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

35

Til K WOOD WREN.

GEM'S SIAL1A.

THE BLUE BIRD.

wing-coverts; the primaries are crossed
l>y alternate rows of cream color ; throat,
hue over the eye, sides of the neck and
breast dirty white, with minute transverse
touches of drab ; belly and vent mottled
with sooty black, deep brown, and white,
in bars; tail very short; legs and feet
pale clay-color ; bill straight, half an inch
long, dark brown above, whitish beneath ;
iris hazel. Length 3A, spread 5.— A'utt.

History. — This sprightly and musical
little bird bears a very strong resemblance
to the preceding, and might easily be mis-
taken for it. It may, however, be distin-
guished by its shorter tail, more slender
bill, and by having the under parts more
distinctly barred. The nest of this wren
m built upon, or very near the ground, at
the foot of a tree, or by the side of a rock.
It is formed of moss and leaved, and lined
with hair, und lias its entrance on the
side. This bird is said to lay from 10 to
li eggs, but the nosts, discovered by Au-
dubon, contained no more than G. Their
color is light blue, spotted with reddish
brown. The song of this wren is very
ngreeable and loud for the size of the bird.

THE WOOD WREN.
Traglodytes americanus. — Aud.

Description. — Bill of moderate length,
nearly straight, slender, acute; neck short;
body rather full ; plumage soft, blended,
slightly glossed; wings short, broad;
■1th and 5th quills longest; tail rather long,
graduated ; general color above dark red-
dish brown, duller and tinged with gray
on the head, indistinctly barred with dark
brown ; wings and tail waved with dark
brown, edges of the outer primaries light-
er; under parts pale brownish gray, bar-
red more or less distinctly. Length -1 J,
spread C>\. — Jlud.

History. — This new species was di
covered by Audubon in the summer of
183:2, in the state of Maine, where il
breeds in hollow logs in the woods, sel-
dom if ever makimr its appearance ir
cleared hind. The color of the i-y^ of the
Wood Wren is dull yellowish white, wit]
blotches and streaks of purplish-red and
blackish-brown. This wren breeds
Vermont, and Audubon describes an t
procured in this state by Dr. Brew
Late in the fall of 1.840, 1 saw a pair of
these wrens in a little wood in Burling-
ton, aud watched thein for some til
They were silent, except a low chirp oc
sionally, and were intently and diligently
searching for spiders and insects upon th
sides and beneath the loirs.

G EM'S Sialia. — Hwaitison.
Generic Characters. — Bill of ordinary
iglh. nearly straight, aboul as broad as high at
u- base; upper mandible rounded cariualed to-

wards the Li,
tongue carti
and einargii

k-ed

ue cartilaginous, shorily lacerate at the base,
emarginuie at the point ; nosli ils basal, open,
partly obstructed by an internal tubercle, the nasal
fosse extensive an. I depressed; tarsus rather ro-
bust, a little simiter than the middle toe ; inner
toe free ; the hind one stoutest, longer than the
nail; wings rather long and arule ; l»t and 2d
primaries longest, the o.l scarcely shorter.

THE BLUE BIRD.

Sialia Wilsonii. — S wain son.

Description. — Color sky-blue above ;
ferruginous, passing into brownish white,
beneath; vent white; wings full and
broad ; inner vanes of the quills and their
shafts dusky, outer vanes blue; bill and
legs black ; inside of the mouth yellow.
Colors of the female duller than in the
male. Length G£, spread II A.

History. — This well known and fa-
miliar bird is found in all parts of the
United States and of the British North
American provinces. It is every where
a great favorite, and its return in the
spring is hailed with hardly less joy than
that of the Robin. It seems to delight in
being around our dwellings, and rears its
young in hollow stumps and posts and in
little boxes made for that purpose and
placed on upright poles. The nest con-
sists of a slight lining of the cavity with
a few straws and feathers. The eggs are
usually 5, of a [/ale blue color and with-
out spots. They often raise two or three
broods in a season. Their food consists
almost entirely of insects, such as beetles,
spiders and grasshoppers, and, on account
of their destruction of these, they are,
like most others, real benefactors of the
farmer, and richly deserve his protection.
Birds seem to be specially designed by
Providence to prevent the undue increase
of noxious insects, and so useful are they
that, in general, whoever destroys a bird,
destroys a friend. Blue Birds are very
common in all parts of Vermont, and their

86

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

UK BROWN I.ARK.

GRANIVOROUS II I It I

Tilt SNOW BUNTING.

agreeable warble is heard from March together in the fall and migrate in large
till October. flocks

Genus Antiius. — Liiuucus.
Genetic Characters. — Bill straight, slender,
cylindrie, and subulate towards the point, with
edges somewhat inflected towards the middle, and
at the base destitute of bristles ; the base of the
upper mandible carinated, with the point slightly
notched and declining. Nostrils basal, lateral)
half closed by a membrane. Feet slender ; tarsus
longer than the middle toe; inner toe free ; hind
toe shortest, with the nail generally long and near-
ly straight; wings moderate ; three first primaries
longest; secondaries notched at the tip; two of
the scapulars nearly equal to the longest prima-
ries ; tail rather long and emarginate,

THE BROWN LARK.
Anthus spinoletta. — Bonap.

Description. — Grayish brown above,
with a darker shade in the centre of each
feather ; beneath and line over the eye,
white; breast and flanks spotted with
grayish brown, or blackish ; tail feathers
nearly black, the outer one half white,
upon the 2d and often upon the 3d, a co-
nic white spot; lower mandible straight
and livid, the upper blackish ; legs chest-
nut } iris hazel. Female more spotted be-
low. Young dark brown, inclining to ol-
ive ; strongly spotted on the beast. — JS'utt.

History. — The Brown Lark is met
with in every part of the United States as
a bird of passage. It feeds upon insects
and seeds, and may often be seen run-
ning along the margin of ponds and
streams, and in old fields in pursuit of
these. It was found by Audubon breed-
ing abundantly on the coast of Labrador,
and Dr. Brewer obtained its eggs from
Coventry, (now Orleans), in this state.
The nest is placed at the foot of a wall or
rock, curiously formed of bent grass, and
partly buried in dark mould. The eggs
are usually G. Their ground color is a
deep reddish chestnut, darkened by nu-
merous dots, and various lines of reddish
brown. This bird is also called the Amer-
ican Petit, or Titlark.

GRANIVOROUS BIRDS.
The Birds of this order have a strong,
short, thick, and more or less conic bill,
which extends back upon the forehead.
The ridge of the upper mandible is usual-
ly somewhat flattened, and both portions
of the bill are generally without the tooth-
ed notch. The feet are arranged with '.I
toes before and I behind. The wings are
of moderate dimensions. These birds
spend the summer in [airs, but assemble

Genus Emberiza. — Limiaus.
Generic Characters. — Bill short, robust,
conic, somewhat compressed, and without notch;
the margins contracted inward, a little angular to-
wards the base ,- the upper mandible rounded
above, acute, smaller and narrower than the low-
er ; the palate with a longitudinal bony tubercle ;
the lower mandible rounded beneath, and very
acute. Nostrils basal, small, partly covered by tho
feathers of the forehead. Tarsus about equal to
the middle toe ; tiie lateral toes equal ; outer uni-
ted at the base to the middle toe. Wings with the
1st primary almost equal to the 2d and 3d, which
are longest. Tail even or eniarinnate.

THE SNOW BUNTING.

Emberiza nivalis. — Linn.eus.
Plcctrophanes nivalis.— Aud. Am. Birds, Ul— Ki
pi. 155. 1

Description. — Male, in winter, with
the head, neck, lower parts, a great pro-
portion of the wings, including the small-
er coverts, secondary coverts, several se-
condary quills, the bases of the primaries
and their coverts, and the greater part of
the outer tail feathers on each side, white]
the head and hind neck more or less ting-
ed with brownish red ; the upper parts
reddish gray, or yellowish red mottled
with black, the concealed part of the plu-
mage being of the latter color ; the bill
brownish yellow. Female, in the winter,
with the white less extended. Young, at
this season, like the female, but browner.
Male, in summer, with the back, scapu-
lars, inner secondaries, terminal portion
of the primaries, and 4 middle tail feath-
ers deep black ; all the other parts pure
white; bill black. Female with the black
parts tinged with brown, and more or less
reddish brown on the head and rump.
Length 7; spread 13, — Audubon.

History. — The Snow Buntings spend
the great part of the year in high northern
latitudes. They breed, according to Dr.
Richardson, in the most northerly part of
the continent, and on the islands of the
arctic ocean. The nest is made of dry
grass in the crevices of rocks, and lined
with deer's hair and feathers. The eggs
are greenish white, spotted and blotched
with umber. They usually make their
appearance in Vermont in December, in
the midst of storms of snow. They ar-
rive in flocks, frequently in company with
the Tree Sparrow and Blue Snow Bird,
and, in descending upon our gardens and
fields, to collect their scanty pittance of
seeds from the dry weeds which rise above
the snow, they always come down in a

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

87

THE BAY WINGED AND SAVANNAH BUNTINGS.

HE SONG SPARROW.

spiral direction, passing several times a-
round the spot on which they are to alight.
They are much more plentiful in some
winters than in others, and are generally
known by the name ot White Snow Bird.

THE BAY-WINGED BUNTING.
Ember izu graminca. — Gmel.

Description. — General color of the
upper'parts light brown, streaked and mot-
tled with darker; lesser wing-coverts red-
dish-brown ; first quills margined exter-
nally with white ; outer tail feathers mark-
ed with nn oblique band of white ; a nar-
row circle of white round the eye; throat
and breast yellowish white; the latter and
fore part of the checks streaked with dark
brown ; aide* mid bully yellowish brown,
fading into white towards the tail, ami
sparsely streaked with durk brown ; wings
with the 3d and 1th quills longest; plum-
age compact ; tail rather long ; tarsus,
toes, and claws flesh color. Length 5J,
spread 1U. — Jlud.

History. — The Bay-Winged Bunting,
or Finch, is found in all the northeastern
portion of the United States. I learn
from Dr. Brewer that it breeds in Vermont
as well as other parts of New England,
and that its nest is placed upon the ground
without concealment, but that it uses
much art in decoying enemies from the
neighborhood of it.

THE SAVANNAH BUNTING.
Emberiza savanna.. — Wils.

Description. — General color above
pale reddish brown, spotted with brown-
ish black ; the edges of the feathers be-
ing of the former color ; lower parts
white, the breast spotted and the sides
streaked with deep brown ; cheeks and
space over the eye light citron yellow ;
bill dusky above, pale brown beneath ;
wings and tail short, the latter emargin-
ate ; head rather large ; neck short.
Length 5£, spread Sh. — Aud.

History. — The Savannah Bunting, or
Savannah Finch, as he is also called, is,
according to Audubon, one of the most
abundant and hardy species in the United
States. It breeds in this state, and con-
structs its nest very much in the manner
of the Song Sparrow, at the foot of a tuft
of grass, or in a low bush. The eggs,
from 4 to 6, are of a pale bluish color,
softly mottled with purplish brown.

Genus Fringilla. — Linnaeus.
Generic Characters. — Bill short, robust,
conic on all sides and gen rally without a notch ;
upper inaudible wider tin n llie lower, somewhat

turgid and a Utile bent at the tip, without keel, do-
pressed al the upper part, and often prolonged in-
to an angle entering the feathers of the forehead ;
nostrils basal, round, covered by the feathers ;
tongue thick, acule compressed and bilid at tho
lip; tarsus shorter than the middle toe ; toes dis-
connected at the base ; hind nail largest. Wings
short; 1st and 2nd primaries but little shorter
than tho 3d and 4th, which are longest.

THE SONG SPARROW.
Fringilla melodia. — Wi r.s.

Description. — Crown brownish chest-
nut, divided longitudinally by a grayish
line ; line over the eye light ash, becom-
ing white towards the bill; mottled above
and below with brown, chestnut and ash ;
much lightest on the belly, each feather
being marked with brown along the mid-
dle, surrounded by chestnut and edged
with ash, giving the bird a striped appear-
ance, particularly on the back and lower
part of the breast; wings and tail chest-
nut brown ; bill dark horn color, lighter
below ; legs light flesh-colored; feet and
nails dusky. Length 6\ inches; spread
of the wings 8k inches. Tail wedge-form,
2 inches longer than the folded wings ;
1st primary short, 3d and 4 th longest.

History. — This is one of our most com-
mon anrl familiar sparrows. It arrives
early from the south, and in company with
the Blue Bird and Robin, ushers in the
spring with its cheerful notes, while the
snows are yet lingering upon the ground."
This sparrow breeds in all parts of tho
United States and Canada. The nest
is usually placed upon the ground but is
sometimes a little elevated above it in a
low bush. It is usually formed of dry grass
and lined with hair. The eggs, usually
5, arc of a bluish gray color, thickly spot-
ted with different shades of brown. They
are very prolific, frequently raising three
broods in a year. The Song Sparrow is
common in our gardens, orchards and
meadows, preferring the open fields and
low bushes to the woods. They feed
upon worms, insects, larva; and seeds.

thotimo of their tippeariinco seo Part I— 13.

88

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Tart I.

Tin:

III.UK SN'O

v BIRD. TI1K TREE AND CHIPPING SPARROWS.

THE BLUE SNOW-BIRD.
Fringilla hyemulis. — Linnjeus,

Description. Genernl color dark

brownish ash, or bluish slate above and on
the breast ; belly while ; feathers on the
back slightly tinged with ferruginous;
wings and central tail feathers dark slate;
outer tail leather on each side pure white,
and the next white wholly or in part;
tail forked, the lateral feathers curving
outward towards the tip ; bill short, acute;
bill, legs and feet brownish in summer,
pale flesh-color in winter; claws slender
and compressed. Female and young ting-
ed with brown. Length G inches, spread
of the wings 9 inches.

History. — This is one of our most
common and numerous species, and in
the spring and autumn they are met with
in every part of the state. Late in the
fall they mostly migrate to the south, and
in the early part of summer they mostly
retire from the low lands either beyond
the limits of the state to the north, or to
the central mountainous districts for the
purpose of rearing their young. They
breed in large numbers in all the moun-
tain towns, through the whole length of
the state. The nest is built upon the
ground by the side of a rock, stump, tuft
of grass, or in the side of a dry bank, and
is composed of small sticks and wither-
ed grass. The eggs, from 3 to 5, are
of a pale green, brushed and spotted
with darker. They breed in small
numbers in the low lands in this state. 1
found one of their nests in Burlington,
near Winooski river, on the 27th of
July, containing 3 young nearly fledged.
The most common note of this bird is a
sharp chip, and hence it is often called
the Chipping Bird, or Blue Chipping
Bird.

THE TREE .SPARROW.

Fringilla canadensis. — Latham.
DEScniPTioN.-Crown of the head bright
bay, slightly mottled with ash color; a
stripe over the eye, white at its commence-
ment near the bill, and backwards fading
into pale ash ; sides of the neck, chin and
breast pale ash; on the centre of the
breast an obscure dark spot ; from the
lower angle of the bill and behind the eye
proceeds a small stripe of chestnut ; back
varied with black, bay, brown and drab;
wings marked with two white bars; outer
feathers edged with white, inner with pale
brown ; bill black, yellowish beneath ;
tail forked, feathers black, edged with
white; vent white; legs slender, dusky
brown; feet black. Length of specimen
before me (J inches; spread 'J inches.

History.— This beautiful little sparrow
is a winter resident in Vermont. It ar-
rives in flocks from the north about the
first of November, and proceeds again
northerly about the first of April. During
the winter these sparrows are often seen
in flocks by themselves or in company
with the snow buntings, gathering their
scanty pittance of seeds from the weeds
which rise above the snow in our fields
and gardens. They are sometimes seen
seeking shelter, in the midst of woods,
from the winds and storms. Some of
them rear their young in Vermont, but
the greater part breed farther north, in
the neighborhood of Hudson's Bay. They
build their nest among the herbage, with
mud and dry grass, and line it with hair
or down. They lay 4 or 5 eggs at a lit-
ter, which are of a pale brown, spotted
with darker color.

THE CHIPPING SPARROW.
Fringilla socialis. — Wi r.s.

Description. — Frontlet nearly black;
crown bright chestnut. ; back varied with
brownish-black, ash and bay ; wings and
tail dark chestnut brown ; line over the
eye, chin and vent white ; breast and
sides of the neck pale ash ; rump dark
ash ; bill blackish above, dark flesh-color
below; legs and feet slender, pale flesh-
color; hind nail a little shorter than the
toe; first four primaries nearly equal;
tail forked, reaching ]\ inch beyond the
folded wings. Length 5 inches, spread
of the wings 7h inches.

History. — Of all our sparrows this is
the most familiar and most common. It
breeds abundantly in every part of the
state, and seems to take much pains to
place its nest as near as possible to our
dwellings, or close by the side of the most
frequented walks in our yards and gar-
dens. Sometimes it is placed upon a
lilach or other shrub so mar to a window
as to be easily reached with the hand.
'Phi' female will sit upon her nest with
apparent unconcern while people are al-
most constantly passing and repassing
within 2 or 3 feet of her. The nest is
rather slight, and al waj-s composed, inter-
nally, of hair, and hence it is often called
the Hair Bird. The eggs, 4 or 5, ate
bright greenish blue, with a few spots oF
bn.wn of different shades. They usually
raise two or three broods in a season.

THE FIELD, OR RUSH SPARROW.

Fringilla j unco rum. — Nctt.
Description.— Above varied with bay,
drab and dusky ; crown chestnut; cheeks

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

89

SWAMP SPARROW.

YELLOW UIIU). — PINE LINNET.

LESSER RED-POLL-

throat and breast pale brownish drab ; bel-
ly and vent white ; tail dusky, forked and
edged with whitish; bill and legs reddish
cinnamon color; hind nail as long as the
toe ; the 3d primary longest, the 1st short-
er than the 6th. Length 5| 'in.—Jfntt. .
History. — This species very much re-
sembles the Chipping Sparrow, but the
bay above is brighter, and the tail propor-
tionally longer. It builds its nest of dried
grass, upon the ground, in the shelter of
a low bush or grassy tuft. The eggs are
so thickly sprinkled with ferruginous as
to appear almost wholly of that color.

THE SWAMP SPARROW.
Fringilla palvslris — - Wn.s.

Description. — Blackish brown above,
belly white ; crown bright bay, undivi-
ded, bordered with blackish ; line over
the eye, sides of tin* neck, and breast ash
color; wings and tail dusky, the prima-
ries edged with brownish white, the see-
ondarics with bay ; bill dusky ; iris hazel ;
legs stout and long, and with the feet pale
brownish horn color. Young spotted with
black and olive brown. Length G; spread
8.— Nuttall.

History. — This species is aquatic in its
habits, and resides principally in low wet
lands and swamps, and hence its name,
Swamp Sparrow. It arrives from the
south in April, and builds its nest in a
tuft of rank grass in the midst of a marsh.
The eggs are 4 or 5, of a dirty white
color, spotted with reddish brown.

YELLOW BIRD, Oil AMERICAN GOLD

FINCH.

Fringilla tristis. — Linnjeus.

Description. — General color of the
male, in summer, rich gamboge yellow,
fading into white towards the tail ; crown
and frontlet black; wings and tail black,
varied with white ; smaller wing feathers
and coverts tipped and edged with white ;
tail sharply lurked, with the feathers
acutely pointed, and shaded off into white
on their inner webs towards the lips ; bill
conical, acute, brownish yellow, and the
gap straight; legs, feet and claws slen-
der, and of a yellowish brown color. Fe-
male, young, and male, in autumn, brown-
ish olive- above, yellowish white beneath.
Length 5 in.; spread 8. Four ihst pri-
maries nearly equal.

History. — The Yellow Bird, or Amer-
ican Gold Finch, is common in summer
from tropical America to the 50th paral-
lel of north latitude. It arrives in Ver-
mont later than several of the other spar-
rows, and is later in rearing its young. It
Pr i. 13

seldom builds its nest till some time in
July, and is less disposed' to build in Hie
immediate vicinity of our dwellings than
several others of the family. The nest is
usually placed in the top of a young for-
est tree, from lo to 30 feet from the
ground, and is composed of the dry bark
of herbaceous plants, thickly bedded with
cotton-like down of the Canada thistle.
The eggs, 4 or 5, are white and without
spots. This bird seems to be extremely
fond of the seeds of the thistle, and of oth-
er compound flowers; and it often visits
our gardens for the purpose of feeding up-
on lettuce and flower seeds. They soon
become reconciled to the cage, and their
song is nearly as sonorous and animated
as that of the Canary Bud.

THE PINE LINNET.
Fringilla pinus. — Wilsoit.

Desi iuption. — Color dark flaxen, spot-
ted with blackish ; wings black, with two
yellowish white bars;- quill shafts and lat-
eral tail feathers on the lower half yellow;
rump, breast and sides spotted and streak-
ed with blackish broWn ; bill dull horn
color; legs purplish brown; iris hazel.
Length 4:} ; spread 8£.

History. -The Pine Linnet passes most
of the year to the northward of the United
States ; but, in the depth of winter, often
makes its appearance here and in states
still further south. Of its history we
know very little.

THE LESSER RED-POLL.
Fringilla linaria.—Lixsmvs.

Description. — General color of the
upper plumage yellowish gray, darkly
streaked with blackish brown; wings and
tail feathers blackish, slightly edged with
white, with two narrow yellowish white
bars on each wing; crown bright dee])
crimson, with a crimson tinge on the
rump and sides of the throat; a brownish
black band around the base of the bill, and
reaching down upon the throat; belly-
bluish white, spotted and striped with
brown upon the sides and beneath the
tail ; feathers on the thighs yellowish
brown. Bill slender, straight, acutely
pointed, yellowish on the sides, and brown
above and below towards the tip; wings
long, the three fust quills longest, ;ind
nearly equal ; tail sharply forked; legs
feet and claws black ; claws slender, cur-
ved, acute, the hind one much the lomr-
est. Length of the specimen before me
5j inches ; tail 2\ ; folded wing 3.

History. — This elegant species is sel-
dom seen among us, excepting in the

90

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THE FINCHES.

THK FINCHES.

winter, when tliey often appear in large
flocks. They breed, according to Audu-
bon, in Maine, Nova Scotia, and Labra-
dor, and a few probably rear their young
in this state. Dr. Richardson says that
it is a permanent resident of the fur coun-
tries, where it may be seen in the coldest
weather. Its nest resembles that of the
Yellow Bird. The eggs, usually 5, are
bluish green, spotted with reddish brown
towards the large end.

THE FERRUGINOUS FINCH.
FringUla iliaca. — Merrem.

Description. Above varied with

reddish brown and gray ; beneath white,
largely spotted with bright bay and dus-
ky; head and neck cinereous, the feath-
ers margined with ferruginous ; wines
and tail rust color, inclined to reddish
brown ; 1st and 2d row of wing-coverts
tipped with white ; bill stout,dusky above ;
iris hazel. Length G, spread !% — Mitt.

History.— Most of this species spend
the summer to the northward of the Uni-
ted States, and appear among us only
during their spring and fall migrations.
Some few of them, however, breed in the
northern states, and I am informed by
Dr. Brewer that they rear their youmr in
the north part of this state. They build
their nest upon the ground, and their
eggs, 4 or 5, are of a dull greenish hue,
irregularly blotched with brown.

WHITE-THROATED FINCH.
FringUla pennsylmnica. — Lath.

Description.— The head striped with
dusky and white ; a yellow line from the
nostril to the eye ; upper parts varied
with dusky, bay and light brown; shoul-
der of the wing edged with greenish yel-
low; cheeks and breast cinereous ; throat
and belly white; legs pale flesh-color;
bill bluish horn-color ; iris hazel. Female
below, and stripes on the head, light
drab. Length 7, spread 9^.— Mat.

History. — This large and handsome
Finch, or Sparrow, spends the winter, in
large numbers, in the southern states, but,
on the approach of spring, proceed to the
north and rear their young throughout
the whole region, from New England to
the Fur Countries about Hudson's Bay.
A few of them breed in the north part of
Vermont. Their nest is built upon the
ground, made of grassland lined with hair
and feathers. The eggs are pale green,
marbled with reddish brown.

WHITE-CROWNED FINCH.

FringUla lei/cophrys. — T>: m m .

Description.— Crown white, line sur-
rounding it and through each eye black ;
back streaked with dark rusty brown and
pale bluish white; wings dusky, with
two white bands ; tertials black ; rump
and tail coverts drab ; chin and belly
whitish ; vent pale ochreous ; tail
long, rounded, dusky, broadly edged with
drab; bill, legs and feet cinnamon brown.
Female with the colors duller. Length
7£, spread 10. — Mitt.

History. — This species is seen here
only during its spring and fall migrations.
Audubon informs us that itbreeds in New-
foundland, Labrador and still further
north. Their nest is built upon the
ground, made of moss and lined with
hair. The eggs, usually 5, are of a sea-
green color, mottled and blotched with
different shades of brown.

ARCTIC GROUND FINCH.

FringUla arctica. —Swaik \

Description. — The head, neck above
and below, scapulars, all the wing cov-
erts and tail pitch black ; some of the
breast feathers fringed witli white ; back
scapulars, and wing coverts striped or
tipped with white; quills hair brown;
middle of the breast and belly pure white-
sides, flanks and under tail coverts deep
and bright ferruginous; bill black; Ws
pale brown. Female with upper plumage
ferruginous-brown. Length 83, tail 4 —
Mitt.

History.— This species is migratory,
spending the summer and rearing its
young in the Fur Countries, and retiring
in the winter to warmer regions. Dr.
Brewer informs me that it breeds also
about Coventry, (now Orleans,) in this
state. The nest is made of grass and
leaves upon the ground, and the eggs,
4 or 5, are white, spotted with reddfsh
chocolate.

TOWHE-GROUND FINCH.

FringUla crijthrophthalma.—LiKH.

Description. — Upper parts black ; bel-
ly white ; flanks and vent bay ; tail
rounded, 4 outer feathers partly white ;
a white spot on the wing below the cov-
erts and an interrupted white margin on
the primaries; bill black. Female olive
brown where the male is black, the head
and throat inclining to chestnut ; 3 only
of the lateral tail feathers marked with
white. Length 8, spread 11.— Mitt.

History. — This common bird derives

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

91

Tilt PURPLK LINNET.

THE PINE GltOSHKAK.

THE COMMON CROSS-MILL

iU name Toic-ke from the sound of its
note, when calling to its mate. It is found
in all parts of the United States and Can-
ada, but retires to the southern states to
pans the winter. This bird breeds in Ver-
mont. Its nest is built upon the ground,
and the eggs, from 4 to G, are white, tin-
ged with flesh-color, and spotted with
reddish brown.

THE PURPLE LINNET.
FringiUu purpurea. — Gmelin.

DxaCRIPTlOlf, — Head, breast and rump
deep rich lake, approaching to crimson,
and fading into rose color on the belly ,
feather* on the back brownish lake fringed
with aah, producing a spotted appearance;
vent and under tail covert* white ; wings
and tail dusky, edged with reddish white ;
bill grayish, dark horn color, having a
fringe of cream-colored feathers at the
base ; tail forked ; legs and claws brown ;
head and neck rather large ; outline of
each mandible a little convex; nostrils
nearly concealed by the feathers. Female
and young brownish above, and yellowish
white beneath, without the crimson. Sec-
ond and third primaries longest; 1st and
4lh a little shorter. Length 6 inches,
spread of the wings 9 inches.

History. — This beautiful and cheerful
little songster arrives from the south
about the beginning of April, and contin-
ues till October. Although the greater
part of them proceed still further north to
spend the summer, considerable numbers
of them are known to rear their young in
this state. Their nest is usually built
upon a cedar, a fir or other evergreen,
and is described by Dr. Brewer as being
rudely made of grass and weeds, and lined
with roots. The eggs are bright emerald
green. These birds are often tamed and
kept in cages, where they sing very pleas-
antly.

Genus Pyruhula. — Brisson.

Generic Characters. — Bill short, robust,
thick, convex-conic, turgid at the sides, compress-
ed at the point, the upper mandible acute, and ob-
viously curved, as well as the inferior more or less ;
palate smooth and scooped ; nostrils basal, later-
al, rounded and most commonly concealed Ly ihe
leathers; tongue thick tiud somewhat fleshy ; tar-
sus shorter than the middle toe, which is united
at the base to ihe outer ; wings rather short; the
3 first primaries graduated, the 4th longest ; tail
square or slightly rounded. Female differs consid-
erably from the male. They moult generally
twice in a year.

THE PINE GROSBEAK.
Pyrrhula enuclcatur. — Temm.

Description. — General color red ;
wings and tail dark cinereous, wing cov-
erts forming two white hands; quills, les-
ser coverts and tail-feathers tinged with

mson ; under plumage more red than
the upper, except the middle of the belly,
— nt and tail coverts, which are bluish-
gray ; bill blackish brown ; legs black.
Tail broad and forked ; 1st quill slightly
diorter than the 2d, which hardly exceeds
the ;id. Length 11 J, tail 4.J, wing 4jj.
Richardson. Length given by Audu-
bon, 8£; by Nuttall, !>.

History.— The Pine Grosbeak, or Bull
Finch, inhabits the northern parts of both
continents, and, according to Audubon,
is a constant resident in the slate of
Maine, and to the northward to Hudson's
Bay, where it builds its nest upon small
trees, mid feeds upon the seeds of the
white spruce und other trees. They are
seen in most parts of the United States
only in the winter.

Genus Loxia. —Brisson.

Generic Characters. — Bill robust and con-
vex, wilh the mandibles crossing each other, and
compressed towards the points, which are ex-
tended in the form of crescents. Nostrils basal,
lateral, rounded, hidden by the advancing hairs of
the front. Tongue cartilaginous, short, entire and
pointed. Tarsus nearly e<|ual to the middle toe ;
toes divided to the base ; hind nail largest, much
curved. Wings moderate, 1st and 2d primaries
longest. Tail notched. Female and young differ
from the aduli male.

THE COMMON CROSS-BILL.
Loxia curvirostra. — Linn.

Description.— General color dull light
red inclining to vermilion, darker on the
wings, with quills and tail feathers brown-
ish black; lower parts paler, nearly whito
on the belly ; plumage blended, but firm ;
tail short, small, emarginate. Female
with the upper parts grayish-brown ting-
ed with green, the rump dull grayish yel-
low. Young with the colors duller and
more inclining to yellowish green. Length
7, spread 10. — And.

History. — This species is quite com-
mon in this state and to the northward of
it, but further south is seldom seen, ex-
cept in the winter. It feeds principally
upon the seeds of the different kinds of
pines and spruces, and its crossed mandi-
bles are peculiarly fitted for extracting
them from the cones. This bird breeds
in Vermout, and its egg was obtained by

92

NATURAL HISTORY OE VERMONT.

Part 1

LSGED CROSS-BILI,

iW lilt. LED CU

SLACK BILLED CUCKOO.

Dr. Brewer from Coventry (now Orleans,)
in this state. Us color is greenish white,

thickly covered, more especially towards
the large end, with very brown spots.
They are said to breed in winter, and to
have their nests in pines, spruces and firs.

WHITE WINGED CROSS-BILL.

Loxia laicoiitcra — Gmki.,

Description. — General color of the
male rich carmine, inclining to crimson,
dusky on the middle of the back; scapu-
lars, wings, tail and upper tail coverts,
black ; two broad bands of white on the
wings ; sides brownish streaked with
dusky ; wings pointed, 3 outer primaries-
longest; tail emarginate. Female with
the upper parts dusky, the feathers mar-
gined with grayish-yellow; rump, breast
and lower parts yellow, streaked with
dusky. Length 6.1, spread lOg. — .'lud.

History.— The White Winged Cross-
Bill resides mostly to the northward of
the United States, and comes hither in
Hocks during the winter. They are, how-
ever, according to Audubon, not uncom-
mon in New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
where a few of them breed. Mr. Hutch-
ins says that this migratory species reach-
es Hudson's bay in March, where it
breeds, making its nest of grass, mud and
feathers, in pine trees, and laying 5 white
eggs marked with yellowish spots.

YOKED-TOED BIRDS.

In this order the form of the bill is va-
rious, but in general more or less arched
and hooked. The toes are always in pairs
directed two backward and two forward,
and hence they received the name Zygo-
dactyli, or yoked-toed. The hind exterior
toe is, however, often reversible.

Genus Coccyzus. — Vieillot,
Generic Characters. — Bill strong, eompres-
idge and slightly bent from

a di

ils base :

III Lll J ill I

Igllt, slop

at the

lip; nostrils basal half covered by a naked mem-
brane ; tongue short, narrow and acute ; tarsus
naked, longer, or about the length of the longest
loe ; two an! error toes united at the base; nails
short and but liule curved ; wings rather short ;
3d and 1th primaries longest.

YELLOW BILLED CUCKOO.

Coccyzus amerir.anus. — Bonaparte.

Description. — Color above dark gray-
ish-brown, with greenish and yellowish
silky reflections; tail lot g, the two mid-

dle feathers the color of the back; the
others dusky gradually shortening to the
outer ones, with large white tips, the two
outer scarcely half the length of the mid-
dle ones; below white; feathers of the
thighs large and hiding the knees as in
the hawks; legs and feet pale greenish-
blue; iris hazel; lower mandible and
lower part of the upper mandible yellow.
Female, with the 4 middle tail-feathers
without white spots. Length 12, spread
16.— Mat.

His ion v.— The Yellow-billed Cuckoo,
returns from the south about the first of
May and is much oftener heard than seen,
as it keeps itself for the most part con-
cealed in the thick tops of trees and bush-
es. It breeds in the southern part of the
state. Its nest is placed on the horizon-
tal branch of a small tree, and is very
slovenly put together. The eggs, from "3
to 4, are of a pale bluish green color. This
cuckoo destroys many catter pi liars, beetles
and other insects, but he gels a share of
his living less creditably by sucking tho
eggs of other small birds. His note is
coarse and unpleasant. The cry of this
bird has been thought to presage rain, and
hence it is sometimes called the JiaiiK
Craw.

THE BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.

Coccyzus dominicus. — Nuttall.

Description. — General color above
light hair brown with glossy bronze re-
flections ; beneath white approaching to
brownish ash on the throat, breast and to-
wards the tail; tail feathers, excepting
the two middle ones, tipped with white;
a naked space of a bright brick red color
around the eye ; bill as long as the head,
compressed laterally, arched and acute ;
upper mandible brownish black ; lower,
bluish; tarsus and feet bluish and scutil-
ated ; nostrils basal, lateral and partly
closed by a membrane ; legs rather short;
body slender ; tail long, graduated, con-
sisting of 10 feathers. Length of the spe-
cimen before me 11£ inches; folded wing
">[ ; tail G, and reaching 3_, beyond the
folded wing; gape 1 .2, bill above .!).

History. — This species is believed to
be more common in Vermont than tho
preceding, but. resembles it in appearance
and mode of living. It, however, arrives
later and passes the breeding season
more in the woods. Their nests are
made of twigs and lined with moss, but
are very flat and shallow. The eggs,
from 3 t<j 5, are of a bluish green color, and
smaller than those of the preceding spe*
cies.

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

93

BOLDKN-WINGED Wi

r k d - 1 1 K v i ) k d wouhn: c k i : 1 1 .

Genus Pit us. — Linnttvs.

Generic Characters.— Bill large or mod-
erate, usually straight, pyramidal, compressed,
cunt-ate, ami edged liUu scissors towards the point;
nostrils basal, oval, open, pailly concealed by
btinly feathers at the base of the bill ; Umguc
lung, extensile and vermiform; lens strong ; teel
robust, suited for climbing ; two toes before, imi-
trd at the base, and .usually two behind, divided ;
l»l primary very short, 3d and 4th luiigest ; tail
cuneiform, with 12 feathers, the lateral ones being
*ery short.

The Woodpeckers resemble ono another in
their luvbilt ami manner of life. Their nests are
in excavations in old trees, and the young of must
of the species emit a rank disagreeable odor.
They do tome injury by pecking holes in '.he bark
cf oiir fruit trees, in the pursuit of their favorite
food; bjl it u trillinj: compared with the service
which ihcy mi i. r by the destruction of eggs, larva-
and insects.

GOLDEN-WINGED WOODPECKER.
Pictts auratus. — Link.

Description. — Upper plumage umber
brown barred transversely with black; tip-
per part of the head cinereous with a crini-
Bori red crescent behind; cheeks and throat
bright cinnamon color ; from the lower
mandible deucends a stripe of black to
Hie throat ; a black crescent on the breast;
under plumage generally yellowish white,
beautifully spotted with black, the spots
circular on the breast, and hastate or
heart-form towards the tail ; under sid
of the wings and tail and the shafts of most
of the larger feathers, saffron yellow ;
rump white; tail coverts while, notched
and banded with black ; tail black above
with some of the feathers slightly edged
and tipped with yellowish white ; bill
bluish black ; legs grayish blue ; iris
dark hazel. Length 11 j inches; spread
]!); length of the bill ]£'.

History. — This it; our largest, and one

of our most common Woodpeckers. It is
known by several names, such as Flicker,
Yellow Hammer, and Partridge Wood-
pecker. This Woodpecker spends the
winter in the southern states, and returns
some time in April. Their nest is made
by excavating a cavity in an old tree with
their bill, and they have been known in
this way to make a winding borough in
solid oak, 15 inches in length. The eggs,
usually b", are pure white.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKER.
Picus erythrocephalus. — Linn.

Description. — Color of the head, neck
and throat rich crimson ; fore part of the
hack, scapulars and wing coverts bluish
black ; greater quills, anterior border of
the wings, and tail pitch black ; seconda-
ries, rump and all the under parts of the
body while ; tail lurked, several feathers
tipped, and the two outer ones edged with
white ; shafts of the secondaries black ;
bill greenish blue, darker towards the tip,
stout and slightly arched ; iris yellowish
brown. Colors of the female dull.' Head
and neck of the young grayish. Length
'J, spread 10; 'dd primary longest. .

History. — The Red-Headed Wood-
pecker, although at present by no means
rare in Vermont, is much less common
than formerly. They pass the winter in
the southern states, and return in the
early part of May. Their migrations, ac-
cording to Audubon, are performed in the
night. They are remarkably fond of
sweet apples, and are often seen in orch-
ards. Their nest is excavated in the
trunk or large limb of an old dead tree.
The eggs are about 6, white and marked
with reddish spots at the large end.

YELLOW BELLIED WOODPECKER,

Picus varius. — Wilson.
Description. -Color varied with black,
white, yellow and crimson ; fore part of
the head and throat crimson ; back mot-
tled with black, white and pale yellow ;
wings black, with most of the feathers
spotted and tipped with white ; tail most-
ly black, with the two central feathers
white, spotted with black on their inner
webs, and some of the outer ones tipped
with yellow ; breast and belly lindit yel-
low ; sides under the wings dusky yel-
low, spotted longitudinally with black ;
legs and feet dusky blue, inclining to
green ; feet four toed ; bill blackish horn
color, long and stout. Female, with the
throat and back of the head whitish ;
young with a broad white band across the
wings, and nearly without yellow on the
back. Length 8; spread 14.

94

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part

the woiun'F.c ki;us.

'HE WOODPECKERS

History. — This species is common
throughout the continent, from the tropic
to the 53d degree of north latitude. Du-
ring the summer they confine themselves
principally to the forests, where they rear
their young in cavities excavated in old
trees. Their eggs are white, and usually
4 or more. The cavity in which they rear
their young is often excavated to the
depth of from 15 to 24 inches in the solid
wood.

THE HAIRY WOODPECKER.
Picus villosus. — Linnaeus.

Description. — Color varied with black
and white above ; wholly white beneath ;
back clothed with long, loose, downy
feathers ; wings brownish black, thickly
spotted with white ; tail pointed, forked,
outer feathers white, with an umber tinge
at the extremity, second feather on each
side black at the lower part, central and
longest feathers pitch black ; the crown,
a stripe down the back of the neck, and a
spot on each side of the head back of the
eye, black; occipital band red in the male
and black in the female ; bill and claws
bluish horn color ; bill covered at the base
with yellowish white hairy feathers, black
at theirextremity. Length!); spjjpad 15.

History. — This species is spread very
extensively over the country, and in this
state is much more common than the pre-
ceding, being often seen in the open fields
<ind upon our orchard and shade trees.
Its nest is constructed in the manner of
the preceding species, and it lays about 5
white e^irs-

THE DOWNY WOODPECKER.
Picus pubescens. — Linnjeus.

Description. — Color of the top and
eides of the head, wings and middle tail
feathers, black ; the chin, two stripes
olong the sides of the head, a stripe down
the back, and numerous roundish spots
on the wings, pure white ; under plumage
pale ash gray; outer tail feathers yellow-
ish white, barred with black ; feathers
long, loose and downy on the back ; head
of the male crossed by a scarlet band,
which is black in the female; nasal feath-
ers tawny white ; bill and claws bluish
black ; legs greenish ; four toes on each
foot. Total length of the specimen be-
fore me 6.2 inches ; spread 1 1 inches ; fol-
ded wings 4 inches.

History.— This is our smallest and, by
far, our most numerous species of Wood-
pecker. In color it has a very close re-
semblance to the preceding, but differs
from it very considerably in size. It is a

permanent resident in this state, but as it
rears its young for the most part in the
forests, it is not much seen during the
summer, but on the approach of autumn
it makes its appearance upon our orchard
and shade trees in considerable numbers,
This is one of the most diligent of the
feathered tribe, and may be recommended
as a pattern of industry and perseverance.
So intent is it in searching for eggs, lar-
v;e and insects, that it scarcely heeds
what is doing around it, and may often be
approached so near as almost to be taken
into the hand before it will abandon its
business.

ARCTIC THREE TOED WOODPECK.

ER.

Picus arcticus. — Swainson.

Description. — Back velvetblack, with
bluish and greenish reflections ; crown
satFron yellow ; 5 rows of white spots on
the quills ; sides of the neck and under
plumage white, thickly barred with black ;
two middle tail leathers brownish black;
outer ones barred with black and tipped
with white; bill bluish gray above, whi-
tish beneath ; legs lead colored. Length
10A inches; wings 5. — Richardson.

History. — This large species of Wood-
pecker is very rare in comparison with the
preceding. It is marked in a list kindly
furnished me by Dr. Brewer, as breeding
in this state, in the vicinity of BurliDgton.
It has usually been confounded by orni-
thologists with the Picus tritlnctijlus, or
Common Three-Toed Woodpecker; The
hind toe is completely versatile, and may
be placed forward perfectly on a level
with the others.

SLENDER BILLED BIRDS.

Birds of this order have the bill long,
or muderately extended, partly arched and
awl-shaped ; it is also entire and acute or
sometimes wedge-shaped at the extremi-
ty. The feet have three toes before
and one behind, the outer united at the
base to the middle one ; hind toe gener-
ally long; the nails extended and curved.
In their habits and method of running
upon the trunks and branches of trees,
they bear considerable resemblance to
the woodpeckers.

Genus Sitta. — Linnams.
Generic Characters. — Bill straight, moder-
ate sized conic-awl-shaped, round and sharp ed-
ged towards tlie point; lower mandible usually
recurved from the lip ; nostrils basal, orbicular,
open, half closed by a membrane, and partly hid
by the advancing brislly fealhers of the face;

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

95

THE WHITE-BREASTED AND RED-BE I.LI El) NUTlt:

THE BROWN CREEPER.

longue short, wide at I lie qase, notched and hard
at the lip; feet robust, hind toe stout und long;
»ings short ; lail rather short consisting of 12
feathers. Sexes similar in color.

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH.

SUtacarolinensis. — Brisso.v.
, Description. — General color dark lead
above, grayish white beneath; head and
neck black above, white on the sides and
beneath ; central part ofthe wing feathers
and wing coverts black, edged with lead
color or white ; ferruginous tinge about
the vent ; bill bluish black, lighter be-
neath towards the base, long and straight ;
upper mandible longest; feet and legs
dusky ; hind toe stout and long with a
large nail ; claws all hooked and sharp;
**M 3d and 4th primaries longest and
nearly equal. Length 5^ inches ; spread
11.

History.— The White breasted Nut-
hatch is a permanent resident throughout
nearly the whole of North America, und
is very common in this state. During
the full and winter they come into our
orchards and yards, where their rough
quaiik, two or three times repeated, may
be often heard as they run around like
the Woodpecker upon the trunks of the
trees. Early in the spring they retire to
the forests, where they rear their young
in the hollow of a tree or large limbs.
The eggs, usually 5, are of a dull white
color, spotted with brown at the large
end.

THE RED-BELLIED NUTHATCH.
Sitta canadensis. — Linnjeus.

Description. — Lead color above, red-
dish, or rust-color on the belly ; head and
neck above and line through the eye,
black ; a white stripe above and below
the eye and on the margin of each wing;
lateral tail feathers black and white, cen-
tral ones lead color ; feet and legs dusky ;
hind toe stout and long; bill black, large,
long and straight ; 3d primary longest,
2nd and 4th nearly as long. Length 4h
inches, spread ofthe wings 8 inches.

History. — This species resembles the
preceding in general appearance and hab-
its, but is said to have a predilection to
pine forests, feeding much upon the oily
seeds of evergreens. The flight of the
Nuthatches is short, seldom extending
farther than from one tree to another ;
and yet they have great powers of llight,
6ince Audubon saw one come on board
his vessel 300 miles from the shore. The
specimens from which both preceding de-
scriptions were made were obtained in
Burlington.

Genus Ckrtiiia. — Linnaus.

Generic Characters. — Bill long, or middling,
more or less arched, entire ihrec-sided, compress-
ed, slender and acuic ; nostrils basal, naked,
|>ierced in grooves, and half closed by a small
membrane ; tongue acute ; feet slender ; inner loo
free, somewhat shorter than the ouler ; hind toe
longer and more robust ; nails much curved, that
of l he hind toe largest; wings rather short, spuri-
ous feathers small; tail of 12 feathers, elastic,
ridged, and acuminate. The sexes and young
nearly alike.

THE BROWN CREEPER.

Ccrlhia familiar is. — Linnjeus.

Description — Color varied with dusky
brown, ferruginous, and white above,
white beneath ; rump bright rust color;
tail rusty brown, us long as the body, with
the extremity of each feather attenuated
to a sharp rigid point, as in woodpeckers ;
under tail coverts tinged with rusty ; 3d
und 4th primaries longest, and all the pri-
maries, excepting the two first, with a
yellowish white spot near the middle ;
legs and feet brownish. Length 5J inch-
es ; spread 7 inches.

History. — This industrious little bird
is seldom seen in the summer, on Account
of its passing that season in the depth of
the forests, but on the approach of winter
he may be seen upon the trees in more
open places, diligently seeking for its-
food. It very much resembles the small-
er Woodpeckers and Nuthatches in its
habits, hopping about upon the trunk of
the tree, searching every nook and crev-
ice in the bark for spiders, insects, egga
and larva;. The Brown Creeper breeds
in this state, and for this purpose it takes-
possession ofthe deserted hole of a squir-
rel or woodpecker. The nest, according
to Audubon, is loosely formed of grasses
and lichens, and lined with feathers. The
eggs, from 6 to 8, are yellowish white,
irregularly marked with red and purp-
lish spots. Nuttall found one of their
nests in Roxbury, Ms., upon the ground
by the side of a rock, containing 4 young.

Genus Trociui us. — Linnaus,

Generic Characters. — Bill long, straight, or
curved, tubular, very slender, wiili the base de-
pressed and acuminated ; upper mandible nearly
enveloping the under one ; tongue long, extensi-
ble, bilid and tubular; nostrils basal, linear, and
covered by a membrane ; legs very shori ; tarsus
shorter than the middle toe ; fore toes almost
wholly divided ; wings long and acute ; first quill
longest.

06

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

TI1K III 'M MING BIRD.

THE KING FISHER'

THE COMMON HUMMING-BIRD.
Trochilus colubris. — Linnaeus.
Description. — The whole upper plu-
mage shining golden green ; wings glossed
brownish black ; tail broad, dusky, outer
feathers tipped with white, or rusty
white; Ibroat and breast of the male with
changeable ruby-colored, greenish and or-
ange reflections; bill black and a little
arched ; legs and feet dusky black ; nails
very sharp and hooked. Female and
young yellowish white beneath. Length
3£ inches, spread of the wings A\ inches;
length of the bill along the gape 1 inch,
nearly.

History. — Of American Humming-
Birds there are said to be upwards of 1 01)
species, but of the very few species which
venture beyond the tropics, this is the
only one which visits Vermont. It ar-
rives in May, and during the summer is
seen in all parts of the state collecting its
food, which consists of insects and nectar
from the various flowers. While many
of them extend their migrations still fur-
ther north, and rear their young on the
very confines of the arctic circle, consider-
able numbers of them stop by the way,
and not a few of them breed in this state.
The puny nest, constructed of lichens and
down, cemented together with saliva, is
placed upon a large branch of an orchard
or forest tree, at heights varying from 4
to <10 feet from the ground. The eggs, 2
in number, are white, and the period of
incubation 10 days. While rearing its
young the Humming-Bird bravely attacks
the King Bird and the Martin, and drives
them from the neighborhood of its nest.

HALCYONS.

In this order the bill is lonsr, sharp-
pointed, almost quadrangular and straight,
or slightly curved; feet very short; the
tarsus articulated ; the middle toe united
with the outer, commonly to the second
joint, and with the inner toe ft the first
articulation. The female and young dif-
fer but little in color from the adult male.

Genus Alcedo. — Litinaus.
Generic Characters. — Bill long, straight,
quadrangular, compressed, ami sometimes curved
lit the point ; nostril basal, lateral, oblique, and
nearly closed by a naked membrane ; tongue short
and fleshy ; legs and feet short; tarsus shorter
than the middle toe; hind nail smallest; wings
rather short.

HE BELTED KING FISHER.
Mcedo alcyon. — Linn-kus.

Description. — General color bluish
slate ; the primaries, the central parts of
the secondaries and of the feathers form-
ing the crest, and the shafts generally of
the dorsal plumage, pitch black; a small
spot before and another under the eye,
spots on the wing and tail feathers and
their tips, and all the under plumage,
white, except the band around the neck,
which is bluish slate ; bill straight ; claws
brownish black ; legs small and short.
Length 12 inches; spread 20 inches. Fe-
male shorter, with some parts ferruginous
and more white on the wings.

History. — The King Fisher is found
along the borders of streams and ponds,
in all parts of the United States, and is
quite common in all parts of this state.
It feeds principally upon small fishes,
which it takes by darting upon them as
they are gliding near the surface of the
water. The note of the King Fisher is a
rough grating crackle. Its nest is formed
by perforating horizontally the side of a
steep bank, in the manner of the Bank
Swallow. These perforations sometimes
extend 5 or G feet into the bank, with an
enlargement at the extremity for the re-
ception of the nest, which consists only
of a few twigs, grass and feathers. The
eggs are white, and usually 6 in number.
Their period of incubation is 1G days.

THE SWALLOW TRIBE.

The birds belonging to this order have
a very short bill, which is much depressed
and very wide at the base ; upper mandi-
ble curved tit the point ; legs short ; three

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

97

THE PURPLE MARTIN.

HE BARN ANII CLIFF SWALLOWS.

toes before, and one behind which is fre-
quently reversible ; nails hooked ; wings
very long and acute. The sexes and
young are nearly alike. They feed on
insects, which they catch flying. They
migrate to tropical countries to spend the
winter.

Genus Hirundo. — Linneeus.
Generic Characters. — Bill short, triangular,
depressed, wide at the- base, and cleft nearly to the
eyes; upper mandible notched and a little hooked
at the point ; nostrils basal, oblong, partly closed
by a membrane and covered by the advancing
feathers of the frontlet ; tongue short, bifid ; tar-
sus short; toes and claws long and slender, three
betiro snd one behind; the exterior united as far
us the fimt joint of the intermediate one ; wings
long; llio first quill longest; tad of 12 feathers,
and forked.

THE PURPLE MARTIN.

Hirundo purpurea. — Linn^us.

Description. — Color of the head, whole
body and scapulars black, with a rich
glossy shade of bluish purple ; wings and
tail pitch black, with little gloss; bill,
legs and claws black ; margins of both
mandibles inflexed in the middle ; nostrils
basal and oval. Female brownish black
above, with very little of the purple gloss ;
belly brownish white with hair brown
spots ; breast brownish gray. Length 6
inches; spread of the wings 16 inches.

History. — The Purple Martin is the
largest of our swallows, and is more inti-
mate with man than any other undomes-
ticated bird. It returns from the south
about the last of April, and formerly
reared its young in the hollows and exca-
vations in old trees ; but since the country
lias become settled, habitations have been
provided for this general favorite in al-
most every neighborhood, by the erection
of martin boxes. Its nest is made of
leaves, straw and feathers ; and the eggs,
from 4 to 6, are pure white and without
spots. The Martins have sometimes ar-
rived so early in the spring as to become
chilled to death in their houses during a
cold storm. This was the case a few years
ago in the vicinity of Burlington. The
flight of the Martin is very rapid, and,
like the redoubtable King Bird, it pursues
and boldly attacks eagles, hawks and
crows, and drives them from the neigh-
borhood of its dwelling. There is said
to be a tradion that the Martin was not
seen in New England till about the time
of the revolution. It is, however, men-
tioned by Kalm its being common in New
Jersey in 174'.). They usually depart to
the south about the middle of August.
Pakt i. 13

THE BARN SWALLOW.
Hirundo rufa. — Gmei.in.

Description.— Color above and band
on the breast steel-blue ; front and beneath
chestnut brown, paler on the belly ; tail
forked, with n white spot on the lateral
feathers, the outer ones narrow and an
inch and a half longer than the next ;
legs dark purple; iris hazel. Female with
belly and vent rufous-white. Length 7,
spread 13.

History. — This swallow is, perhaps,
more generally diffused over the state
and better known than either of the other
species ; but it would seem that their
numbers have rather been diminishing
for several years past in this state, while
those of the Cliff Swallow have been
vastly multiplied. This swallow arrives
in Vermont about the 28th of April. (Sec
page 13.) They generally build their
nest against a rafter or beam in the barn.
It is formed principally of mud, and lined
with fine grass and a few feathers. The
eggs, usually 5, are while, spotted with
reddish brown.

FULVOUS, OR CLIFF SWALLOW.
Hirundo fulva%. — V if.ill.

Description. — Top of the head, back,
upper side of the tail and wings brown-
ish black, with violet reflections from the
head, back and wing coverts ; forehead
marked with a crescent of yellowish
white ; chin, throat and sides of the neck
brownish red ; rump yellowish red; belly
white tinged with reddish brown ; bill
black, short, depressed, and very broad
at the base. Wings long, slender; first
quill longest, second nearly ns long ; tail
even, extending as fir as the folded
wings. Length of the specimen before
mo f)1 inches; folded wing 4J.

History. — This swallow seems to have
been hardly known to ornithologists till
about the year 1815, when they were no-
ticed near the Ohio river in Ohio and

98

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THE SWALLOWS.

THE SWALLOWS.

Kentucky. In 1817 they made their ap-
pearance at Whitehall, at the south end
of lake Champlain, and shortly after at
Randolph, Richmond, and some other
places in this state. In unsettled places
they build their nests upon the sides of
rocky cliffs, but here they are usually
placed beneath the eaves of barns and oth-
er buildings. They are constructed prin-
cipally of clay or mud, in the form of a
retort or gourd, and are lined with dry
grass. The eggs, usually 4, are white,
spotted with brown. These swallows al-
ways build their nests in companies, and
are so remarkably gregarious, that from
50 to 100 of their nests may often be
counted at the same time beneath the
eaves of a single building.

WHITE-BELLIED SWALLOW.
Hirundo bicolor. — Vieil.

Description. — Color above light glos-
sy greenish blue ; wings and tail brown-
ish black ; belly white; the closed wings
extend a little beyond the tail, which is
forked ; tarsus naked. Female like the
male, but less glossy. Length 5£ inches;
spread 10.

History. — This Swallow is much less
common in Vermont than the other spe-
cies. Their nests are made of grass and
lined with feathers, and are placed in va-
rious situations, such as beneath the eaves
of old buildings, or in hollow trees, and
they not unfrequently take possession of
Rlue bird and Martin boxes. The eggs,
4 or 5, are pure white.

THE BANK SWALLOW.
Hit undo riparla.— Linn.

Description. — Color above, and band
on the breast, cinereous brown ; beneath
white ; wings brownish black ; tail fork-
ed, with the outer feathers edged with
white ; tarsus naked, excepting a few
tufts of downy feathers behind ; chin
slightly fulvous. Length 5j in. ; folded
wing 4 in., and reaching nearly to the ex-
tremity of the tail.

History. -The Bank Swallow, or Sand
Martin, is gregarious, like the Cliff Swnl-
low,and may be found in companies mall
puts of the slate which afford suitable
phces for its habitation. These are usu-
ally sandy cliffs on banks of rivers They
commence 'i or -\ feet below I be surface
of tin' bank, and perforate the ground in
a horizontal direction to the distance of
from 2 t'i 4 feet, and at the furtlr*r ex-
tremity they pfice their nest, which is
composed of a little dry grass and a few
feathers. The eggs, usually 5, are pure

white. Often from 30 to GO or more of
these Swallow holes may be counted in a
bank, in the space of one or two rods.
The voice of this swallow is a low mutter.

Genus Cypselus. — Illigcr.

Generic Characters. — Bill very short, tri-
angular, clefi lo the eyes, depressed, (lie upper
mandible slightly notched and curved at I lie. point ;
nostrils lateral, contiguous, large, partly covered
by a membrane ; tongue, short, wide and hilid at
the tip ; feel very short ; loes divided, bind too
shortest, reversible, generally directed forward ;
nails retractile, channeled beneath; wings very
long. Sexes and young nearly alike in plumage.

THE CHIMNEY SWALLOW.
Cypselus -pelasgius. — Tjemminck.

Description. — General color sooty
brown, approaching to black, lightish
about the throat and over the eye ; legs
and feet bluish, muscular, with exceeding
sharp claws; the folded wings very nar-
row and long, extending J i, inch beyond
the tail, which is short and rounded, with
the shafts of the feathers reaching beyond
the vanes into sharp, strong, and very
elastic points ; 2d (mill of the wings lon-
gest Length from the end of the bill to
the extremity of the tail, 4k inches -Aio
the extremity of the folded wings 6 in. j
spread of the wings 12 inches.

History. — The Chimney Swallow is
one of our most singular birds. It arrives
from the south, where it lias spent the
winter, about the beginning of May. On
their arrival here before the country was
much settled, they took up their residence
in large flocks in particular hollow trees,
which, in consequence, received the name
of Swallow Trees. Three of these trees,
all large hollow elms, are mentioned by
Dr. Williams (Hist. 1 — 140) as being par-
tictilarly noted in this state*soon after the
settlement was commenced. One of these
was in Middh-bury, one in Brid port, and
the other in Ilubbardton About the be-
ginning of May the Swallows were ob-
served to Issue from these trees early in

return into them again just before dark
in the evening. The sarin1 phenomena
were also observed in I In latter pari of
summer, before the enl re disappearance
of the swallows and .is their departure
to the south was not observed, they
were generally believed to spend the win-
ter in these trees in a torpid state. Be-
fore this country was much settled,* 'hni-
ney Swallows built their nests on the in-
terior surface of large hollow trees, but
they now take advantage of unoccupied

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT

99

THE WHIP-POOR-WILL

THE NIGHT HAWK.

chimneys for that purpose, and for roost-
ing places. The nest is formed of slender
twigs, interlocked nud cemented togeth-
er uuil to the chimney or tree, by an ad-
hesive mucilage secreted by the stomach
of the architect. The eggs are white, and
usually 4. This Swallow is often called
the Chimney Swift.

Gkkus Caprimulgus. — Li MUCUS.
Generic Characters. — Bill extremely
short, feeble and clef I beyond i lie eyes ; uppei
mandible u>uqlly surrounded wild spreading bris-
ll«*»,»oniei lines hooked ai Iho tip, die maigin luni-
•d Mil ward ; rtiMiriii l>a-.il, wide, parity cuvered
bt a !• sdicrcd membrane. ; lunguo .-mail, acute

(innrdbi a nn n.l.r lu

mi.i : li

ifi'dVc, fi.i » shurl ; «%ings long ; tail of 10
feathers; ili« win distinguishable t>y iheit plu-
mage ; the young similai lo die adults.

THE WHIP-POOR-WILL.
Caprimulgus voclfcrus. — Wilson.

Description. — Variegated above with
black, brownish white and rust color,
with fine streaks and sprinkles; upper
part of the head brownish gray, marked
with a longitudinal stripe of black; tail
of 10 feathers rounded, the 3 outer feath-
ers white at their extremities ; the 4 mid-
dle ones without white at the ends, but
with herring-bone figures of black, and
pale ochre; cheeks and sides of the head
brickvcolor; chin black with small brown
spots ; a semi-circle of white across the
throat; breast and belly mottled and streak-
ed with black and ochre ; bristles on the
cheeks much longer than the bill; mid-
dle claw pectinated ; female less than the
male. Length £)£, spread 19.— JfutH

History. — The Whip-poor-will arrives
in Vermont early in -May, and his plain-
tive note is soon heard in the groves,

along the streams and low lands in vari-
ous parts of the state, even up to the
northern boundary. For a nest this bird
makes a slight excavation upon the sur-
face of the dry ground, in the forest, usu-
ally by the side of a rock, a log, or a pile
of bushes; and, in this, about the 1st of
June, the female lays two eggs, which
are of a bluish white color, thickly blotch-
ed with dark olive. The young, like
chickens, are able to run about and hide
themselves as soon as they are hatched ;
and being without a nest, and very near-
ly the color of the ground, they very
easily escape notice.

THE NIGHT HAWK.

Caprimulgus virginianus. — Brisson.

Dksckiption. — General color dark liv-
er brown, often with a greenish gloss;
the head, neck, back, scapulars and tiling
coverts spotted with white, and yellow-
ish brown ; quills of the wings brownish
black, with a broad bar of white across
the middle, above and below ; a broad
sagittate spot of pure white on the throat,
and white across the tail in the male ;
under plumage and inner wing coverts
marked with alternate bars of dark liver
brown and yellowish white; wings swal-
low-like, reaching a little beyond the tail;
1st quill longest, 2d nearly as long; bill
blackish without bristles ; legs short, pale
brown. Length \)h inches; spread 2:1 in.
Female 9 inches long, add color oehrey
about the head and throat.

History. — The Night Hawk arrives in
Vermont in May, and is very common,
during the summer, in all parts of the
state. They rear their young in mead-
ows and old fields. The eggs, which are
only two, are laid upon a bare spot of
ground, without any manner of nest.
They are of a muddy white color, thickly-
freckled all over with reddish brown.
During the period of incubation the males
are often sporting upon the wing, and
emitting their sharp squeak, high in the
air, towards the close of the day occasion-
ally precipitating themselves towards the
earth, emitting at the same time their pe-
culiar jitid-6-o, and then rising quickly to
their former height. This sport is usual-

100

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

UIE PASSENGER PICEON.

THE CAROLINA DOVE.

GALLINACEOUS P.1UHS.

ly continued till nearly dark, and hence
this bird, probably, received the name of
Night Hawk, or Night Jar.

Genus Columba. — Linnaus.

Generic Characters.— The bill, in this
Genus, is of moderate ,siza, compressed, vaulted,
turbid towards tlie tip, which is more or less cur-
ved. The base ol iho uppei mandible is covered
with soft sliin, protuberant at its base, in which
the nostrils aro situated. Nostrils medial, longi-
tudinal. Ton<>iie acme, eniiro ; feet short, ro-
bust; tarsi reticulated ; toes divided; wings mod-
erate : tn.il of 12 or 14 feathers.

THE PASSENGER PIGEON.
Columba migratoria. — Linn.

Description. — General color of the
upper plumage and breast light umber
brown ; rump bluish, belly and under tail
coverts dirty white ; nearly all the feath-
ers above and on the breast tipped with
yellowish white, forming little crescent-
fihaped bars ; outer webs of the primaries
edged with bulf or rufous ; tail of J 'J
feathers, with middle pair dark brown,
and longest, the others with a basal spot
of rufous and a central black spot or band
on the inner web, outer feathers shortest,
and white, excepting the spots, much
longer than the folded wings ; bill black ;
legs and feet dull red ; breast of the male
with a reddish tinge. Length 15 inches;
spread 23 inches.. 1st and 2d primaries
equal and longest.

History.— The American Wild Pig-
eon is met with in greater or less num-
bers throughout the whole region from
Mexico to Hudson's Bay. These birds are
remarkably gregarious in their habits, al-
most always flying, roosting and breeding
in large flocks. When the country was
new there were many of their roosts*and
breeding places in this state. Richard
Ha/.en, who run the line between this
state^and Massachusetts, in 1741, stated

that to the westward of Connecticut riv-
er, he found pigeons' nests so thick upon
the beech trees that 500 could be count-
ed at one time. At Clarendon, accord-
ing to Dr. Williams, (Hist. vol. 1—137,)
the pigeons bred in immense numbers.
The trees were loaded with nests for hun-
dreds of acres; 25 nests being frequently
seen upon one tree, and the ground be-
neath was covered with their dung to the
depth of two inches. These accounts aro
far exceeded by what is told of their roos-
ting and breeding places at the west,
where they often covered thousands of
acres, and all the trees and under growth
were killed in consequence. From 90 to
100 nests have frequently been counted
on a single tree. The nests are made of
twigs, the eggs are 2 and white. Pigeons
are much less abundant in Vermont than
formerly, but they now, in some years',
appear in large numbers.

THE CAROLINA DOVE.
Columba carolincnsis. — Linn. tug.

Description. — General color above
pale yellowish brown ; below brownish
yellow ; crown and upper part of the
neck greenish-blue ; forehead and breast
vinacequs; black spot under the ear;
bill blackish, purplish-red at the base ;
tail of 14 feathers, with the 4 lateral ones
black near the extremity, and whit? at
the tip. Length 12, spread \l.—NaU.

History. — The Carolina Dove, called
also the Turtle Dove, is not very common
in Vermont. Dr. Brewer saw a flock of
them near Woodstock in August, 1839;
and they have been occasionally seen in
other parts. From its plaintive agli-cbo-
cou-cdo, it is sometimes called the Mourn-
ing Duve. They are by no means shy,
are said to be easily tamed, and their flesh
is pronounced equal to that of the Wood-
cock.

GALLINACEOUS BIRDS.

Birds of this order have the bill short
and convex ; the upper mandible vaulted,
curved from the base or only at the point;
nostrils basal, partly covered by an arch-
ed rigid membrane; feet stout, tarsus long;
toes usually three before and one behind,
the latter articulated higher than the rest,
scarcely touching the ground at the tip,
sometimes wanting; wings generally
short and concave ; tail consistingof from
10 to 18 feathers. Colors of the female
less brilliant than those of the male. Our
domestic land fowls, as hens, turkics and
peacocks, belong to this order.

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

101

THE WILD TURKEY.

THE QUAIL.

THK PARTIUDGE.

Genus Meleagris. — Linnaus.
Generic Characters. — Bill entire, and at
iho base covered by a membrane which is pro-
longed inlo a pendulous, fleshy, conic, erectile,
hairy carbuncle ; nostrils oblique ; tongue fleshy
and entire ; feet rather long ; tarsus naked, pro-
vided with a blunt spur in the male ; middle toe
longest ; nails wide and blunt, flat beneath ; wings
short; 1st primary smallest, 4th and 5th largest;
tail of II to 18 wide feathers, and capable of a ver-
tical expansion ; head small, naked and warty ; a
pendulous- lufi on the lower part of the neclc. Fe-
male bmaller ; colors duller and more obscure.

THE WILD TURKEY.
Meleagris gallopuvo. — LiNK-fiOS.

Description. — Upper part of the back
anil wings yellowish-brown of a metallic
lustre, changing to deep purple, the tips
of the feathers broadly edged with velvet
Mack ; primaries dusky, banded witli
white ; tail of 18 feathers, ferruginous
thick ly waved with black, and with a
black band near the extremity; lower
part of the back and tail coverts deep
chestnut, banded with green and black ;
legs and feet purplish-red ; iris hazel ;
beneath duller. Female and young with
the colors less brilliant. Length 48,
spread G8.— Nutt,

History.— The Wild Turkey, which
was formerly common throughout our
whole country, has every where dimin-
ished with the advancement of the settle-
ments,and is now become exceedingly rare
in all parts of New England, and indeed
in all the eastern parts of the United
States. A few of them, however, contin-
ue still to visit and breed upon the moun-
tains in the southern part of the state.
The Domestic Turkey sprung from this
species, and was sent from Mexico to
Spain in the 16th century. It was intro-
duced into England in 1524, and into
France and other parts of Europe about
the same time.

Genus Perdix. — Latham.
Generic Characters. — Bill entire and
fcaro ; upper mandible vaulted and strongly curv-
ed towards the point; nostrils basal, lateral, half
closed by a vaulted naked membrane ; feet naked,
fore toes united by a membrane to the tirst articu-
lation; hind toe less than half the length of the in-
ner; nails incurved, acute; head wholly feather-
ed, often with a naked space around the eye ; tail
short, rounded, and deflected, consisting of from
12 to 18 close feathers. Female and young scarce-
ly differ in plumage from the male.

THE QUAIL.
Perdix virginiana. — Lath.
Description. -Cinnamon brown above,

varied with black and whitish ; crown,
neck and upper part of the breast reddish
brown ; line over the eye and throat pure
white, the latter bounded with a black
crescent; wings dusky, coverts edged
with yellowish white; belly yellowish
white, varied with wide arrow heads of
black ; tail ash colored, finely spotted with
reddish brown ; bill black ; iris hazel ; legs
and feet light lead color. Length (J, spread
U.—JVutt.

History. — This bird, generally known
as the Quail in New England, is in other
places more commonly called the Ameri-
can Partridge. It is not found in this
state at present very plentifully, but is
more common in the southwestern parts
than elsewhere. They generally go in
small flocks, spending most of the time on
the ground, and in autumn are often seen
gleaning in fields from which corn and
grain have been harvested. The Quail is
very prolific, laying from 10 to 18 eg£rs,
which are white, in a nest formed partly
in the ground, under the shelter of a tuft
of grass. Frequent attempts have been
made to domesticate the Quail, but with
very little success.

Genus Tetrao. — Linnwus.

Generic Characters. — Bill short, robust,
arcuated above, convex and bent towails the
tip, naked at the base ; nostrils basal, half
closed by an arched membrane, and hid-
den by small feathers ; tongue short, fleshy, and
pointed ; tarsus feathered and spurless in both sex-
es ; three toes before united to the first joint ;
hind toe half as long as the inner, and roughen
ed,

THE PARTRIDGE.
Tetrao umbcllus. — Linn.
Description. — General color above
and beneath black, pale chestnut, and yel-
lowish white, marbled, and disposed in
spots, bars and lines. Ruff brownish
black with greenish or cinnamon colored
reflections. Quills liver brown, their
outer webs barred near the base and mot-
tled towards the tip with cream yellow;
4th quill longest. Tail with alternate un-
dulating bars of brownish black, gray and
faint chestnut, the subterminal bar being
brownish black and broad ; a light stripe
from the nostril to the eye. Bill dark
horn color, short, nrched, and covered at
the base by feathers; head and neck
small; body bulky ; tarsus feathered half
way down before and some lower behind.
Wings short and broad. Tail large, fan
like, of 18 feathers. Length 18, spread
24.

f THE I

newbi-:rry

102

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THE SPRUC1

PARTRIDGE. THE SANDER]

ING PLOVER.

History. — This bird, which is usually
known as the Partridge in New Eng-
land, is called the Pheasant in most
other parts of the United Slates, and by
ornithological writers is more commonly
distinguished as the Ruffed Grouse. It is
quite common and a permanent resident
in all parts of Vermont. The nest of the
Partridge is upon the ground by the side
of a bush or log, and is very simple, con-
sisting only of a few leaves. The eggs,
usually about 12, are of a yellowish white
color, and the young run about, like
chickens, after their clucking mother, as
soon as they are hatched. They are ex-
ceeding wild and ditlicult to tame, and it
is amusing to see how quick they will
hide themselves under leaves and logs
whenever they are approached. The male
of this species is distinguished for his pe-
culiar drumming, which is performed,
standing upon a log in a thick part of the
woods, and rapidly beating his sides for
about half a minute at a time, with his
wings. This operation is repealed about
once in 8 or 10 minutes, and the sound
produced, somewhat resembling distant
thunder, is often heard at the distance of
half a mile. Their flesh is much esteem-
ed for food.

THE SPRUCE PARTRIDGE.
Tclrao canadensis. — Linn.

Description. Upper parts marked

with semi-circular bars of black and yel-
lowish brown, the paler color al ways form-
ing the terminal bar; outer edge of the
wings, primary coverts and quills clove
brown; tail black tipped with orange;
breast and belly with feathers blackish
tipped with white ; cheeks and throat
barred and mottled with white ; bill and
nails black ; fringed comb over the eye
bright red ; toes pectinated. Length 17,
wing 7^. — Rich .

History. — This Grouse, which is called,
at different places, the Spruce, the Wood
or the Swamp Partridge, from its favorite
places of resort, is seldom seen in Ver-
mont excepting in the most northerly
parts, and there it is scarce, compared with
the preceding species. Its food in win-
ter is said to consist principally of the
leaves of the white spruce, and its flesh
has then a strong, disagreeable flavor. In
summer it is better, but still inferior to
the preceding. Its nest is upon the
ground, and the eggs, which are usually
not more than 5 or (i, are said to be v*
ried with yellow, white and black. It is
known to breed in several towns in Or-
leans county.

WADING BIRDS.

In this order the bill varies in form,
but is usually straight, and carried out
into a lengthened and compressed cone,
though rarely it is depressed, or flat.
The legs are Jong and usually naked some
distance above the knees ; toes usually
long and slender, three before and one
behind, the latter on a level, or a little
more elevated than the rest. Most of the
Waders are more or less nocturnal in
their habits. The sexes differ but little
in external appearance. They live along
the borders of seas, lakes and rivers, and
feed upon fish, reptiles and insects.

Genus Camdris.— Illi. Tcrnm.
Generic Churucters. — Bill of moderate size,
sender, straight, rather soft, Hr.uuL in tv,ry
part, compressed from iis base, with ihe point de-
pressed, flattened and wider ihnn the middle. Na-
sal groove eLi^aled nearly to iliu point of llie
lull ; nos.riL lateral. Feet slender, die 3 toes
all directed forward and almost entirely divided
to thi-ir base. Wings of moderate size ; die liru
mull longest.

THE SANDERLING PLOVER,
Ctilidris a renavia . — 1 1. m g ek.

Description. — Color above mottled
with black, white and yellowish ; wings
brownish black, with the shafts and tips
of the quills, and a broad band extending
across the whole wing, with the excep-
tion of the fust 4 primaries, white. All
the under plumage white, excepting a
broad collar round the lower part of the
neck, which is grayish; bill, legs, feet
and nails black; iris hazel; two middle
tail feathers longest, brownish, and edged
with yellowish white. Folded wihgs a
little longer than the tail ; thighs feath-
ered more than half way down ; nails
short; upper mandible longest, and curv-
ed a little at the point. Winter plumage
nearly white. Length of the specimen
before me 7k ; folded wing 5 ; spread 14;
bill, along the ridge, 1.

History. — This beautifnl species, ac-

Ciup. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

103

THE C.llE.V

coidi

to Dr. Richardson, breeds on the

cotal of Hudson's Bay. Its nest is rude-
ly made of grass in marshes, and the eggs
arr 4, dusky, spotted with black. Tins
plover is only occasionally met with in
Vermont, along the shores of our lakes
and ponds. The specimen from which
the. above description and figure were
drawn was shot' in Burlington, in Sep-
tember, id II.

GtKus Gnus. — Pallas.

Gtturic Characters. — Bill a little longer
than ii.i' I..* I, strong, straight, compressed, aiten-
wnJ, tnd otisinM at lbs point ; ridge of I he bill
• < > ► i t . <• »n 'ii> . • triih a wide furrow on each
•it* i.-f lb* UkM ; AjwUlii in * furruw in i he inid-
«TW d uV» bit, p*r»i«i«, pua|«r|orr* chut J by a
ttvioivaor ; f»«« ' *,f «i»J r<4.>nl, n»V- .1 f>T a Isrge
$y*em *).«* iK< »«#•, middle toe united lo the
o>«ff mm by nxJn*«H«l nnrmbrsne, hind toe ariic-
n'Hr.i biirh mi lb* U'iui ; wing* moderate 2-1,
St, an I 4 U primarira Uivgetl, accondaric* l>r»ad-
ci than ihe primarie*, lail abort, of 12 feathers.

THE WHOOPING CRANE.
Grus timer irana. — Ti:mm.
DrsmiPTioK. — The forehead, crown
and cheeks covered with orange colored
warty skin, with a few black hairs; hind
head ash-color; the rest of the plumage
pure while, except the primaries, which
are brownish black ; bill and iris yellow,
legs and naked part of the thighs black.
From the base of each wing arise numer-
ous lurge flowing feathers, which project
over the tail and tips of the wings, some
of them being loose and webbed like those
of the Ostrich; length 48, bill 6, height

60.-~JVuiz«//.

History. — This bird is one of the larg-
est of the feathered tribes in the United
States, and is known in Vermont only by
being occasionally seen during its migra-
tions It is common in summer in the
fur countries where it breeds. Its two
eggs are bluish white and as large as
those of the swan When wounded, says
Dr Richardson, he has been known to
put the fi>wler to flight and fairly drive
him from the field.

Genus Ardka. — Linn. Tun.
Genetic Chuturtars. — Bill Inns; robust,

n I«'d J u,»|ier inawlib'e sJiuhil) furrowed; nos-

irils l.ii.-iiil basal M'uaieH in the furrow,.aiid half
closed by a nvnilirane ; orbits and Ions naked f

feathers ; middle loe unit I 10 1 lie outer one by a
short membrane ; bind loe on the tame level with

he other three
,btute; ltlprii
which aifluii.e
10 or 12 feather

wings ot modeiale dini'iis
:uy nearly eijual to the 2J am
: tail short, rounded, cotUa

THE NIGHT HERON.
Ardea nycticorax. — Wilson.

Description. — General color nearly
white ; front, occipital feathers and line
over the eye pure white ; crown, back
and scapulars greenish; tail coverts, wings
and tail pale ash ; lower parts yellowish
cream-color; legs yellowish green'; bill
black, 4A inches along the gap. \\ ithout
crest in autumn. Young brown streaked
with rufous white. Length 28, spread
46.— Kutt.

History. — Vermont is about the limit
of the northern migration of this Heron,
and here it is rate. It is usually called
the qua Bird. It breeds all along the
Atlantic coast to the southward of New
England. They build their nests in trees
in the retired parts of swamps, and fre-
quently there are two or three nests on
the same tree. The eggs, about 4, are of
a pale greenish-blue color, and as large
as those of the common hen.

Till] GREAT HERON.
Ardm Hcrodias. — Lining us.
Description. — General color grayish
ash ; crest brownish, the middle of the
feathers striped with whitish ; back of the
neck ash; small leathers on the wings
edged with tit ruginous ; feathers on the
neck and breast white in the cvntre, edjf-

ipp

ed with brown, giving a striped
anpe , thighs naked some distance above
Ihe knees; feathers on the upper part of
the thighs buff; legs brownish, tinged
with yellow ; chin, cheeks and sides of
the head whitish ; quills slate color; tail
a little longer than the folded wings ; gen-
erally two tapering feathers in the crest

104

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part 1.

THE GREEN 11EKON.

[■HE UPLAND PLOVER.

5 or 6 inches long. Length of the speci-
men from which the ahove description is
drawn, from the point of the hill to the
extremity of the tail, 46 inches; height,
when standing, 40 inches ; length of the
bill, from the angle of the mouth, 7 in. ;
folded wing J!) ; tarsus 7 A ; longest toe 5.
History. — The Great Blue Heron is
frequently seen in the neighborhood of
lake Champlain. The specimen from
which the above description was drawn
was shot near Burlington, and is now in
the Museum of the College of Natural
History ofthe University. They are said
to rear their young in companies, making
their nests with sticks in the tops of tall
trees. The eggs, usually 4, are larger
than those of the hen, light green, and
unspotted.

THE GREEN HERON.
Jlrdca vircscens. — Linn.

Description. — Color ofthe back, tail,
crown and wings dark glossy green, ap-
proaching to black; wing feathers mostly
tipped with wbite; wing coverts and scap-
ulars tipped and edged with white and
ferruginous ; neck above and on the sides
dark wine color ; chin and line under the
angle of the mouth, white ; throat and
under side of the neck, with the feathers,
white, tipped or margined with brownish ;
belly brownish white; lore and iris bright
yellow ; bill black, lighter beneath and
yellowish towards the base ; legs and feet
greenish yellow ; feathers on the back of
the head and neck long; tail short, con-
sisting of 12 feathers ; the 1st and 4th pri-
maries a little shorter than the 2d and 3d,
which are longest. Length 17 inches ;
spread 2'.} ; folded wing 7^ ; bill from the
angle of the mouth 3 ; along the ridge
24 inches.

History. — The Green Heron, better
known by a more disgusting name, is very
common in many parts of the state. It
seems to prefer the solitude of swamps
and marshes, where it feeds upon fishes
and reptiles, and alto upon dragon flies
and other insects. It builds its nest upon

trees, and lays 4 blue eggs. They come
from the south about the first of May, and
return in October.

Genus Totanus.— Bcch. Temm.

Generic Characters. — Bill of moderato
length, straight, or a little recurved, flexible at
the base, hard and acuminate at the point ; both
mandibles furrowed on each side to llic middle;
nostrils in ibe furrow, basal, linear and pervious ;
legs long and slender ; feet with three anterior
toes, the exterior united to the middle one, some-
times to the second joint ; wings of medium
length; tail of 12 feathers, generally short.

THE UPLAND PLOVER.
Tota 7iiis Bartramius. — Tem m i n c k .

Description. — General color above
blackish, the feathers edged with tawny
rufous; lower part ofthe back and upper
tail eoverts pitch black ; wings brownish
black above, shaft of the first primary
white, and most ofthe primaries with con-
cealed white spots or bars on their inner
webs; chin and belly white; under tail
coverts tinged with rufous; brownish
sagittate spots on the breast and Bides; un-
der sides of the wings barred and waved
with brown and white; tertials long ; bill
blackish above and at the point, yellow-
ish below ; tongue sagittate; 1st primary
longest; length 12 inches ; spread ofthe
wings 22 inches; bill from the angle of
the mouth 1£ inch.

History. — This species was first de-
scribed by Wilson, who named it Bar-
tramius in honor of his friend Bartram.
It is quite common in the western parts
of this state during the summer, and
resides principally in meadow*, feed-
ing upon grasshoppers and other insects.
Its nest is made upon the ground usually
in a little clump of bushes. They are a
shy bird and quite plain in appearance
when seen at a distance, but closely view-
ed their colors appear beautifully variega-
ted, especially beneath. They live for
the most part, in pairs or families.

Chap 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT

105

'i Ml SUI.ITARr AM) SPOTTED TATTLERS.

THE SOLITARY TATTLER.
Totanus chloropygius. — Vieili.ot.

DtscmeTioN. — Tlie whole upper plu-
magc dark hair brown, interspersed with
•mall, irregular, marginal spots of white,
and usually slightly glossed with green
reflections ; the lateral tail feathers with
thc'ir coverts regularly barred with black
and white, the burs being broadest on the
former; middle tail feathers dark brown,
with 101011 white spots on the edges; pri-
maries, their shafts and coverts brownish
Dark, unspotted, the shaft of the 1st pri-
mary a little lightest ; a short stripe over
the eye, the chin, belly and under tail
(.nil. white ; neck and breast spotted
or striix-d with brownish ; under side of
the wings next the base and axiliaries
finely barred or wared with brown and
white ; bill brown, with the na»al groove
two thirds it* length; left and feet dusky
olive. Length 8{ inches, tail 2fj, folded
win? 5, bill 1 J, turi«us 1.3.

Hi»Toar.— This bird is often seen along
the shores of our si reams and ponds, and,
as it spends the whole summer with us,
it doubtless breeds here ; but I have not
known of its nest being found. Accord-
ing to Dr. Richardson it breeds in most
of the intermediate districts between
Pennsylvania and the northern extremity
of the continent, depositing its eggs upon
the beach, without forming any kind of
nest. It is generally seen running along
upon the shore, frequently stopping, and
often nodding, or balancing its head and
tail, and hence its vulgar appellation is
Tip-up.

THE SPOTTED TATTLER.

Totanus macular ius. — Temminck.
DKscRiPTioN.-Color glossy olive brown,
waved with dusky ; one or more of the
outer tail feathers white, barred with
black ; quills dusky brown, the two outer
plain, the next marked with an oval white
spot on their inner webs ; secondaries
white on their inner webs and tipped with
white; below white, tinged with gray at
the sides of the neck, with roundish dusky
spots ; bill yellow below,black at the tip ;
legs waxyellow ; iris hazel. Length 7.1.
Yovuir white below, without spots. — JVutt.
History.— This bird is often called the
I'ct- licet, from its shrill and peculiar
note. It resembles the preceding species
in general appearance, and in most of its
habits, particularly in that of balancing or
wagging its tail, and it bears the same
vulgar name of Tip-up, the two kinds no^
being distinguished from each other by
ordinary observers. This species is much |

Pt i. 1 4

the most numerous of the two, and breeds
in this state in considerable numbers.
The nest is made in a tuft of grass, with
a thin lining of hay. The eggs, usually
4, are of a dull cream color, spotted with
brown, most thickly towards the large
end. The female, when alarmed, prac-
tices much art for the safety of her
young.

Genus Scolopax. — Linn.
Generic Characters. — Bill long, straight,
slender, compressed, soft ami flexible ; the point
depressed, dilated, tumid and obtuse, minutely tu-
berculated or dotted, projecting over the lower
mandible; both mandibles furrowed to the mid-
dle. Nostrils in the furrow of the bill, basal, lat-
eral, linear, pervious and covered by a membrane.
Feel and legs moderate, slender, 4 toed, naked
►pace above the knee small ; foes entirely divided.
Wings moderate, the 1st and 2d primaries longest
.hi I nearly equal. Tail short, rounded, consisting
of 12 or more, feathers.

THE COMMON SNIPE.
Scolopax Wilsonii. — Tem m i nc k .

Description. — Tail rounded, of 1G
feathers, with a bright ferruginous, sub-
terminal bar ; back and scapulars black,
with bronzy reflections ; rump dusky,
faintly mottled and barred with pale yel-
lowish brown ; crown black, divided by
an irregular line of pale brown, and an-
other of the same tint passes over each
eye ; neck and upper part of the breast
pale brown, with small, dusky, longitudi-
nal spots ; chin white tinged with brown ;
bill brown, blackish at the tip. Aength
11 to 11 A, spread 17, hill 2.J to 2:\.— Autt.

History. — This species, which is near-
ly related to the European Snipe, is found
throughout the whole of America from
Hudson's bay to the equator. This bird
arrives from the south early in the spring,
and spends the summer in low, moist
grounds, breeding in swamps, where it
lays its eggs in a hollow loosely lined
with a little grass. The egos are 4, of a
yellow-olive color, speckled with different
shades of brown. The young leave the
nest as soon as they are hatched The
Mesh of the Snipe is in high estimation on
account of its exquisite flavor, on which
account it is eagerly sought by the sports-
man. They arc frequently seen striking
their bill into the black marshy soil.
Their food, consists principally of worms,
leeches and aquatic insects.

Genus Rusticoea.—
leric Characters. — Bill
ipe, but more rubust, will)

Vicill..

10G

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Taut I.

THE WOODCOCK.

'

UK VIRGINIA RAIL,

tenuatud and not depressed ; the under mandible
is al?o deeply grooved beneath. Eyes placed far
bad. in the head. Leys short, robust and wholly
feathered to the knees; tarsus shorter than ihe
middle ioe ; toes cleft from the base, and the hind
nail truncated. The 1st or 4th primary longest.
•Tail of 12 feathers.

THE WOODCOCK.

Rusticola minor. — Nuttall.

Dkscription. — Back darkly marblod
with black ferruginous and ash ; chin
white; throat grayish; belly yellowish
white ; thighs and posterior parts beneath
bright ferruginous; crown black, crossed
with three light ferruginous bands, the
middle one broadest A black stripe from
the eye to the angle of the mouth, and
another from the bill up the frontlet ;
front part of the head grayish; marbling
on the wings lighter and finer than on
the back ; legs and feet light flesh color;
bill dusky horn color, nearly black at the
tip ; nails brownish black, small. First
4 primaries nearly equal, 3 first narrow.
Length of the specimen before me 11
inches, folded wing 5£, bill 2.9.

History. — The Woodcock* is quite
common in Vermont, although very sel-
dom seen, on account of its nocturnal
habits. It feeds and moves front place to
place almost exclusively in the night.
This bird returns from the south early,
and selects a breeding place in the woods.
The nest is made upon the ground, of
grass and leaves. The eggs, usually 4,
are of a yellowish clay color blotched with
purple and brown. The young leave the
nest as soon as hatched, but are unable
to fly for 3 or 4 weeks. During the pe-
riod of incubation the peculiar note of the
male may often he heard morning and
evening, while he rises spirally into the
air and then descends again to the neigh-
borhood of the nest. The flesh of the
Woodcock, like that of the Snipe, is high-
ly esteemed and eagerly sought, on ac-
count of its delicious flavor.

Genus Ralj.us — Linn.

Generic Characters. — Bill varying in length,
hick at the base, and generally straight and com-

pressed ; upper mandible furrowed on each side;
somewhat arched and curved at -the extremity,
with its base extending upwards between the
feathers of the forehead; nostrils situated in (ho
furrow of Ihu bill above lis base, oblong, pervi-
ous and covered at the base by a membrane;
tongue narrow, acute and fibrous at the tip ; fore-
head feathered ; legs small, with a naked space
above Ihe knee ; toes wholly divided ; wings
moderate, rounded; tail of 12 feathers, not ex-
tending beyond their coverts. Plumage of ihe
sexes, in general, nearly similar.

THE VIRGINIA RAIL.

Kail us Virginia mis. — Linn/t.us.

Description.— Upper part black, the
feathers edged with olive brown; cheek
and stripe over the eye ash ; over the
lores, the under eye-lid and chin white ;
wing coverts chestnut; quills deep dusky;
throat, breast and belly reddish brown ;
sides and vent black, witli white bars ;
legs and feet dusky reddish brown.
Length 10, spread 14. The female a lit-
tle less, and paler. — Nutt.

History. — This bird is sometimes call-
ed the Clapper Rail, but more cumtnonly
the Small Mad Hen It is met with in
fresh water marshes in most parts of the
United States, during the summer, but
migrates to the south on the approach of
winter. .With its neck stretched out and
its short tail erected, it runs with great
speed : but, when closely pursued, fre-
quently rises upon the wing, yet seldom
flies far at a time. It breeds in this state,
making its nest in the wettest part of the
marsh, of rushes and withered grass. The
eggs, from G to 11), are of a pale cream
color, sprinkled with brownish-red and
purple. The female is so much attached
to her eggs that she will sometimes suffer
herself to be taken in the hands sooner
than abandon them.

LOBE-FOOTED BIRDS.

This order takes its name from the cir-
cumstance of the toesofthe different spe-
cies being, in most cases, margined with
a membrane. They are aquatic in their
habits, and swim and dive with facility.
They live in small flocks along the sea
coast, and along the shores of lakes and
ponds, feeding upon fish, reptiles, worms
and vegetables. The sexes are nearly alike

in plumage.

Gknus Fui.ica. — Briss. Linn.

Generic Characters. — Bill shorter than the
head, stout, nearly straight, conical, compressed,
higher than broad at base, acute at tip ; mandibles
eq^al, furrowed each side at the base, the upper
covering the margins of the lower, and spreading
out into a naked membrane over the forehead J

Chap, 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

107

tilE COMMON COOT.

Till'. pieu-uii.i. iiuHcmcK.

THE ISoNAPARTIAN GULL

lower, boat-like; nostrils in a furrow, medial lateral,
concave, oblong, pervious, half closed by a turgid
membrane ; feel moderate, fur back ; naked space
above the knee small ; tarsus compressed, almost
edged behind; anterior toes very long, nearly di-
vided to the base, margined on each side by a
broad scolloped membrane ; hind toe bearing on
the ground, edged on the inner side by an entire
membrane; wings moderate, rounded, 2d and 3d
primaries longest; tail short, narrow, of 12 or 14
leathers ; sexes and young nearly alike in plu-
mage.

THE COMMON COOT.
Fu lieu am c rican a . — G m e l .

Description. — Mead and neck velvet
black ; fore part of the back, scapulars
and wing-coverts blackish gray ; tertia-
ries, tips of the scapulars, rump and tail-
coverts clove brown, with a greenish
tinge ; quills, tail and vent pitch black ;
under tail coverts and tips of the secon-
daries white ; bill pale horn color, with a
chestnut ring near its tip; under plu-
mage lead-gray ; legs and toes bluish
green, the scolloped membrane mostly
lead color. Length 1G inches. — Rick.

History. — The American Coot is found
throughout nearly the whole continent,
and seems almost indifferent to climate,
regulating its migrations principally by
the scarcity or abundance of food, which
consists of seeds, grasses, worms, snails,
insects, and small fishes. It is nocturnal
in its habits, and is said to perform its mi-
grations by night.

Genus Podickps. — Lath.

Generic Characters. — Bill moderate, robust,
hard, straight, and compressed, conieally elonga-
ted and acute ; upper mandible deeply and broad-
ly furrowed on each side at the base, somewhat
curved at tip; the lower boat-shaped ; nostrils in
the furrow, basal, lateral, concave, oblong, pervi-
ous, posteriorly half closed by a membrane ; feet
turned outward, situated far back; the thigh al-
most hidden in the belly; tarsus much compressed;
anterior toes greatly depressed, connected at the
base by a membrane, forming a broad lobe round
each toe; nails wide and flattened; wings short
and narrow; tail, none. Female similar to the
male in plumage.

THE PIED-BILL DOBCHICK.
Podiccps carol i.ucnsis. — Lai ii.
Description. — Upper plumage dusky
brown ; secondaries obliquely tipped with
white ; a roundish black spot under the
chin ; throat and cheeks below brownish
gray ; patch on the breast dotted or cloud-
ed with brownish white and black ; bel-
ly almost white, mottled under the wings
and on the Hanks ; rump dusky ; bill with

a broad black band around its middle, in-
cluding the nostrils; legs black ; iris ha-
zel. Length 11 h\.—J\'iUtall.

History. — These birds make some stop
in our waters during their fall migration,
but are not known to breed in this state.
They feed upon fishes and water-insects.
When alarmed they conceal themselves
by sinking in the water, with only the
end of the bill, by which they are enabled
to breathe, elevated above the surface,
and this is not easily seen. From this
and other singular habits they have re-
ceived the name of Water -Witches.

WEB-FOOTED BIRDS.

In this order, which consists wholly of
Water Birds, the bill is much varied in
form ; tin; legs short, generally placed
far back; the anterior toes wholly or par-
tially connected by webs, and, in some
families, all the toes are united by one
membrane; the hind toe articulated; interi-
orly upon the tarsus, or wholly wanting,

Genus Larus. — Linn arts
Generic Characters. — Hill moderate, strong
hard, compressed, with the edges sharp and curv-
ed inwarj, a little bent at the tip ; nostrils lateral,
longitudinal, linear, open and pervious ; feet raiher

tarsus nearly equal to the

idd!

eb entire to ihe tips of ihe lies ; hind toe very
all and high on the tarsus : wings long and
iite ; tail even, of 12 feathers. Female smaller
in ihe male; otherwise alike.

THE BONAPARTIAN GULL.

Larui: Bonapartii. — Swa. &, Rich.

Description. — Head bluish black;
back and upper part of the wings light
lead color, or pearly gray ; neck, tail and
whole under plumage pure white; Ihe
outer edge of the first primary and the
extremities of the others, black, in some
cases slightly tipped with while ; in some
cases the outer edge of the 2d primary is
edged with a line of black ; bill shining
black, nearly straight, a little turgid and
notched near the tip; inside of the mouth
legs and feel light bright red ; folded
wings 2 inches longer than the tail which

103

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

'art I.

Ull; lllli: KING CULI.

HE CANADA GOOSK.

is slightly rounded. Length 15 inches,
the folded wing- 10 ; bill along the gape,

n-

History. — This beautiful Gull is often
seen in small flocks in Lake Champlain,
but is most plentiful in autumn, when
those which have been rearing' their
young- at the north are proceeding south-
ward to spend the winter. Numbers of
them are however said to breed upon the
islands in lake Champlain, particularly
upon those called the Four Brothers.
They feed principally upon insects and
are distinguished by a peculiarly shrill
and plaintive cry. Their flesh is esteem-
ed good food. The specimen from which
our description was made, was shot, with
several others belonging to the same
flock, in Shelburue Ray.

THE HERRING GULL.
Larus argentutus. — Brunn.

Description, — Winter plumage. Top
of the head, region of the eyes, occiput,
nape and sides of the neck white, each
feather with a longitudinal pale brown
streak ; front, throat, all the lower parts,
back and tail white ; top of the back,
scapulars, und the whole wing bluish asli ;
primaries blackish towards the end ter-
minating in white ; bill ochre yellow ;
orbits and iris yellow, the latter pale ; feet
reddish flesh-color. Summer plumage,
with the head and neck pure white.
Young blackish ash, mottled with yellow-
ish rusty. Length about 524 inches. —
jVuUall.

History. — The Herring Gull derives
its vulgar name from the circumstance of
its feeding much upon Herrings, which
it catches by following the shoals. They
are common to the milder parts of both
continents, and are not uncommon in
lake Champlain, where numbers of them
breed upon the small, uninhabited islands.
The Rev. G. G. Ingersoll has procured
the eggs of this Gull from one of the isl-
lands called the Four Brothers, situated
five or six miles from Burlington. Their
ground color is light olive, irregularly
spotted with dull reddish-brown and dirty
ash. The nest is usually made of sticks
upon the ground or a rock, but Audubon
found them at the Bay of Fundy, breed-
ing upon low iir trees.

Genus Anser. — Brisson.
Octiciit. Characters. — Bill moderate, stout, at the
base higher than broad, somewhat conic, cylindri-
cal; depressed towards the point) nod narrowed arid
rounded at the extremity ; upper mandible not cov-
ering llie margins of the low r; the ritlgo of the bill

broad and elevated ; the nail somewhat orbicular,
curved and obtuse; marginal teeth-short, conic and
acute; nostrils medial, lateral, longitudinal, ellip-
tic, large, open und pervious, covered by a mem-
brane; tongue thick, fleshy and fringed on lha
sid'.'s ; feet central, stout, webs entire : wings mod-
erate, acute; quills strong; tail rounded. Scxei

THE CANADA GOOSE.
Anser canadensis. — Bonaparte.

Description.— Head, two thirds of the
neck, greater quills, rump and tail pitch
black ; back and wings broccoli-brown,
edged with wood-brown ; base of the
neck before and the under plumage yel-
lowish gray, with paler edges ; flanks and
base of the plumage generally brownish-
gray. A few feathers about the eye, a
large kidney-shaped patch on the throat,
the sides of the rump, and tail coverts,
pure white ; bill and feet black ; neck
long. Length 41, tail 9, wing IDA.— Rich.

History.— The Wild Goose is well
known in all parts of the United States as
a bird of passage. In Vermont they are
seen in large numbers during their spring
and fall migrations, und it is not uncom-
mon for them to alight in our lakes and
ponds to feed and rest themselves, where
they are frequently shot, but they are not
known to breed within the state. Their
principal breeding places are further north
between the 50th and G7th parallels of
latitude. They lay 6 or 7 greenish-white
eggs in a nest rudely made upon the
ground. The residents about Hudson's
bay depend much upon geese for their
supply of winter provisions, 3 or 4,000 of
them being killed annually, and barrelled
up for use. In their migrations, Wild
Geese usually fly in large flocks, arranged
in the form of the letter [> , with the ver-
tex of the angle forward. Sometimes
they alight in fields and meadows, and,
not unfrequently, they are compelled to
alig"ht in consequence of being bewildered
and lost in thick fo<xs and severe storms.

Chap. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

109

THE SUMMER, OR WOOD DUCK.

THE MALLARD.

Under such circumstances numbers of
them are frequently shot.

Genus Anas. — Linn.
Generic Characters. — Bill broader ihan high
at the base, widening more or less at the extremi-
ty, somewhat fialtentd, obtuse and much de-
pressed towards the pojnt ; marginal teeili larnel-
liform, weak ; upper mandible convex, curved and
furnished with a slender nail at the end ; the low-
er narrower, flat, and entirely covered by the mar-
gins of the upper; nostrils basal, approaching to-
gether, oval, open, pervious, and partly closed by
a membrane; tongue stout and obtuse, fringed at
the sides ; neck about the length of the body ; feet
central, small, weak, web entire ; wings moder-
ate acute ; quills long, 1st and 2d longest ; tail of
{turn 14 to 16 feathers. Plumage of the sexes dif-
ferent.

SUMMER, OR WOOD DUCK.

Anas sponsa. — LiNNiEUS.
Description. — Top of the head, crest,
and about the eyes, different shades of
green, witli purple reflections ; crest and
side of the head marked by two white
lines, one terminating behind the eye and
tbe other extending to the bill ; a black
patclj on each side of the neck; chin,
back part of the cheek, and ring round
the neck white ; lower part of the neck
and breast bright chestnut-brown, spotted
witb white; back, scapulars, wings and
tail exhibiting a play of green, purple,
blue, gray, and velvet black ; a hair-like,
splendent, reddish purple tuft on each
side of the rump; belly whitish; flanks
yellowish gray, beautifully waved with
black, the tips of the long feathers, and
also those on the shoulder, broadly barred
with white and black. On most of the
plumage is a play of colors with metallic
lustre ; bill higher than wide at the base,
narrowed towards the point, flesh color
above, with a black spot between the nos-
trils and at the tip; black below; tail of
14 wide rounded feathers, longer than the
folded wince. Female without the tufts

on the rump, the fine lines on the flanks,
with shorter crest, and less vivid plumage,
mostly ofa brownish hue, Length ofthe
specimen before me (male) 20 inches ; the
folded wing 8£.

History. — The Wood Duck is one of
the most beautiful birds seen in this state,
and is one ofthe very few permanent res-
idents here. Their food consists of tad-
poles, insects and worms, and also of
beechnuts and various kinds of berries.
Their flight is rapid and graceful, and
they also swim and dive well. Their
sense of hearing is very quick, and when
alarmed they sometimes conceal them-
selves in the water, with the bill only
above the surface. Their nests are upon
trees, usually in the hollow ofa broken
and decayed trunk, or large limb, and the
eggs, from 8 to 14, are yellowish white,
and a little smaller than those of the com-
mon hen. Tlie young, when hatched,
are carried down in the bill of the parent,
and then conducted to the water. The
flesh of this Duck is esteemed for food.

THE MALLARD.

Anas boscltas. — Linn.

Description. — Head and upper part of
the neck green, with blue and dark pur-
ple reflections; collar around the neck
white; feathers ofthe breast dark reddish
chestnut, slightly edged with white;
scapulars, back and parts beneath sprink-
led and waved with blackish on a white
ground, much lighter towards the tail;
rump and tail coverts blackish green;
sides of the rump partly, and interior of
the wings wholly, white ; folded wing
shorter than the tail ; bill yellow ; iris
reddish brown ; legs orange ; female and
young brownish varied with yellowish
and blackish. Length of the specimen
before me, which is a male, 26 inches;
folded wing 11; bill 2.1; tarsus 1.8;
longest toe 2.4 ; width of the bill 1 .1 .

History. — This is our common domes-
tic duck in its wild state. It is frequent-
ly seen in small flocks in lake Champlain,
but is more plentiful at the south and
southwest. The specimen from which
the above description was made, was shot
in the lake near Burlington in May 1842.
It is finely preserved and is now in the
museum ofthe College of Natural Histo-
ry of the Vermont University. Their
nest is made upon the borders of rivers
and lakes at some distance from the wa-
ter. The eggs, from 10 to 18, are bluish
white. The female frequently covers her
eggs when she leaves them. The young are
led to the water as soon as hatched and
are at once able to swim and dive with great

110

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

;I1E DUSKY DUCK.

THE BEUE-YVl.NUED TEAI..

THE GOOSANDER,

expertncss. Wild ducks feed upon fish,
aquatic insects and plants; and they fly in
the form of the letter >> , with the meet-
ing of the two lines directed forward.

THE DUSKY DUCK.
Anas obscura. — Gmel.

Description. — Upper part of the head
deep dusky-brown, with small streaks of
drab on the fore part ; the rest of the head
and greater part of the neck dull yellow-
ish-white, each feather marked down the
centre with a line of blackish-brown ; in-
ferior part of the neck and whole lower
parts dusky, the feathers edged more or
less broadly with brownish white ; upper
parts the same, but deeper; speculum
blue, with green and amethyst-red reflec-
tions; wings and tail dusky; the tail
feathers sharp pointed ; bill greenish ash ;
leo-sand feet dusky yellow ; female brown-
er? Length 24, spread 38.— -Mitl.

History. — This Duck is said to be
found only in North America. It is met
with throughout the United States and
British provinces, from Florida to Labra-
dor and is generally but improperly
called the Black Duck. It is found alike
alon<r the sea coast, in salt marshes, and
alon^ the fresh water rivers and lakes.
They breed in marshes, making their
nests of weeds, and laying from 6 to 12
cirtrs, which are of a dull ivory white and
about the size of those of the common
duck. Their voice, or quack, is also sim-
ilar to that of the common duck.

THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL.
Jluas discors. — Linn.
Description. — Upper surface of the
head and under tail coverts brownish
black ; a white crescent from the fore-
head to the chin bordered with black ;
sides of the head and neck purple ; base
of the neck above, back, tertiaries and tail
coverts brownish-green ; fore parts mark-
ed with semi-ovate pale brown bars; lea-
ser wing coverts pure pale blue ; specu-
lum dark green; prim i.ies, their coverts

and the tail liver brown ; sides of the
rump and under wing coverts white ; un-
der plumage reddish-orange, glossed with
chestnut on the breast, with blackish
spots; bill bluish-black; feet yellow.
Female brownish, without the white be-
fore the eye and on the rump, and the
purple tint on the head and neck. Young
without the green speculum ; in other re-
spects like the female. Length 18 inches.
History.— The Blue-Winged Teal in-
habits, according to the season, all parts
of the continent up to the 58th parallel of
latitude. It arrives in this state from the
south in the latter part of April, and I
have before me a specimen which was
shot in Winooski river, at Burlington,
about the first of May, 1842. They feed
upon insects and vegetables, and are said
to be particularly fond of wild rice. They
usually become very fat, and their flesh
is highly esteemed for food.

Genus Mergus. — Linnaius.
•eric Characters. — Bill long, 0r modei

iglit, nearly eylini
broad at the l>ase ; the edgt
teeth subulate, sharp, anil inclining backwards
the upper mandible hooked and furnished iviih s
nail at the tip ; nostrils lateral, open, situated neat
the middle of the hill ; legs short, stiono, placec
fat hack; three anterior toes webbed to their points
hind toe articulated high with a hroad membrane
wings moderate, acute; 1st and 2d primaries Ion.
gest: tailshorl and rounded. Female and yowi*
differ considerably from die male.

and th

THE GOOSANDER, OR SHELDRAKE.
Mergus merganser. — Linn.
Description. — Color of the old male
above nearly black ; head and upper part
of the neck greenish black, with reflec-
tions; belly while, shaded with rose col-
er. Humeral wing coverts blackish ; low-
er part of the back and the tail ash; bill
red on the sides, but black above and be-
low : iris reddish ; legs Vermillion. Fe-
male and young above light slate or gray-
islPash, shafts of the feathers darker ; sec-
ondary wing feathers and their coverts

CiikT. 3.

BIRDS OF VERMONT.

Ill

DOMESTIC FOWLS.

white on the posterior part ; head, crest
•ml neck reddish brown; chin and upper
part of the breast gray ; belly yellowish
irbitc , wings black, 2d quill longest; bill
n ddiah brown above, red below ; legs and
feet reddish yellow ; webs brownish. —
Ixmgth of the specimen before, which is
a I-- 1»> >!•', US inches; folded wing !Ll ;
spread 32} bill, from the angle of the
mouth, lJ\, tarsus 'J A ; longest toe 3 inches.
HitTOHT. — The Goosander inhabits the
northern purls of Europe, Asia and Amer-
ica, where they breed and spend the
grvatrr part of the year. On the approach
•>f cold weather they migrate towards the
south, but Mill many of them spend the
«mlri in hi^'li northern latitudes. They
aio occasionally met with in our lakes and
rm i» at nearly all wanoiu, but are not
found in Vermont in very large numbers.
lite specimen from which a part of the
•bore description «u made, was shot in
Winooskl ri«er Sept. 4, 1841. This fowl
ia Terr voracioua,and feeda principally up-
on fialii a, of which the stomach of the one
above deacribed contained the fragments
of several, one of which was three inches
long. The rough incurved papillie. upon
the tongue, and the sharp serralures along
the edges of the hill, seem admirably adap-
ted for seizing and retaining ita finny
prey.

Genus Colymhus. — Linnaus.
Oeneru Characters.— Uil\ longer than tlio head,
stout, Knight, nearly cylindrical, compressed, with
Ihn point Buhulutu uiul ucule ; the edges bent
in, »haip and entire ; noslrils basal, concave, and
hall* closed by a membrane ; feet large, placed fur
behind | tibia almost drawn up into the belly ; tar-
tun strong, compressed ; the throe anterior toes
»rry long, united to their tips by webs; bind toe
• mull, touching the ground merely at the tip, uni-
ted to tho outer too by a rudiineutal membrane ;
wingi moderate ; 1st and 2d primaries longest ; tail
Short, rounded and composod of 18 or 'JO feathers ;
lhasoies alike in plumage.

TDK LOON, OR GREAT NORTH-
ERN DIVER.
Colymhus glacial is. — Linn.
Description. — Herd and back of the
neck glossy black; Lick grayish black

spotted with white, the spots squarish
and largest on the middle of the back,
roundish forward, and very small towards
the rump; beneath white; neck spotted
with black, with a black and whitish ring ;
wings brownish black above, without
spots; legs black; bill dark horn color.
Length of the specimen before me to the
extremity of the tail 35 inches, folded
wing 14 inches, hill to the angle of the
mouth 44 inches, foot to the extremity of
the longest nail fj£ inches. The first
quill longest.

History. — The Loon, or Great North-
ern Diver, is found in the northern parts
of botli the Eastern and Western Conti-
nent. In this country it resides princi-
pally in the lakes in the interior, spend-
ing nearly its whole time in the water.
It dives will] great facility, and is able to
remain for a long time under water. Its
legs ure situated so far back that it is with
the greatest dillieulty that it walks at all
upon land. The Loon is not uncommon
in our lakes and ponds, where numbers
of them spend the summer and rear their
young. Their nest is upon the ground
near the margin of a pond, and somewhat
elevated above the surface of the water.
The eggs are about the size of those of
the domestic goose, of a dark smoky olivo
color, blotched with umber brown. The
flesh of the Loon is tough and unpalata-
ble.

DOMESTIC FOWLS.

The only birds we have in a state of per-
manent domestication are the Goose, the
Turkey, the Duck, the Barn-door fowl,
the Peacock the Guinea Ihn and the
Dove.

T11K Common Goose, Jlnasanscr, which
has acquired so many colors in our noult-
ry yards, originated from a wild sjveies,
which is gray, with a brown mantle un-
dulated with gray, and an orange colored
beak. The name of the species in a
wild state is Jinser cintrcus. Geese are
kept in considerable numbers in this state,
principally for their feathers.

The Domestic Turkey, Mdeagris gal-
lopavo, in its wild state, has been already
described on page 1(11. In the domesti-
cated state it has acquired a variety of
colors and undergone some change in
form and size. Turkeys are raised for
their flesh which is highly valued.

Tiik Domestic Duck, Jlnas domestica,
sprang from the common Mallard Duck,
Jims boschas. See page 109. The change
produced in the Duck by domestication
is much less than in the two preccdin<r

12

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

Part:

DOMESTIC FOWLS.

REPTILES OF VERMONT.

species. Very few of them are raised in
this state, and these are kept rather for
curiosity than profit.

Barn-Door Fowl, Galhis domcsticvs.
This species, denominated the Cock and
the Hen, varies almost infinitely in col-
ors, and very considerably in size and
form.. It has been in a domesticated state
from time immemorial, and more or less
of them are kept by almost every family
in the state. Their flesh and eggs form
almost indispensable articles of food ; and
with suitable attention and precaution a-
gainst mischief, the keeping of hens for
their eggs is not unprofitable.

The Peacock, Pavo cristatus. The
Peacock is said to have been originally
from the north of India, and to have been
introduced into Europe by Alexander the
Great. It is celebrated only for the mag-
nificence and beauty of its plumage.

The Guinea Hen, Numida meleagris.
The Guinea Hen was originally from Af-
rica. Its slate colored plumage is every-
where springled with small round white
spots. In its wild state it lives in flocks,
in marshes.

The Dove. Our common Dove is said
to be descended from the Rock Dove,
Columba licia. "

The three last are kept only in small
numbers, as a matter of curiosity.

The following table contains the esti-
mated value of Poultry in the several
counties in this state, according to the re-
turns of the census of 1S40.
Addison Co., $8,G37

Bennington, 9,114

Calndonia, 10,029

Chittenden, 8,014

Essex, 1,744

Franklin, 5,919

Grand Isle, 1,873

Lamoille, 4.192

•rangi?,

$M.395

Orleans,

Rutland,

13,09-2

Washington,

15,840

Windham.

13,854

Windsor,

20,313

Tutul vqIuo,

§131,578

CHAPTER IV.

REPTILES OF VERMONT.

Preliminary Observations.

Reptiles are usually regarded as disa-
greeable and loathesome objects, though
many of them, on account of their singu-
lar structure and habits, arc highly inter-
esting. These animals have cold red
blood, with a dry skin, which is naked or
covered with scales, and, in many species,
periodically renewed. Their temperature
usually corresponds with that of the me-
dium in which they are situated. When
the temperature is down to freezing they
become torpid. They are found largest
and most numerous in the hottest portions
of the earth.

The bones of reptiles are in general
softer than those of quadrupeds and birds,
and vary much in their connection and
number in the different genera Frogs
and toads have no ribs; serpents have
them detached without a sternum ; tortois-
es have them all united together ; and
lizards have them like birds. Some of
these animals have four feet, others two,
and others none. Some are fitted for leap-
ing, others for crawling, and others for
swimming, and several for all these modes
of progression. Their circulation is im-
perfect, their sensations obtuse, and they
are in general sluggish in their habits.

Reptiles all produce their young by
means of eggs ; these are not, however,
hatched by the parent, but deposited in
situations favorable for their develope-
ment. In some genera the young are
produced perfect, while in others they are
of a widely different form, being shaped
like, and having the habits of a fish, and
like insects undergoing a transformation
before arriving at perfection, of which the
tadpole and frog afford a familiar example

In his classification of RvpLiles, Cuvier
adops the arrangement of Brongniart,who
takes the characters of his orders from the
principal organs, in conjunction with the
animal functions. In this arrangement
they are divided into the four following
orders.

I. Chela nia, or Tortoises. Body cov-
ered with a shield, or plate.

II. tin itiiti, or Lizards. Body covered
with scales.

III. Ophidia, or Serpents. Destitute
of feet.

IV. Batrachia, or Frogs, &c. Body
covered with a naked and loose skin.

The following is a list of the Reptiles
found in Vermont, arranged in the order
in "fc'hich they are described in the subse-
quent pages.

Cu*r. 4.

REPTILES OF VERMONT,

113

r.4.1.1 r.i 01 i.inn

On unit Chei.on i a — Turtoiscs.
Ilmyt picta, Painted Tortoise.

41 insculjila, Sculptured Tortoise,

ffijifii ■iqmifiiKi. Snapping Tortoise.
Ohdkd till ill A. — Lizards.
Tbera lid none of this order found in
tii« tUte.

On 1. 1. ii Oi'iiiniA — Serpents.
( \Au\xr tittaht, Striped Snake.

m» iU, Kibbund Snake.

•• ordinatua, Hrown Snake.
*• ortt/itu Muciiiuu*, Spotted-neck Snake.

Crololut d

jiunctatus,
cernnlis,
eonttrietor,
exitnius,

priltfH,
tliijUf,

Kinged Snakt
Green Snake.
lll.ick Snake.
Chicken Snake
Water Snake.
U.itlle Snake.

Ordk* Uatkaciiia — lialraehians.
Rgma fifUms, Bull Vtor.

** fwmltm*tht Spring r'rog.

J..<i|iai J Frog.
Pickerel Frog.
Wood* Fioij.

lb,
ksttti**,

t rruil't,

kt>riivm<nHJ,

mtlamota.

Horicon Frog.
Hlack Frog.
Ilyiodt* Pukcringii, Pickering's flylodes,
llyla tirsicotor, Tree Tond.

c//tf, Peeping Tree Frog.

"/"•

llu/o amcricanus, Common Toad.
SJitoinmliu §yittmitrica Symmetrical Salamander

" dorsulis, Many Spotted do.

*• galmmica, ' Salmon colored do.

" tigrina, Tiger Salamander.

11 venenosa,' Violet colored do.

*' trijthronotu, Red-backed do.

" glutinosa, Glutinous do.

44 Lisliucuta, Two lined do.
Mtnobianchus macula/Us, Proteus.

ORDER I— CHELONIA.
T ORTOISES.
Animals of this order have four feet, a
heart with two auricles, and the body en-
veloped in two plates, or shields, formed
of the vertebra: and ribs above and ster-
num beneath. Tortoises have no teeth,
hut Ihcir jaws are invested with a bony
substance which serves as a substitute
lor teeth. The sexes may in general be
distinguished by the cavity in the ster-
num of the male. They possess great
tenacity of life, moving for a long time
after their heads are cut oil'. They re-
quire little nourishment, and can puss
months, and even years, without eating.

Genus Em vs. — Bn

Generic Characters. — Shell depressed,
id ; sternum broad, solid, immoveabl
joined to the shell, cons is tin

four supplemental on i ; ;

Pt. i. 15

firmly
xtremities palmated,

t 1 1 r.

PAINTED

TORTOISE.

id of

will
urdii

Five n

ury -,;•/.

j; tai

id posterio
long.

with fou. ;

THE PAINTED TORTOISE.
Eimjs jricta. — Schneider.
Description. -Shell oblong, oval, rath-
er depressed, smooth, and of a dusky
brown color ; all the dorsal and lateral
plates margined with yellow; a reddish
yellow line along the middle of the back;
first vertebral plate quadrangular, wider
on the fore part and slightly elongated
behind, the second six sided, the third
quadrangular, the fourth six sided, nar-
row behind, the fifth seven sided; the
firht lateral plate four sided, tipper edge
narrow, the lower rounded ; the second
and third nearly square. The intermedi-
ate marginal plate is narrow, with a notch
on each side ; all the rest are either ob-
long or s([uare, each having a red spot in
the centre, surrounded by irregular con-
centric red lines; marginal plates mostly
red -beneath ; sternum reddish yellow,
serrated before ; pectoral plates narrow ;
caudal plates triangular, rounded behind ;
head and skin generally dark brown ; an
oblong yellow spot behind each eye, and
another upon the hack part of the head;
cheeks and chin striped with yellow, be-
coming red on the neck; legs striped and
spotted with red ; tail with two yellow
stripes above and two red ones on the
sides, which unite beneath in one; eyes
small, pupil black; iris golden, with a
broad black stripe through the middle.
Length of the shell of the specimen he-

inches ; width 1 1 ; height r2A.
D.5, L. 8, M.25, S. 12*

Th

tori

ur most common
d exists in large
numbers in the coves along the margin
of lake Charnplain and in the stagnant
waters about the mouths of our rivers. Jt
is very aquatic in its habits, ami is seldom
seen more than a few feet from the water.
In the spring of the year, when the mar-
shes are inundated, hundreds ..f these an
imals may be seen at a lime, silting upon
the rocks and logs which lie partly above
the water, and basking in the sun. On ap-
proaching them they immediately plunge
into the water anddisappeur. When the

0— doisdl, L-

M — inargina

114

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part 1.

. m: hcui.i' i vnr.u toKtiiisi:.

ATPING TOHTOI!

painted Tortoise is first hatched it is very
thin and nearly circular, and the color of
the sternum deep red. As it grows the
back becomes more elevated and the sides
compressed, and the red of the sternum
nsually assumes a yellowish hue, and in
some cases the red entirely disappears,
leaving the sternum wholly yellow. It
feeds upon shell-fish, insects and reptiles.

THE SCULPTURED TORTOISE.

Emys insculpla. — Le Conte.
Description.— -Shell oval, slightly car-
inated and cmarginate behind; all the

plates with yellowish radiating lines and
Stria;, cut by other concentric stria; ; first
vertebral plate pentagonal, the 2d, 3d and
4th subhoxagonal, the .r>th octagonal ; six
of its faces anterior; 1st and 4th lateral
plates pentagonal, 2d and 3d subheptago-
nal ; intermediate marginal plate very
narrow; the first pentagonal projecting a
little beyond the next ; the rest mostly
quadrangular ; the three plates on each
side of the caudal plates slightly revo-
lute ; sternum notched behind, yellow
and striated, all the plates being marked
with a large black spot on their posterior
part ; plates under the throat triangular ;
all the rest quadrangular ; skin granula-
ted or scaly, reddish black above, dull red
beneath ; head, nails and tail black ; jaws
dark horn color, marked with yelloTv.
Length of the shell of the specimen be-
fore me (JA inches; width f).i ; width of
the head 1 inch : length of the tail beyond
the shell 11 inch; height 3 inches.

Plates D. 5, L. 8, M. 25, S. 12.

History.— This species, when fully
grown, is a little larger than the preced-
ing. It is not so aquatic in its habits, it
being frequently found at a considerable
distance from the water, and being often
met with in the woods, it is sometimes
called the Wood Tortoise. The Sculptured
Tortoise not only resorts to coves, and
the deep, still waters of rivers, but is fre-
quently found taking shelter in the deep,
narrow rills in our pastures and meadows.
The lateral plates seem in this species to
be subject to some variation. In one
of my full grown specimens the lateral
plates are only three, instead of four,
upon each side." Food oflhis species the

C- 1: :> u s E m vsaurus .— Da merit.

Generic Characters. — Head large, covered
with small plates; snout short; jaws hooked;
two warls buneulh ihu chin; sieniiim immovea-

et with lour ; tail long, surmounted wiili a scaly
rest.

THE SNAPPING TORTOISE.
Emysaurus serpentina. — Linn.eus.
Description. — General color dark
greenish brown above, lighter and yel-
lowish beneath; upper shell oval, depress-
ed ami notched behind; vertebral plates
scabrous ; lateral marked near the base
with concentric stria'; marginal oblong,
the six posterior ones forming six obtuse
teeth, projecting backwards ; sternum
narrow, lozenge-shaped, pointed and en-
tire at both ends; head, neck and limbs
very large and strong; jaws sharp, hook-
ed, skin of the neck and legs granular
above and warty beneath; two prominent
warts under the chin; fore legs with
rows of broad sharp scales ; hind legs
with several broad scales beneath ; claws
strong, five before and four behind ; tail
straight, about two thirds the length of
the shell, tapering, and crested with large
bony prominences, which gradually di-
minish towards the end ; sides and under
part of the tail covered with smaller
scales. Length of the shell, of the speci-
men before me, 1 1 inches ; lyidth !■> in-
ches ; tail 8 in. ; head 3:J in. lon«-,2A wide.

Plates D. 5, L. 8, M. 2.1, S. 11.

History. — This is the largest specks
of Tortoise found in Vermont, often
weighing from J 5 to Id or 20 lbs. It is
much more disposed to bite than the pre-
ceding species. It will seize upon a stick
held towards it, and suffer itself to be
raised by it from the ground sooner than
relinquish its hold ; and hence it is usually
called in New England tlie Snapping
Turtle, or Tortoise." At the south it is
called the Alligator Tortoise, from the re-
semblance of its crested tail to that of tho
Alligator. This species is often found at
a considerable distance from water, and
will live a long time without water. It

Chap. 4.

REPTILES OF VERMONT

115

SKUl'l.NT.S. TJJi; ST Kl I'K J» SNAKE.

lit: i;uiii.4Ni> sn \m:

lords, and is said sometimes to catch
chickens.

ORDER Jl-SAURIA.
LIZARDS.
These have elongated bodies, covered
with scales, usually four feet; some with
claws and some without ; nn elongated
tail; mouth furnished with teeth. No
■irs of this order has been observed in
>nt. The reptiles usually called
Lizards here all belong to the Salaman-
der family.

iinccica
Vermor

ORDER III— OPHIDIA.
S E R 1' E NTS.
Serpents have a ln-art with two auri-
cles, nn elongated, cylindrical body, des-
titute of feel, nnd lor the most part cov-
ered with scale*. They move by means
hfthc fold* and flexure of their bodies.
They are ■oinctimca divided into venomous
and noii'Venomotts. The Rattle Snake is
the only venomous or poisonous serpent
found in Vermont.

Genus Coi.uker. — Linnaus.
Generic Characters. — Jlody long, cylin-
drical anil tapering, head oblong, covered above
willi smooth polygonal plates ; above covered
with rhomboidar scales, imbricate, reticulated,
carinated, or smooili ; abdomen with transverse
plates : benc-aih the tail with double plans ; ;inus
transverse, simple ; jaws furnished with sharp
teeth; without poisonous fangs, Some species
arc oviparous, and olhcrs ovo-viviparous.

THE STRIPED SNAKE.

Coluber sirtulis. — Linn a: us.
Description — Upper part of the body
dark brown, with a narrow yellow line
extending from the head along the back
to, the tail, and a broader parallel stripe of
the same color on each side joining the
abdominal plates ; belly greenish yellow ;
abdominal plates marked on each side with
two black spots; scales oblong, carinated,
small on the back, and increasing in size
towards the abdomen ; head flattened,
covered with ten plates, one at the nose,
two pair back of this, three between the
eyes, and behind these two larger ones ;
pupil of the eye black, iris reddish ; small
sharp teeth in tlie jaws and palate Of
three specimens before me, the first, 22
inches long, has 154 abdominal plates,
and 7."> pair of subcaudal scales, the sec-
ond, 21 inches long, has 1 1<> plates, and
G2 pair of scales, and Hie third 27 inches
long, of which the tail measures (i, 111
plates ami (JO pair of scales.

Historv. — This is the most common
and generally diffused species of snake in
Vermont, and is universally known by
the name of Striped Snake, "it is perfect-
ly harmless, excepting sometimes to catch
a chicken, gosling, or young turkey or
duck, and rob birds' nests of their eggs,
or young. They also feed upon totuls'and
frogs. Serpents do not chew their food
like quadrupeds, but whatever they eat,
they swallow whole. Their jaws are so
constructed as to be separable at the joint,
which enables them to swaliow animals
much larger than themselves ; and in-
stances of their swallowing such animals
fall under the observation of every field
laborer. Often does a large sluggish
snake lie in his way, with a portion of his
body distended to near the size of his list.
On killing and opening him, a larire froo-
toad, or other animal is found, which the
gormandizer had caught, lubricated and
swallowed alive; and for tin- digestion of
which all the energies of the animal were
now employed. Often have we ourselves
been startled by the piercing and mourn-
ful cry of a poor frog, which had been
caught by one of these animals ; and how
indignant have we been, on going to tho
spot, to see the horror-stricken sufferer,
with his hind quarters ingulfed in the
throat of a huge snake, vainly strugoiing
with his fore feet to extricate himself, and
at the same time uttering a most piteous
moan. Under such circumstances it has
afforded us real satisfaction to destroy the
cruel aggressor and liberate his wretched
victim. Lor the purpose of robbing
birds' ne'sts this snake will climb fences
and bushes several feet from the ground.
The usual length of this snake is about
two feet, of which the tail constitutes one
fourth, lie sometimes attains the length
of about three feet.

THE RIBBAND SNAKE.
Cu! uber stiurita. — Linn.
Df.sckii'tion.— Form more slender and
graceful than that of the striped snake,
which it resembles in the arrangement of
its stripes. A bright yellowish white lino
begins between the posterior plates on the
head and extends along the hack to the
extremity of the tail. On each side of
this, commencing at the orbit of the eye,
is a shining black line which fades into
brown towards the posterior extremity.
Then comes a narrow yellow line on each
side, commencing half an inch hack of
the angle of the mouth, which also fades
into umber brown towards the tail. Re-
low these, on each side, is a broad, well-
defined sdipe of b. 1 b.own, i Ii blly

11G

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part L

TIIK IiHO\

VN SNAKE.

THE SPOTTED-NECK SNAKE.

bronzed, embracing a row of large scales*
whose keels form a distinct lateral line,
and extending down upon the abdominal
plates and snbcaudal scales. The margin
of the upper jaw, the under jaw and belly
are white ; all the colors fainter and
blended towards the tail. The upper jaw
margined by 15 and the under by 21 mar-
ginal plates ; two rows of teeth in the up-
per and one in the lower jaw, all small
and sharp. Length of the specimen be-
fore me 29 inches ; to the vent 20, tail !>.
Head covered with 10 plates, the poste-
rior largest. Abdominal plates 1G5, sub-
caudal scales 110 pair.

History. — I forwarded a specimen of
this snake to my friend Dr. Storer, of
Boston, who, in acknowledging its recep-
tion, says that it " is without any ques-
tion the sirtalis." After so decided an
opinion from such high authority, it may
be thought presumption in tne to intro-
duce -it as a different species ; but know-
ing it, from my own observations, to dif-
fer very considerably from the common
C sirtalis, both in appearance and hab-
its, and rinding it to agree as nearly with
the descriptions which I find of the C.
saurita, I have ventured to describe it
under that name, that the differences be-
tween it and the sirtalis may he seen.
Besides differing in form and color, and
in the much greater number of subcaudal
scales, it is far more lively and quicker
in all its motions, and so far as my own
observation extends is always found in
low grounds, ami at no great distance
from water. Among hundreds of the C.
sirtalis which 1 have seen upon the high
lands and mountains in this state, 1 have
never met with an individual answering
to the description here given. * Shaw
calls the color of the stripes of both these
species bluish-green, from which it is
probable that his descriptions were made
from specimens preserved in spirits, since
the yellow stripes in these serpents, un-
der such circumstances, assume that hue.

" — ~C

THE BROWN SNAKE.

Coluber ordinal tts. — LiNNJEUS.

Description. —Brownish ash or clay

color above, lighter beneath ; a light stripe

along the back from the head to the tail,

on each 6ide of which is a row of black

spots, and two rows of similar spots, but
much smaller, along the extremities of
the abdominal plates on each side, the
spots becoming obsolete towards the tail;
scales carinated, small on the back but in-
creasing in size towards the belly ; head
small, covered with ten plates of an olive
brown color, the two posterior, and the
middle one between the eyes, largest.
The upper jaw is margined by M scales,
and the lower by 12, besides the tip ; an
oblique black hand crosses the angle of
the mouth, and another a little back of it
on the upper part of the neck ; teeth in
both jaws, and two rows of hooking teeth
in the palate; eyes small ; iris bright ha-
zel. Length id' the specimen before me
about 15 inches; abdominal plates 130 ;
a small part of the tail broken off.

History. — This plain and harmless
little snake is frequently met. with, but is
less common than several other species.
I have met. with only two or three indi-
viduals in Burlington. It feeds upou ia-
sects.

THE SrOTTED-NECK SNAKE.

Coluber occipito-viaculutus. — S iorer.

Description'. — Color above varying in
the specimens before me, six in number,
from light ash gray and reddish brown to
nearly black ; belly from a light brick red
to a very dark copper color ; three fulvous
spots on the neck, one at the occiput
above, and one below, on each side ; in
some of the specimens a row of blackish
scales, usually slightly marked with white
on each side of the dorsal line, and an-
other row at the commencement of the
abdominal plates; in others the color
above is uniform; 12 plates margin the
upper jaw besides the one' at the snout;
snout and under jaw yellowish white, and
a white spot at the angle of the mouth ;
throat grayish, gradually passing into ierV
on the abdomen ; width of the head equni
to that of the body, neck small, body
gradually enlarges from the neck to near
the vent, where it is largest ; tail short
and sharply pointed, contained 4S times
in the total length; iris reddish hazel.
Length of the longest specimen 9.9 inch-
es, tail 2.2, with 119 abdominal plates and
45 pairs of subcaudal scales ; another

Chap. 4.

REPTILES OF VERMONT

117

ik iu.N(.i:i) ami <;ki:i:n snakj

HI !■: I( LACK S>

about the name length had 122 plates and
•J(. pair of scales; the shortest 3.7 in., tail
.8, plates 119, scales 42 pair J the others
not counted.

History. — This mild and inoffensive
little snake, though very common in and
nliout Burlington, is seldom seen in the
early part of summer. They begin to
make their appearance abroad about the
beginning of September, and during that
month, and the greater part of October,
they are in some years met with in large
numbers, varying in length from 3 to 10
or 1 1 inches, which is about the extent to
which they grow. The shade of color
nbove seems to be as various as the indi-
viduals. In the whole number which I
have examined 1. have not found two
■ like ; but in all, the contrast between
the color above .Hid that of the belly is
very marked, and the spots mi the neck
and (it the uuule of the mouth have been
• MiuUnt, and in most cases very plain.

THE KINO El) SNAKE.
Coluber pu in talus. — Linn a. us.

Description. — Color above uniform
bluish brown, approaching to black in
some specimens; beneath yellow; mar-
gin of the upper jaw, lower jaw and band
round the neck, yellowish white ; a row
of small black spots along each side id' the
abdomen at the meeting of the dark color
above with the light color below ; usually
a similar row of spots along the middle of
(he abdomen from the chin to the vent,
but this is wanting in the specimen before
inc. Head ftatlish. about the width of the
body, neck but little smaller than the
body. Length 13 inches, tail 3, plates
1G4, scales 60 pair.

History. — This snake is of a timid dis-
position, being seldom seen abroad, but
is often met with in different parts of the
state, concealed under stones, logs, and
the bark of old, decayed trees. Its food
consists principally of insects.

THE CHE UN SNAKE.
Coluber vernulis. — Di: K.vv.
Description. — Color above beautiful
grass green ; beneath greenish, or yellow-

ish white ; margin of the upper jaw yel-
lowish ; pupil black, upper edge of the
iris yellow, below grayish brown. Scales
not keeled, smooth, rhomboidal, with the
acute angles truncated, giving them the
appearance of unequal sided hexagons.
Head flattened and covered with HI plates,
one at the snout, two pair behind these,
then 3 plates between the eyes, "J larger
ones behind these upon the occiput, up-
per jaw bordered by 1") scales, including
the one at the snout; nostril circular, and
near the end of the snout. Length of the
specimen before me 18.-J inches, head i in,
from the snout to the vent l\.\, tail (i.,
width of the head .3. Tail terminated in
a sharp, horn-colored spine. Abdominal
| plates I3l,sub-caudal 170 in the two rows.
History.— This beautiful and lively
little sua!, i' is very common in the west-
ern parts of the stale, and particularly in
the neighborhood of lake Champlain. It
is perfectly harmless, and feeds principal-
ly upon insects. On the east side of the
Green .Mountains in this state, it is qui to
rare, if found at all.

THE BLACK SNAKE.

Coluber constrictor. — Linn'.kus.

Description. Color above almost

black; beneath, slate-color ; neck, mar-
gin of the jaws, and snout, yellow. Plates
on the top' of th,; head very huge; that at
the snout, convex, projecting, yellow bor-
dered with black at the upper and lateral
margins ; first pair ofplates nearly quad-
rangular ) the second, pentagonal; mid-
dle plate between the eyes hexagonal and
largest of the three ; Ki plates border the
upper jaw ; eyes large ; nostrils large,
vertical, situated between the 2d and 3d
plates back of '.he snout; three pair of
elongated plates on the throat just back
of the chin; back of these two pair of
smaller ones ; back covered with large
rhomboidal smooth scales. Length 51
inches, tail 11. Abdominal plates ld4,
j scales 85. — Storer.

History. — This snake is met with only
in the south and southwestern parts of
the state, and even there it is not very
common. It sometimes grows to the
length of (i feet, and runs with groat
speed, on which account it is sometimes
called the Racer. Jt is perfectly harm-
less, and feeds upon toads, frogs, meadow

whole. It was formerly very generally
believed to possess the "power of fascina-
tion, and Dr. Williams adduces (Hist. I
— 18~>,) the testimony of several persons
in support of the opinion, but. the notion
is now very generally exploded.

118

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THE CHICKEN AND VVATKR SNAK

THE UANUEI) RATTLE

THE CHICKI

Coluber eximiu

Description. — Col

numerous largo

.spots surrounde

SNAKE.

1)e Kay.
light ash,

oecllated wood brown
with black, which cover
more than ball' of the upper surface. A
row of these spots, which are very large,
passes from the head along the back to
the extremity of the tail ; another row of
similar but smaller spots passes along
each side, the spots lying intermediate
between those on the back ; belly light
llesh color, with quadrangular brownish
spots ; ins reddish orange. Body elon-
gated; size nearly uniform from the head
to the vent, and covered above with
rhomboidal scales, each having two punc-
tures, or indentations, near tin' posterior
extremity. Head covered with LO plates,
the central one between the eyes trian-
gular, and the two posterior ones very
large ; upper jaw margined by 11 and the
lower by 18 scales, besides the one at the
tip ; tail terminated in a blunt horny spine.
Length of the specimen before me 32
inches, tail IS, head 1 , width K the length.
Abdominal plates 20G, subcaudal scales
<l(i pair.

History.— This snake is occasionally
met with in all parts of the state, but is
not very common. It is called the Chick-
en SnaUc on account of its occasionally
destroying young chickens. It is also
called Xh^ House Snake, because it is often
met with in and about old houses; and
the Milk Snake from its supposed fond-
ness for milk. In some places it is known
by die name of the Chequered Adder,
or Thundcr-and- Lightning Snake. Tins
snake sometimes exceeds live feet in
length, with a circumference in the larg-
est part of more than 4 inches. They feed
principally upon toads, frogs and sala-
manders, and are supposed also to catch
mice. The opinion seems to be prevalent
that this snake is poisonous, but we have
seen no evidence adduced in its support.
It is very sluggish in its habits and move-
ments, and may be often seen stretched
along in the side of a stone wall, busking

in the sun.

THE WATER SNAKE.
Coluber sri]>cdon. — Linnvf.us.

Description.— Color .ove dark brown

with large club-shaped spots upon the
sides of light yellowish browu surrounded
by blackish, which join tile light color of
the belly, and usually run to a point on
the back, sometimes meeting, but more
commonly alternating with the spots on
the opposite side ; belly mottled with
blackish, yellowish-brown and yellowish-
white, the latter mostly triangular, and
in longitudinal rows; darker beneath the
tail. Body thick in proportion to the
length, and nearly uniform in size from
the neck to near the vent, after which it
tapers rapidly to a point ; scales strongly
carinated, especially on the posterior part
of the body. Length of the specimen be-
fore me 2S.J inches, tail 7A, plates 140,
scales 72 pair.

History. — This Snake is never soon
at much distance from the water, but is
quite common in the marshes and grassy
coves along the margin of lake Cham-
plain, and about the mouths of our large
rivers. It sometimes grows to the size of
a man's wrist, and is generally avoided
as venomous. It feeds upon frogs and
salamanders.

Genus Crotalus. — Linnccus.
Generic Characters. — II tad large, triangn*
lar, rounded in front, covered with plates ante-
riorly ; vertex and occiput «iih scales ; a deep
pit between the eye and nosiril , upper jaw armed
with poisonous fangs ; body elongated, thick ; lail
short and thick, terminating in a rattle, which is

a corneous pi

on the abdomi

m of

the tad.

THE BANDED RATTLE SNAKE.

Crotalus duriss«s.—K a em.

Description — Upper parts yellowish-
brown, with rhomboidal black spots along
the back, margined with bright yclUjw ;
upon the sides of these rhombs a brack
band is continued to the sides of the body,
where it terminates in an irregular quad-
rate black spot ; tail black; under parts
yellow, with fuliginous dots and blotches;
scales on the back elongated, carinated,

Ciup. 4.

REPTILES OF VERMONT

119

II.". • AMU SAI.AM,

THE HULL FitOG,

larger and less carinated on the sides;
top of the inad flattened, scales upon tlie
lop small, on the sides large, pentagonal
— on tlie edges of the jaws quadrangular;
snout terminated by one [date; a quad-
rangular plate on each side oi' this ; di-
rectly back of these a smaller one in
which are the circular nostrils, situated
obliquely, pointing forwards ; above the
two lateral plates, two others are sit-
uated ; the first meeting tlie snout ante-
riorly, and the second extending some
distance beyond the nostrils behind ; a
large plate ut the anterior angle of the
eye, separated from the nostrils by two
quite small ones, at the anterior inferior
angle of which is the aperture for
the poison ; a large plate over the eye ;
two atill larger upon the throat. Length
:i7 inches, head U, width of the head one
inch. Rattles, G ; abdominal plates 170,
caudal ilA.—Storcr.

Ilisnuu. — This is the only poisonous
reptile known to exist in Vermont; and
although Rattle Snakes were formerly
found here in considerable numbers, they
were mostly confined to a very few local-
ities, from which they have now nearly
disappeared, but still the remembrance of
these localities is, in most cases, preserved
in the name of » Rattle Snake Hill," or
" lUttle Snake Mountain." The Rattle
Snake feeds upon young birds, mice, and
reptiles. Its poisonous fangs are situated
in the upper jaw, and used only as weap-
ons of defence ; and as it always gives
warning witl) its rattles before it strikes,
raws oi persons being bitten by it in this
•elate have been extremely rare, and in no
rane, within my own knowledge, fatal.
The rattles consist of horny portions of
the tail loosely attached to one another,
and it has generally been supposed that
a rattle is added every year, and that the
number of rattles indicates the age of the
animal. But this is a mistake. °In some
cases several new rattles are added in a
year, and in others none at all. The
Rattle Snake has also been supposed to
possess the power of fascination, by which
it charmed birds and squirrels, causing
them to leap into its mouth, but the opin"
ion is totally erroneous. The motions of
this serpent are moderate, and its body
thick and clumsy, in which respect, as
well as in the form of the rattles, which
ure not spiral, our figure is erroneous,
being much too slender

ORDER IV.-IiATRAClUA.
FROGS AND SALAMANDERS.
In animals of this order the heart has
but one auricle, and the body is covered

with a naked skin, in their mature state
they are provided with lungs; but before
their transformation they breathe by
branchise or gills. This order may he di-
vided into two families. The Frog Fam-
ily and the Salamander Family, or the
tailless and the tailed batraehians.

i.— frocTfamily.

This family embraces the Frogs, Tree
Frogs and Toad. Their common mode
of progression is by hops or leaps.

G k n u s R \ n a . — /. i n n u: u s .
Generic Characters. — Body covered with a
smooth skin ; upper j.i\

t jaw fiiruislicid with a row of
nine teeth ; another interrupted row in ihu
ddle of the palate ; no post-tympana! "lands ;
sierior extremities lona, and in general fully pal-
iled ; in :"i', four ; toes five in number.

THE BULL FROG.
liana pipiens. — Li n n /f. us .
Description.— Color above yellowish
green, approaching to brownish olive to-
wards the posterior parts, and sparsely
spotted with pale rusty brown; the pos-
terior extremities with a lew brownish
bars; head and upper lip green ; tympa-
num elliptical, large, rusty round the
margin, greenish in the middle ; under
lip, chin and throat yellow ; other parts
beneath yellowish white ; nostril mid-way
between the eye and the snout, and the
distance between the nostrils equal to the
distance from the nostril to the snout;
eyes prominent, pupil black, iris reticula-
ted with black and yellow ; a cutieular
fold from the orbit passes over and down
behind the tympanum, ami, upon the
shoulder, meets another fold passing from
the mouth along the lower part of the ab-
domen; skin granulated. Length of the
head and body of the specimen before me>
Gi, posterior extremities 8; hind feet fully
webbed ; greatest diameter of the lympii-

History.— This is the largest frog
found in Vermont, often growing consid-
erably larger than the specimen above
described. It is very common in various
pints of the slate,' particularly in the
neighborhood of lake Champlain. It is
very aquatic in' its habits, being seldom

120

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

•KING 1-KUU,

Till: LI'.OI'AKI

Till: l'lCKI'.KKI. 1'IUHi

seen at a distance of more than a few feet
from the water. It feeds upon worms,
water insects and small molluscous ani-
mals. The stomach of the specimen from
which the above figure and description
were made, contained the elytra of large
Coleopterous insects.

' THE SPRING FROG.
lluna Jon ti mil is. — Le Conte.

Description. — Head and anterior por-
tion of the body above green, irregular-
ly spotted with brown ; posterior parts
brownish or greenish ash, spotted with
black ; snout yellowish ; chin yellowish
white ; posterior margins of the jaws
black, or spotted with black; belly white
and skin very smooth; skin above and on
the posterior parts of the thighs granula-
ted ; -eyes very prominent, pupil black,
surrounded by a golden line; iris finely
mottled with black and golden, and sur-
rounded by a golden line ; tympanum yel-
lowish brown ; a dark colored band along
the posterior of the fore leg; hind legs
darker, irregularly barred and blotched
with black ; nostril nearer the eye than
the snout ; a cuticular fold from the orbit
along the side of the back, from which a
fold passes down behind the tympanum.
Anterior toes 4 in., posterior 5. Length
LU, posterior extremities 5£.

History. — This frog is found more
generally diffused over the state than any
other. It is common in most ofthe small
streams, and especially about springs,
and hence its name, Spring Frog.

THE LEOPARD FROG.

liana ItaJec

-Kami.

Description. — Upper part ofthe body
brownish bronze, marked with large, dis-
tinct, circular, oblong and irregular spots,
of a dark green or brown color, and usu-
ally surrounded by a delicate light, or
yellowish green border ; usually two ir-
regular rows of spots along the back, and
one, two, or three st II more irregular

along each side ; sides separated from the
back by an elevated bronze-colored ridge ;
fore legs with spots, and hind legs with
spots and bars, similar to those on the bo-
dy ; a black line along the margin ofthe
upper lip, excepting at the point ; tym-
panum small, bronze-colored, and nearly
round; eyes prominent, pupils black, and
iris varied with black and bronze, the lat-
ter forming a long line over the pupil;
throat and belly white and smooth ; feet
palmated ; the fourth toe much larger
than the' rest, and tubercles beneath the
joints of all the fingers and toes. Length
of the specimen before me, which is of
about the usual size, 'A.\ inches ; length
ofthe hind leg to the end ofthe longest
toe 5;j inches.

Histokv.— This is one ofthe most com-
mon and least aquatic of all our frogs.
During the summer, it is met with in
fields and moist meadows, at a great dis-
tance from any water. It was called by
Kalm, who first described it, the Mind
Frog, from its making its appearance in
the Spring at the same time with the
Shad, but it is better known by the name
of Leopard Frog, on account of its ocella-
ted spots.*

THE PICKEREL FROG.
liana -palustris. — Le Conte.
Description. — Color brownish ash a-
bove ; throat and belly white; Hanks and
under sides ofthe limbs yellow; back,
sides, upper sides of the limbs, and the
margin ofthe under jaw spotted, or bar-
red with brownish black. Spots along
the back squarish, in two longitudinal
rows, with two rows of similar, but smal-
ler spots, on each side below the lateral
line, which is distinct, of a bronzy hue,
and extends from the eye to the posterior
part of the body. There are usually two
spots between the eyes and one in front;
hind legs barred with brownish black,
and a few spots of the same on the fore

* Frogs scorn to l.o able to subsist lor an unlimit-
ed length of lime in u torpid state. There liavo
been repented and well authenticated instances of
their being dug up, in this state, from depths nod

I),". Williams (Hist. [—150, 479) lias given the par-
li.-ul-irs rcsp. i-iingn considerable number of frogs
whirh were du-: up in Windsor, Cast I. Ion ami litir-
lington, Iitduplh3ofrrom5to30fret1.r1.rtv the sur-
face of tin ground. A number of those dug up in
Burlington were preserved in spirits in the muse-
um ofthe University, where i lrr-ijuenl ly saw thcin,
and although they were all lost when the college
edifice was burnt, in 1824, I think I ran safely sav
from present recollections, that they were iJI oflho

Chat. 4.

REPTILES OF VERMONT.

121

icons >noii.

JUICON VilDC. lil.AC

Irfjs : uoae pointed ; eyes prominent; iris
dark golden ; tympanum small and near-
ly the color of back ; a brownish line
from tin- snout to the eyes ; tubercles on
Hit lower surface of the toes at the joints.
I,cn,'ili of Iho head and body 3 inches.

HitroKt — This prettily marked frog
Lours Considerable resemblance to the pre-
< < ding species, arid like it varies, in the
different specimens, very much in the
brilliancy of the colors and the form of
the spots. It was named palustris, by
1a> Conte, on account of his finding it
i ml suit marshes, but it is equally com-
mon about fresh water streams, ponds

Slid IIUJ hllCS.

THE WOODS FROG.
liana sylratica. — Le Conte.

DESCRIPTION. — Color varying from light
drab to reddish brown above and whitish
beneath, often with rusty patches in the
young, a longitudinal black line commen-
ces at the point of the nose, and, widening
as it extends backward so as to involve
■ bout two thirds of the eye and tbo whole
of the tympanum, terminates at the shoul-
der; usually a fine black line along the
margin of the upper lip, with a yellow
lino separating it from the vitta passing
IhtOUgh the eye ; hind legs with broad, ob-
scure, blackish, transverse bands. Length
when fully grown about 3 inches.

History. — This frog is found in all parts
of the state, and, though frequently met
with in moist meadows, is much more
Common in woods, and hence its name,
Woods Frog. This, likejthe Leopard Frog,
is often seen at a great distance from any
water. It varies greatly in the intensity
of its general colors, varying from nearly
black to light reddish brown or almost
while, but is readily distinguished from

ill tlu
(tripe

nth

<!"■'

(lack vitta or

using through the eye and en
icing the tympanum. The young ai

uallv darkest colored and become lTgh
an they increase in . >e and size.

THE IIOR1CON FROG.
llmta horiconensis. — Hoi.brook.

Description. — Head large, with snout
rather pointed, the whole dusky green
above; nostrils lateral, nearer the snout
than the orbits, eyes large, prominent,
and beautiful, pupil black, iris reticula-
ted, black and golden; tympanum large,
bronzed with a light spot in the centre ;
upper lip light bronze, with dusky bars;
above this an indistinct band of bluislr
white, with black spots, which extends
from near the snout under the orbit and
tympanum, to the shoulders ; lower jaw,
chin, and throat white. Body robust,
dark olive, interspersed with irregular
black spots, with an elevated cuticular
fold on each side, of lighter color, from
the orbit to the posterior extremities ;. ab-
domen silvery white. Anterior extremi-
ties dusky above, white below ; posterior
dark olive above with transverse black
bars ; posterior part of the thighs granu-
lated and flesh colored, feet dusky, above
and below. Length 3i inches — Hoi.

llisroiu'. — This frog was found by Dr.
Holbrook, at the outlet of lake George,
and, if found there, there can be no doubt
of its existence in Vermont. I think I
have met with it in Burlington, but at the
time supposed it to be the Spring Frog.

THE BLACK FROG.

Raiia'mdaiinta. — Rafinksque.

Description. — Back olivaceous b

a yellow streak on the sides of the 1

chin, throat, and inside of the legs

tish with black spots ; belly white

maculate : total length, 2£ inches.

History. — I give this on the auth
of Rafinesque, who says that it inh
lake Champlain and lake George.

lack ;
icad ;
whi-

'liaf.

l.y

Genus IIyi.oues. — Fitzino
Generic Characters. — Muutli furn
a tongue ; le.'ih in the upper ja

i,l I

fino.N
tuber

i with
teeth in tin

ible ; extremities sl«
toes terminating ill slightly developed

TICK ERTiN OS 1J YLODES.
Ilylodes Pickerhtgii. <

to 1,

—Color varying from yel-
rht olive above, with ir-

122 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Chap. 4

COMMON TUl'.E TOAD.

r EL PING TREE FROG.

regular brown markings and numerous
small brown spots ; hind legs faintly bund-
ed with brown : beneath, whitish yellow
and gramllatcd ; head rather broad ; nose
blunt; fore feet with four toes, one dis-
posed like a thumb for clasping ; hind feet
slightly webbed, with five toes, and two
tubercles' on the heel; all the toes termi-
nated in small tumefactions or soft tuber-
cles ; a considerable cavity between the
orbits ; a dark marking on each side of
the head embracing the tympanum. To-
tal length of the head and body about 1
inch.

History. — I have two fine specimens
of this beautiful little animal, both of
which I cap lured in Burlington. The
first measures just 1 inch from the snout
to the posterior of the body. I captured
it in a dry pine grove, October G, 1840.
Though the weather was cool it was very
active, and it was with difficulty that I
succeeded in taking it. Its leaps were of-
ten from four to six feet. It would bound
into the air and cling to the small limbs
and bushes 4 or 5 feet from the ground.
The other I caught in August, 1840, near
what is called the High Bridge. The
length of the head and body is .8 in.

Genus H v i a . — Laurcnti.
Generic Characters] — Body is generally e-
longated ; upper jaw and palate furnished with
teeth ; tympanum apparent ; no posl-tympanal
■glands; fingers long, and, with the toes, termina-
ting in rounded viscous pellets.

THE COMMON TREE TOAD.
Ilijla versicolor. — Lie Conte
Description. — General form like that
of the common toad, with the posterior
portion more slender. Usual color above,
light ash with irregular brownish blotch-
es, frequently cruciform between the
shoulders, and commonly two brown bars
crossing the thighs and hind legs ; belly
while and granulated ; flanks and under
side of the thighs orange ; head broad ;
snout blunt; pupils black; iris golden,
reticulated with black ; anterior extrem-
ities rather small; four toes before and
five behind on each foot, all terminated by
tumefactions or pellets Usual length 2
inches.

History.— The Tree Toad is so called
on account of its often being found upon
trees, which it climbs by means of the
pellets upon its toes. By these it is able
to sustain itself upon the smooth surface
of a perpendicular pane of window glass.
They for the most part remain silent and
concealed during the day time, but during
warm rainy weather they sometimes be-
come very noisy, and ascend upon logs,

trees, but as they assume very

fence

nearly the hue of the object upon which
they arc situated, they are not readily dis-
covered. They feed and move from place
to place mostly by night, but when discov-
ered during the day, they will often suf-
fer themselves to be taken in the hand
without making any effort to escape. In
their general form they resemble the com-
mon toad.

THE PEEPING TREE FROG.

lfijln squirella. — Bo sc.
Description. — Form slender; semi-
transparent ; color brownish red above,
with obscure, irregular, brown blotches,
bars, and specks on the upper side of the
head, body, and legs ; chin and throat
greenish ; belly and under side of the
thighs yellowish white, with the flanks
and posterior of the thighs light orange, a
cuticular fold along each side ; eyes small,
pupil black, iris golden ; a large cavity on
the head between the orbits; head broad-
er than long ; mouth large, tongue fleshy ;
minute teeth on the upper jaw and palate;
upper jaw margined with whitish ; bones
of the head very thin and transparent;
limbs slender ; 4 toes on the anterior and
5 on the posterior feet, all terminated in
rose colored pellets ; one toes on each fore
foot disposed like a thumb for clasping;
hind feet palmated. Length of the spe-
cimen before me, 1.1 in.,; bead, .3; thighs,
.5; tarsus to the end of the toes, .7 ; great-
est width of the head, .;!.">

History. — This species, though hoi so
common .is the preceding, is met with in
different parts of the state-, but is much
oftener heard than seen. During the
warm summer evenings its shrill jteep is
heard to a great distance. It ascends trees
and is often found concealed between the
loose bark and wood of old decayed^rees.
This species, in its ge

for

CUAP. 1

REPTILES OF VERMONT

123

TUT. COUMOi; TOAD.

l;l( FAMILY.

nearer resemblance to the frogs than to
the common toad. The specimen from
which my figure and description are made
w>« captured in Burlington.

GEKUS Boko. — Laurenti.
Ptncric Characters. — Head short ; jaw
«*iilnmt leulh : tympanum viailile ; behind the e:
i* a largo glandular tumor, having visible ports
body short, [hick, Swollen, covered will) warts i
I .v... !• ; posicrjjr extremities but slightly clongn
ltd.

THE COMMON TOAD.
Ituj'o amcricunus.
Description. — Color of the back and
outside of the limbs reddish brown, with

brownish blotches edged with black and
surrounded by ;i dull yellowish line, with
a light ash colored stripe from the top of
the head along the middle of the back to
the posterior extremity of the body. Roi-
ly dull yellowish white, sprinkled with
brown spots. Two very large porous
glands back of the eyes. The body above
Covered with warts or tubercles, the color
of the central part of which is usually fer-
ruginous; body beneath granulated. Tym-
panum smalt. Eyes brilliant; iris beau-
tifully reticulated with black and golden.
Four toes on the anterior feet, five on the
posterior, with a hard excrescence form-
ing the rudiment of a sixth toe ; hard tu-
bercles on the under side of the feet and
toes. Head rather large. Length 3£ in.
History. — The toad, which has been
loo long looked upon with disgust, and
regarded rather as an enemy than a
friend, is beginning to be viewed by hor-
ticulturists as a benefactor, and there can
bo no doubt that it renders an essential
service by the destruction of noxious in-
* ' its, and deserves rather to be cherished
than driven from cultivated grounds. Du-
ring the day the toad usually sits motion-
lessin some retired, obscure place, watch-
ing for (lies and other insects, and when
any one approaches within suitable dis-
tance, he suddenly darts out his tongue,
to which the insect adheres, and ho sel-
dom fails of returning it to his mouth with

the prey attached to it. During the night
they venture abroad, and are often met
with m large numbers in places where
few ii'aoy are to be found in the iiav time.

II.— SALAMANDER FAMILY.

Genus Sal am and in. — Brongninrt.
Generic Characters — BodyelKiigaii-.il; lail

no tympanum ; numerous small teeth in the jaws
and palate ; tongue as in frogs ; no sternum ; ribs
rudimental ; pelvis suspended by ligament*.

This genus comprehends ihoso animals which
ate generally known by the name of clis and

SYMMETRICAL SALAMANDER.

Salamandra symmetrica. — 1 1 a it la n .

Description. — Color brownish orange
above, bright orange beneath ; on each
side of the spine a row of from three to
seven ocellaled spots of beautiful Vermil-
lion color, with the surrounding circle,
black ; the sides and under parts of the
body sprinkled with minute black points,
extending from the chin to near the ex-
tremity of the tail; head flattened ; nose
blunt ; eyes bright and not very promi-
nent, with two longitudinal ridges be-
tween them ; four toes on the fore feet,
five on the hind; skin on the body and
legs roughened by minute tubercles. The
specimen before me has six occllated
spots on each side of the spine, and meas-
ures 3.3 inches. Length of the tail, which
is cylindrical, next the body, and flatten-
ed vertically towards the extremity,. 1.7
inches. '

History. — This species of Salamander
is frequently met with iii different parts
of the state, but is less common than sev-
eral of the following species. It exists
throughout the United States, from Maine
to Florida. It is found in water, under old
logs in moist places, and is sometimes
seen crawling abroad on the wet ground af-
ter a shower. Its motions are rather mod-
erate. It feeds upon spiders and small

insects.

MANY-SPOTTE D S A LA M A N 1 ) E R
Salamandra dor sal is. — Haul a m.

Description. — General color olive
above, with a slight tinge of green, and
varying front sulphur yellow to reddish
orange beneath ; a row of ocellated ver- fr

million colored spots,with a blackish halo
on each side of the dorsal line, u^ich va- 4

124

NATURAL U1ST0RY OF VERMONT.

Part

THK SALAMANDERS.

Til ]'. SA I. AM A N H l.li : .

ry in number and size in different indi-
viduals; the whole surface (if the body,
limbs and tail thickly sprinkled with mi-
nute black dots. The head is short, rath-
er broad behind, and pointed at the snout,
with the nostrils near the extremity ;
eyes rather prominent, pupils black, iris
light ye'llow ; tail roundish at the base,
then compressed laterally through its
whole length, and very t hi 11 at, the ex-
tremity; fore legs and feet small and del-
icate, with 4 small toes; hind logs near-
ly twice as large, with 5 toes. Length
of the largest of two specimens before me,
3.7 inches; head and neck .G ; body 1.1 ;
tail 2.

History. — This is one of the most
common species of Salamander in Ver-
mont, and is eminently aquatic, spend-
ing nearly all the time in tne water.
When kept in a vessel of water it rises to
the surface every few minutes for the
purpose of taking in air. It is an animal
of considerable activity, and its move-
ments are often very sudden. It is per-
fectly harmless, and usually manifests
much anxiety to conceal itself from view.
This salamander seems to be much an-
noyed by a species of parasitic animals.
One of the specimens before me has at
least 20 upon it at this moment. They
are soft animals, resembling a snail in ap-
pearance, but more pointed at the two
extremities. They move in the manner
of caterpillars, by reaching forward and
then bringing up its posterior. They fas-
ten themselves upon the salamander by
their mouths, in the manner of the lam-
preys or bloodsuckers, and adhere with
such force as not to be easily separated.
The animal upon which they are fastened
seems to be in much agony, and frequent-
ly struggles, but in vain, to rid himself of
them. When fully extended they meas-
ure one third of an inch. On being taken
from the water, they die as soon as the
water which adheres to them is evapora-
ted.

SALMON-COLORED SALAMANDER.

Balamandra salmonea. — Storer.

Description. — Color yellowish brown
above, salmon color at the sides, with a
bright salmon-colored line from the nos-
tril to the upper part of the orbit; upper
jaw pale salmon color, with a few brown
.spots; lower jaw, and body beneath whi-
tish; li<rhl salmon coloi beneath the tail.

Head large and flat ; snout obtuse ; nos-
trils small ; a strongly marked' cuticular
fold upon the neck ; eyes remote and
very prominent; pupil black; iris cop-
per-colored ; body elongated and cylin-
drical ; posterior extremities twice the
size of the anterior. Tail longer than the
body, rounded at the root, compressed la-
terally and pointed at the tip. Length
(>}, ; tail beyond the vent 2A- — Storer.

History. — Tins species was first de-
scribed and named by Dr. Storer, of Bos-
ton, from a specimen found by Dr. Kin-
ney, in Vermont, and his description, with
a figure, was published in Dr. Ilolbrook's
Amer. Herpetology, Vol. HI— 101. A
description is also given in Dr. Storer's
Report, p. 2-18. I have a specimen of this
salamander, taken in Bridgewater, but as
it is not fully grown 1 give Dr. Storer's
description. It is found upon moist lands.

THE TIGER SALAMANDER.
Salamanilra tigrina. — Grjckn.

Description. — Color blackish above,
marked irregularly and thickly with roun-
dish, oblong and angular yellow spots of
different sizes ; belly brownish gray ; legs
the same color as the body, with a few
yellow spots on the outside. Head rath-
er large; snout rounded; eyes black and
prominent; four toes on the fore feet, '3d
the longest ; 5 on the hind feet, 3d and
4th longest; bind legs about twice the
size of the fore legs; a distinct cuticular
fold under the throat ; tail longer than
the body, roundish at the base, hut soon
becoming flattened, and edged towards
the extremity and terminated in a flatten-
ed point. Hind legs mid way hetw een the
snout and the extremity of the tail. —
Length of the specimens before me 3 in.,
but it grows larger.

History. — This Salamander is fre-
quently nut with in Vermont, living in
swamps and marshes. I obtained 3 good
specimens of this species from the stom-
ach of a Ribband Snake, C. saurita, be-
sides some others which were partly di-
gested. The snake from which they were
taken measured about 2 feet, and the sal-
amanders 3 inches. On the 4th of Au-
gust, 1842, 1 caught with a scoop-net
more than a dozen salamanders, out of a
small muddy pool in Burlington, which I
suppose to belong to this species. They
were about 3 inches in length, of a brown-
ish yellow color, and most of them were
in the larva state, having the lin along

Chap. 4.

REPTILES OF VERMONT.

125

THE SALAMANDERS.

THE SMAMASPtUS.

the back, and the branchiae remaining, but
from several of them these appendages
hid disappeared. I have kept two oi'the
former und one of the latter, in a vessel of
water, up to this time, August 17, 1842.
The branchim and fins have vanished,
their color has become quite dark, and the
yellow spots are making their appearance
very distinctly.

VIOLET-COLORED SALAMANDER.
Salamandra vencnosa. — Barton.

Description — Color above dark gray-
it.li brown, with a row of large roundish
bright yellow spots on each side of the
dorsal line, which unite into a single row
towards the extremity of the tail ; sever-
al of these spots on the head and upper
aides of the legs ; color lighter beneath,
with some minute white spots ; tail roun-
dish at the base, but slightly flattened
through the greater part of the length,
and terminated in a flattened rounded
point; snout bluntly rounded ; eyes not
very prominent; hind legs midway be-
tween the snout and end of the tail.
Length of the specimen before me G\ in-
ches; width across the head .G, across the
body .5.

History. — This large species is not
very common in Vermont. The speci-
men from which my description is made
was found in a marshy place in Burling-
ton.

RED-BACKED SALAMANDER.
Salamandra erythronota. — Green.

Green.

S. erylhrono

S. cincrea.

Description.— Sides brownish, and of-
ten with minute light specks, fading into
steel-gray on the belly, usually a°broad
brownish red stripe along the back ; belly
dark steel gray, lighter and yellowish to-
wards the chin ; head above darker than
the body; form slender, cylindrical ; tail
nearly cylindrical, and longer than the
head and body ; vent, midway between
the snout and the extremity of the tail;
head broader than the body, short in front
of the eyes; snout bluntly rounded ; eyes
prominent, lively, pupil black, iris gol-
den. A distinct cuticular fold on the
throat; legs slender, brownish ; toes short,
4 before and 5 behind. Length of the

longest of two specimens before me 15.4
inches ; from the snout to the fore legs .5
—to the hind legs 1.55; from the hind
legs to the point of the tail 1.85: width
of the head .2.

History.— This salamander is quite
common in Vermont, and is probably the
least aquatic of all our salamanders. It is
often met with under the rotten logs on
dry pine plains; and also in ledgy places
in the hard wood forests, under the loose
stones and among the decoyed leaves. Its
appearance is lively, and its motions often
very sudden. Aided by a sudden vibra-
tion of the tail, it has the power of leap-
ing several tunes its length. I have be-
fore me two specimens, both found in
Burlington, one with a brownish red
stripe along its back, and answering to
Dr. Green's 6'. erythronota, and Hie Tidi-
er, which is a little larger, answering to
his 6'. cincrea. The stripe on the bnek
seems to be the only difference, and 1 be-
lieve they are now regarded by herpetol-
ogists as belonging to the same species.

THE GLUTINOUS SALAMANDER.
Salamandra glutinosa. — Green.

Description.— Whole upper part of the

body dark brown, sprinkled with distinct
light blue spots ; sides light colored from
the blue spots becoming confluent ; abdo-
men lighter, exhibiting the spots more
numerous and distinct than the back ;
eyes prominent, wide apart, of a deep
black color; head flattened above; nos-
trils small ; legs color of the body and
spotted like it; anterior feet 4 toed, pos-
terior 5 toed and unusually long; tail,
length of the body, much compressed
throughout its whole extent, save the ex-
tremities, the anterior of which is circu-
lar, the posterior pointed. Length G in-
ches ; head .75; width of the head .5.

Storer.

History.— This species I have not seen
in Vermont. 1 insert it on the authority
of Prof. Adams, who informs me that,
there is a Vermont specimen of it in the
Collections of Middlebury College.

THE TWO-LINED SALAMANDER.
Sola ma ndra his-linmUi . — C iw; i. n .
Description.— Tail longer than the bo-
dy, tapering, compressed, and pointed ;
snout oval ; back cinereous, with two and
sometimes three dark lines, if three, the
middle one broadest mar the head, and
about the length of the body, the lateral
ones extending from behind the eyes to
the end of the tail ; sides cinereous; be-

126

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part 1.

THE PKUTKIS

THE I'HDTEUS.

neath whitish or yellowish; anterior toes
4., posterior 5. Length 3 inches.— Green.
History. This salamander I have not
seen in Vermont, but Prof. Adams in-
forms me that he has a Vermont specimen
which belongs to this species. According
to Dr. Green it inhabits shallow waters,
appears early in spring, and is very active.

Genus Menobranchus. — Harlan.

Generic Characters.— Head large, flattened,
truncate, two rowsof teeth in the upper jaw, a
single row in the lower ; teeili small, conical,
pointed ; gills and tail persistent during lif>\

THE PROTEUS.

Menobranchus macula tus. — Barnes.

Description. — General color dark cin-
ereous gray, produced by minute yellow-
ish specks on a dark bluish ground, and ir-
regularly interspersed with circular spots
about the size of a pea, of a darker hue ;
the throat and central parts of the abdo-
men nearly white ; a brownish stripe
commencing at the nose and extending
backwards over the eye ; the margin of
the tail often of an orange tinge, with
blackish blotches near the extremity.
The head is large, flattened, and the
snout truncated ; eyes small and far apart;
mouth large ; throat contracted with a
transverse fold in the cuticle beneath ;
tongue large and fleshy ; teeth small and1
sharp, two rows in the upper jaw and one
in the lower. The gills are external,
large, and each consists of three delicate-
ly tufted or fringed lobes, which, when
vibrating in the water, are of a fine blood-
red color; body cylindrical, covered with
a smooth mucous skin ; tail long, flat-
tened and broad vertically, and rounded
at the end like that of an eel ; legs four,
each foot furnished with four toes resem-
bling fingers, but without nails, although
the cuticle at the extremities is dark col-
ored, having much the appearance of
nails. The total length of the specimen
before me, and from which the above
figure and description are made, is 12.J
inches, and this is about the usual length.

History. — This singular reptile was
first described by . Scuneider, about the
year 17'JlJ, from a specimen obtained from

lake Champlain.* This specimen "was
probably obtained at Wiriboski falls,
which were, for some tune, the only
known locality of this animal, and where
more or less of them are now taken every
spring, upon the hooks suspended on
night lines for taking fishes. The fisher-
men formerly considered them poisonous,
and when they found them upon their
lines they were glad to rid themselves of
them by cutting the lines and letting
them go with the hook in their mouths;
but they are now found to be perfectly
harmless and inoffensive. This animal is
seldom seen excepting in the months of
April and May, and this is the season for
depositing its eggs. In a specimen taken
on the 13th of April, 1840, I found about
150 eggs of the size of a small pea and,
apparently just ready to be extruded. The
food of this reptile consists of variouB
kinds of worms and insects. The stom-
ach of the one above mentioned contained
two hemipterous insects, each three
fourths of an inch long, the wings and
bodies of which were entire, besides nu-
merous fragments of other insects. Of
the habits of this animal very little is
known. It seems to spend the greater
portion of the time about falls, concealed
in the inaccessible recesses and crevices
of the rocks below the surface of the wa-
ter, and not to venture much abroad ex-
cepting at the season for depositing its
eggs. Although it passes nearly the
whole time in water, it is truly an amphi-
bious animal, having lungs for breathing
in the atmosphere, as well as branchial
for breathing in water. It does not, how-
ever, breathe in water by receiving the
water into its mouth and passing it out
through the gills, in the manner of fishes,
but simply by the vibrations of its bran-
chioe in the water. When kept in a ves-
sel containing a large quantity of water,
or in which the water is frequently re-
newed, it manifests but little disposition
to rise to the surface for atmospheric air.
But when the quantity of water is small,

* The following is Schneider's description, and
our reptile answers to it in almost every particular.

Corpus ultra 8 pollices longum et lore polliccm,
crussuni, innllc, spongiosum, mollis purls prrvium,
in utro.pie latere trilius maculurui.i rotunilarum, ni-

peritiN enrvata, in fincm terctuisculum refm'm&tur.
Uapul latu.net planum: oculi jmrvi, nnroa anteri

ores in imagine l.ibii superior!.*, maxilla superiors
gcminifc ut iuleiioiis dentes cuniei, obtusi, .salis lou-
gi ; lingua lata, intcgra, anlerius soluia : apertura
oris patii usque ad oculuruin liueam vcrticah-iu ; la-
bia piseium Inbiis similia ; pedes clissiti cpmtuor, to-
tradaet.yli omnes, absque unguiculis ; aui riina in
longiludinem patet ; branchial utrinque tenia: extus
propeuderit, apposilte superuo lotidem incubus enr-
tilagiucis, quorum Inns internum tuberculu cartila-
giueu, vclut in pisoiuio goucro, cxabporant. &lc.

Caiar.6.

FISHES OF VERMONT.

127

I'll E 1.1 11 1 S A It Y UBS E II V A 'J

•Ad not often changed, it soon finds the
» r m the water insufficient for its pur-
»*•?, in which case it comes to tlie sur-
hff% \ ikrs in a mouthful of air,and sinks

• ; .in with it to the bottom. After re-
taining the air fur a time, probably long
< (.'■>- ,-ti for the consumption of its oxygen
in the lung », it suffers it to escape through
the mouth and gill openings, and it is
*rcn I" rise in small hubbies to the sur-
face. Tins animal is said to be found in
arvrra] placet at the west, particularly in
•Urania falling into lake Ontario, where
il i» .Aid lometiinea to attain the length
of two fret. The length of those taken

• I VVtBooaki Falls vanes fiom ti to 13 in-
curs I have never seen one which ex

■ ■ <)•. J i > inches. The best figure of our
animal which 1 have Men published is in
the AnuaUofN. Y. Lyceum, vol. I, plate
H» Th« description and figure in Dr.
11 K.iiH.k.'s American Hcrpelology do not

answer to our Menobranchus, but as Prof.
G. W. Benedict has furnished Dr. II. with
an accurate colored figure, drawn from a
living specimen by the lit. Rev. J. II.
Hopkins, we hope to see it correctly rep-
resented in a future volume of his splen-
did and valuable work. We are strongly
inclined to believe the animal which he
describes to be a different species from
ours. Notwithstanding what he and oth-
ers have said in proof of the identity of
the Triton lateralis of Say, the Menobran-
chus lateralis of Harlan, Holbrook, and
others, with the reptile described by
Schneider, I am strongly inclined to the
opinion that they are different species. I
have therefore given the name suggested
by Prof. Benedict, and adopted by Barnes,
the preference, uiul have described our
animal under the name of Menobranchus
maculalus, that being descriptive of our
reptile, and the other not so.

CHAPTER V.

FISHES OF VERMONT.

Preliminary Observations.

I'i-iii < constitute the Fourth Class of
the animal kingdom. They :ire vertebra-
led animals, with cold red blood. They
fmpirc by means of branchia;, or gills,
and they move in water by means of fins.
Their entire structure is as evidently fit-
U d for swimming as that of birds is for
flight. The tail is the principal organ of
motion, and progression is effected by
striking it alternately from right and left
a«ainst the water. The mean specific
gravity of fishes is the same as the fluid
in which they live, so that no effort is re-
ijuired to keep them suspended, and a
largo purt of them are furnished with an
air bladder, by the compression or dilata-
tion >.f which they can vary their specific
gravity, and thus rise or descend without
I ha aid of their fins.

The head of fishes is usually larger in
proportion to the size of the body than
that of other animals; and although it is
subject to great variety of form, it in al-
niont all cases consists of the same num-
brr of bones as is found in other ovipar-
ous animals. These hones are separate
in yiiung fishes, but in older ones become
united and consolidated _o as to make it

difficult to distinguish them. The nos-
trils are simple cavities placed at the front
of the snout, and usually double. The
cornea of the eye is very Hat, and has but
little aqueous humor, but the crystalline
is hard and globular. The ear of fishes is
very obscure, and, having neither eustach-
ian tubes nor tympanal bones, their
sense of hearing must be very imperfect.
The head is attached to the body in such
manner that its inotionjis exceedingly lim-
ited. The tongue varies in different fam-
ilies : in some it is fleshy, but in many ca-
ses it is osseous and frequently covered
with teeth, so that their sense of taste
must be very obtuse. The body of fishes
is in most cases covered with scales, which
cannot allow much sensibility to the
touch. Tins imperfection is, probably,
supplied in some cases by the fleshy cirri

with which

spec

hed.

The teeth of fishes vary almost infinitely
in number, form and situation Besides
the jaws, they are often found upon the
tongue and palate, and not unfrequently
in the throat and at the base of the gills,
while some families are entirely destitute
of them. The stomach is generally sim-
ple and the intestines short.

The sexes of fishes are distinguished by

123

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

ORDERS

ORDERS 01

the male having a milt and the female a
roe. The roe is composed of a multitude
of eggs, which the female deposits in some
suitable place. After their extrusion,
they are impregnated by the male, and
left to hatch, without the further aid or
care of the parents

Fishes are long-lived animals, and their
fecundity is very remarkable. We have
authenticated accounts of a pike having
lived 260 years, and a carp 200; and
Leuwenhoek computed thenumberof ejrgs
in the roe of a cod fish to be 3,686,7(50,
and in that of a flounder to be 1,357,400.

In a country like Vermont, situated so
remote from the ocean, and watered only
by small fresh water streams and lakes, a
very great variety or abundance offish is
hardly to be expected ; and yet it is a no-
torious fact, that when the country was
new all our waters swarmed with fishes
of various kinds. Salmon and Shad were
taken in the greatest plenty and perfec-
tion in Connecticut river; and the for-
mer together with the salmon trout,
were abundant in lake Champlain, and in
most of the streams connected with it. [n
the spring of the year, when these fishes
were ascending our streams to their
breeding places, they could be taken at
the falls and rapids in scoop-nets, or in
baskets fastened to poles, in almost any
quantities desired. Brook trout, weigh-
ing from one to three pounds, were plen-
tiful in nearly all our ."'.reams and ponds.
But with the clearing and settling of the
country these kinds of fishes have dimin-
ished till the three former have become
extremely rare, and the latter, though
still numerous in many parts, are seldom
taken exceeding half a pound in weight.
For the production of this state of things
several other causes have operated* be-
sides their diminution by fishing. The
salmon and shad have probably been
driven from our waters, chiefly by the
erection of dams across nearly all our
streams, which prevent their ascent to
their favorite spawning places. Freshets,
also, which have become more sudden
and violent since the country has become
cleared, have swept out the logs and other
obstructions, which formed their places of
resort and concealment, and have thus
tended not only to diminish the number of
our fishes, but to prevent their attaining
so great magnitude as formerly. Those
fishes of our lakes which do not ascend
far up our streams to deposit their spawn,
have not been so much ailected by these
causes. These, however, though still ta-
ken in considerable quantities, are not so
abundant as formerly.

Cuvier divides fishes into two sub-clas-
ses. I. Osseous Fishes, or such as have
hard, solid bones. II. Cartilaginous Fish'
rs, or such as have cartilage in the place
of bones. Most of our fishes belong to
the first of these divisions. The follow-
ing is a Catalogue of Vermont Fishes, ar-
ranged in t lie order in which they are de-
scribed in the subsequent pages.

I. OSSEOUS, OR BONY FISHES.
Order I. — Acantiiopterygii.
Family I. — Percidce.
Perca serrato-grumtlata, Common Perch.
Lucio-Perca americana, Pike Perch.
Pomotis vulgaris. Common Sun Fish.
" mcgalotis, Big Eared Sun Fish.
Centrarchus anevs, Rock Bass.
" fusciatus,B\vick Bass.
Etheo stoma caprodes , Hog Fish.

Family II. — Scicrtidic.
Corvina oscula, Sheep's Head.

Ord.II.--Malacopterygu Abdomi.nai.ei
Fa ih il y I. — Cyprinidte.

Catastomus cyprinus ,-Carp Sucker.
" obhngas, Lake Mullet.
•' teres, Sucker.

" nigi'icatiS) Black Sucker.
•* lon«irost.rum,Loug Nosed Sucker.
Leueiscus pulchellus, Common Dace.
" crysoleucas fili'mer.
" atronasitSj Brook Minnow.
Hydrurgyrafusca, Mud Fish.
Family II. — Esocida.
Esox cstor, Common Pike.

" reticularis, Pickerel.

Family III. — Silurida.

Pimelodus vulgaris, Homed Pout.

nebulosus,Bu\\ Pout.

cwnosus, Cat Fish.

Family IV. — Salmonidce.

Salmo salar, Salmon.

" viunaijcush, Nainaycush, or Longe.
" fiintiualis, Brook Trout.
Osmcrus eperlanus, Smelt.
Coregonus idbus, White Fish.

Family V — Clupidic.
Alosa vulgaris, Shad.

Hiodon clodalus. Winter Shad.
Lrjiisostcus OX yurus, Bill Fish.

lineatus, Striped Bill Fish.
Ord. H.-Mai.acoi-tervoii Sjbbrai hiati
Family, Uudidai,

j Lota maculosa, Ling.

1 " compressa, Eel-pout.

[Order IV. — Malacopterygii Apohes.

Cmr. 5.

FISHES OF VERMONT.

129

tDEKS OK KISHI.S.

Family, Mar en Ida.
Murtna vulgaris, Common Eel.
" bastuniensis, Black Eel.
" argentcu, Silver Eel.

II. CARTILAGINOUS FISHES.
Family I.—Sturionidce.
Aiipnscr rtdficundus, Roujid Nosed Slurgcou.
" oj ijilii/nclitis, Shui|) Nosed Sturgeon.
t'n mil ij II. — Cijclostomidm.
r.tromyt.Hnixnmt,*. Blue Lamprey.
Ammo, mtcs cunculor, Mud Lamprey.

I. OSSEOUS, OR BONY KISHES.

OllUl.ll I. ACABTIIOPTKRYGII.

Spinous rayed Fishes.
Fishes of this order an- recognized by
the spines winch occupy the place of the
(irst rays of the dorsal fin, or the rays of
lite first dorsal w hen there are two. Some-
times, instead of a first dorsal, there are
only a It w free Spines.

I. PERCIDA5, OR PERCH FAMILY.
Gjcnus l'tucA. — Cuvicr.
Generic Characters. — Two separate dorsal
fins; rays <il' the first spinous ; tongue smo .ill ;
Ir.-iii in both jaws, in front of [ho vomer, and on
the palatine bones; preopercuium notched below
in I serrated on the posterior edge ; operculum
bony, ending in a flattened point directed back-
wards; branchial rays seven ; scales rough, hard,
aw) not easily detached.

THE COMMON PERCH.
Pcrca scrrato-granuluta. — Co v.
fuv. ct Val. I!i»t. Nat. ilfia Poiss., 11-17.
Description.— Body deep and thick,

but becoming slender and nearly cylindri-
cal towards the tail ; head rather small,
and tapering towards the snout; both
jaws and palate covered with small teeth ;
color greenish, or yellowish brown above;
miles "yellow, crossed by 7 transverse
brownish hands ; belly 'white ; lateral
hue parallel to the curve of the hack;
tail concave. Preopercuium narrow, and
its edge armed with small spinous teeth,
those on the lower margin larger, with
their points directed forwards; the oper-
culum radiated with granulated rays, ter-
minating posteriorly in a spine, with sev-
eral spinous denticulations beneath, and

Pi. i. i:

grooves extending forward from them.
The edges of the inter-opcrculnm and
sub-npereulum are finely serrated, and
the latter is prolonged into a membranous

point lying under the spine of the oper-
culum. Humeral bones grooved and us-
ually serrated. Jaws equal; eyes rather
laro-e ; iris yellowish; dorsal and caudal

ils orange on the

lore or less ruddy.

fins brownish
lower part ;th

The Ins!, dorsal more than twice as 1.
as high, with a black spot or clouded with
black towards the posterior part, the sec-
ond two thirds as long as the first. Depth
of the body to the total length of the fish
as I to 4. Length of the specimen be-
fore me 12 inches, depth 3, thickness 2.

Hays, 31. 7, P. 0, V. 115, D. 13111I14,
A.2|7, C. 17.*

History. — The Yellow Perch is one of
the most common fishes found in lake
Champlain, and in the mouths of the riv-
ers falling into this lake. They are taken
both with the seine and hook, hut chiefly
with the latter. In the winter they are
caught by cutting holes in the ice. They
vary from d to 12 and even 11 inches in
length, and are carried round for sale
from house to house in the villages along
the lake, at all seasons of the year, neatly
sealed and dressed read}' for cooking. In
this condition they are sold at from 10 to
:2U cents a dozen, according to the season
and their abundance. The flesh of the
Perch is white, firm and agreeable to the
palate, but is rather dry and bony.

This fish agrees throughout with Dr.
Mitchell's description of Jus Uodianus
jluvescens, and is undoubtedly the species
from which his description was drawn.
Cuvier, having obtained specimens of this
and another species which very closely
resemble it, from the waters of the United
Slates, gave to this species the name
of P. serruto-granulata, on account of its
serrated and granulated gill, covers ; to
the other, distinguished from this by the
want of granulations, by its smaller size
and greater number of brown bands upon
its sides, he gave the name of 1J. jlavcs-
ccus.

Gekus Luc io-Pi.kca. — Cuvicr.

Generic Characters. — In the form of the
body and situation of the [ins like a Perch ; head
more lil«: a Pike; . .\.j, of" the |>n- ipercuhmi with
one simple cmargiuaiion ; some of the maxillary

* The Ielle»:i indicate the fins, anil Hip figures the
number of r:iy< in eiich ; R. Krnnehiul rays; P.
Pectoral ; V. Ventral ; 0. Dorsal j A. Anal, mid
0. Caudal.

130

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part 1

il N J'ISH.

' AMERICAN PIKE-PERCH.

Lac io- Pi re a umcricana. — Ctjviei

Puiss. Ill
una, l'Ui

I) is.

.—Bod

ind cyl-

indrical towards the tail ; color nearly
black above, sides brown and orange, bel-
ly yellowish or bluish white, tail and tins
spotted with black on a yellow ground,
but varying much in different individ-
uals; head depressed; eyes large, pupil
transparent, iris yellow ; lower jaw longer
than the upper; two rows of teeth in the
upper jaw and one in the lower ; teeth
hooking inward and many of them long;
operculum terminated by a membranous
point, preopereulum serrated and spinous
at the angle ; a bony plate over the pec-
toral liu ; rays of the first dorsal fin spi-
nous.

Rays, Br 7, P. 13, V. 6, D. 14— 21,
A 14, C 17

History —The usual length of this fish
is from lonrteen to twenty inches, and its
weight from one to four pounds. It is ta-
ken very plentifully from the waters of
lake Champlain and" its tributaries. It is
a firm, bony fish, but as the bones are
large and easily separated from the flesh,
they ar3 much less troublesome than in
the Perch, and some other species. Its
flesh is well flavored, though not so juicy
and rich as that of our White Fish and
some few others. In the form of its body
and the situation of its fins, it closely fe-
sembles the Perches, but its head and teeth
are more like the Pikes, and hence its
name, Lucio-Perca, or Pike-Perch. This
fish is called by Dr. Williams, in his His-
tory of Vermont, the White Perch, but is
generally known in Vermont simply by
the name of Pike, while the fish usually
called Pike in other places is here called
Pickerel. This fish, on the contrary, is
calleji Pickerel in Canada. We have an-
other species of this genus, probably the
L. canail crisis, but L am unable to say so
positively at present.

Gemjs Pomotis — Cuvier.

Generic Characters. — A
ti -ill .ays on u.vli sido ; tce'lli

,all anil

.pruned a,

SUN FISH, OR POND PERCH.
/ 'e ai otis v a J iffi ris. — C u v i f n .

Shaw's Zoology, IV— 1S!>. Lit. and Phil Trana.N.
V., I -iii;j Fauna Uoruali Americana, p. 23. Slo«

Description. — Color brownish green
above ; b, low yellow ; sidi s bluish, spot-
ted with brownish, umber, and dark pur-
ple ; sides of the head striped longitudi-
nally with undulating deep blue lines,
with limber spots; a large black spot,
edged with silvery above and below, en-
tile posterior angle of the operculum and
its skinny prolongation, terminating back-
ward in bright scarlet ; all the fins brown-
ish, portions ofthe dorsal and caudal spot-
ted finely with black; head between the
eyes smooth, dark green, with 3 pores, or
pits, the lines connecting which form very
nearly an cqui-lateral triangle ; tec th mi-
nute and sharp in both jaws; upper jaw
protractile ; under jaw longest ; mouth
small ; nostrils'double, with a pore, mak-
ing it appear triple ; eyes large and round ;
back regularly curved from the nape to
the posterior ofthe dorsal fin; lateral line
parallel to the curve of the back. Depth
ofthe body to the total length ofthe fish,
as 1 to 3, nearly ; commencement of the
anal fin equi-distant from the two ex-
tremities; usual length about 5 inches.

Rays Br. 6, P. 13, V. 115, D. 9112, A.
3(10, C. 17.

History. — This is a very common fish
in the coves along the margin of lake
Champlain, and about the mouths of our
rivers. Though extensively known by
the name of Sun Fish, and I'and Perch, it
is, perhaps, more generally known by the

of 7V

*'/'■

Seed. It

times culled Bream. This fish, though
said in Jardine's Naturalists' Library to
be of unobtrusive colors, is one of tho
highest colored and most beautiful fishes
found in our waters — 'oftentimes vieing
in brilliancy with the tropical fishes.'
The Sun Fish, though often taken with
other fishes in the seine, is more common-
ly taken with the honk, at which it bites
with avidity. Its flesh is white and pal-
atable, but 'the fish 'being small, thin, and
bony, is little sought as an article of
food.

C**r. 6.

FISHES OF VERMONT.

1.31

THE M'. MM|. SUI

THE BLACK UASS.

THE BIG-EARED SUN FISH.

I'um utis me^al otis. — I! mmnksque.

Itlktlu migaloti*, Icliiliyulugiu Oliieusis, p. 09.

1)> bchii-tion. — Color brownish olive
* nc, licud darker; sides approaching to
cbcalnul ; l*elly coppery, or ruddy white;
■idea of the head and body with rlcxuose
gm-iintli, or bluisli bt riji<-b and .spots.
Membranoua prolongation oi'tliu opercu-
luiii tcrylong and wholly black; eyes dark.
Ilir |nij»il» bring black, and ins brown.
Tail and him brownndi. All Hie colors
Ich brilliant Iban in the I'omolis vuti'tt-
ritt it* mouth proportionality larger, Ms
tail Iota Corked, and it* pectorals broader
and lean pointed. Depth contained a
little more than twice in the total length.
1^-n^th of the specimen before me 'l.fm-
r.hca, depth l.'.l, height of the pectoral 0.9,
1-nMi. of the black portion of the prolon-
gation of the operculum 0.4.

Raya, B, P. 4|, V. I|5, D. lfl|ll, A.
3JI0, C. 1H.

Uistokv. — The specimen from which
I be above figure and description were
drawn, was taken in Connecticut river at
Barnet It bears considerable resemblance
to the preceding species, and is there
known by the same vulgar names. It
may however readily be distinguished by
the greater prolongation ol the black
membranous portion" of the gill cover, and
the absence of the scarlet termination, as
well as by its greater depth in proportion
to the length, its nearly even tail, deeper
cleft mouth, and its broader
pointed, pectoral fins.

id*

(>,

Genus Cv:nth
itrie Clunaclcr*

THE ROCK RASS.
Cenlrarchus aneus — Cuvier
. r

Cichla icuca, l.i' Sueur Jour Ac.

Ccntrarchun eeneiu, Puv. el Vul.

tioreuli Americana (l'isl

I. ll.pSM
, pi. Id.— Fauna
) P. 18-

Description.— Form elliptical ; body
deep and thin. Rack dark; sides yellow-
ish, approaching to while on the belly ;
a quadrangular black spot in the centre

appearance from the gill-opening to the
tail. Scales large on the sides, with the
exposed part circular, and the concealed
part finely grooved and truncated at the
base- smaller on the back, belly, cheeks
and operculum ; lateral line parallel to
the curve of the back, containing 42
scales ; opercula scaled, preoperculuin
serrated at the angle ; the operculum ter-
minates backward in two Lhin lubes, with
ail acute notch between, and a dark col-
hove the pectoral smooth. Teeth small
and thick like velvet pile in both jaws, on
the vomer, and on the ecljres of the pala-
tine bones. Eyes large and dark. Vent
anterior. \ entral tins directly under the
pectorals; anal commences under the 8th
spinous ray of the dorsal ; dorsal and anal
expanded posteriorly. The first ventral,
the first twelve dorsal, and the first six
anal rays spinous. Length of the speci-
men before me 7.J inches, from the snout
to the vent 3j ;— to the posterior margin
of the operculum 2j ; depth 2», and con-
tained near twice and a half in the total
length.

Rays, Br. P. 14, V. 1|5, D. L2I10, A.
6|9, C. 17.

llisTouv.— This fish is here known by
no other name than Rock Bass. It is
quite a common fish in lake Champlain,
and its larger tributaries. It is usually
taken with the hook along the precipitous
rocky banks of the lake' and rivers, and
from this circumstance it derives its name.
It is considered a very good fish for the
table, and its weight is usually about half
a pound.

THE BLACK RASS.

Centrarchus fnsciutus. — Li. Sir dr.

Cicldu fasciatu, Lc Sue. Jour, Ac.Scl'h il.II , p 314.

Description.— Form somewhat elipti-
cal, compressed, a little convex on the
sides, and pointed forwards. Color .lark
greenish above, lighter and faintly mot-
tle.I on the soles, and grayish white be-
neath; sides ofthe head fine, light green;

\?J

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

Part 1.

he hog fish.

scales firm, moderate on the sides and
operculum, but very small on the cheeks,
back of the neck, throat and belly. Pre-
operculum with its upper limb nearly ver-
tical and nearly at right angles with the
lower, without spines or serratures; irt-
teroperculum andsuboperculum scaly up-
on the upper bide, and smooth below ;
operculum triangular, with a membranous
prolongation posteriorly, and the bony
part terminating posteriorly in two thin
lobes, with a deep notch between them,
the lower lobe, which is largest, endino-
in several short spines ; teeth small,sharp
and numerous in both jaws, on the lower
anterior edges of tin. palatine bones, and
on the vomer with a small cluster near
the base of the triangular tongue, all
standing like the pile on velvet, but
hooking a little inward, those on the jaws
largest. Fins small, brownish, and their
soft parts covered with a rather thick mu-
cous skin; the dorsal rounded behind,
low at the junction of the spinous and soft
parts, and the spinous rays capable of be-
ing reclined, imbricated and concealed in
a longitudinal groove along tin; back ;
ventrals a little behind the pectorals ; the
anal under the posterior portion of the
dorsal, and extending a little further back ;
tail slightly emarginate, with the lobes
rounded. Vent a trifle nearest the poste-
rior extremity; eyes moderately large;
lower jaw a trifle longer than the upper,
■with several visible pores along its mar-
gin. Length of the specimen before me
l!) inches ; the greatest depth equals one
thud of the length, exclusive of the tail.

Rays Br. G, P. 17, V. 115, D. 10115, A.
3|11,C. 17. '

History.— The Black Bass, by which
name this fish is here generally known,

ranks as one of the best fishes taken from
our waters ; but, as is apt to be the case
with good fishes, it is much less abundant
than several other species which are
greatly its inferior in point of quality. It
is usually taken with the seine, and its
weight varies from one to rive or six-
pounds.

Gjjnus Etueostoma.— Rafinesque.

Generic Characters.— Body nearly cylindri-
cal and scaly; mouth variable will, small teeth;
gill cover double or triple, mis-crrate wiih u spirit
on die operculum, and without scales ; branchial
rays six; rays in the ventral six, one of which is
spiny, no appendage ; dorsal more or less divided
into two, with all the rays of the anterior portion
spiny , vent nearly medial.

THE HOG FISH.

Etlieostoma caprodes.—R&T.

Rafinesque Icb. Ohiens. p. 3s K.rt. Rep. Zool.
Ohio, [i. 1U8. Boston Jour. Nat. His. Ill— 346.

Description.— Body lengthened and
cylindrical ; head elongated, flattened on
the forehead, with the snout protruded
and rounded like that of the hog; under
jaw narrower and shorter than the upper;
mouth beneath, small. Color yellowish,
darkly spotted and barred with brown
above and on the sides; belly yellowish
white ; 1(1 brown bars or blotches on the
sides, the posterior one at the base of the
tail black, with about 20 less distinct bars
above and between these passing over
the back ; caudal and dorsal fins°tinely
spotted or barred with brown; pectoral,
ventral and anal transparent, unspotted
and yellowish; posterior part of the head
above nearly black, but lighter towards
the snout ; eyes middling size, promi-
nent ; pupil black, surrounded by a bright
line and a yellowish silvery iris ; tail
slightly lunated ; scales ciliated and
rough; operculum terminated posteriorly
in il sharp spine; minute teeth in both
jaws and on the vomer ; lateral lino
straight; ventrals behind the pectorals
and under the anterior part of the second
dorsal. Length :>> :> inches; pectoral fin
as long as the head.

Rays, Br. G, P. Id, V. G, D. 14114, A.
12, C. 17. '

History.— This fish, though its vulgar
name- might be thought to imply the con-
trary, is certainly one of the most sym-
metrical and beautiful fishes found in our
waters. It received the name of 11,,,,
Fish from a resemblance in rhe form of
its snout ami lower jaw to those of that
quadruped. It is quite common in the
mouths of the streams which fall into
lake Champlain, but being a slender fish,
and never exceeding 4 °or 5 inches in
length, no account is made of it as an ar-
ticle of food, and very little is known of
its habits. It swims low in the water,
and when at rest usually lies at the but-

II.-SCIENID;E orSCIENA FAMILY.
G K N us Corvi N A .— Cll cur.
Generic Characters Head "ilibmis, caver-

C«.r V

FISHES OF VERMONT

133

? mi iiittr * lit ti

ii i.

iKI" SUUKEIl.

•mil 1j*J crowded , prrupcrculiiiii
«4.*Uf«>» »rttii J anal im shnrt,

delicious fishes for
i seldom carried to

THE SHEEP'S HEAD.

Currina oscula, — Le Sueur.

K»im* *uu!j. t-of-n., Jniir. A. N. Sci., ii, p. 2.~i:>.

DksckiFTION. — Mack elevated; body
4rrp, Illicit through the abdomen, and
riiii,^. -■( J to an edge nlong tbe back,
and ►lender near tbe tail ; bead declining ;
annul short, rounded, with tbree small
i.}>rirn^< al the cod, and larye port's lie ir
tlir lip of th<- lower j*w ; mouth rathrr
•anall, dpi dutincl . teeth m both jaw » co-
nic »i, i rrowdrd, the outer srrua largest;
rjes Isrjr, round, and near the annul;
amain)* double, Hie posterior much the
Uracil, and »rry near tbe eye; bead and
oprtcula covered with scaled; preopercu-
lum coarsely serrated ; base of Ud dorsal,
pectoral, anal and caudal fins covered
with Males; the !• rays of the first dorsal,
t ray «>f the 'Jd dorsal, the first ventral and
tao fir»t anal rays, spinous ; tbe 1st dorsal
and 1st anal spine very short, the 2d large
and stout ; scales rough. Color brown-
uii gray above, sides silvery, and pearly
white, or cream color, beneath ; head
with livid purple reflections; dorsal, pec-
toral, anal and caudal fins brownish ; ven-
tral* yellowish; lateral line parallel to the
arch ofthe back, and visible on two-thirds
of the length of the tail; tail rounded ;
height of the second dorsal nearly uni-
form, the posterior reaching the base of
the caudal ; depth ofthe fish corFtained 3
times in the total length. Length ofthe
specimen before me 17£ inches ; greatest
depth just behind the pectorals ȣ

Hays Itr. 7, 1\ 16, V. 115, D. 9—1131,
A. 2|H, C. 18.

History. — This fish is quite common
in lake' Champlain, and is here generally
known by the name of Sheep's Iliad. It
m also found in the western lakes and the
Ohio river, where it is more commonly
called the White I'erch. This fish, taken
from the Ohio river, is said to be fat, ten-
der, and well flavored; but ours is lean,
tough, and bony, and seldom eaten. It
received its vulgar name from its resem-
bling in appearance the Sargns oris,
winch is also called Sheep's Head on ac-
count of its 'arched nose and smutty
lace ;' but the resemblance is in appear-
ance only, for while the latter is consid-

ered one of the mi
the table, the forme

the table.

Okj>. 11-Mai.acopi krycii ibdominai.es.
Soft raijed abdominal fishes.
The Malacopterygii are distinguished
by having nearly" or quite all of the
fin-rays soft and branching as in the
trout, and the order abdominales embraces
the soft-rayed fishes, whose ventral tins
are situated far back upon the abdomen,
as in the trout, sucker and pickerel.

I.— CYPRfNID.E, OR CARP FAMILY.
Genus Catastomus. — Lk Sueur.
Generic Characters, — Buck with a single
dorsal tin; "ill membrane three rayed ; liuad and

Oj.cr.-ulu s. ih: ja*, Um'l.lcss and rt-iruc.ilo;

■....ml. l..-n. ad. iln- »ii..iii; lips plait-,!, lobeel, or

r'll'i.' I 'lowh. " This iiuniwaei.il>ra>rea the
Stu-knrs ..I" tbu Uni cd Stales, of which ihcru aru
about ^0 siitscics.

THE CARP SUCKER.
Catastomus cyprinus* — Le Sueur.

Juur. Acad. Sci. Phil., vol. I. p. 01, phito.
Description. — Form gibbous ; back
arched, thin and sharp; belly thick and
flattened between the pectoral and ven-
tral tins. Head small and sloping ; snout
short.; eyes rather small, pupil black, iris
gulden yellow; nostrils large and double;
mouth small and lunated'. Color light
silvery brown, with golden reflections
above, approaching to yellowish white, or
cream color below. Scales very large,
excepting along the base ofthe dorsal fin,
of a semi-rhomboidal form, and beautiful-
ly radiated ; the lateral line first bends
downward, then nearly straight; -10 scales
on the lateral line and K! in the oblique
row, extending from the beginning of the
dorsal to the middle of the ventral fin.
Ems brownish flesh-color, all the rays
coarse ; the dorsal commences at the
highest part of the back, a little forward
of the vent.rals, and terminates nearly

134

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

Part I.

II K LAKK Ml

over the middle of the anal, three or four
of the first rays being much elongated, the
others short; the anal tin slightly hun-
ted, the caudal forked with pointed lobes.
The swimming bladdder divided in three
sacks, connected by tubes. Length of the
specimen before me from the snout to the
extremity of the tail l(i inches,— to the
tail 13, to the vent 111,— to the middle of
the gill opening '3A ; greatest depth ,""> ;
greatest thickness 2},\ height of the front
part of the dorsal A.\; length of the dor-
sal 5, scale on the side .b' by .7.

Kays, Br. 3, 1'. l(j, V. 10, D. 28, A. !),
C. 18.

History. — This fish, though said to be
common further south, is only occasion-
ally taken in our waters, and here vanes
from 1 to 3 or 1 pounds in weight. It is
considered a very good fish for the table,
but like the others in this family it is
wantinff in firmness.

THE LAKE MULLET.

Catastumus ublungus. — Mire hell.

Cyprinus ublongus— Mitchell. Trans. Lit. and Phil.
Sue. ol iN. Y., [—159.

Descrii rio.N. Form gibbous; back

arched ; body deep and thick ; head short
and smooth ; mouth under, small and
toothless ; gill openings narrow. Color
above dark brown, lighter with bronzy re-
flections on the sides, and dirty cream-
color beneath ; scales large with radiatino-
stria), and arranged in about 13 longitu-
dinal rows on each side; lateral line=me-
dial and nearly straight, hut not very con-
spicuous. Dorsal tin brownish, the other
tins lighter and usually more or less rud-
dy ; pectorals, situated low and far for-
ward upon the throat; ventrals under the
middle of the dorsal ; the anal reaching
the base of the caudal ; tail deeply forked ;
swimming bladder in three sacks con-
nected by tubes Length of the specimen
before me %2o inches, depth in front of the
dorsal G, thickness 3, height of the dor-
sal 3.2. Weight (ij lbs.

Rays, B. 3, P. 17, V. 9, D. 1G, A. 9,
C. lti.

History.— This fish is described by
Dr. Mitchell under the name of the Chub
of New York. It is here very generally
known by the name of Mullet, under
which name several species of lake suck-

ers are confounded, although it

to a family of fishes entircrydisti
the real Mullet. This is one of i
common fishes, and in the spr
early part ol' summer is caught
seine in large quantities, both

it iroiu
r most
g and
ith the
n lake

Champlain and in the mouths of its lar-
ger tributaries. The flesh of this fish is
rather soft, and is considerably filled with
the knots of line hones so common to this
family, and yet it is regarded as a very
good fish for the table. There are various
methods of cooking it, but it is generally
most highly esteemed when baked. The
fish grows to a larger size, and is taken in
lake Champlain in larger quantities than
any other species of this family. Their
usual length is from 15 to 20 inches, and
their weight from "2 to .". pounds. Hut
individuals are often taken which are
much larger, weighing, m some cases, !)
or HI pounds. The usual price, when
fresh, is from 3 to 4 cents a pound.

THE SUCKER.

Cdtastomvs tots. — Mnrnrr.r..
Cvp,inus teres -MWrU, II. Trans. Lit. and Phil.Soo
of N. Y., 1-459.
Description.— Body lengthened, thick
and subcylindrical, the head one-sixth the
total length ; color blackish brown above,
darkest on the head, often tinged with
green ; sides brownish, often with golden
reflections from the scales ; belly white,
and sometimes yellowish ; dorsal and
caudal fin brown; the other fins ruddy, or
yellowish brown. Head rather small, and
with the cheeks and opercula smooth;
eyes small, iris golden, but very dark in
some specimens ; nostrils large, double
and very near the eye in front. Scales
of middling size, radiated, with 17 in the
oblique row extending from the anterior
base of the ventral to the posterior ray of
the dorsal, the middle scale J)eing crossed
by the lateral line which is straight in
the middle of the body, and contains (il

y

scales. Pectoral fins situated v
tin- gills, the dorsal on the middle'of tl__
hark, and about as long as high ; the ven-
trals rather small, under the middle of the
dorsal ; the anal far back, reaching the
base of the caudal, and iis length con-
tained lX\ limes in its height ; the tail
forked ; all the fin ravs coarse, particu-
larly those of the anal fin. The swim-

ig blade

two sacks cot

a tube. Length of the specimen before
me 22£ inches, from the snoul to the pos-
terior edge of the nil) covers -1 1, from the
•nil to the base of the tail along the later-
al line 15. lis greatest depth 5.4, thick-
ness 3, and its weight 5J lbs.

Cui

FISHES OF VERMONT.

135

THE IIIAtK ASU KONG-NOSED SUl'KKRS.

Rays, Br. 3, P. 16, V. 10, D. 13, A. 8,
C. Id.

History. — This is generally known on
the west si de of the Green Mountains by
the name of Sticker, or Black Sucker,
while another species is known by the
tame nanus on the cast side of the moun-
tains. This fish is quite common in lake
(Jhumplain, and in most of the large
streams and ponds connected with it.

THE BLACK SUCKER.

Catastomus nigricans. — Lie Sueur.

J..ui. Acid. Nut. Science, 1—102. Storcr's deport,

Fishes of Mass., |>. SG.

Description. — Color of the back black ;
■idea reddish yellow with black blotches;
beneath while, With golden reflections;
scales moderate in size; head quadrangu-
lar, one fifth the length of the fish ; top
of the head of a deeper black than the
body ; eyes moderate, oblong ; pupils
black ; iridea golden ; mouth large ; cor-
rugations of the lips very large, particu-
larly those of the lower lip; lateral line,
rising buck of the operculum on a line op-
posite the centre of the eye, makes a very
slight curve downwards and then pursues
nearly a straight course to the tail, and
contains GU scales; back between the
head and dorsal fin rounded; pectoral, ven-
tral and anal fins reddish ; caudal and
dorsal blackish ; height of the dorsal equal
to two thirds its length ; third and fourth
rays of the anal reach the base of the
caudal. Length of the specimen from
which the description is drawn lf> inches.

Rays, D. 13, P. 18, V. I), A. 8, C. 18.
— Storer.

History. — This I suppose to be the
common Sucker on the east side of the
Green Mountains in this state ; but not
having obtained any good specimen of it,
1 have copied above Dr. Storcr's descrip-
tion, which was made from a specimen
obtained from Walpole. They frequently
weigh 3 or 4 pounds, and exceed XiU inch-
es in length.

THE LONG-NOSED SUCKER.
Calastomus longirosbuvi.- — Li: Sueur.
Journal Academy Nul. Sciences, Phil., 1-102.

Description. Body sub-cylindric,

straight, delicate ; head flat; eyes large,
prides yellowish white ; aperture of the
mouth greatly arcuated, and large ; scales
very small and roundish; color of the
body above reddish, paler on the sides ;
abdomen white, with a bluish tint; later-
al line curved above the pectoral fin.
Dorsal fin deeper than broad, quadrangu-
lar; the extremity of the anal fin does not
reach the base of tin caudal ; head hori

zontal, terminated in a long snout. Length
of (he individual described'.', inches.

Kays, 1'. 16, V. D, D. 12, A. 7, C. 18.
— Le Sueur.

History. — "This fish I discovered,"
says Le Sueur, " in the state of Vermont ;
I have not seen it in any other state."
Not having met with this fish, 1 can only
give Le Sueur's account of it.

Genus Lf.uciscus. — Klein.

Generic Cluiractcrs. — The dorsal and anal
fins short and without strong rays ai the com-
mencement of either; no cirri.

This genus embraces diose fishes which are
generally known in New Etig'and, by the names
a\ Dace' Chub and Shiner.

THE COMMON DACE.

Leuciscus pulchcllus. — Stoker.

Storer'a Report on Fishes of Massachusetts, p. 91.

Description. — Upper part of the head
and tail blackish ; back approaching to
olive; sides lighter; belly white ; cheeks,
gill covers and lower fins more or less
ruddy ; scales striated, exhibiting a most
beautiful play of green, blue, golden and
silvery reflections. A dark colored mem-
brane visible at the junction of the scales,
giving the sides of the fish a reticulated
appearance; 49 scales on the lateral line,
which begins near the upper part of the
gill-opening, bends rapidly downward
through |) scales, and then pursues a
straight course to the tail. Head and
operculum smooth, the latter with cupre-
ous reflections. Scales rather large and
much crowded above the pectoral fins.
Eyes small, pupil black, surrounded by
a golden line which fades into gray on
the iris. Moutli, large ; lips, tongue and
palate fleshy ; jaws toothless ; two patches
of pectinated teeth in the throat, with
four teeth in each. Ventral fins under
the front of the dorsal ; the anal tin twice
its length from the caudal ; the two first
rays short and closely applied to the third
in the dorsal and anal tin. Swimming
bladder in two sacks connected by a tube.
Length of the specimen before me 17
inches — from the snout to the posterior
part of the operculum 3i— to the vent9£.
Total lentrth ■!.', limes the greatest depth.
Hays, Rr 3, P. 16, V. 8, D 10, A. 10,
C. 19.

136

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part J.

'HE BROOK M1NC

History. — This fish is quite common
in lake Champlain and its tributaries. It
is readily caught with the honk, and the
flavor of its flesh is agreeable, but it is
so soft and filled with small bones that it is
not much valued as an article of food
The length of those usually taken varies
from 5 to 12 inches, but they sometimes
grow to the length 'of 2l) inches.

where it
bull-pouts

found associated with perch,
id mud fishes.

THE SHINER.
Lcuciscus crysoleucas. — Mitchell.
Trans. fat. and Phil. Son. of N. V., p. 159.
Fiinna Bomali Am-r. Fislms. page 123.

Description. — Form ovale ; body deep
and thin, the depth contained -1 times in
the total length. Color greenish above,
lighter on the sides and yellowish white
beneath; a very broad indistinct yellow-
ish or cupreous stripe along the side to
the middle of the tail. The fins of a dull
yellow color, with the extremities of the
dorsal, caudal and anal fins and the first
ray of the pectoral more or less black ;
cheek and operculum with yellow and
silvery reflections; scales rather large,
radiated, crossed by concentric undula-
tions, or stria; ; the whole side exhibiting
blue, green, cupreous, yellow and silvery
reflections, according to the direction of
the light. Eyes large ; iris bright yellow.
Head and gill covers smooth, mouth in
front of the eyes, small, toothless, and di-
rected upwards. The lateral line com-
mences near the upper part of the gill
opening, bends downwards and passes
along nearly parallel to the curve of the
abdomen, to the tail, being only one third
as far from the belly as from the hack at
the- ventral fin. Swimming bladder in
two sacks. Length of the "pectoral fins
to their height as 2 to 7 ; ventrals before
the dorsal with slender bracts above their
base; dorsal fin medial, its length being
to the height of the anterior part as 1 to 2 ; I
the anal fin commences under the termi-
nation of the dorsal, its length being to
the height of the anterior part as 7 t o G ;
tail large and forked. Length of the spe-
cimen before me 4.6 iuehes°; depth 1 1.

Rays, Br. 3, P. 17, V. 8, D. 10, A. 15,
C. lit. ^

History.— This fish is quite common^
particularly in the small ponds and coves
along the shore of lal e Champlain, and
about the mouths of our large streams.

THE BROOK MINNOW.
.euciscus atronasus. — Mitchell.

Trans. Lit. and Phil. SoC. p. 4fi0. Storer's Report
on Fishes of Mass., p. 92.
Description.— Body rather thick and
deep through the abdomen ; head a little
flattened above, and narrowed towards
the snout. Color above brownish olivo
spotted with black; beneath white with
cupreous and silvery reflections,and some-
times red ; a dark band passes round the
nose, crosses the eye, passes along the
sides and through the middle of the tail,
which is forked; above this band is us-
ually a yellowish stripe; eyes middling
size ; iris bright yellow, where it is not
darkened by the above mentioned dark
band. The lateral line commences on the
nape of the neck, passes obliquely down-
wards across the dark band on the side
and along the lower margin of the band
to the tail. Nostrils large, double and
tuhelar. Dorsal Jin behind the ventrals
and twice as high as it is long. Vent me-
dial and under the posterior rays of the
dorsal fin. Fins brownish yellow. Swim-
ming bladder in two sacks connected by
a tube. Length 2& inches ; head a little
more than one sixth of the total length.

Rays, Br. 3, P. 12, V. 7, D. 7,°A. 7,
C 19.

History.— This species is quite com-
mon in most of the streams in Vermont,
and particularly so in those that fall di-
rectly into lake Champlain. It is an ac-
tive, lively little fish, and on account of
the stripes on its sides, the colors of
which are changeable, according to the
direction of the light falling upon them,
it is one of our most beautiful fishes.
When fully grown this fish is only from
2.\ to 'A inches lung, and, though found in
great numbers, its diminutive size ren-
ders it of no account as an article of
food. It. is chiefly sought to be used as
bait for Pike and other large fishes.

The Ejrnglosson nigrcscens, described
by Rafinesque in the Journal of Academy
Nat. Sci., Phil., I— 422, which he says be
found in lake Champlain, and several oth-
ers of this family, which I know to exist
in our waters, I have thought it best to
omit, because I cannot speak of them
with confidence without further exami-
nation.

Chap.

FISHES OF VERMONT.

137

TIIK Mil) FISH.

UK COMMON PIKE.

Genus Hvdrargyra. — Lc Sueur.
Generic Characters. — Vent ral fins 6 rayed ;
Inelli in tlie jaws anil throat; (hose of the jaws
conic and recurved ; none in ihe palate ; jaws pro-
Imeli'e ; lower jaw longer than the u p [ i u r one;
one dors tl fin, situated nearer the tail than the
luad opposite to the anal fin ; scales oil ihu oper-
rula and body; head flat, shielded above with

the <

Ian

THE MUD FISH.
Ilydrargyra fused.

Description. — Color above dark olive,
mottled with blackish; sides mottled or
variegated with brown, green and golden,
with taint indications of yellowish bars;
belly dull brownish, bronzy yellow ; fins
dusky yellow ; sides yellowish at the base
of the tail, crossed by a vertical black bar,
with a brownish, crescent-shaped line a-
long the base of the caudal rays, making,
with a vertical line, the form of the letter
I). Form thick and plump; head slight-
ly flattened above ; upper jaw shorter
than the lower, and broadly truncated ;
lower jaw curved upward and rounded ;
month slightly cleft; teeth in both jaws
and front part of the vomer, small, crowd-
ed, and incurved ; four patches of short,
conical teeth in the throat. Eyes moder-
ately huge, pupil black, iris yellow, cor-
nea very prominent and clear. Settle* on
the body, head, cheeks and operculum ;
those on the back part of the head largest.
Tail fully rounded, a little shorter than
the head, which is a little more than one-
fifth the total length of the fish. Ventral
fins small, medial, and slightly in advance
of the beginning of the dorsal; anal fin
under the posterior part of the dorsal and
about as high as long ; the dorsal nearly
twice as long as high, and about, its length
from the caudal. The dorsal and anal
have their first rays short and closely ap-
plied to the second ray ; outer rays of the
caudal also very short. Length of the
longest of 12 specimens before me 4£ in-
ches; greatest depth .8; thickness .5.

Rays, Br. 4, P. 15, V. (i, D. M, A. 10,
C. t6.

History.— These fishes exist in con-
siderable numbers in the marshes and
coves along the margin of lake Cham-
plain, and of the rivers which fall into it.
They are very tenacious of life, and live
longer than most fishes without water.
During droughts, as th waters subside
Pr, i. 18

and recede from the coves, they have the
power, by a springing motion, of trans-
porting themselves from one little puddle
to another. They also have the power of
partially burying themselves and living
in the mud and among the moist grass-
roots, after the other small fishes associa-
ted with them are all dead for the want of
water. In these situations vast numbers
of them are devoured by birds, muskrats,
and foxes. In severe droughts, like that
of 1841, the quantity of small fishes winch
die in consequence of the drying up of
the coves, is exceedingly great. In one
small cove, which 1 visited on the 24th of
September, 1841, I found Mud Fishesand
other small fishes (lead in piles, in the low
places which had become dry. One small
portion of the cove, still covered with wa-
ter and leaves to the depth of 4 or 5 in-
ches, wax; literally filled with fishes strug-
gling together for existence. Tins por-
tion amounted to about one square rod,
and in this space there could not have
been much less than a barrel of fishes.
They consisted of pickerel, yellow perch,
shiners, bull pouts and mud fishes, but
mostly of the two last. My feedings were
really pained at the sight, and moved by
compassion for the poor fishes, 1 heartily
wished fur ram, which, on the next day,
came in abundance, to the joy, not only
of the fishes and their sympathizers, but
of the whole country.

II.— ESOCES, OR PIKE FAMILY.
Gknus Esox. — LinncEUs.

Generic Characters. Snout elongated,

broad, di pressed, and ubiu.-e ; bid, s of the lower

aie, vomer and rongue studded with small teeth ;
a single dorsal tin, situated far back and over tho
anal fin.

THE COMMON PIKE.

Esox cstor.— ]i\: Sukcr.

Journal Acail. Nat S-Yi., Phil., I -410.

F.st>j luc:as, Kich. Fauna Burcali, p 124.

Description. — Body thick, somewhat
four-sided ; back nearly straight from the
head to the dorsal fin, and parallel to the
abdomen. Color of the back blackish
green ; sides lighter, with violet and sil-
very reflections and several longitudinal
rows of rounded and oblong yellowish
epots ; belly pearly white Head one

138

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

Part I.

fourth the total length, flattened or con-
cave »n the* upper part, and of a dirk bot-
tle green color; large pores nn the head
anil lower jaw ; upper jaw broad, flatten-
ed and thinned down to an edge at the
extrernily ; lower jaw reflected and long-
er than the upper; tongue truncated at
the extremity ; teeth on the tongue, vo-
mer, palatine bones and jaws, of different
sizes, and either straight or hooking in-
wards; eyes lateral, close to the crown,
and mid-way between the gill opening
and end of the snout; pupil surrounded
by a ffolden line and grayish iris. Scales
small, often emarginate, and towards the
back marked withVight lines in the form
of the letter V. Lateral line nearly
straight, nearer the back than belly, and
formed by a deep notch in every 3d or 4th
scale; usually several irregular rows ofl
these notched scales mi the sides resem- j
bling lateral lines. Fins all maik-d with
brownish and yellow, and usually more I
or less ruddy except the dorsal ; pectoral I
and ventral fins small; the posterior at-
tachment of the ventrals medial ; vent
under the front part of the dorsal, and!
anal fin under the posterior part; tail
forked. Preoperculuin irregular, narrow
in the middle; operculum quadrangular,
scaly on the upper part; subopereulum
narrow, and a little longer than the oper-
culum ; interopereulnm small and mostly
concealed. Length of the specimen be-
fore me 17 inches— to the pectorals 4,
ventrals 8. anal II A.

R.ys, Rr. 15, P. 13, V. 10, D. 18,
A. 16, C. 19.

History. — This species is very com-
mon in lake Champlain and all its larger
tributaries. It is generally known in
Vermont by the name of Pickerel. About
the north end of the lake and in Canada
generally it is called the Pike, on account
of its resemblance to the English Pike.
Indeed the resemblance is so' close that
Dr. Richardson regards them as identical,
and h is described our Pike in his Fauna
Boreali Americana under the name of the
foreign species, Esox (ileitis, but they are
generally regarded by naturalists as dis-
tinct species. This fish grows to a large
size, frequently exceeding 30 inches in
length, and weighing 10 or 12 pounds
It is very voracious, and devours great
numbers of reptiles and small fishes. It
is taken belli with the hook and seine,
and is considered a very good fish for the
table. The fishermen say that there is
another fish of this family in lake Cham-
plain, which they call the Afaskalongb. If
so, it is probably the fish which Richard-
son (fauna Boreali, p. 127 J calls E.cstvr,
Maskinonge. I lately received one which

was sent me as a Maskalong
proved to be only a plump,
the Common Pike.

but which
specimen of

THE PICKEREL.
Esox reticuirUus. — Lk Sukur.
Journal Academy Nut. A:i , I— 114.

ited Ion:

'a Report, t hI..',
ll'TION. Cob

irown to brilli
narked with i
itudinal lines

[WJusa., p. 97.

variable from
it. golden, but in
egularly distrib-
beneath white.

Snout obtuse; gape ol the moutu great;
lower jaw longer than the upper; teeth
in front of the lower jaw small, on the
sides large and pointed. Eyes moderate
in size, pupil black, iris yellow ; nostril
double; tins greenish; the pectoral and
anal reddish after death; dorsal fin longer
than the anal; pectorals commence on a
line with the lGlh branchial ray; vent
large, 2 lines in front of the anal fin ;
from the dorsal I'm to the commencement
of the caudal 'J inches. Length ot the
specimen from which the above descrip-
tion was made 1G inches ; head about one
fourth the length of the body; width of
the head ,n front of the eyes equal to half
its length.

Rays, B. 17, D.18, P. 13, V. 11, A. 17,
C. \\l—8tt,rn-

IhsTDKY -This is the Common Pick-
erel on the east side of the Green Moun-
tains in Vermont, as the preceding spe-
cies is on the west side. It is found in
Connecticut river and most of its larger
tributaries, and it has multiplied exceed-
ingly in several ponds to which it has
been transported by the inhabitants in the
neighborhood. This is the Common Pick-
erel of Massachusetts and the other New
England states.

III.-SILURIDiE OR CAT-FTSH FAMILY.
Genus Pimelodus. — Lacc-jtede.
Generic C/iamctc-rs.—B»i\y covered with a
naUr.i skin ; no lateial armature : jaws and ufien

no band of teeth on the vomer parallel io diat on
Ihe upper jaw. The form of the bead varies ex-
ceedingly, as well as the number of cirri. Two
dorsal fins, the second adipose.

THE BULL POUT.

Pimchthis vulgaris.

Silunu catus, Milch. Trims. Lit. Phi. Society or

New V'ork, page 133.

Description'. — Body without scales,

covered with a mucous skin, tapering and

cylindrical ; head huge, broad, depressed,

color above dark, approaching to black ;

sides dark olive, or fuliginous, the color

rubbing off or becoming lighter after be-

Chap.

FISHES OF VERMONT.

139

ED POUT.

tui: CAT FISH.

^

injr taken from the* wil .or ; bolly dirt)'
white, often tinged with rod; fins dark,
often purplish ; mouth broad ; under jaw
longest, and a broad band of small conical
teeth m each; cirri 6, ■'< in a row upon
the under lip, the two outer ones nearly
twice as largo as the middle ones, one
still larger at each angle of the mouth,
and a small one at each nostril ; the lirst
dorsal ray and the iirst ray in each pecto-
ral fin a strong spine, with the point free
and sharp. A bony process projects back-
ward over the base of the pectoral fin.
Tail slightly rounded. Length of the
specimen before me L2.J inches, width of
the head 2.3, depth of the body 1.8,
thickness l.ti.

Kays, B. 7, P. 117, V.S, D 116—0, A.
20, C. 17.

History This fish, which is quite

plentiful in lake Chaiuplaill, is here gen-
erally known by the name of Bull Tout.
Those taken from the lake are usually
from fl to 13 inches in length. For the
table they require skinning l,ke the Eel ;
but, though their llosh is tender and well
Havered, there is so much waste in dress-
ing, because of the great size of the head,
that very little account is made of them
as an article of food. This fish I suppose
to be the species described by Dr. Mitch-
ell under the name of SUtirus catns, but
whether it is the P'whdus calm of Le
Sueur, 1 have no means of judging, nev-
er having seen his description.

THE HORNED POUT.

Pimclotlus i ebvlos ,.<•.— Le Srj eor?

Meinoir.es du Mu»: d'HiM \ai., V— 149. Siorcr's

Kcpiirt, p:i«u 1 0-1.

Description.— Color dark olive, or fu-
liginous, darkest on the head and back,
yellowish or cupreous on the sides, ap-
proaching to ruddy white on the belly;
linn mostly ruddy at the base and brown-
ish towards the extremity; head flattened
above; upper jaw rather longest; both
jaws furnished with numerous small coni-
cal teeth ; o cirri about the head, 2 short
ones at the nostrils, -1 longer ones on the
chin, and 2 much longer, being I.I inch,
extend backward from the angles of the
mouth, and terminate in a fine filament
Spine of the 1st dorsal articulated, and
free at the point; spines of the pectorals
also free at 1 he point, and strongly serra-
ted interiorly; adipose fin over The poste-
rior part of the anal. Tail nearly even.
Length of ths specimen before me 4^
inches, width of the head .8. Body much
flattened vertically towards the tail.

Rays, B. 7, P. I j7, V. 8, D. 115, A. 20,
C. 17. ' ' ' '

History. — This fish is common in Con-
necticut river, and in many of its larger
tributaries The specimen from which
my description was drawn was taken in
Connecticut river at Barnet It is there
called the Pout, or Homed Pout. Hav-
ing had an opportunity to compare only
this one small specimen from Connecticut
river with the Bull Pout found in lake
Champlain, I am not prepared to sty
with confidence that they do not both be-
long to the same species; but as this spe-
cimen differs from the lake fish in having
its body more flattened towards the tail,
in having its upper jaw longest instead
of shortest, in having the cirri at the
angles of the mouth proportionally longer
and the adipose fin more distant from the
tail, ] have introduced them as distinct
species.

%^W

THE CAT FISH.
Pi ndodus »****.
Description. -Color dark smoky brown
approaching to black above ; cupreous or
fuliginous on the sides; belly dull ruddy
white ; skin scaleless and smooth ; tins
dull smoky brown, more or less ruddy
below. Head sbq.es gradually from the
nape of the neck to the snout," which, as
well as the head, is narrower and more
pointed than the preceding species ; the
body also is more elongated ; 8 cirri in
the usual situations, all blackish excepting
the two middle ones on the under lip
winch are flesh-colored, and not more
than half as large as the two outer ones;
those at the angle of the mouth very long,
reaching beyond the pectorals half way
to the ventral fins; those at the nostrils
smallest. Mouth narrow, with the upper
jaw overlapping the lower ; teeth small,
conical and numerous. Bony spine in
the pectoral fin very strong, with about
20 sharp teeth on the posterior edge, and
a strong bony process lying over the base
of the tin ; first dorsal mid-way betwt-en
the pectorals and ventrals, twice as high
as long, spine more slen br than in
the pectorals ; height of the adipose fin
1 inch, situated over the posterior half of
the anal, winch is long and slightly
rounded; tail rather deeply forked with
spreading, pointed lobes; lateral line in-
distinct. Length of the specimen before
me, which was caught in Winooski river,

140

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

THE NAMAVCUSH

18 inches; from the snout to the pectoral
2£ ; to the first dorsal 4£ ; width of the
head '2.4, longest cirri 4.3.

Rays, B. 8, P. 117, V. d, D. 116—0, A.
2o, C. 18.

liisniuv. — When I prepared my list of
fishes at the beginning of tins chapter, 1
supposed our Cat Fish to be the P. casno-
sus of Richardson. Upon re-examination,
since that list was printed, 1 find our fish
does not nsrree with Ins description, nod
I am now satisfied that it dues not belong
to that species; It is probably one of the
eight species described by l„e Sueur in
the Mimmres cfa Museum tl'IIistaire Natu-
relt; at Paris, but not having access to
that work, I am unable to designate the
species, or to say with certainty that it is
embraced among those there described.
This species is only occasionally taken in
the vicinity of Burlington, but is regarded
as very good fish for the table. In some
parts of lake Champlain it is said to be
quite plentiful.

I V.-SALMONJD-ffC— SALMON FAMILY.

Genus Salmo.
Generic Characters. — Head smooih ; body
covered with scales ; Iwu dorsal fins, the first sup-
ported by rays, ihe second fleshy, without rays ;
moulli large ; sharp U'elh on the jaws and tongue ;
branchial rays usually about ten; ventral fins op-

uf ihe first dorsal

silvery
hite be-

TIIE SALMON.
Sahno salur. — Linnjeus.
Description. — Color bluish
above, lighter on the sides and vi
neath ; black blotches upon the sides,
much more numerous above the lateral
line, for the most part surrounding the
outline of the scales, leaving the color of
Ihe body unchanged ; the spots upon the
scaleless head are unbroken, and of a
deeper color. Length of the head equal
to one fifth the length of the fish ; head
sloping, darker colored above than the
back of the specimen. Gill covers light
silvery colored. Kycs small, pupil black,
irides silvery ; diameter of the eye equal
to one fourth the distance between the
eyes. Nostrils nearer the eyes than the
extremity of the snout. Upper jaw long-
est, receiving into a notch at its middle
the prominent tip of the lower jaw ; both
jaws, the palatine bones, vomer and
tongue armed with sharp incurved teeth;
lateral line nearly straight. The first
dorsal fin commences on the anterior half
of the body, height of its first rays equals
its length ; dark colored, with longitudi-
nal rows of black blotches upon its base ;
length of the adipose tin equals one third
its height; pectorals arise in front of the

posterior angle of the gill covers ; length
equals one fourth their height ; ventrals
on a line opposite the middle of the dor-
sal, having on their sides a large axillary
scale ; anal tin white, higher than long ;
caudal dark brown, forked.

Rays, 1). 12, P. 15, V. 9, A. 10, C. 19.
— Stirrer.

His tony. — The Salmon, formerly very
plentiful in nearly all the large streams in
this state, is now so exceedingly rare a
visitant that 1 have not been able to ob-
tain a specimen taken in our waters, from
which to make a description for this work.
They have entirely ceased to ascend our
rivers, and only straggling individuals
are now met with in lake Champlain. 1
have heard of only one being taken here
during the past summer, and that 1 did
not see. The causes which have been
principally operative in driving these fish-
es from our waters have already been
mentioned. When the country was new,
according to Dr. Williams, there was a
regular and abundant migration of these
fishes to and from our waters, in spring
and autumn." They came up Connecti-
cut river about the 25th of April, and
proceeded to the highest branches. Short-
ly after they appeared in lake Champlain
and the large streams which fall into it.
So strong is their instinct for migration,
that, in ascending the streams, they
forced their passage over cataracts of sev-
eral feet in height, and in opposition to
the most rapid currents. They were
sometimes set n to make six or seven at-
tempts before they succeeded in ascend-
ing the falls. When thus going up in the
spring they were plump and fat, and of
an excellent flavor; and from the begin-
ning of May to the middle of June they
were taken in great numbers. When
they arrived in the upper parts of the
streams they deposited their spawn. To-
wards the end ot September they returned
to the ocean, but so emaciated and lean
as to he of little account as an article of
food. In the spring, salmon were often
taken weighing from oO to 40 pounds.

THE NAMAYCUSU, OR LONGE.

Sa im o an in a yea sh . — P je n xant
Description. — Form resembling the

Hi

->ry of Vi

I 17.

Chap. 5.

FISHES OF VERMONT.

141

TIIK. I.ONGK, Oil SALMON TROUT.

Til R BROOK T HOUT.

Salmon ; head flattened and slightly con-
vex between the eyes ; greatest depth
Contained about rive tunes in the total
length. Color dark bluish brown above
approaching to black on the head ; sides
thickly spotted with roundish, yellowish

gray spots

on a dark bro\

gray

ground, the spots unequal, but usually
about tiie size of a small pea; belly yel-
lowish white; fins dark brown mottled
with yellowish white ; the pectorals, ven-
truls and anal slightly tinged with orange
yellow. Lateral line plain, prominent
an I nearly straight. Scales small and
thin, but much larger than on the Brook
Trout. Eyes midway between the tip of
the snout and the nape, and twice as
near the former as to the hind edge of the
gill cover, the measurement being made
from the centre of the pupil ; iris yellow-
ish. .Yustrils nearer the eye than the tip
of the snout, double, orifices nearly equal,
the anterior having a raised margin.
Juws equal, strong, and armed with in-
curved, sharp, conical teeth ; similar teeth
on the front part of the vomer, on the
palate bones, and two rows on the tongue,
with a deep groove between them. lJrc-
operculuin but little curved, and nearly
vertical, suboperculum large and finely
grooved. The dorsal Jin medial, higher
than long, and the ventral situated nearly
under the middle of it; adipose tin club-
shaped and nearly over the posterior ray
of the anal; the anal higher than long,
the anterior part being three times the
height of the posterior; tail forked, with
pointed lobes. Length of the specimen
before me 2.1^ inches — to the posterior
edge of the operculum 5 \ — to the begin-
ning of the dorsal 10£— to the vent 13—
weight 4 pounds.

Kays, li. 12, P. 15, I). 11, V. i», A. II,
C. ID.

History. — This species of Trout bears
considerable resemblance to the Sulmo
truttii, or Salmon Trout, of Europe, and
being mistaken for that fish by the first
European settlers of this country, it has
since usually borne the name of Salmon
Trout. In the northern parts of this
state and in the eastern townships in
Canada, it is at present extensively known
by the name of Longe. In Pennant's
Arctic Zoology, and by the fur traders at
the northwest, its more common appella-
tion is A'umuycusk, or Navwyatsh Salmon.
It is called by Dr. Mitchell the Great
Lake Trout, and he describes it under the
scientific name of Salmo amclh ijstus*
This magnificent trout equals or surpass-
es the Common Salmon in size, and is

Vol. 1, pa«o 410.

Acad. Nai. Science, Phjladulphi

found in most of the lakes and large ponds
in the northern parts of North -America. In
the great lakes at the northwest it is often
taken weighing from JO tout) pounds, and
according to Dr. Mitchell, it has been
taken at Michilimackinac of the enormous
weight of 120 pounds. This fish was
formerly common in lake Champlain and
in several ponds in the western part of
the state, but, like the Salmon, it is now
randy caught in those waters. It is, how-
ever, still found in considerable plenty in
several ponds m the northern part of
Vermont, particularly in Orleans county.
Cell-water pond in Barton, and several
ponds in Glover, Charleston, &c., are
much celebrated on account of the fine
Longe which they afford. These usually
vary from half a pound to 1(1 pounds, but
are often much larger. Individuals arc-
said to have been taken recently in Clov-
er weighing S> pounds, and in Charleston
exceeding -HI pounds.

This fish passes most of the time in the
deepest parts of the lakes and ponds, but
according to Dr. Richardson, results to
the shallows to spawn in October. It is
a very voracious fish, and is sometimes
termed the tyrant of the lakes. It is ta-
ken with the hook and line, and is also
speared by torch light Its flesh is of a
reddish yellow color, and is very much
esteemed as an article of food. Roasting
is said to be the best method of cooking
it. . " The Canadian voyageurs arc fond
of eating it raw, in a frozen state, alter
scorching it for a second or two over a
a quick lire, until the scales can be easily
detached, but not continuing the applica-
tion of heat long enough to thaw the in-
terior.""

TIIK BROOK TROUT.
Saloto fontinulis.—MiTcu ki.t..
DKicuirTioN.— Color abovq brown, with
darker markings, fading into while or
yellowish white on the belly; sides with
numerous roundish yellow spots of un-
equal size, but usually about the bigness
of a small pea ; and also very small bright
red spots commonly situated within the
yellow ones. These red spots are ex-
tremely variable, being very few in some
specjuii us and numerous in others. The
caudal and fust dorsal tin transversely
banded or mottled with black. Head one
seventh '.lie total length, darker colored
than the back. Eyes large, iris silvery.
Teeth hook invvaid, on the jaws, tongue,
palatine bones and vomer ; those on the
tongue largest. Jaws equal. Scales very

liurculi Ala. riruiui, wl. Ill,

ago 180.

142

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

Til K liKOOK TROUT,

THE SM KLT.

minute. Lateral line straight. First dor-
sal tin on tin? anterior half of tin- body;
adipose fin small, brownish yellow mar-
gined with black, and behind the anal;
pectorals under the posterior part of the
operculum; ventrals under the middle of
the first dorsal; first ray of the anal, ven-
tral and pectoral fins white; the second
or third ray usually black, the rest of the
fin reddish. Tail slightly forked.

Rays, Br. 11, P. 13, V. 8, A. 10, D. 10,
C. 19.

History. — The Brook Trout is more
generally diffused over the slate than any
other species offish ; there being scarcely
a brook, or nil of char water, descending
from our hills and mountains in which it
is not found. When the country was
new they also abounded in the larger
streams, where they often grew to the
weight of two or three pounds. But they
have been diminished by the causes al-
ready mentioned, and have been sought
after with such eagerness as the most de-
licious article of food of the fish kind,
that they are now seldom taken in our
streams exceeding half a pound in weight,
and much the greater number of them
weigh less than a quarter of a pound. In
many of the ponds they are still taken of
of a larger size, but their flavor is thought
to be less delicious than that of those ta-
ken in running water, especially in ponds
with muddy bottoms. The rapidity with
which this and other species of fishes mul-
tiply under favorable circumstances was
exemplified in an astonishing manner at
an early day, in Tinmouth, in this slate.
'A stream which was about 20 feet wide,
and which, like other streams, contained
trout and suckers of the ordinary size and
number, bad a dam built across it for the
purpose of supplying water for a saw mill.
This dam formed a pond, which covered,
by estimation, about ItMlfl acres, where
the trees were thick and the soil had nev-
er been cultivated. In two or three years,
the fish were multiplied in this pond to an
incredible number. At the upper end,
where the brook fell in, the fish were to
be seen in the spring running over one
another, so embarrassed by their own
numbers as to be unable to escape from
any attempt made to take them. They
Were taken by the hands at pleasure, and
swim.' caught, them without difficulty.
With a small net the fishermen would
take half a bushel at a draught, and re-
peat their labors with the same success.
Carts were loaded with them in as short
a time as people could gather them up
when thrown upon the banks; and it
was customary to sell them in the fishing
season for a shilling a bushel. While

they thus increased in numbers they also
became more than double their former
size. This great increase of fishes is sup-
posed fo have been occasioned by the
increased means of subsistence, in conse-
quence of carrying the water over a large
tract of rich and uncultivated land.'*

The trout is usually taken with the
hook, and the bait universally used is the
red earth worm, every where known by
the name of Angle Worm. Fishing for
trout is a favorite and common amuse-
ment, and parties frequently go 15 or 20
miles for the sake of indulging in it.

Gents Osmerus. — Artcdi.

Generic Characters. — Body elongated, ™v-

pred «iih small sral-s; I wo dorsal fins, (he first

will) ravs, Hie second tl<-shv without ravs ; ventral

tins under the front [.art of I he first dor^l ; (,.,.,h

the pa

at the

bin

ranch ial i

•pi

THE SMELT.

Osmerus eperluwus. — Arte in.
Yarrell s British Fishes, II— 7a, fig.

J..ui nal Aeml. Nil i. Sci , Phil., 1— -IM.
Fauna lii.ri'iili Amur , r-'i.-lns, |,ag« 165.
Super's Uupurt, Mass. Fishes, pugci 108

Description . — Semi-transparent, color
silvery, greenish above and white beneath;
top oi' the head and edges of the jaws
blackish; under jaw longest, with a keel-
shaped projection near its extremity;
teeth on the tongue and palate, and two
rows on each jaw, mostly large and hook-
inir inwards ; mouth large ; nostrils very
large and nearer to the snout than to the
eye. Eye rather large, ins silvery ; lat-
eral line straight. Scales of moderate
sizi', thin and transparent. Fins slender
and transparent; the dorsal, caudal, and
upper edges of the pectoral brownish;
all the rest white and delicate ; height of
the iiist dorsal twice its length ; ventrals
under the first rays of the dorsal; tail
forked, with spreading, pointed lobes.
Length of the longest of two specimens
before me \) inches, greatest depth I J
inch.

Rays, 11.8, V. 11, V. B, D. II, A. 15,
C. 17.

History.— The Smelt is one of those
migratory species of fishes, which pass a
part of the time in salt water and a part

Williams' History of Vermont, vol, 1, p. fl'J.

CirAP. 5.

FISHES OF VERMONT.

143

THE WI1ITK FISH.

'lit; H LURING FAMILY.

in fresh. Thnusrh not a constant visitant
in our waters, he occasionally makes his
appearance, and is sometimes taken in
lake Champlain in very considerable num-
bers. The form of this fish is long and
■lender, and its bright silvery hue ren-
ders it very beautiful. It is sometimes
taken with the hook, but more commonly
with the net, and is very highly esteemed
as mi article of fond. In Massachusetts,
according to Dr. Storer's Report, 750,000
do/en of these fishes are taken annually
in Watertown alone, and sent to Boston

a arket.

Gfnus Coregonus.
Generic Characters. — Hi-ad small; mouth
mull ami (.•■Irniatf, nr furnished with very small
Ipelh; m-ali-s lar»e ; len«ih of the lir-i dorsal I'm
liss than die hi'i'jlu of i's anterior portion , second
dorsal ad ipo«e and without rays; branchial rays
jeven or eight.

WHITE FISH, OR LAKE SHAD.

Coregonus alius. — Le Sueur.

Journal Ac.ul.-my Nat. Pci , Phil., I -:J32.

Fauna Uureali Ainer , Fislins, p.igu 195, lig

Boston Journal Naturul History, 111-477, pi. 23.
Description. — Form ovate, slightly
tapering towards the tail ; body deep and
thick; head pointed, and with the mouth,
very small ; teeth in the jaws few, and so
minute as scarcely to be perceptible to
the sight or touch in the recent specimen ;
color silvery, bluish gray on the back,
lighter on the sides, and pearly white on
the belly, with a delicate iridescent play
of colors throughout. Scales large, thin,
pearly and very deciduous, arranged in
about 20 longitudinal rows, giving the
fish a slightly striped appearance; lateral
line very nearly straight ; fins small,
brownish, often tinged with red; the dor-
sal mid-way between the snout and the
extremity of the tail ; the posterior rays
of the dorsal and anal fins much shorter
than the anterior, giving those fins a tri-
angular appearance ; adipose fin rather
large; caudal forked and spreading; a
long, slender bract above and partly be-
hind the ventral fins. Length of the
specimen before me, which is considerably
larger than the average size and very fat,
22 inches, depth G, thickness 2j, and
weight .">A pounds.

Rays, Br. 8, P. 15, V. 11, D. 14,-0, A.
14, C. 19.

History. — This fish, though the same
as the celebrated White Fish of the west-
ern and northwestern lakes, is generally
known in Vermont by the name of Ln/.e
Shad. Its Indian name at the northwest
is .htihaicrnrg. This fish is quite com-
mon in lake Champlain, and. in some
years, is taken in the months of .May and
June in considerable quantities with the
seme, it is also found in many of the
small lakes, in Lower Canada, connected
with the St. Lawrence on the smith side,
notwithstanding the assertion of* Dr. Rich-
ardson* that it does not exist in the St.
Lawrence below the falls of Niagara.
This is universally considered a most ex-
cellent fish, and nearly all are disposed to
acquiesce in the opinion of Charlevoix,
that, " whether fresh, or salted, nothing
of the fish kind can excel it ;" but few, I
think, will agree with the Baron La [-Ion-
ian, who says that it should be eaten
without any kind of seasoning, because
" it has the singular property that all
kinds of sauce spoil it " In warm weath-
er this fish should be either cooked, or
salted, soon after it is taken, as it quickly
becomes soft and is spoiled. It is excel-
lent either boiled or fried. The mode of
boiling at the northwest, according to Dr.
Richardson, is as follows: "After the fish
is cleansed, and the scales scraped off, it
is cut into several pieces, which are put
into a thin copper kettle, with water
enough to cover them, and placed over a
slow fire. As soon as the water is on the
point of boiling the kettle is taken off,
shook by a semi-circular motion of the
hand backwards and forwards, and re-
placed on the fire for a short time. If the
shaking be not attended to exactly at the
proper moment, or he unskilfully per-
formed, the fish, coagulating too sudden-
ly, becomes comparatively dry to the
taste, and the soup is poor.'- The stom-
ach of this fish is remarkably thick, and
when cleansed and cooked is esteemed a
great luxury. Th« White Fish is very
thick and fleshy, and on account of the
sniallness of the head, fins and intestines,
the waste in dressing is less than in any
other fish. The greater part of those ta-
ken in lake Champlain are from 15 to 20
inches in length, and weigh from 1 to 3
pounds, though smaller ones are often la-
ken, and occasionally larger ones, weigh-
ing from 3 to ti pounds. They are usually
sold fresh as taken from the water, and
the price varies from (i to 10 cents a
pound. The White Fish seems to subsist
principally upon small molluscous ani-
mals. 1 have sometimes found more

loreali Americana, vol. Ill, pngo 10C.

144

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part J.

II F. WINTER 311AD.

than 100 univalve and bivalve shells in
the stomach of a single fish.

V.-CLUPlDiEoa HERRING FAMILY.

G en u s Alos a . — On vi.cr.

Generic CA/rrartcrx.- fUx\y compressed ; scales

large, thin, and deciduous; head compressed;

cloi»i.«il'lirief.>nniiia a jj'iarp keel-like edge, which
in s.,me specie* is serrated ; upper jaw with a
deep notch in the centre ; -ill rays S.

THE COMMON SHAD.

Aloxa vulgaris. — Cuv.

McMurtrie, Cuvier, ii.2:!5. Yarn-IPs British Fish

es, ii, L3U. Stoicr's Itcuort, I'Lilica of Aluuuchu-

sottsi pngo 1 10.

Description. — Color of the top of the
head and hack bluish ; upper portion of
the sides, including the opercula, cupre-
ous ; beneath silvery; whole body cov
ercd with large, deciduous scales, wit!
the exception of the head, which is na-
ked ; eyes large : pupils black ; irides sil-

ver of th

ey<

distanc
the eye
ed in il
crenate
blotch

)Ual to the

than tin- snout ; upper jaw notcli-
r centre; its lat< ral edges slightlv
1; abdomen serrated; a Clack
il the posterior angle of the oper-
culum; dorsal fin on the middle of the
back, -huts into a groove; height equal
to two-thirds its length ; pectorals silvery;
height to the Length as 3 to 1 ; venlrals
opposite the middle of the dorsal; anal
received into a groove ; caudal deeply
forked. Length of the head to the whole
length of the body as I to 6. Usual
weio-ht from I to 4 pounds.

ifays, I). 19, P. 16, V. <J, A. 20, C. 20.
— S orcr.

History. — This excellent and valuable
fish, which is common both to Europe
und America, was formerly taken in Con-
necticut river in large quantities, partic-
ularly in the neighborhood of Bellows
Falls. It is still taken plentifully in Mer-
rimack river, and in man)' other streams
which flow into the Atlantic, ocean from
N. England. I cannot learn that it has ever
been taken in lake Chainplain, but on ac-
count of some resemblance in form and
appearance between this species and the
Qir.-gonus uVnis, or While Fish, the name
of Shad, or Lake Shad, is here very gen-
erally applied to the latter.

Genus Hiodon. — Le Sueur.
Generic Characters. — The form of a her-
ring ; abdomen trenchant, but not serrated; one
dorsal I'm opposite to the beginning of the anal;
hooked teeth on the ja\vs,vomer and tongue ; head
small; eyes very large and situated near the end
of the snout ; branchial rays t ighl or nine.

jfv,

THE WINTER SHAD.

Hiodon clodalus.— Lv. Sueur.

Hiodon clodalu.i ct II terspsus. Le Sueur, J our. Ac.

Nut.

-3ol,

Description. — Body deep and thin:
back elevated and nearly straight ; belly
trenchant; dorsal fin quadrangular ; ven-
trals with large branching rays, and a
long bract over their base ; anal fin long,
with the anterior portion large and point-
ed, and nearly straight, or rounded with
a depression between it and the posterior
portion. Color towards the back bluish,
with melalic reflections, pearly and sil-
very below ; head small, greenish brown
above, with bronze reflections on the
sides ; dorsal and caudal fins brown,
the others lighter. Eyes far forward,
large, round ; pupil black; ins with yel-
low and pearly reflections. Nostrils large,
double, and very near the end of the
snout; lateral line nearly straight, near-
er the back than the belly, tail deeply
forked ; scales rather large, brilliant, a-
bout GO on the lateral line. Mouth ob-
I , i j il i ■ ; jaws even when shut, but on ac-
count of the obliquity of the gape the
lower jaw appears longest when the mouth
is open ; numerous small conical teeth in
both jaws, on the vomer, palatine bones,
ami tongue, the latter largest and hook-
ing inward. Length I 3.1 inches; depth
3A ; diam. of the eye .7.

"Rays, 15. 8, P. 12, V. 7, D. 11, A. 30,
C. 18.

History. — Le Sueur's account of the
genus Hiodon was published in 1818, in
the Journal of the Academy of Natural
Sciences. In this paper he describes
w hat. he considers two speejes, to which
he gives the name of /7. tergisvs and //.
clottt/lus, but at the same time intimates a
possibility that they may both belong to
the same species. The difference upon
which he constituted the two species, was
in the form of the anal fins, the //. tergi-
svs having the anterior portion of that tin
rounded, with a depression between that
and the posterior portion, and //. claihihts
with the anterior portion pointed, and the
line to the posterior angle nearly straight.
I have before me two specimens, which
were caught at the same time. One is
HU inches long, and has Hie pointed and
straight anal fin of Le Sueur's //. clodalus,
and the other, 1 3 in. long, has the round-
el, notched anal fin of his //. tcrgisus. In
other respects scarcely any difference can

CilAP.

FISHES OF VERMONT.

145

THE COMMON iill.I. Ki-

be discovered, and I have no doubt that
they both belong to the same species.
This fish is often called (he White Fish
by the fishermen. It is considered a very
good fish fur the table, but is not taken in
lake Chaiuplain very plentifully.

Genus Lepisosteus. — Laccpcde.
Generic Characters. — Both jaws with rasp-
like leeihj bavin.' a row of longer, pointed ones
on tliu nur^iu ; braneliin united on the throat by
a common ruembranij. which has three rays on
( ich hide; scales of a stony hardness ; dorsal ami
anal fins opposite to each otlu-r, ttutl far back.

THE COMMON BILL FISH.

Lepisosteus uxijurus. — It af inhere.

Ichthy. ObicnxM, p 74. Kirtland's Report, p IOC.

UoHlon Jour. Nulural History i IV— lti.
LcuuojUus hilmnensis, Fauna Boreali Americana,
p237.
Description. — Body long, cylindrical;
back slightly arched in a regular curve ;
head flattened above and on the sidesmen-
cased in a bony covering, having distinct
stria;, grooves and sutures, with the jaws,
which are thickly set with teeth of differ-
ent sizes, lengthened out into a slender,
flattened beak ; upper jaw reaches beyond
the lower,with nostrils near its extremity ;
tongue fleshy, b'rlobate ; roe green ; eyes
jusUjehind the angle of the mouth, and
near the articulation of the lower jaw.
Color above brownish leaden, sometimes
with an umber hue, darkest on the head,
yellowish pearly white below ; sides spot-
ted with blackish towards the tail ; pecto-
ral and ventral fins brownish ; dorsal,
caudal and anal yellow and ruddy, spot-
ted with black ; dorsal fin commences
over the posterior part of the anal; the
attachment of the caudal oblique, fin roun-
ded, with the outer rays armed with
sharp, spiny scales. Body covered with
thick, strong, hard, bony scales, of rhotn-
boieal form, and regularly arranged in ob-
lique rows. Upon the lateral line, which
is straight, but indistinct towards the tail,
there are 60 scales. Length of the speci-
men bef i" me i{ ft. 1 in-; upper jaw to
the angle of tliu month 7 in . ; from the
angle to the orbit 1.2 in; from the point
ofthebillto the middle of the gill open-
ing 12, or just one third of the total length,
measured through the middle of the cau-
dal fin ; ventrals midway between the
point of the bill and extremity of the tail.
Weight G pounds.

Pt i. I 'i

Rays, P. U, V. 6, D. 8, A. !>, C. 12.

History. — This singular fish was de-
scribed by Samuel Cliamplain, as an
inhabitant of the lake now bearing his
name, more than 200 years ago. He
called it C/nnisuroti, which was probably
the Indian name. The Indians assured
him they were often seen eight or ten
feet long, but the largest lie saw was only
live feet long, and about the thickness of
a man's thigh. It is considered a very
voracious fish, and when any of them are
taken, or seen in the water, the fishermen
calculate upon little success in taking
other kinds. Charlevoix tells us that he
preys not only upon other fishes, but upon
birds also; and that he takes them by the
following stratagem : Concealing himself
among the reeds growing on the marshy
borders of the lake, he thrusts his bill out
of the water in an upright position. Tho
bird, wanting rest, takes this for a broken
limb, or dry reed, and perches upon it.
The fish then opens his mouth and makes
such a sudden spring that the bird seldom
escapes him. Charlevoix also assures us
that the Indians regarded the teeth of this
fish as a sovereign remedy for the head-
ache, and that pricking with it where the
pain was sharpest took it away instantly.
The scales with which this fish is covered
are so thick and strong, as to form a coat
of mail, which is not easily pierced with
a spear. They are taken only occasionally
in the seine at the present day, but aro
said to be sometimes seen in considerable
numbers lying in the marshy coves. Ita
flesh is rank and tough, and is not used
for food. The usual length of those now
taken, is from two and a half to three feet,
though they are often much longer. The
specimen, from which the preceding fig-
ure and description were made, was taken
at the mouth of Winooski river, May 11,
1841. One of the largest specimens which
I have seen was taken at the same place,
June 1G, 1838, and is now in my posses-
sion. It is d(5 inches long, and when
caught weighed 9£ pounds. This species
is found in the great western lakes, and
in the Ohio river, where this and several
other species are known by the name of
Gar Fishes.

%BBi§g?r

THE STRIPED BILL-FISH.

bynsostevs tineakis.

Description. — Color above lightolive,

with a dark line along the middle of the

back, and dark roundish spots on the up

146

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THE LING.

per mandible and towards the tail.* A
broad dark bluish brown stripe commen-
ces (Mi tin} side of the bill, passes back-
ward through the eye, across the cheek
and operculum, and along the side and
through the middle of the tail to its ex-
tremity; below this, commencing on the
lower jaw a little forward of the angle of
the mouth, is a bright yellowish white
stripe, which touches upon the lower side
of the eye, passes through the base of the
pectoral tin and vanishes near the tail ;
still lower is a grayish brown stripe, with
a lighter one along the middle ^A' the bel-
ly to the vent; fins yellowish, spotted
with brown ; under inaudible black ; eye
close to the angle of the mouth, and di-
rectly behind it; pupil black, surrounded
by a bright golden line ; iris brown where
covered by the brown stripe, but lighter
on the upper and lower margin. Rill flat-
ter and broader, proportionally, than in
the /,. uzyimts ; teetli sharp, and of differ-
ent sizes, 4 rows above and 2 below ; up-
per jaw considerably longest, terminated
in a knob on which the nostrils are situa-
ted, and which is articulated over tin; tip
of the lower jaw ; all the fins proportion-
ally much longer and more slender than
in the Ij. oxyw-us, the dorsal and anal
reaching the base of the caudal. Lateral
line straigiit, passing along near the up-
per edge of the dark lateral stripe, con-
taining (J2 scales. Scales rhomboidal,
arranged in oblique rows. Pectoral tins
situated under the membranous prolonga-
tion of the gill cover ; ventrals nearly
medial ; height of the dorsal L in., length
.4, commences over the posterior part of
the anal, and extends half its length be-
yond it; height of the anal fin 1 inch,
length .5; the attachment of the tail
oblique ; tail contained about (J times in
the total length ; the head, including the
bill, a little more than 3 times. Length
of the specimen before me II). 3 inches ;
lower jaw 2, upper 2. 'J, from the snout to
the eye 2.3, to the posterior part of the
gill cover 3.2, to the ventral (ins 5, to the
commencement of the anal 7, of the dor-
sal 7.3; longest rays of the caudal 1.7.

Rays, P. 13, V. 6, D. 8, A. «J, C. 12.

History. — The only specimen which I
have seen of this fish was the one from
which the preceding description and fig-
ure wore drawn. It was taken in Bur-
lington during the drought in August,
I-'! I, in a small cove, whose communica-
tion with the Winooski river had been
cut oil" by the subsiding of the water.
This fish may hi; the young of the prece-
ding species, but finding so many points
of difference, I have thought it best to
introduce a separate description.

O i; r. e r 1 1 l.-Malacoph nj» H— Suhbrachiali.
Fishes of this order have their gills
pectinated, or comb-like, and the ventral
tins verv near the pectoral, either before,
beneath", or a very little behind.

1.— CADIDiG, OR COD-FISH FAMILY.
Gknus Lota. — Curia:
Generic Characters. — Body elongated, one
anal and two dorsal tins; tin: second dorsal and
the anal fin lon» ; cirri more or less numerous.

THE LING OR METHY.

Lola maculosa. — Lr. Sueur.

Rich. Fauna Boruuli, [>.2-18. Khtlunu's Report, 190.
Bost. Jour. Nat. Him. IV— 2-1. (iadus maculusus,
Lo tin. Jour. Acatl. Nat. Sci., t'lnl., I— S3.
Description.— Body thick ; back near-
ly straight from the snout to the tail;
abdomen capacious, and often flabby when
not distended with food or spawn; head
broad and much depressed; upper jaw
longest, with the upper lip extending
considerably beyond the jaw ; snout point-
ed ; orbit elliptical ; eyes rather small and
nearly round, pupil bluish black, iria

yray i

ilden. Above varied with brown-

ish, olive and fuliginous, darkest on the
head; sides obscurely spotted with whi-
tish ; belly yellowish, rusty- white, with
ruddy tinges ; lateral line commences
above the gill opening and runs a straight
course to the middle of the tail : nostrils
double, tin: anterior lengthened into short
cirri ; the cirrus depending from the tip
of the under lip reddish brown; all the
fins brownish with their margins black-
ish; ventral fins before the pectoral, slen-
der and pointed ; pectorals broad and
rounded; first dorsal short; second dor-
sal commences nearly over the vent, and
extends to the base of" the caudal ; whole
outline of the caudal rounded; anal fin
commences about, an inch behind the be-
ginning of the second dorsal, and termi-
nates a little anterior to the termination
of the dorsal ; troth small and card-liko
on the jaws, palate am! throat; tongue

il,.,hy and a lb. Length of the largosl

of three specimens before me 23 inches,
head, to the upper partol'the oil! opening,
1, first dorsal 1.."., second dorsal 9.5, anal
8.3, height of the dorsals and anal I, of
the jugular and pectorals 3, cirrus on flit

lip 1.3

betwi

Chap. 5.

FISHES OF VERMONT,

147

II K EEI.

THE COMMON EEL

thf orliit J .2 ; vent 1 inch nearer the snout
than to the extremity of the tail.

Hays, 11. 7, V. G, l\ aO, O. 10—74, A.
68, C. 40.

History. —This fish, which is quite
common in lake Champluin and its tribu-
taries, 1 have referred to Le Sueur's spe-
cies the Gar/its marti!o$us,iis agreeing more
nearly with his description than with any
other to which 1 have access. There are,
however, several differences between
them. In Le Sueur's species the jaws
nre said lobe equal; in ours, the upper
jaw is uniformly longest ; — in his the lat-
eral line is said to be in the middle of the
body ; in ours, anterior to the vent, it is
much nearer the back than the belly.
Our fish bears considerable resemblance
to the Lota bromaiana described by Dr.
6 tore r in the Boston Journal of Natural
History, vol. IV, page 58. But it differs
from Ins description and figure in having
the upper jaw longest, in having the
Knout more pointed and less orbicular,
&,c. Judging from the descriptions with-
out specimens for comparison, I should
nay that our fish differs as much from eith-
er of the species referred to, as they dili'er
from each oilier, and that they either con-
stitute three distinct species, or are all
varieties of the same species.

The Ling is held in very low estima-
tion as an article of food, the flesh being
tough and the flavor unpleasant. This
fish is one of the greatest gormandizers
found in our waters. If he can procure
food, he will not desist from eating so
long as there is room for another particle
in his capacious abdomen. He is frequent-
ly taken with his abdomen so much dis-
tended with food as to give him the ap-
pearance of the globe or toad-fish. The
smallest of the three before me, when my
description was made, being 16 inches
long, was so completely filled with the
fishes swallowed, that their tails were
plainly seen in its throat by looking into
its mouth. On opening it, 1 found no
less than 10 dace, L. pulchettus, all about
the same size, and none of them less than
4 inches long. Seven of these were en-
tire, and appeared as if just swallowed.
Upon the others, the digestive process
hail commenced.

THE EEL-POUT.
Lota cofnpressa. — Le Sueur.
Jour. Acad. Nut. Kci., 1—84. sJtorcr's Report, 13-1.
Description. — Color of the back and
sides yellowish brown, variegated with
darker brown spots; <nll cover and snout
darkest; abdomen whitish. Body in front
of the first dorsal cvl udrical, lirghiniiijf

to be compressed at the sides, at the ex-
tremity of the pectorals, gradually becom-
ing mure so towards the tail, so that the

gallon of the body; body covered with
minute scales, looking like cup,shaped
depressions ; lateral line straight, con-
spicuous. Head much compressed ; eyes
circular; nostrils double; a minute cir-
rus rises from the back of each anterior
nostril, and from the tip of the chin ; up-
per jaw longest; jaws and palate armed
with minute" teeth.' First dorsal lighter
than the body, situated the length of the
head back of head, short ; second dorsal
long, reaching to the tail ; anal, the same
length as the dorsal ; caudal rounded;
most of the fins margined with black.
Length of the specimen li niches, head 1.
Kays could not be counted on account of
the fleshy texture of the fin-membrane.

History. — This fish is found in Con-
necticut river and its tributaries. Not
having obtained a specimen of it, 1 have
copied Dr. Storer'a description. It was
first described by Le Sueur, from a speci-
men obtained at Northampton.

Order IV.— Malacopterygii— Avoof.s.

Fishes of this order have long bodies, a
thick skin, and no ventral fins.

MURTENIDiE, OR EEL FAMILY.

G ENUS MuR/ENA. — LiilllO US.

Generic Characters.— Body cylindrical, elon-
gated, covered will) a ihick and sinooih skin ; iho

scales very small, lubricated will) copious mucous
secretion; mouth with a row ofteclli in eacli jaw,
and a few on the anterior pari vi' the vomer ; pec-
toral fins close tu a small branchial aperlure; no
ventral fins; dorsal fin, anal fin and caudal fin

united.

THE COMMON EEL.
Mwrena vulgaris.

Murcim anguilla, Ian. et. Pen. .tirtrruilla acnt.iros-

Iris, Wit.II, lliil. Fishes, II— -2lC Ji. r»l.%o

Trans. Lit. and t'Jii. Sue. N. V., I-3U0. '

Description.— Specimen iil inches in

length ; from the tip of the snout to the

base of the pectorals 3.(1 to the vent 13 3,

to the commencement of the anal 13.8 ;

circumference just before the eyes XM>,

one and a half inch from the tip of the

148

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part 1.

II E BLACK E EI.

SILVER EEL.

upper jaw 3.7, at the base of the pectorals
5, at the commencement of the dorsal 6.5,
of the anal 5.7, distance between the eyes
.(i, height of the pectorals 1.4, base .(>.
Body cylindrical ; color above dark olive
brown, extending down low upon the
sides; belly white, or yellowish white,
sometimes with a ruddy tinge ; lateral
line irregular, indistinct, and above the
middle of the body, before the vent, be-
hind it, medial and straight to the middle
of the tail; jaws narrow and rounded at
the end ; lower jaw longest, lipped with
brown; lips fleshy; a broad band of small,
short teeth in each jaw and upon the vo-
mer: eye over the angle of the mouth,
pupil black, iris golden ; nostrils near the
eyes; a short fleshy cirrus on each side
of the snout ; small mucous pores on va-
rious parts of the head ; gap of the mouth
small ; gill opening small and under the
anterior origin of the pectoral fin. which
is pointed; dorsal, caudal and anal fin
united. Pectoral rays 12. Vent 3 inches
nearer the snout than to the extremity of
the tail.

History. — This is the common Eel in
Vermont, on the west side of the Green
Mountains, and also in Canada, where it
is taken in very large quantities. When
skinned and skilfully cooked it is an
agreeable and nourishing article of food,
and is by many considered one of our best
fishes; some, however, find it dillieult to
surmount the prejudice occasioned by its
slender snake-like appearance. The or-
dinary weight of those taken in our
streams is from 1 to 3 pounds. By com-
paring the above description with the two
following, it will be seen that this Eel dif-
fers very materially from those found in
other parts of New England, particularly
in the relative position of tlie pectoral
fins. By comparing our Eel with the de-
scription and figure of the Sharp-nosed
Eel, AnguUtaaaOiroslris, in Yarrell's Brit-
ish Fishes, vol. II, p. 284, I find the agree-
ment in the position of the fins, &c, so
perfect, that I have little doubt that they
belong to the same species, and that the
Common Eel of the St. Lawrence and its
tributaries is identical with the Common
Eel of Great Britain. Between our fish
and Yarrell's figure there are some slight
differences. In the figure the head is too
broad, and the middle rays of the pectoral
fins are too short. In our fish the middle
rays are longest, making the fin appear

pointed.

THE BLACK EEL.

— Le Sueur.

,sl(,..

l-il. Sloror'

Journal

Df.scription. — Specimen 23 inches in

Nut. Science, Phil.
Report, page 1.07.

length : from the tip of the snout to the
base of the pectorals 8 inches ; circumfer-
ence of the body back of the head, at the
commencement of the pectorals, ;t.-l inch-
es ; at the commencement of the dorsal
fin 3.4 ; around the head 3 0, at the dis-
tance of J. 5 from the snout; in front of
the eyes 1.7; from the- tip of the lower
jaw to the anal fin ]()._i inches ; width of
the body over the pectorals 1.2, pupil
black, iris golden ; width between the
eves .4 ; lateral line indistinct. Color
grayish brown above; yellowish white
beneath, with a tinge of red about tho
tail.— Slorcr.

History. — The Common Eel, found in
Connecticut river, and in the streams and
ponds in this slate on the east, side of the
Green Mountains, I suppose to belong to
this species. Not having obtained speci-
mens of this and the following species, I
can only give Dr. Storer's description of
them. In some of the ponds this Eel
grows to a very large size. They are fre-
quently taken at the outlet of Barnard
pond weighing 8 or 10 pounds.

THE SILVER EEL.

Murana ai

-Le Suf.ur.

Description. — Specimen 23 inches in
length ; from the tip of the snout to the
base of the pectorals 7.^ inches; circum-
ference of the body back of the head at
the commencement of the pectorals 3£,
around the head U inch from the snout
3, in frontof the eyes 1.4, at the origin of
the dorsal '.).\; from the tip of the lower
jaw to the anal tin !U ; width of the body
over the pectorals .7 ; width between the
eyes .3. Lateral line exceedingly dis-
tinct, appearing to divide equally the
darker colored back from the beautiful
lighter silvery abdomen For the extent
of b* inches in front of the anal orifice, a
well marked line or furrow resembling in
appearance the lateral line. — S'orcr.

History. — The fish known by the name
of Silver Eel on the east side of the Green
Mountains in this state, 1 suppose to be-
long to this species, but I have had no
opportunity for deriding the point by tho

II. CARTILAGINOUS FISHES.

1. STURlONID./E,OR STURGEON FAM-
ILY.

Fishes of this Family have free bran-
clue, wide gill openings, an operculum,
but no ravs in the jjill membrane.

Chai'. 5.

FISHES OF VERMONT.

149

THE ROUND-NOSED Sl'UHGEON.

THE SHARP-NOSED STURGEON

Genus Acipekser. — Lin nans.
Generic Characters. — Body elongated, which,
with ll.e head, is provided with rows of radiated
bony promini nces ; snout pointed, conical ; nioulli
placed on I lie under surface of the head, tubular,
mid without teeth.

ROUND-NOSED STURGEON.
Acipcnscr rubicundus. — Le Sueur.

Description. — General color bluish
gray above, white with brushes of ruddy
beneath ; all the fins of a brownish hue,
und slightly ruddy, with the outer margin
whitish; form rounded, elongated and ta-
pering regularly to the caudal ; head roun-
ded ; snout short and rounded ; upper
jiart of the head with a bony covering :
three rows of small and slightly develop-
ed bony tubercles without spines extend-
ing the whole length of the body, one on
the back, and one on each side along the
lateral line. Plates or tubercles on the
lateral line 31 or '32 ; also a few plates be-
tween the dorsal and anal, and the cau-
dal; but there are no ventral rows as
there are in the oxyrhynchiis and most other
species. Eyes rather small, prominent,
iris dark golden ; nostrils double and
large ; four equal cirri suspended in a
transverse line between the mouth and
end of the snout, hut nearest the latter,
being 2 in. from the snout and 2\ from
the mouth ; cirri 2k inches long, round
the size of a goose-quill at the base, and
tapering to a point ; color brownish white
excepting their pouts, which are red ;
mouth under side of the head, tubular,
ovate, 3 in. by 2 in., and capable of 2 in-
ches protrusion. All the fins thick. The
anal commences 4^ in. behind the vent,
and a little behind the middle of the dor-
sal. Color of the intestines dark ; stom-
ach a thick sack resembling a fowl's giz-
zard. Length .of the specimen before ..ie
•1 ft. 2 inches ; weight !2(>i lbs. Length
of the head to the total length as I to fi ;
distance between the eyes -1 in., from the
eyes to the end of the snout L1; from the
nose to the commencement of the dorsal
37 inches.

History. — This fish is quite common
in lake Champlain, and grows to a. very
large size. It is frequently taken in the
seine measuring more than 6 ft. in length,
and weighing 100 pounds or more. Its
flesh, though not generally very much
esteemed, if properly cooked is very good
eating. When eaten fresh it is usually

cut into slices and fried in butter, with
suitable seasoning ; but whether eaten
fresh or salted, the skin should always be
taken off before it is cooked, as the oil
contained in that imparts a disagreeable
flavor. The Indian method of capturing
the Sturgeon in lake Champlain, according
to Charlevoix (Travels, Vol. I — 1 19), was
as follows : : Two men placed themselves
in the two ends o"a canoe. The one behind
steered and the other stood up holding a
dart in one hand, to which one end of a
long cord was fastened, and the other end
fastened to the canoe. When he saw a
Sturgeon within his reach, he threw his
dart and endeavored to strike where there
were no scales. If the fish was wounded
he darted off, drawing the canoe pretty
swiftly alter him, but usually died after
swimming about 150 paces, and was then
drawn in by the cord.'

THE SHARP-NOSED STURGEON.
Acipcnscr oxyrhtjnehus. — Mitchell.
Description. — Body elongated, taper-
ing ; form pentagonal, with the angles
covered with rough, radiated bony plates,
each having a saddle-like base and a spur-
like process arising from its centre and
hooking backward, and usually termina-
ting in a sharp point ; the rest of the skin
roughened by small scabrous patches of
bony matter, resembling the spieuho of
minute crystals ; head encased in a bony
covering, and lengthened into an acute,
conical snout; mouth on the under side
of the head, ovate, toothless, and protrac-
tile ; four cirri depending in a cross row
between the mouth and the end of the
snout, a little nearest the latter. The
operculum is a single radiated bony plate ;
eyes rather small, the anterior part of the
orbit just midway between the point of
the snout and the posterior margin of the
operculum ; nostrils before the eyes, dou-
ble, lower orifice much largest. Color
grayish brown above, yellowish white be-
neath. Bowij plains \2 between the en-
casemen of the head and the dorsal fin,
one of which rests anon the base of the
dorsal, anil is usually without a spine ; be-
tween the dorsal and the caudal is usual-
ly one large plate and two or three smal-
ler ones ; lateral plates variable, but gen-
erally 26; ventral plates from 8 to 10 ;
the spur-like processes longest and most
pointed in the smaller specimens ; usual
length from 2 to 3 feet.

1.50

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I

THE lSr.UK

I.AM

'REV. T,

IK MUD

LAMl'HEY.

History. — This fish is occasionally ta-
ken in lake Champlniu, and is here known
by the name of Rock Sturgeon, ll seldom
exceeds 3 feet in length or 20 pounds in
weight, hut is much more generally and
highly esteemed as an article of food than
the preceding species, some even ranking
it as one of our hest tidies for the table!
This, like the preceding, should he skin-
ned before it is cooked, and for the same
reasons.

II.— CYCLOSTOMID/E, OR LAMPREY
FAMILY.
Fishes of this family have their jaws
fixed in an immoveable ring. Their bran-
chial are fixed with numerous openings.

Genus Petromvzon. — Ldimaus.
Generic Characters. — Body eel-shaped ; mouth
circular, armed with tooth-like processes; bos
funning a continuous circle around the mouih ;
seven openings (in each side ef the neck, leadina
to seven branchial cells; no pectoral or ventral
fills ; dorsal, anal and caudal fins formed by an ex-
tension of the skin on those part*.

THE BLUE LAMPREY.

Pelromyzon nigricans. — Le Sueur.

Trans. Am. Phil. Soe. N. S.1.385. Storer'a Rep.197.

Description. — Color above dark bluish
gray, beneath and fins dingy white; sev-
eral rows of blackish dots about the head
and neck. Anterior third of the body
cylindrical ; the posterior two-thirds flat-
tened laterally, and very much so toward
the tail; head slightly linttcned above and
terminated in an oblique, oval or circular
mouth, which is armed within with nu-
merous yellowish, spinous teeth, project-
ing from widened bases, and surrounded
by a lleshy lip which is margined with a
row of fine papilla- ; a small white spot on
the top of the head between the eyes, in
front of which is a spiracle. The first
dorsal commences in the middle of the
fish, the separation between the dorsals
merely a notch ; the length of the first
dorsal contained 4£ times in the second.
Length of the specimen before nie 5 inch-
es,— head, to the eye, 1 inch, to the vent
3.1, width of the mouth A.

History. — The fresh water Lampreys,
or Lamprey- Eels, as they are more com-
monly called, rescmhh , in their habits,
the Blood-Sucker much more than the

ordinary fishes. They obtain their sub-
sistence principally by attaching them-
selves by their mouths to the bodies of
larger fishes, and drawing nourishment
from them by suction; for this purpose
their mouth and tongue are admirably
adapted, the latter acting in the throat
like the piston of a pump, while the cir-
cular lips of the former adhere closely to
the side of the fish, and by these means
the softer parts of the larger fish are drawn
into the ith and swallowed by the par-
asite. When a Lamprey once fastens
himself, in this manner, upon a large fish,
he adheres with such force as to baffle all
the efforts of the fish to rid himself of hia
unwelcome incumbrance. Fishes arc fre-
quently taken in the seine with Lampreys
still adhering to them, and others with
deep depressed wounds upon their sides,
affording indubitable proof of their having
been attached. The fresh water Lain"
preys seldom exceed <j or rj inches in
length, and no account is made of them
as an article of food.

Genus Ammoccetks. — Dumer.
Generic Charadcrs.— -Form of die body, th«
branchial apertures ami fins, like lliose of die Lam-
preys ; upper li|> semi-circular, with a straight,
transverse under lip; moulh without teeth, but
furnished with numerous sbort membranous cirri.

THE MUD LAMPREY.
Ammoaztes concolor. — Kirti.and.

Boston Journal Nat. History, vol. III. p. ]?y, pi. 28.
Description.- — Form nearly cylindri-
cal for two-thirds the length, then grad-
ually flattened to the extremity of the
tail, where it is (mite thin ; color yellow-
ish brown above, gradually becoming
lighter towards the belly, but without tho
dividing line between the lighter and
darker parts, mentioned by Le Sueur in
his description of the A. buvtor. Eyes so
minute as hardly to be seen by the naked
eye ; nostrils on a light colored disk on
the upper part of the head in front of tho
eyes ; upper lip longer than the lower, in
the form of a horse-shoe, protractile and
capable of being closed so as to conceal
the lower one ; small papilla) on the in-
side of the lips and fringes Within tho
mouth. Tho branchial openings, seven
in number, commence below and a little
bark of the eye, and extend backward,
passing obliquely downward, the aper-
tures appearing like short oblique slits.
Sides with an annular, or ribbed appear-
ance. The fin, which is of a dull yellow-
ish color, commences near the middle of
the back, passes round the tail ami termi-
nates just behind the vent. About three

Cuj

INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT

151

I'lUIbll WATER AND I AMI S11E1.1.

fourths of an inch from the commence-
ment is a considerable depression in the
fin lor more than half an inch, but it dues
in>l amount to a division. The fin rays
are white, minute and forked. The long-
cat of three specimens before me 5.3 inch-
es ; from the snout to the posterior bran-
chial opening 1.1, to the vent 4.1. Rays
too small to be counted.

IliMouy. — This lish agrees very well
with Kirtland's description excepting the

depression in the dorsal, and that the
broadest part of the dorsal is some d.s-
tancc behind the vent. Daring the drought
in September, J till, I found large num-
bers of these fishes, which had buried
themselves in the mud at the bottom of
the small coves along the banks of Wi-
nooski river, from which the water had
evaporated. This lish is known in many
places by the name of Mud-Eel, or Blind-
Eel.

CHAPTER VI.

INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT

Prelim inn nj Observations.
Invortebral animals are such animals as
are destitute of a spine or back bone, and
nre so exceedingly numerous that, with
the exception of the molluscous animals,
we shall not even attempt to give a cata-
logue of them. The animals of this great
division are extremely various in their
structure, habits, and dispositions. Some
have their bodies protected by a shelly
covering, while others have their bodies
and limbs surrounded by crustaceous
plates, while, again, others have no other
covering than a soft and tender skin A
few only of them have red blood, and
none of them possess all of the five senses.
In many cases the sexes are united in the
aaine individual, and in some cases the
species is continued by a process some-
what resembling vegetation. They all
afford eminent manifestations of the wis-
dom and skill of the Cheater; and, though
generally regarded as insignificant and
contemptible, many of them contribute
hugely to the comfort and interest of man,
while a still greater number are employed
ill annoying and injuring him.

Section I. — Moelusca.

Frcsh-Wqlcr and Land Shells.

Prepared expressly fur this work,

By Ciiaki.es B. Adams, A. M.,

Professor of Natural Ifi.itunj, Middlcbury College.

FAMILY PEkTsTOMIANA.
Genus 1' vt.iiivina.
(u iin-ii: Characters.— ?,h, '.I conoid ; wliorl-i

iiuaily orbicular, with the margins united. Oper-
culum (hill, corneous, concentric. Animal with
(ho head short ; rostrum small and truncate ; ten-
tacles slender, with die eyes on an enlargement
at their base ; foot broad, thin.

1

■J

Puludina decisa. — Say.

Description. — Shell ovate-conic, with
revolving rows of bristly filaments when
young, smooth when mature, green; apex
truncate ; whorls six, convex ; suture
deep ; spire a little longer than the aper-
ture, which is pyriform ; umbilicus very
small. Length 1.25 inch; breadth 0.75
inch ; divergence of the spine 58°.

Rem auks.— This species is very com-
mon in ponds and streams, and is found
near the water's edge partly buried in
mud or sand. Sometimes they are found
crawling at. the distance of a few feet
from the water. They are viviparous, and
produce their young in May. These, at
birth, are furnished with a shell about an
eighth of an inch in diameter, globular,
and of a pah: horn color, and are nearly
transparent. In the progress of growth,
the shell becomes proportionally more
elongate, and the part which was formed
previous to birth is invariably broken off.
They are very ran \y f imd helcrostropliu
One such individual, of the size of a pea,

152

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Tart 1.

KilKSH WATER AN1I LAND SHELLS.

was found in Otter Creek, in Middlebury.
Patudina Integra. — Say.

Description. — Thi
resembles tlie precedi

ipe.

pncies

that a
scriptton is unnecessa-y. L
truncated, so that, with a greater d
gence of the spire, it is, nevertheless
longer than that she1'.. It is also thicker,
and the whorls are less conve . This
shell is common in the western states, but

common

it is extremely rare in Vermont, only thr
or four spei

been obtained
in lake Champlain. Length 1 .3 inch;
breath 0.73 inch ; divergence of the spire,
633.

Paludina porata. — Say.

Description. — Shell conic, horn col-
or ; whorls four and a half, convex ; su-
ture rather deep; apex subacute, spire as
long as the aperture, the labium of which
is appressed to the penultimate whorl ;
umbilicus rather large. Length 0.27 in.;
breadth 0.19 inch ; divergence of the
spire 72°.

Remarks. — This species is found plen-
tifully in streams and in lake Champlain.
It is sometimes brownish or greenish.

Paludina lustrica. — Say.

Description. — Shell ovate-elongate,
horn Colnr ; whorls four and a half, con-
vex ; suture rather deep ; apex very ob-
tuse ; spire as long as the aperture, which
is ovate-orbicular, with the labium not,
appressed to the penultimate whorl, and
sometimes scarcely touching it ; umbili-
cus small. Length 0.16 inch ; breadth
0.1 I inch ; divergence of the spire 47-\

Remarks. — This small species is com-
mon in lake Champlain. It differs from
the preceding in the obtuseness of the
apex, less divergence of the spin', and
small umbilicus ; also in the labium,
which is quite distinct from the penulti-
mate whorl, so that the shell much resem-
bles a valvata.

Genus Valvata.

Generic Characters. — Shell discoid or co-
noid ; whorls cylindrical ; aperture orbicular, nol
modified by the penulliinale whorl; margins con-
tinuous.distinct from the penultimate whorl. Oper-
culum orbicular, concentric. Animal with lie
foot bilolied before ; head proboscidiform ; tenta-
cles very long, sloodor, obtuse, cylindrical ; eyas
sessile) behind the tentacles, with a branchial (il-
ameiit resembling a third tentacle.

Valvata tricar inata. — Say.
Description.— Shell depressed, conic,

jlet ly striate ; suture

well impressed ; whorls three or four,
rendered subquadrangular by the revolv-
ing carina:, of which two appear on
the spire, and t'iree on the last whorl;
these ate very much raised, rounded,
equi-d'sUnt, the inferior bordering the
umbilicus, which is broad and deep. —
Length 0.13 inch ; breadth 0.22 inch ; di-
vergenco of the spire 90°, sometimes
much greater.

Remarks. — This shell, very curious on
account of its carina;, is common in lake
Champla;n, and in some of our streams.
Varieties occur in which the middle cari-
na is obsolete, or in which none are very
distinct.* Other varieties have the spire-
less elevated, or even in the plane of the
last whorl.

Valvata sine era. — Say.

Description. — Shell globose-discoid,
obsoletely striate, brownish-green ; whorls
three and a half, accurately rounded, rap-
idly enlarging to the aperture ; suture
deeply impressed ; spire but little eleva-
ted ; apex obtuse; umbilicus deep, about
two-thirds as wide as the last whorl; mar-
gin of the aperture touching the penulti-
mate whorl. Length 111; breadth 0.2
inch ; divergence of the spire about 135°

Remarks.— This shell is much like the
var. simplex of the preceding species.
The umbilicus is usually a little larger,
but the most striking characteristic is the
rapid enlargement of the whorls, the last
being more than three times the diameter
of the penultimate. The divergence of the

spire is never so sn

as in that spt

hut like that is sometimes much moro
than in the type of the species, even to

ibuJ.

FAMILY MELANIANA.

Genus Mei.ania.
G wsric Clwra

uclcrs — Shell turrited ; aperture
so ; columella thickened, arcualo.

inn truncate; tentacles filiform,

■dde, at or near their base.

•ION.-

i, obs

Melanin dopijgis.—8A.Y. Var.
Description. — Shell elongate-conic,
yellowish horn-color, with a broad rltrbus
band on the whorls of the spire, with n
second similar band on the lower third of
the last whorl ; upper whorls carinate on
the lower side; whorls eight or nine;
spire twice as lonsj as the aperture. Length
0.53 inch ; breadth 0.22 inch; divergence
of the spire 33°.

* far. simplen.-GoVl.li.

II

Chap. G.

IN VERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.

153

E RES II WATER AND LAND SHELLS

Remarks. — This species is interesting,
as the only representative in New Eng-
land of a family whose species are so nu-
merous in the Southern and Western
states. Ih-re it is found only on our west-
ern bonier in lake Cliamplain, where but
a few specimens have been obtained. It
lias some claims to be regarded as a new
species, differing much in its proportions
from the type of Say's species. But since
specimens from Ohio vary much in their
proportions, we have not been 6atisiied
that it is a distinct species.

FAMILY LIMN.EANA.
Genus Limn.ea.
C, ncric Ckaradt rs. SMI dun, oval or
pale; sptro elevated, more or less acute ; apt'
longer than wide ; margins mil continuous ;
niclla with a single oblique lull. No cpciru
Animal hermaphrodite, spiral; head depres
tentacles flattened, triangular, short, with
eyes ut their base, on the inner front side ;
thin, oval, shorter than the shell.

Li m n mi 7)i egasom a. — Say.

Description. -Shell large, ovate, brown,
with coarse incremental stria? ; whorls
five, convex ; last whorl very large, infla-
ted ; * suture deep ; spire two-thirds as
long as the aperture, which is large.
Length 2 inches; breadth 1.2 inch; di-
vergence of the spire ;")8°.

Remarks. — This large and noble spe-
cies was originally discovered in the
North West Territory, in latitude 48°.
Subsequently it has been found only in
Burlington. It is very rare in cabinets,
but quite recently the author of this
work discovered a large number in Bur-
lington, at a low stage of the water.
Li hi ncca appressa . — S a v .

Description. — Shell large, thin, horn
color, elongate ; whorlsseven; upper ones
planulate, lower ones convex, last one
much enlarged and obtusely shouldered
above ; suture not much impressed ; spire
long, slender ; apex acute ; aperture long-
oval ; margin thin and sharp ; coluinellar
fold strong. Length 1 .75 inch ; ; breadth
0.75 inch ; divergence of the spire above
33°, below 40°.

Re marks. -This species has been found
for the most part with the preceding at
Burlington. Its claims to be regarded as
distinct from the /.. stagtuitis, of Europe,
are very slight.

vVhorb inndTerteiilly

il' wuy in our figure.
Ft. i. 20

tolVti tlie

Lhmuca gracilis.— Jay.

Description, — Shell very long and
slender, pale horn color; whorls four and
a half, very oblique, slightly and regular-
ly convex ; suture not much impressed ;
aperture more than half as long as the
spire, long-oval ; labium entirely separate
from the penultimate whorl, moderately
reflected, with a large rima behind it, as
strong as the labrum. Length 1 inch;
breadtli 0.18 inch ; divergence of spire 1&~'.

Remarks. — This extremely rare spe-
cies was discovered by Prof. Benedict, in
Lake Cliamplain, at Crown Point. One
or two specimens have been found on the
Vermont side of the lake. The shell is
remarkable for its length, which is nearly
six times the breadth, although the whorls
are very few. The development of the
labium is also very remarkable. No oth-
er species can be compared with this.
Limn ica ■pallida . — Adams.

Description. — Shell moderately elon-
gate, ovate-fusiform, very pale horn color,
semi-transparent, not very thin, with fine
irregular stria: of growth, whorls five and
a half, moderately convex ; suture well
impressed ; spire four-fifths as long as tho
aperture, acutely conic ; apex sub-acute ;
body whorl not much enlarged, somewhat
produced below ; coluinellar fold mode-
rate ; umbilicus large. Length 0.48 inch ;
breadth 0.22 inch ; divergence of the
spire 45°.

Remarks. — This species is rather com-
mon in hike Cliamplain, clinging to rocks
and stones. It has not yet been found in
any other region except in Andover, Ms.
It is sometimes nearly white. It differs
from L. desidiosa in having its columella
much less tortuous, and its aperture less
elongated below the fold.

Liinnir.ii dudes. — Sav.

Description. — Shell brown horn-color ;
whorls seven, convex; suture well no
pressed; spire longer than the aperture,
conic, sub-acute ; last whorl somewhat
ventricose; labium appressed closely to
the penultimate whorl; columella promi-
nent, with a very strong fold. Length
1.2 inch ; breadth 0.5."> inch ; divergence
of the spire 45°.

Remarks — FJmmm v)iiLn>s<ry S \ v, is
probably only a variety of this species, its
principal difference consisting in the roc-
bleuess of its coluinellar fold, which is, in
this species, of a variable character. This
variety is much more abundant in Ver-
mont than the type of L. chides. This
species differs from /.. desidiosa chiefly
in not having the columella produced in
a straight line below the fold ; from L.
yailida in the less proportional size of the

154

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

IKKSlI WATER AND J. AND SIIEM.3.

Tart L

last whorl, and greater convexity of the
whorls ; from L. palustris of Europe chicily
in the greater convexity of the whorls
and less acumi nation of" the spire. Ry
some it is regarded as a variety of the
latter.

Limneca desidiosd. — S a v.
Description. — Shell brown horn col-
or, elongate-ovate'; whorls nearly six,
slightly convex ; suture distinct ; spire
about as long as the aperture, which is
lengthened below ; col'iunellar fold feeble;
labium Oppressed : columella produced be-
low the fold in a straight line. Length
0.55 inch ; breadth 0.25 inch ; divergence
of the spire 45° to 55°.

Remarks. — This species is very com-
mon, and is subject to great variation of
form, frequently being elongated, and re-
sembling L. rtodes. Other individuals are
short, as in Say's figure (Am. Conch.,)
and the upper part of the last whorl is in-
flated and more or less shouldered, while
the lower part is produced as is usual.
This variety approaches L. umbilicata of
Mass., which has the umbilicus larger,
and the lower part of the last whorl ab-
breviated, inflated, and globular.

Limneca caper ata. — Say.
DKSCR1PTI0N.--Shcll ovate, brown, with
minute revolving raised lines, which are
in some very distinct, and in others most-
ly obsolete ; whorls nearly six, convex ;
auture distinct ; spire about as long as the
aperture, conic, acute ; columella reddish,
slightly folded, thickened, and reflected
over an umbilicus. Length 0.45 inch;
breadth 0.24 inch ; divergence of the
spire 57°.

Remarks. — This species is well char-
acterized by the revolving raised lines,
which will generally be seen around the
umbilical region, when obsolete elsewhere.
The last whorl and the aperture are more
regularly rounded than in the preceding

species.

Genus Physa.
Generic Characters.— Shell hetcrostrophe, shi-
ning, otherwise like Limnaia ; operculum want-
ing; animal with long, slender tentacles i having
the eyes at their base on the inner sido.

Phijsa ancillaria. — S.\ v.
Description.— Shell ovate, yellowish
brown, sometimes of a bay color ; whorls
four, flattened; suture not impressed;
spire'less than one-fifth of the length of
the aperture ; apex acute ; last whorl very
large ; aperture acute and narrow above,
wide below ; outer lip often thickened
within ; columella produced in a right
line below its fold. Length 0 65 inch ;
breadth 0.43 inch; livergence of the]
spire 11UJ. I

Remarks.
plentifully,
Champlain.

bay color.

-This species, seldom found
s not uncommon in lake
It is there found of a deep

1'hijsa hiterostroplia.SxY.
Description. — Shell ovate, brown;
whorls i\vv, slightly convex; suture slight-
ly impressed ; apex acute ; aperture acute
and somewhat narrowed above; columel-
la produced in a right line ; outer lip of-
ten thickened within. Length 0.75 inch;
breadth 0.45 inch ; diver</ence of the
spire varying in different shells from 65°
to 70°.

Remarks.— This species is abundant in
various parts of this state. Its young are
not easily distinguished from those of the
preceding species.

Physa gyrina. — Say.

Description.— Shell long-ovate, yel-
lowish brown ; whorls five, "slightly con-
vex ; suture moderately impressed ; apex
acute ; aperture less acute above than
the preceding species ; columella a little
curved below ; outer lip often thickened
within. Length 0.55 inch ; breadth 0.75
inch; divergence of the spire 50°.

Remark. — This species is very rare in
this state.

Physa hypnorum. — Drap.

Description.— Shell elongate, yellow-
ish brown ; whorls six, moderately con-
vex ; suture well impressed ; apex acute;
spire nearly as long as the aperture,
which is regularly narrowed to the tip;
columella oblique, in its lower part turned
backwards and upwards ; outer lip not
thickened within. Length 0.58 inch;
breadth 0.'25 inch ; divergence of tho
spire 45 J.

Remarks. — This species, described by
Say as P. clonxata, does not diller from
the European shell, whose name we have
prefixed to it. It is found in swamps and
in small sluggish streams.

The above four species of Physa differ
chiefly in the ratio of the spire to the aper-
ture, and in the divergence of the former,
which depends on the ratio of the length
und breadth so far as it is uniform in dif-
ferent parts of the spire. The gradation
in these characters is parallel, as may bo
seen by a comparison of their measure-
ments.

Genus Planorbis.
Generic Characters. — &hcll with the revo-

ClTAP. G.

IN VERTEBRAL ANIMALS OE VERMONT

15£

WATER ANH LAND SHELLS.

lalions of iho spire in a plane, and subsequently
visible on. both fi.ks; aperture lun;ited by the iu-
Irnsion of iho penult wnorl ; operculum none ;
animal long, rolled up like the sh< II , bead saddle-
shaped-; tentacles lo:.^', contractile, w it;i the eyes
at ibeir innerJjase.

Planorbis lentus, P. corpulcntus, and
P. trivolvis, of Say, are undoubtedly va-
rieties of one species, to all of which the
following description will apply.

Description. — Shell brown, sometimes
greenish, coarsely striate across the whorls,
of which there are four and a half; inner
whorls sharply carinate on the left side ;
Buture very deep, except between the in-
ner whorls of the left side, where it is not
depressed below the carina; inclination
of the shell to the left from a perpendicu-
lar 15° to 20° ; aperture extending beyond
the plane of the left side, sometimes be-
yond that of the right side, narrowing
from the right to the left, with about three
quarters of the height of the penult whorl
moderately intruding. Greatest breadth
1.1 inch ; least breadtli 0.36 inch ; height
of aperture 058 inch.

Remarks. — Sometimes the carination
of the left side extends through all the
whorls. The extension of the aperture
on the right side is of a very variable
character, especially at different ages,
and in some localities the growth is very
exuberant. A remarkable example of the
latter case occurred in Otter Creek, just
below the falls in Middlebur}', where
great numbers of large and beautiful spe-
cimens were obtained in the spring of
183;), although they have since entirely
disappeared.

Planorbis cavipnnulatus. — Say.

Description. -Shell brownish or green-
ish yellow, finely striate; whorls lour and
a half, narrow, sub-carinate on the left
side ; inner whorls on this side scarcely
depressed below its plane, exhibiting the
apex distinctly ; cavity of the right side
very profound ; inclination from a per-
pendicular to the left about 30o ; aperture
abruptly campanulate, oblique, including
the lower two-thirds of the height of the
penult whorl. Greatest breadth 0.5!> inch ;
least breadth 0.45 inch ; height 0.27 inch.

Remarks. -This species resembles some
small varieties of the preceding; but is
distinguished by the abruptly campanu-
late aperture, and the narrowness of the
outer whorl, which in this species is
scaroely wider than the penult whorl,

while in that species, owing to the rapid
enlargerm nt ol the whorls frjun the cen-
tre, the last greatly exceeds all Lhc others.
Planorbis bicariwitus. — Say.

Description.— Shell brown, or green-
ish horn color; irregularly striate across,
with very slight revolving stria! ; whorls
three, carinate on both sides, but more
acutely on the leftside; suture generally
coincident with the carina; except in the
last semi-volution on the right side ; cm-
cavities of both sides equally deep, that of
the right wider; inclination to the left
about 20°; aperture large, angulated by
the left carina, embracing four-fifths of
the length of the penult whorl. Greatest
breadth 0.63 inch ; least breadth 0.44 in. ;
height of aperture 0.31 inch.

Remarks.— This species inhabits both
quiet and running waters in ponds and
streams of every size. It is very common.
Planorbis armigerus. — Sa v.

Description. — Shell brownish horn
color, feebly striate, shining ; whorls four,
subcarinate on the left side ; right side
slightly concave, left side deeply'umbili-
cated ; suture distinct and well impress-
ed on both sides ; inclination to the left
about 40° ; aperture nearly orbicular,
slightly intruded upon by one-fourth of
the heigh! of the penult whorl, very far
within armed with six teeth, of which
two are on the inner side, one on the mid-
dle, elevated, lamellar, oblique, tortuous,
large, the other just below it very small,
nearly conical ; four on the outer side, of
which the two left are large, elevated, la-
mellar, oblique, converging outwardly,
the two on the right small, subconic, but
little elevated. Greatest breadth 0.31
inch ; least breadth 0.31) inch ; height of
aperture 0.13 inch.

Remarks. — This species is remarkable
and singular in the genus for its teeth,
which have been elevated, by Haldeman
to a generic character. It is common
among dead leaves in .still water. In
swamps which are dried in the summer,
it then takes refuge in the moist earth and
leaves.

Planorbis exacutus.— Say.
Description-. Shell extremely thin and
fragile, brown, sometimes encrusted with
a blackish substance, ineiiiscoid ; whorls
four, connate on the left side: inner
whorl on the right side slightly depress-
ed ; left side deeply umbilicaled ; last
whorl much broader than all the others,
convexly compressed on both sides to an
extremely acute, medial carina : inclina-
tion to the left about GO" ; aperture large,
cordiform. Greatest breadth 0.34 inch ;
least breadth (). I fl inch J height 0.055 inch.

izg

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT,

Pa nil.

I'M Sll WAT1

Remarks. — This species is more com
pressed than iiny other native Planorbis
the breadth being usually almost tour
times the height; the regular doable eon-
vex form is also remarkable ; also its ten-
uity, a full grown specimen vveighing on-
ly .05 of a grain.

Planorbis parvus. — Sa v.

Description. — Shell brownish horn
color, feebly striate, shining ; whorls three
and a half or four, moderate!}' increasing;
both sides concave, but the left more than
the right ; Inst whorl stibcarinatc in the
middle ; inclination to the left about 40° ;
aperture subclliptical, slightly modified by
the intrusion of two thirds of the height
Of the penult whorl ; greatest breadth
0.23 inch ; least breadth O.'J inch ; height
0.07 inch.

Remarks. — This species is found plen-
tifully in a great variety of stations.

Planorbis dcjlcctus. — Say.

Description. — Shell horn color; fine-
ly striate; whorls four; last whorl well
rounded, indistinctly carinate below ;
right side convex, flattened at the apex;
left side deeply concave ; suture deep ;
inclination to the left about 45° ; aperture
round-ovate ; greatest breadth 0.17 inch ;
least breadth 0. 1 3 inch ; height 0.06 inch.

Remarks. — The shell above described
is P. elciatus, Adams, which is probably
the young of Say's species. It is very
nearly allied to the preceding, but differs
in the elevation of the spire on the right
eide, and deeper concavity of the left, and
in the absence of a medial carina ; the
last whorl is also often abruptly deflected
downwards.

Planorbis hirsutus. — Gould.

Descrii'tion.-SIu'II horn-color, striate ;
epidermis green, with raised revolving
hirsute lines ; whorls three and a half, last
one strongly carinate in mature shells,
less so in the young, and in the former
often abruptly deflected downwards near
its termination ; right side with a small
narrow concavity ; left side sometimes
generally concave, sometimes like the
right; inclination to the left about 40° to
50°, increasing with age; aperture nearly
orbicular, scarcely modified by the intru-
sion of the penult whorl. Greatest breadth
0.31 inch; least breadth 0.25 inch; height
0.1 inch.

Remarks. — The mature shell resem-
bles P. deflectus, but is distinguished by
the medial carina of the outer whorl. It
very nearly resembles P. alius of Europe,
and probably is not specifically distinct.

FAMILY COL1MACEA.

Genus Succinea.

Generic, Ci'utrct£tcrs. — Shell ovale or ovaic-

conic, umber-colored ; aperture large, longer than

will,-; onlcr li[i sharp, never reflected ; columella

Icled, Ih
jntaelcs

Siiccinca oblit/va. — Sa?.
Description. — Shell ovate, striate ;
whorls three, oblique; spire half as long
as the aperture ; last whorl very large and
convex; aperture ovate, nearly as broad
above as below, somewhat oblique. —
Length 0.07 inch; breadth 0.55 inch ; di-
vergence 70°.

Remarks. — In the New England stalcrt
this shell is generally of a deep umber
color, but in Ohio it is pale. It is found
in moist grounds, under stones and wood.
The animal is beautifully mottled with
dark purple on a cream-colored ground.
It goes into winter-quarters in October,
forming a thin transparent epiphragm.
The shell which we have described may
be 6'. campcslris, Say, or more probably
the latter is only a variety of 6'. obliqua.
Succinea oralis. — Say.

Description. — Shell ovate, somewhat
conic, striate ; whorls three ; spire less
than one-third as long as the aperture,
small, conic ; last very large, elongate,
patulous; aperture very large, exhibiting
much of the interior of the spire, ovate.
Length 0.(il inch; breadth 0.3 inch ; di-
vergence 64°.

Remarks. — This species is common
about the margins of water. It is ex-
tremely fragile.

Succinea arara. — Sav.

Description. — Shell small, ovate, co-
nic, striate ; whorls three, very convex,
with the suture very deeply impressed;
spire conic, five-sevenths as long as the
aperture, which is not large, ovate. —
Length 0 3 inch; breadth 0.17 inch; di-
vergence 07".

Remarks. — The shell which Snv de-
scribes under the name of S. rcrmcttr is
probably the adult of this species. The
aperture is proportionally larger in the
young, as is also true of S. obliqua. When
young a viscid substance attaches dirt to
the shell, which becomes clean when

mature.

Gents Bui.imus.

Generic Characters. — Shell ovale, or oMon<r-

Chap. G.

INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.

157

FRESH WATKK A N U LAND SHELL

ovate, with tin: last whorl larger than the penult ;
aperture longer than wide; with the margins no!
continuous ; columella smooth, sometimes trun-
cate. No operculum. Animal of the form of the
iiholl, with four tentacles, of which the larger are
oculiferous. The number of species in this genus,
Including; the sub-genus Achat ina, exceeds two
hundred. But not more than six or eight are
known in tho United States, and only ono in New
England.

Bulimus lulricus. — Drap.

Description. — Shell oblong ovate,
brown, shining ; whorls six, moderately
convex ; suture well impressed ; spire
twice as long as the aperture, which is
ovate; labrum a little thickened within,
making a little more than a right angle
with the columella, which is truncate.
Length 0.26 inch ; breadth U.I inch; di-
vergence 4')° in the upper part of the
spire, below it is much less.

Remarks. — This species, being com-
mon over a large part of Europe, is sup-
posed by some to have been introduced
thence into this country. It is remark-
able, on this supposition, that it should
have spread as far as the lake of the
Woods and lake Winnipeg. As the di-
vergence below the middle is very slight,
the shell, when half grown, is nearly as
wide as when mature.

Genus Pcfa.

Gnaic Characters. — Shell cylindrical; apex
obtuse ; aperture parallel to the axis of the shell,
rounded below, more or less binngular above ; mar-
gins reflected, separated by a lamina apprcsseil on
the columella. No operculum. Animal with the
form of the shell ; with four tentacles, of which
tbe larger two are oculiferous at theit summit,
nnd the others are very minute.

Although a large portion of tho exotic species
exceed a half inch and many an inch in length, the
native species are all minute, and some of them
are the least of all our shells.

Pupa milium. — Goui.n.

Description. — Shell ovate, brown, shi-
ning, with slight incremental stria? not
discernible without a microscope ; whorls
five, convex ; suture well impressed ; apex
very obtuse ; aperture horizontally trun-
cate above by the penult whorl, indented
on the outer lip, with six teeth, of which
one is at the indenture of the labrum, two
very small teeth are in the lower part of
tbe aperture, on the left side is a larger
tooth double at its base, and at right an-
gles to this are two on the horizontal mar-
gin ; the umbilicus is large. Length
0,06 inch ; breadth 0,03 inch.

Remarks.— This, species, the least of all
which have been de tcribed in this coun-

try, was originally discovered in Middle-
bury. Its weight is 0.005 of a grain. It
lives under moist decaying leaves, and at
the font of limestone ledges. None but a
naturalist would find it.

Pupa ovata. — Say.

Description. — Shell brown, ovate, ta-
pering above tbe penultimate whorl ;
whorls five, convex, with a distinct su-
ture ; aperture small, ovate, with tin in-
denture on the right side ; with six pri-
mary teeth, of which two are on the trans-
verse lip, viz. a large one on the middle,
and a small one to its right ; two arc on
the left and two on the right side ; some-
times a very small tooth is found on the
lip

rth,

left part of the transverse
0.0« inch ; breadth 0.05 in

Remarks. — In color this species resem-
bles l>. milium, but is easily distinguished
by its size and proportions, and the ar-
rangement of the teeth. P. mtulcslti, Say,
for which this species has sometimes been
mistaken, is described as having only four
teeth.

Pvpa badia. — Adams.

Description. — Shell reddish brown,
cylindrical, very obtusely tapering in the
two upper whorls; whorls seven, moder-
ately convex, with a well impressed su-
ture ; aperture orbicular, less than one
third of the length of the shell, with tho
margin slightly reflected, and the sub-
margin contracted, with a single rather
small tooth on the penultimate whorl; um-
bilicus moderate. Length 0.1 1 ; breadth
0.07 inch.

III. marks. — This rare species was dis-
covered by Prof. Benedict at Crown Point,
where, only, it has yet been found. Its
aperture is wider, and umbilicus less than
in P. mnrgihata, Drap. of Europe, but it
may be only a variety. It is easily dis-
tinguished by its mahogany color.

Pupa armifera. — Say.

Description. — Shell oblong ovate, of
a dingy white, striate ; whorls seven, a
little convex, with a moderately impress-
ed suture ; apex very obtuse ; aperture
subovate, with six teeth, of which the lar-
ger on the transverse lip is obliquely elon-
gated, and nearly meets the labrum above;
one is on the left side, and four are hehiw
and on the right side; of the latter, the
first and fourth are the least, and are
sometimes wanting. Length 0.17 inch ;
breadth 0.0!) inch.

Remarks. — This is the largest species
of Pupa found in the United States, and
by its color is distinguished from all w Inch
approximate to it in size. It occurs plen-

158

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part 1.

ERESII WATT. It AM* LASH SHELLS.

tifully at Crown Point under stones in
very dry situations. A few dead speci-
mens have been found in Bridport, on the
margin of lake Champlain, which may
have been drifted from the opposite side.

Pupa albilabris. — Ward. Inedit.

Description. — Shell brown, finely stri-
ate, long-ovate, tapering above the penult
whorl ; whorls six, convex, with a well
impressed suture ; aperture a little less
than half as long as the spire, without
teeth, with a reflected, white, thick, ilat-
tcned margin ; umbilicus moderate. —
Length 0.18 inch; breadth 0.07 inch.

Remarks. — This species is well known
as Sa3''s cyrlostoma viarghiala. As the
latter specific name is preoccupied in the
genus Pupa, to which it belongs, it has
received the name under which we have
described it. A very few specimens only
have been found alive at Crown Point,
and one dead on the Vermont shore of the
lake.

Pupa contracta. — Say.

Description. — Shell white, ovate, ta-
pering above the body whorl ; whorls five,
convex, with a well impressed suture ;
aperture sub-triangular, with the trans-
verse lamina raised, and forming with the
labrum a continuous lip, much contracted
in the throat, with three teeth, one on the
transverse lip, large, prominent, and sin-
uous, another on the right side, where the
throat is most contracted, and the third is
merely a convexity caused by the fold of a
large umbilicus. Length 0.1 inch ; breadth
0.06 inch.

Remarks. — This species is easily rec-
ognized by its elevated transverse lip. It
is found under wood or stones in moist
pastures.

Pupa Tappaniana. — Ward. Inedit.

Description. — Shell very small, pale
Jiorn color, translucent, tapering above
the penultimate whorl ; whorls a little
more than i\ve, convex, with a well im-
pressed suture ; aperture sub-orbicuhir,
(the penult whorl cutting off about one-
third of the circle,) about one-third of the
length of the shell ; margin sharp, with a
narrow contraction in the sub-margin,
beneath which is a thickening within, on
which are the labial teeth ; teeth eight,
jive primary and three secondary ; of the
former the largest is on the penultimate
whorl, the next largest on the left side of
the aperture ; at the base, beginning at
the left-hand, is a primary, then a secon-
dary, a primary, a secondary, a primary,
and another secondary, extending nearly
to the upper extremity of the right mar-
gin : the last three primaries are not con-

stunt
0,08 i.
Re;
tn
te<

size ; umbilicus open. Length
i ; breadth 0,05 inch.
u<s. — This species is easily dis-

ished ft

the

its

Pupa cziiftia. — Say.

Description. — Shell white, shining,
elongate, tapering above the penultimate
whorl; whorls six, convex, with a well
impressed suture ; aperture ovate, with
the upper lip oblique, margin reflected
and thickened, teeth two, of which the
larger is on the oblique lip, and the other,
which is small, is on the leftside; umbil-
icus distinct. Length 0,08 inch; breadth
0,03 inch.

Remarks. — This shell is easily distin-
guished by its neat, shining appearance,
and graceful form. Jt is more common
than any other species of this genus in
Vermont, and is found under stones and
logs in moist places.

Genus Helix.
Generic Chamc/as.-Shel\ orbicular or globose,
usually convex or conoid above, but sometimes
flattened ; apertuie wider ihan long, semi-elliptic
or lunate, contiguous to the axis of ihe shell, with
the outline interrupted by the intrusion of the pe-
nult whorl. No operculum. The animal, com-
monly called a snail, has (our tentacles, of which
the posterior pair are larger and oculiferous.

Helix alboIahris.—S.w.

Description. -Shell fflobose-conic, with
a light brown, sometimes reddish epider-
mis, with five parallel oblique incremen-
tal si rite, and very minute revolving lines;
whorls five and a half, convex, with a
well impressed suture ; aperture contract-
ed by the labrum, which is white, flat,
broadly reflected, and extends beneath to
the centre of the shell, covering the um-
bilicus, which is open only in the young.
Greatest breadth 1.35 inch ; least breadth
1 inch ; height 0.8 inch ; divergence of
the spire 135".

Remarks. — This species is found very
commonly in most parts of Vermont.
On the islands called the Four Brothers,

Ciur. G.

INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.

159

ERESU WATER AND LAND SHELLS.

in lake Champlain, it is abundant, in com-
pany with Succinea obliqua. The reddish
variety is rare. The size of mature speci-
mens is sometimes less than an inch in
their greatest diameter. During the day,
except in damp weather, they are confined
to their retreats under logs and stones.
Their eggs are white, nearly globular, and
about U."J inch in diameter. The young
eliell does not receive the reflected lip
until of its full size.

Helix thyroidus. — Say.

Description. -Shell globose-conic, with
is light brown, sometimes reddish epider-
mis, with five parallel oblique incremen-
tal stria) ; wborls five, convex, with a well
impressed suture ; aperture contracted by
the labium, which is widely reflected,
flat, white, next the aperture, yellowish
externally ; inner margin with an oblique
tooth; umbilicus partly covered by the
reflected labrum, exhibiting only one vo-
lution. Greatest breadth U\!)5 inch ; least
breadth 0.7 inch ; height 0.47 inch ; di-
vergence 140°.

Remarks. — This species is extremely
rare in Vermont, but is more common in
the western states. It might, at first, be
confounded with the preceding, but is
distinguished by the tooth on the inner
margin of the aperture, the partially open
umbilicus, and the yellow color of the
outside of the labrum.

Hdix dentifcra. — Binney.

Description. — Shell depressed, with a
yellowish horn-colored epidermis, with
fine parallel oblique incremental stria; ;
whorls five, with the suture distinct but
not deep ; aperture contracted by the lip,
which is white, and broadly reflected ;
inner lip with a large tooth, long and par-
allel with the lower margin; umbilicus
none. Greatest breadth O.it inch ; least
breadth 0.G inch ; height 0.4-1 inch ; di-
vergence 135°.

Remarks. — This very rare species has
been found only by Dr. Binney on the
east side of the Green Mountains.

Helix palliata, — Say.
Description. — Shell depressed, with a
dark reddish brown epidermis, which is
thickly covered, when in a perfect state
of preservation, with acute hair-like pro-
jections ; with numerous fine oblique in-
cremental strite; whorls five, flattened,
with a distinct suture ; aperture much
contracted and made three-lobcd by the
teeth ; labrum white and broadly reflect-
ed ; teeth three, of which one is long and
curved, nearly covering the pillar lip ;
two are on the inner margin of the la-
brum; one above is acute and prominent,

and tbe other below is long and lamellar;
the labrum is continued over the umbili-
cal region in a white callus. Greatest
breadth 0.9 inch ; least breadth 0.6 inch ;
height 0.48 inch ; divergence about 160°.
Remarks. — This species, which is not
rare in the western states, is seldom found
in Vermont. It is easily distinguished
from II. tridentata by the want of an um-
bilicus.

Helix nwnodon. — Rackett.

Description. -Shell globose-conic, with
a brown hirsute epidermis, with minute
incremental stria) ; whorls six, with a dis-
tinct suture ; aperture contracted by a
deep groove behind the tip, which it)
white, reflected, flattened, covering more
or less of the umbilicus, which is deep
but not wide ; inner lip with a compress-
ed elongated tooth, parallel with the low-
er part of the margin. Greatest breadth
0.45 inch ; least breadth 0.42 inch; height
0,'Jfi inch; divergence 13.>.

Remarks. — In this description we have
included //. ft uler na, Say, a variety in
which the umbilicus is entirely covered
by the labrum. As this is a variable char-
acter, and the other characters present no
distinction, we cannot separate them.
Rackett's name has the priority both of
Say's description of the variety and of
Eerussac's use of the same name for an-
other species. This is common on hill
sides in rather dry places. Specimens
vary in respect of size and the elevation
of the spire.

Helix concava. — Say.

Description. — Shell depressed, a little
convex above, with fine oblique incre-
mental stria; ; epidermis pale greenish
horn color ; whorls five, flattened above,
elegantly rounded below, the outer one
dilating towards the aperture, with a well
impressed suture; labrum partially re-
flected below, simple above ; inner lip
with a thin callus, which connects the ex-
tremes of the labrum ; umbilicus wide
and deep, exhibiting all the volutions.
Greatest breadth 0.7.5 inch ; least breadth
0.6 inch; height 0.33 inch; divergence
about 155°.

Remarks. — This species is rare in Ver-
mont, but more common in the western
states. West of the Rocky Mountains it
is of a much greater size, exceeding an
inch in diameter.

Hdix pu/dnlhi.—Mvi.L.
Description. — Shell much depressed,
pale horn color, nearly transparent, finely
striate, with a colorless epidermis; whorls
three and a half, convex, with a deep su-
ture, the last one much larger than the

160

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT

Taut I

FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.

preceding ; aperture nearly orbicular, di-
lated ; labrum much thickened, while,
reflected, scarcely interrupted by the in-
trusion of the penultimate whorl; umbil-
icus large. Greatest breadth 0.095 inch ;
least breadth 0.078 inch ; height 0.05
inch ; divergence 160°.

Remakks. — This species is remarkable
for its wide geographical distribution. It
is common in Great Britain and a large
part of Europe, and in this country is
found as far south as South Carolina, as
far west as Council Bluffs, and as far
east as Maine. It is very abundant in
some parts of Vermont. It is the H. mi-
nuta of Say.

Helix S/niii. — Binney.

DKSciuPTioN.-Shell depressed globose,
with numerous line oblique incremental
stria; ; epidermis very light brown, shi-
ning; whorls live and a half, convex,
with a well impressed suture; labrum
white, narrow, reflected, with a small
rounded tooth on the inner edge below;
inner lip with a small oblique tooth on the
middle ; umbilicus not very wide but deep
and exhibiting all the volutions. Great-
est breadth 1 inch ; least breadth 0.8 inch ;
height 0.55 inch ; divergence 135°.

Remarks. — This species was originally
described by Say with the name of//, dio-
iloiita, but as this name had been preoccu-
pied, Dr. Binney proposed that of //.
Si/i/ii. The species is rare in Vermont.
It is easily recognized by its narrow lip
and two small teeth, of which, however,
the one on the inner margin is some-
times wanting.

Heli.c trident, tta.— Say.

Description.— Shell depressed, a little
convex above, will) crowded oblique in-
cremental stri;e ; epidermis brown ; whorls
five, a little flattened above, with a dis-
tinct suture; aperture three-lobed, con-
tracted by a groove behind the labrum,
which is white, reflected, llattened, fur-
nished with two acute prominent teeth ;
inner lip with a prominent, oblique and
slightly curved tooth ; umbilicus rather
wide, deep.

Remakks. — This species is widely dis-
tributed, having been found in Florida,
and in the western states. In the former
region it is very small, in the latter very
large. In Vermont it is of an interme-
diate size.

Helix hbyrhiikiat.— Say.
Description. — Shell small, elevated
conic above, flattened below, with very
coarse, regular, oblique incremental strise,
no crowded that the intervening spaces
are rounded ribs, which are obsolete be-

neath ; epidermis brown, sometimes in-
clining to horn color ; whorlssix, convex,
with a well impressed suture ; labrum
thickened, reflected, and usually reddish
brown; inner margin with two compress-
ed, perpendicular, parallel teeth, which
are prolonged into the throat of the aper-
ture, resembling the track of a rail road ;
but the lower tooth is smaller, and some-
times obsolete; umbilicus narrow and not
deep. Greatest breadth 0.1 inch; least
breadth 0.08 inch ; height 0.08 inch ; di-
vergence 135° in the upper third, half as
much below.

Remarks. — This beautiful little shell
is at once distinguished by its peculiar
teeth. The ape rture is sometimes of an
elegant red color. It is found under
leaves in the forests, and at the foot of
limestone ledges. It occurs as far west
as Council Blulfs.

Helix inJrntuta.—S.KY.

Description. — Shell much depressed,
convex above, shining, of a pale horn col-
or, nearly transparent, will) distant, near-
ly equi-distant impressed transverse lines,
of which there are 25 to 30; there is often
an impressed line parallel with and imme-
diately below the suture; whorls four and
a half, slightly convex, with a distinct
impressed suture, and rapidly enlarging;
aperture large ; labrum sharp, terminating
beneath at the centre of the shell, where
is a deep indentation rather than umbili-
cus. Greatest breadth 0.18 inch; least
breadth 0. IT) inch; height 0.08 inch ; di
vergence 100°

Remarks. — This species resembles //.
arborca, Say, but is distinguished by its
distant impressed lines, by the enlarge-
ment of the last whorl, and the want" of
an umbilicus. It is rare.

Helix arborca. — Say.

Description. — Shell somewhat de-
pressed, convex above, shining, of a pale
horn color or brown, nearly transparent,
with very fine crowded incremental stria; ;
whorls nearly five, convex, with a well
impressed suture; aperture a little modi-
fied by the intrusion of the penult whorl;
labrum sharp ; umbilicus deep, about thrco
fourths as wide as the last whorl. Great-
est breadth 0.3 inch ; least breadth 0.26
inch ; height 0 15 inch ; Sivergence 135°.
Remarks. — This very common species
is found both in a dry and in a wet sta-
tion. In the former, the shell and the
animal are of a pale horn color, and smal-
ler. In the latter the shell is brown, and
the animal nearly black. The dimensions
above given are of a large specimen of
the latter variety The species is xtty

CrtAP. 0'.

1NVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.

161

UESH WATKI1 AND LAND SHELLS.

widely distributed through the United
Suites and Missouri Territory.

Helix clcctrina. — Gould.

Description. — Shell much depressed,
convex above, shining, of a pale horn col-
or, sometimes yellowish or brownish, near-
ly transparent, with numerous very fine
incquiclistant impressed lines or striaa of
growth ; whorls three and a half, slightly
.convex, with a well impressed suture, and
an impressed line immediately below the
suture, ami parallel with it ; the last
Whorl rapidly enlarging; aperture large,
Slightly modified by the intrusion of the
penult whorl ; labrum sharp ; umbilicus
narrow and deep. Greatest breadth 0."2
inch, least breadth 0.1 <j inch; height 0.1
iaeh ; divergence Ki.V.

Rkm arks.— This species much resem-
bles H.indcntuta above, but has the stria;
much more numerous, and usually one
whorl less; beneath the resemblance to
//. urbored is equally striking, but the
umbilicus is not ho wide. Without exam-
ination Kif both sides, it is very liable to
be confounded with one or the other of
the above species. It has been found in
Missouri, Ohio, Massachusetts, New York
and Vermont.

Helix inornnta — Say.

Description. — Shell much depressed,
convex above, shining, with very line ob-
lique incremental striae ; epidermis brown
horn color ; whorls live, slightly convex,
with a distinct but not deep suture ; the
last whorl much larger than the prece-
ding ; aperture very wide, much modified
by the intrusion of the penultimate whorl,
with an opaque white deposit within,
which is a little distant from the sharp la-
brum : the latter extends nearly to the
centre of the shell, projecting 'in lo the
small umbilicus. Greatest breadth 0.55
inch ; least breadth 0.47 inch ; height 0.57
inch; divergence IC5°.

Rkmarks. — A single specimen only of
this species has been found in Vermont,
in Middlebury, It closely resembles 11.
cetlaria, Mull.

Helix fuliginosa. — Griffith.

Dks< iuption -Shell globose-conic, with
very minute irregular oblique stria1 of
growth ; epidermis dark smoky brown ;
whorls four and a halt; convex, with u
well impressed suture ; the last whorl
much larger than the preceding; aperture
nearly orbicular, not much modified by
the intrusion of the body whorl, with a
very thin deposit on the inside ; umbili-
cus deep, moderately wide. Greatest
breadth 0.05 inch ; least breadth 0.3 inch ;
heigh! 1). 5 inch ; diverg ice- I35\
Pi i. 21

Remarks. — This species is not com-
mon. It. resembles the preceding, but
differs in size, color, form of the aperture,
and greater width of the umbilicus. It is
the II. hicubruld of Saj', a name perhaps
entitled to preference, since that of Grif-
fith, although previously in use in cabi-
nets, was not published until after Say'u
name had appeared in print.

I h lix in ultidentata . — 1J l N s e v .

Description.— Shell much depressed,
conoid above, shining, reddish brown,
translucent, with very fine, somewhat reg-
ular impressed lines or stria; of growth;
whorls seven, narrow, convex, often with
a very small impressed line revolving just
above the suture, which is deep ; the
whorls increasing but slightly in diame-
ter ; aperture narrow, very much modi-
fied by the intrusion of the penult whorl ;
labrum sharp ; teeth in rows, far within
the aperture, on its outer and lower half;
the rows are curved, with the convexity
towards the aperture, and contain from -1
to 6 closely approximate teeth, appearing
through the shell, under a magnifier, like
glass beads ; the number of rows varies
from two to four, of which one only is
visible from the aperture ; the umbilicus
is very narrow and deep. Greatest breadth
0.12 inch; least breadth (1. 1 1 inch; height
0.06 inch ; divergence 150°.

Remarks. — This elegant little species
was discovered by Dr. Binney in Straf-
ford, and has since been found in Middle-
bury, also in New York, at Malone. It
has so little resemblance to any other
species, that comparison is unnecessary.

Hi lix mliuiscala. — Binney.

Description. — Shell depressed, whi-
tish horn color, with microscopic incre-
mental strim; whorls more than four, very
oiiivi x, with a deep and very conspicu-
ous suture ; last whorl not much larger
than the preceding; aperture nearly cir-
cular, not much modified by the intrusion
of the penult whorl ; labrum sharp ; um-
bilicus very large. Greatest breadth 0.0S
inch; least breadth 0.07 inch; height
0.03 inch ; divergence about 150°.

Remarks.— This little species has been
found in Ohio and in this slate. In size
and color it is like II. puhhr.lt a% but in the
other characters is at once distinguished.

//,/', lineatn.—S.w.
Description.— Shell very much d<--
eSscd and discoid, with parallel equi-
jlant raised revolving lines; epidermis
een; whorls four and a half, very con-
suture, last

ho

111 a

enl.i

i till

;h modified bj i

! 11.,

1G2

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

FRESH WATER AND LANH SHELLS

of the penult whorl ; labrum sharp; um-
bilicus) concave, very broad and deep, ex-
hibiting very distinctly all the volutions
to the apex ; far within the aperture may
often be seen a pair of conical teeth on the
inner side of the outer whorl, one on the
middle, the other below ; sometimes one
is obsolete ; often a second and sometimes
a third pair may be seen through the sides
of the shell much farther within. Great-
est breadth 0.14 inch ; least breadth 0.13
inch ; height 0.06 inch ; divergence never
less than 160°, usually 170*.

Rim auks. — Above, this shell resembles
H. mulliJcntiihi, in the depression of the
Hpire and narrowness of the whorls, but
in the other characters is very different.
No other native species has such revolv-
ing minute carina', ft has been found
in the northern and middle states.

Helix striatella. — A. nth.

Description.— Shell depressed-convex,
with very much crowded deep incremen-
tal stria;; epidermis reddish or yellowish
brown ; whorls four, convex, with a well
impressed suture, moderately increasing
in diameter ; aperture nearly circular,
slightly modified by the intrusion of the
penult whorl ; labium sharp : umbilicus
not so wide as the last whorl, deep, dis-
tinctly exhibiting the volutions to the
apex. Greatest breadth 0.25 inch ; least
breadth 0.22 inch ; height 0.12 inch; di-
vergence 140'-' to ITju0.

Remarks. — This species is quite com-
mon in Vermont, ft resembles 11. per-
spective, Say, a species, which has not
been found in the New England states.
The latter has one or two more whorls,
the umbilicus much wider, and the stria;
much coarser It is also a larger shell.
This species does not appear to differ
from the European shell, 11. ruderata,
Studer. Comparing specimens from
Stiria with those of Vermont, we are un-
able to detect any difference. But as
some naturalists are not convinced of their
identity, we have retained the name of
the American author, although the Euro-
pean name has the priority of many years.

Helix alternate! . — Sa v.
Dr.scRiPTioN.-Shell depressed-convex,
with acute, raised, equi-distant obliquely
curved stria?, which render the shell sca-
brous ; epidermis horn color, varieo-ated
with rufous spots aril bars obliquely ar-
ranged ; whorls six, convex, with a well

impressed suture ; aperture very oblique,
nearly circular, brilliant, sometimes pearly
within; labrum sharp; umbilicus broad
and deep, exhibiling all the volutions ;
beneath, the colored bars arc more regu-
lar, and converge into the umbilicus : they
are interrupted by a colorless zone a little
below the middle of the last whorls. Great-
est breadth 1 inch ; least breadth 0.87
inch; height 0.59 inch ; divergence 125°
to 135J.

Remarks. — This species has been found
throughout most of the territory of tho
United States, ft is very common in this
atate, living under stones and logs on
hill-sides in rather moist but not wet pla-
ces. When young, its outline is carina-
ted. ft resembles the //. radio ta, of Eu-
rope, but cannot be mistaken for any oth-
er American species.

Helix ckersina. — Say.

Description. — Shell elevated and con-
ic above, convex and shining beneath,
strisn of growth excessively minute; epi-
dermis brownish amber-colored ; whorls
six, very convex, with a deep suture, not
increasing much, so that the last is but
little larger than the penultimate whorl;
aperture very wide, reaching to the axis
beneath, much modified by the intru-
sion of the penultimate whorl; labrum
sharp; umbilical region indented. Great-
est breadth 0.115 inch ; least breadth
0.105 inch; height 0.0'J inch; divergence
90" b

Remarks. — This and W. labyrinihica
are distinguished from other native spe.
cies of Helix by the elevation of the spire,
and are very distinct from each other in
most characters other than size and form.
The species is not very rare in this state,
and having been found in Georgia and the
North West Territory, is, no doubt, wide-
ly dispersed. From its minute size it is
liable to escape detection.

FAMILY L1MACIANA.
Genus Vitkina.
Generic Characters.— Shell with a depressed,
convex, obtuse spire, with but few whorls, of
which the last is extremely large ; the aperture is
very large, wider than long, interrupted by the pe.
null whorl ; umbilicus wanting. The shell ia ex-
tremely lliin ami transparent, ami is capable of
containing only a part of the animal. No op-
L-rutllism. Tin: animal is much too large to enter
the shell, resembling a Helix. It is long, mostly
straight, with the posterior part distinct, spiral,
protected by the shell ; with four tentacles, of
which the anterior pair is veiy short.

Vitrina pellucida. — D rap.
Description. — Shell globose-discoid,
shining, with the incremental striu) ex-

Chap. G.

INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.

163

ri'.lMI WATER AND I. AND SHIM. IS.

cessively minute, transparent, and nearly
colorless; whorls tun and a half, scarcely
convex, with the suture but little im-
pressed, sometimes with a slightly im-
pressed line revolving near the suture ;
aperture elliptic, not much modified by
the intrusion of the penultimate wjiorl ;
labrum.thin and sharp ; inner lip slightly
reflected. Greatest- breadth 0.24 inch;
least breadth O.lSinch; height 0.12 inch;
divergence about XnK

Remarks. — This species, well known
over a large part of Europe, was observed
first on this continent by Mr. Say, who
remarks that it " was first found near
Coldwater Lake, in lat. 4S:{ N., under
stones, fallen timber, A;c. It afterwards
occurred, in similar situations, until we
approached Lake Superior, when it was
no more seen." This side of Lake Supe-
rior it lias been found only at Rogers'
rock, near the N. E. extremity of Lake
George, within the space of a sipjare rod.
As it occurred so near to Vermont, and
will very probably be found within its lim-
its, we have included it among our spe-
cies. It does not appear to dilTer from
the European shell, except in the want of
u greenish tinge.

Genus Limax.
Generic CAaracters.--Amm&] without** shell,

oblong, convex above, furnished with a leathery
ehield over the anterior dorsal region ; beneath
with a flattened longitudinal foot ; with four ten-
tacles, of which the posterior pair are larger and
oculiferous ; with the branchial cavity beneath the
shield, opening on the right 6ide.

The species of this and of kindred geneva are-
commonly slugs, or snails, from their resemblance
to die inhabitants of snail shells. Jn turning over
6tuues uud lugs or boards, they are often seen.

Limax campestris. — Bin net.

Description. — " Color usually of vari-
ous shades of amber, without spots or
markings, sometimes blackish ; head and
tentacles smoky. Body cylindrical, elon-
gated, terminating in a very short carina
»it its posterior extremity, mantle oval,
fleshy, but little prominent., with five con-
centric lines ; back covered with promi-
nent, elongated tubercles and furrows;
foot narrow, whitish ; respiratory foramen
on the posterior dextral margin of the
mantle; body covered with a thin watery
mucus. Length about one inch."

Remarks. — This species is smaller than
L. agrcstis, Linn. "The tuberosities of
the surface are more prominent in propor-
tion to their size, are not flattened or plate
like, and are not separated by darker col-
ored anastomosing liner, the intervening
lines being of liic same color as the gen-

eral surface." It is
and stones in various

found under wood
situations.

Genus Tebennophorus. — Ilinncxj

Generic ChurucUrs. — •' Mamie covering the
whole superior surface of the body ; pulmonary
cavity anterior, orifice on the right side Ion aids
the head ; orifice of the rectum contiguous to and
a little above and in advance of the pulmonary
orifice ; organs of generation united, orifice be-
hind and below the superior tentacle of the right
side ; without testaceous rudiment, terminal mu-
cous pore, or locomotive band of tliefuot."

TcbcnuopJuirus Caroliniensis. — Bosc.

Description. — Body whitish, with
brownish or blackish spots arranged in
three ill defined, longitudinal, anastomo-
sing bands, with small spots between ;
inferior margin cream colored ; foot whi-
tish ; superior tentacles knobbed ut the
extremity, with the eyes on the upper
part of the knob; "cuticle covered with
irregular, vermiform glands, anastomosing
with each other, and having a general
tendency to a longitudinal direction, with
shallow furrows between, lubricated with
a watery mucus." Length, when fully
extended, upwards of three inches.

Remarks. — This species inhabits for-
ests, in damp, shaded places, about de-
caying wood. In the cabinet of Mid-
dlebury college are two specimens, which
were taken from the nest of the brown
hawk, (Fulcofuscus, Gm.J

Genus Philomycus. — Iiafincsque,
Generic Characters. — Animal resembling the
preceding, but entirely destitute of a mantle.
Philomycus dursaJis. — Binney.
Description. — " Color of upper sur-
face ashy, with a shade of blue, an unin-
terrupted black line extending down the
centre of the back ; superior tentacles
black, about one eighth of the length of
the hody ; lower tentacles blackish, very
short ; body cylindrical and narrow, ter-
minating posteriorly in an acute point ;
base of foot white, very narrow, its sepa-
ration from the body not well defined;
upper surface covered with elongated and
slightly prominent glandular projections,
the furrows between indistinct; respira-
tory orifice very minute, situated on the
right side, about one eighth of an inch be-
hind the insertion of the superior tenta-
cle." Length nearly an inch.

Remarks. — This species is found in the
forests, in the .- -A about decaying wood.
It is probably not very common.

J 64

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part \.

FRESH WATER AND LAND SHELL!

FAMILY CALYPTRACIA N A.
Genus Ancyltjs.
Generic Characters.— H\\y-\\ thin, oblong-ellip-
lic, obliquely conic ; apex acute, curved back-
wards ; aperture elliptic; margins sharp. Ani-
mal covered, not concealed, by the shell, «i!b two
compressed tentacles and the eyes on the inner
part of the base ; fool elliptic, nut so wide as the
body.

Aicylus parallrtus. — IIai.deman.

Description.— Shell nearly transpa-
rent, oblong-ovate ; epidermis thin, liorn
color; sides straight, slightly divergent
forwards ; apex subacute, moderately ele-
vated, with two fifths of the length of the
shell behind, leaning to the right. Length
0.2,") inch, width 0.15 inch, height 0.08
inch.

Remarks. — This species is found in
streams and ponds in many parts of the
New England states. It was supposed to
be Say's Ji. rir.uluris, not on account of
any resemblance between the two shells,
but from the mcagcrness of the description.
From some remarks of this learned natu-
ralist, comparing .7. rivulnris with .7. tar-
(in*, it seems probable that the former is
not an elongate species.

Ancylus tardus. — Say.

Description. — Shell nearly transpa-
rent, elliptical ; epidermis thin, horn col-
or; sides somewhat, curved; apes sub-
acute, elevated, a little behind the mid-
dle, leaning backwards butscarcely to the
right. Length 0.25 inch, width 0.16 inch,
height 0.13 inch.

Remarks. — This is at once distinguish-
ed from the preceding by its proportions.
.']. ri ridcir is differs in having the apex more
on one sub1, and one end distinctly wider
than the other.

FAMILY NAIADES.
Genus Anodonta.
Generic Characters, — Shell i-quivalve, inequi-
lateral, transverse; hinge toothless; the uvo mus-
cular impressions remote; ligament lung. The
shell is usually very thin. Animal with Ihe Lobes
of the mantle entirely separate.

Say.

, widest be-

is yellowish

Jlnodontii Benedictcnsis — Lea.

Description,— Shell ovate-trapezoidal

thin; epidermis coarsely striate, yellow

ish (ir greenish brown, usually with two
or three dark green rays posteriorly, in
old shells of a very dark color, obscuring
the rays; beaks Hither small, wrinkled,
approximate; discs moderately inflated ;
anterior side two thirds to cue half as long
as the posterior ; hinge margin straight;

and divergent above, below abruptly roun-
ded into the basal margin, winch is mod-
erately curved throughout, except in old
shells, in which it is straight or even in-
curved in the middle- Dimensions of
two specimens: No. 1, length 4.5 inches,
height 2.75 inches, width 1.7 inch; No.
2, length 3.87 inches, height 2 5 inches,
width 1.5 inch.

Rkm.vu.ks.— It will be seen in the above
measurements, that the proportionate
length is subject to considerable varia-
tion, which affects only the posterior side,
and in part is a sexual distinction. This
species is abundant, in lake Cbamplain,
but is not found elsewhere. L is much
larger than any other Anodonta in this
stale.

Anodonta margin
Disc riptioN. — Shell
low the Leaks, thin; ep
and greenish blown, with very irregular
stria: of growth ; hi al.s rather prominent,
with humorous small wimbles; discs mo-
derately inflated, flattened ; anterior side
about two fifths as long as the posterior;
hinge margin curved ; posterior margin
slightlv curved in a descent of one third
of the 'length of the shell, then rapidly
rounding into the basal margin, which is
nearly straight at and behind the middle ;
anterior margin regularly rounded . inte-
rior bluish. Length 3.8 inches, height 1.6
inch, width 1.15 inch.

Rem w.i.s. — This species may be most ■
easily diatingui ihed from the ./. undulata
by the greater size and very minute wrin-
kles of the beaks, and the flattening of the
umbo. It has been found in Otter Creek
at Wallingford. If it be not the J. mar-
tri.nata of Say, that species cannot now
be recognized. It. has been found more
abundantly in Massachusetts by Dr.
Gould, on whose authority I have given
it this name.

Anodonta ftuvialilis — Dn 7 u w.
Description. — Shell oblong-ovate, wi-
dest behind the beaks, thin; epidermis
smooth, yellowish, and brownish green,
olivaceous posteriorly and above, where
are a few obscure dark rays ; beaks quite
small, with numerous small wrinkles;
discs moderately inflated, convex; ante-
rior side between a third and a fourth as
long as the posterior; hinge margin

Chap. 6.

INVERTEBIIAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT

165

Kl'.SlI HATI.l; AM) I AMI SHliMS.

Btraight, vising- into a wing posteriorly j
posterior margin vw*y obliquely descend-
ing to a truncate extremity ; inferior mar-
gin nearly straight; anterior margin reg-
ularly rounded ; interior surface bluish,
iridescent. Length 2. 4 inches, height 1.25
inch, width O.i) inch.

Remarks.— A few small specimens of
this species have been found in Middle-
bury. In Massachusetts and further south
it attains a much greater size. It is very
similar to the preceding, hut. is distin-
guished by its wing^ small beaks, and
convex disc It more nearly resembles
Jl. cijgnca of Europe.

.hwdonta un dulata . — S a v .

Description. — Shell oblong ovate, wi-
dest behind the beaks, not thin, with
coarse and fine slrin: of growth ; epider-
mis yellowish, brownish, or blackish
green, with numerous irregular dark
green rays, which are obscured when the
general color is dark ; beaks quite prom-
inent, much undulated ; discs moderately
inflated, convex ; anterior side usually
less, sometimes more than one third a*
long as the posterior ; hinge margin near-
ly straight; posterior margin descending
in a curve through a third of the length
of the shell, then abruptly rounded into
the inferior, which is slightly curved or
straight ; anterior margin regularly roun-
ded ; interior bluish, but often covered
with a light salmon colored nacre, with a
dark blue or brown margin; hinge with
obsolete teeth. Dimensions of two speci-
mens : No. 1, length 2. 75 inches, height
1.4 inch, width 0.85 inch. No. 2, length
2.65 inches, height 1.45 inch, widthl.]
inch.

Remakes.— This species is found in

small streams and in hike Champlain.

When the epidermis is of a light color and
the rays conspicuous, it is a very beauti-
ful shell. More frequently it is dark, and
the appearance unattractive. It is inter-
mediate between this genus and the next.

Genus Alasmodonta.

Gryieric Characters. — Shell as in Anodonta,

but furnished with a stout, striated, and simple

or divided cardinal tooth in each valve ; also the

shell is usually thicker. Animal as in Anodonta.

V

Jllusmodanta arcitala. — Barnes.
Description.— Shell vary long ovate,
cuate ; epidermis black, "or brownish

black, with very distinct striro of growth,
very much developed at the margin ;
beaks small, depressed, much eroded ;
discs moderately inflated, flattened; an-
terior sides more than one-fourth as lon<>-
as the posterior ; hinge margin regularly
curved into the posterior, winch descends
at first very obliquely, and is then irregu-
larly rounded into the basal margin; this
is incurved, and the anterior is regularly
rounded; interior with a brilliant, thick
nacre, iridescent posteriorly. Length 4.'.)
inches; height 2.2 inches; width 1.35
inch.

Rj:MAnics.-This species has been found
at Burlington. Jt has been considered
identical with I'n / 'o mar gar Wife run of Ku-
rope.but that shell is shorter, and has the
beaks more central and elevated. H yet
more nearly resembles t he Unio si7tuatv3
of Curope, which is higher and has the
beaks more central. Perhaps it may not
be distinct from the latter. The young
have the basal margin straight. It is
found throughout New England.

Jllasawdonla rugosa. — Barnes.

Description. — Shell ovate ; epidermis
with irregular incremental stria:, which
are mostly fine, greenish brown; beaks
small, not prominent, undulate ; discs
flattened, with two ridges extending pos-
teriorly in slightly curved lines, between
and above which the surface is crowded
with numerous crowded wrinkles, which,
for the most part, run posteriorly and up-
wards ; anterior side much depressed,
about one-third as long as the posterior ;
hinge margin arcuate°behind the teeth]
otherwise nearly straight, ascending pos-
teriorly ; posterior margin descending in
a straight line to the upper umboniaf an-
gle ; extremity truncate between the uni-
bomal angles; inferior margin nearly
straight; anterior margin regularly round-
ed ; inner surface often with a lioht sal-
mon-colored deposit. Length t.I Tnches;
height 2.3 inches; width 1.25 inch.

Remarks. — This species is common in
the western states, where it attains a
greater size. Lake Champlain and the
streams west of the Green Mountains ap-
pear to bo the most eastern limit of its
habitation.

Alasmodonta vndulata. — S,\v.
Description.— Shell ovate, epidermis
smooth, blackish or greenish brown, with
obscure darker rays; beaks laro-c and
prominent, with large and deep undula-
tions ; discs much inflated and convex,
with a ridge more or less obtuse extend-
ing posteriorly; anterior side small, one-
sixth to one-third as long as the posterior ;
hinge margin sinuous or simply curved ;

166

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I

HKSII WATKIt AM) LAND S11KI.LS.

posterior margin descending obliquely in
a straight or slightly curved line, rounded
below ; inferior margin slightly curved ;
anterior margin regularly rounded ; inner
surface bluish, sometimes with a light sal-
mon-colored nacre anteriorly or through-
out. Dimensions of two specimens : No.
1, length 2.2 inches; height 1.4 inch;
width 1.03 inch. No. 2, length 2.U(J inch-
es; height 1.2 inch ; width 0.9 inch.

Remarks. — This species is rather com-
mon in the northern middle states. —
When yo.ung the epidermis is of a lighter
color, the rays arc more conspicuous, and
the shell is shining and beautiful.

Gknus Unio.
Generic Characters. — Slit- II as in Alasmo-
donla, bui is also furnished willi very long lamellar
lateral posterior teeth, usually ono- on thu right
valve entering between two on the left. Very
rarely the right valve lias one entering between
two on the left. The cardinal leeth are often
double, sometimes triple. Animal as in Anodon-
ta.

Unio ahiius. — Say.
Description. — Shell ovate- triangular,
.moderately thick ; epidermis olive, ot
brownish green, with numerous tin<

some coarse stria; of irn.wth ; beak

mall

not prominent, in the young shell exhib-
iting small wrinkles; discs moderately
inflated posteriorly, compressed anterior-
ly, with one or two small posterior angles
above ; anterior side small, one-fourth to
one-fifth as long as the posterior ; hinge
margin straight, very much elevated be-
hind into a triangular connate wing, the
posterior margin of which is incurved ;
the remainder of the posterior and the an-
terior margins are regularly rounded ; in-
ferior margin nearly straight ; inner sur-
face usually purplish red, rarely very pale
red, sometimes of a rich reddish salmon
color; cardinal teeth rather small. Di-
mensions of two specimens : No. 1, length
5.3 inches ; height 3.85 inches ; width 1 .75
inch. No. 2, length 5.'J inches; height
3.65 ; width 2.2 inches.

Remarks. — No. 2 is a very old shell.
In such the wing is nearly obsolete, and
consequently the form is more ovate.
This species is very abundant in Lake
Champlain, east of which it has never1

been found. In the western slates it is
common.

Unio gracilis. — Barnes.
Description. — Shell ovate-triangular,
rather thin ; epidermis straw-color, coarse-
ly striate near the margins, otherwise
smooth and shining ; beaks small, not
prominent, smooth ; discs considerably
inflated, convex, with two or three slight
ridges proceeding posteriorly above ; an-
terior side small, compressed, about one-
third as long as the posterior; hinge mar-
gin nearly straight, much elevated poste-
riorly into a triangular connate wing, of
which the posterior margin is incurved;
other margins regularly rounded, the ba-
sal moderately ; inner surface iridescent,
bluish, pink above ; cardinal teeth very
small. Length 5 inches; height 3.5 inch-
es ; width L.6 inch.

Remarks. — This species lias the form
and size of the preceding, but is easily
distinguished by the color of the epider-
mis, of the nacre, greater inflation, antl
thinness. It is common in lake Cham-
plain, and, like U. alatus, is not found
any thither to the eastward, but is com-
mon through the western states.
Unio comjirc'ssus. — Lea.
Description —Shell oblong-ovate, not
thick ; epidermis grass-green, or oliva-
ceous, with numerous irregular yellowish
rays, with distinct stria; ; beaks small,
pointed, much wrinkled ; discs moderate-
ly inflated posteriorly, scarcely convex;
anterior side three-sevenths to three-
eighths as long as the posterior; hinge
margin straight, rising posteriorly into a
slightly elevated wing, which is often
more or less connate; posterior margin
descending obliquely in a straight line to
a somewhat rounded truncate extremity;
inferior margin somewhat rounded ; an-
terior margin regularly rounded ; interior
bluish, sometimes tinged with pale brown-
ish yellow ; cardinal teeth much com-
pressed, on the left valve deeply and
broadly bifid, or even trilid ; of the lamel-
lar teeth of the left valve one is very
small. Length 2.85 inches; height 1.6
inch ; width 0.8 inch.

Remarks.— This species also is found
in the western states, and has its eastern
limit in the streams west of the Green
Mountains. It is much larger in the
west.

Var. plebeiiis. — Adams. Epidermis oli-
vaceous, rays obscure ; wing scarcely ele-
vated ; lamellar teeth very small, with
the three divisions of the left cardinal
very remote. Length 4.3 inches ; height
2.3 inches; width 1.25 inch. This va-
riety is found in a small brook in Middle-
bury.

Chap. G.

INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.

167

"KESH WATER AND LAND SHELLS.

Unio complanatus. — Lea.
Description. — Shell oblong, rather
thick ; epidermis blackish or greenish
brown, sometimes yellowish, with numer-
ous irregular green rays ; strice of growth
rather coarse; beaks rather prominent,
small ; discs compressed, sometimes con-
siderably inflated, but always flattened ;
anterior side from one-fifth to ,one-third
03 long as the posterior ; hinge margin
nearly straight; posterior margin a little
curved, oblique; inferior margin straight,
sometimes a little incurved or excurved ;
anterior margin well rounded ; nacre pur-
plish red, pink, sometimes light salmon
color, rarely white ; lamellar teeth nearly
straight; cardinal teeth double. Dimen-
sions of three specimens: No. 1, length
3.9 inches; height 2 inches; width 1.4
inch. No. 2, length 3 inches ; height
1.5.'J inch; width 0.8 inch. No. 3, length
3.05 inches; height 1.53 inch; width 1.36
inch.

Remarks. — This species is subject to
great variations of form, of which the
most remarkable in this state is that of a
gibbous variety in lake Champlain. No.
3 is an example ; No. 2 exhibiting on the
contrary a very compressed form. This
species is the most common of the Naia-
des in this, as in the other New England
states. Immense numbers cover the shores
of lake Champlain.

Unio siliquoidcus . — Ba rnes.

Description. — Shell ovate, not very
thick ; epidermis yellowish or somewhat
greenish brown, with numerous irregular
green rays, shining ; strice of growth us-
ually rather fine ; beaks small, rather
prominent, wrinkled ; discs convex, tu-
mid; anterior side a little more or less
than one-third as long as the posterior ;
inferior margin sometimes curved, some-
times straight ; other margins rounded ;
nacre clear white, sometimes light salmon
color ; cardinal teeth equally bifid in the
left valve, unequally in the other ; lateral
teeth a little curved, not long. Dimen-
sions of three specimens : No. 1, length
2.7 inches; height 1.9 inch; width 1.3
inch. No. 2, length 2.43 inches ; height
1.3 inch ; width 0.t>5 inch. No. 3, length
8.05 inches ; height 1.65 inch ; width 1.4
Inch.

Remarks. — This species, although al-
ways ovate, varies much in the ratios of
the three dimensions. To illustrate this,
the above measurements are taken from
examples of the greatest extremes ; No.
1, of height; No. 2, of length; and No. 3,
of width. The largest individuals are
about 4 inches in length. According to
Mr. Lea this species is U. iutcolus, La-

marck, and the latter name has the right
of priority ; but according to others, La-
marck's species above quoted is U. carlo-
sus, Say. We therefore, provisionally,
give the preference to the name ailixed
by Mr. Barnes.

Unio vcntricosus.-BAB.KES.

Description.— Shell short, ovate, not
very thick ; epidermis usually pale yel-
lowish brown, with green rays, of very
unequal width, sometimes numerous, of-
ten obsolete, except on the corselet ;
smooth and shining; beaks large and
prominent, wrinkled ; umbones very tu-
mid, with a more or less distinct angle
extending to the bottom of the posterior
margin ; discs convex ; anterior side about
half as long as the posterior ; hinge mar-
gin sinuous ; posterior extremity irregu-
larly rounded, in the females high and
truncate, in the males somewhat tapering
and produced ; inferior margin more or
less rounded ; anterior extremity depress-
ed, well rounded; nacre white; cardinal
teeth not large, deeply bifid ; lamellar
short, distant from the beaks. Dimen-
sions of three specimens: No. 1, length
5.5 inches; height 3.3 inches ; width 2.3
inches. No. 2, length 3.35 inches; height
2.35 inches ; width 1.77 inch. No. 3,
length 3.8 inches ; height 2.3 inch. ; width
1.83 inch.

Remarks. — The variations of form are
for the most part those of sex, as exhibit-
ed in the above measurements. Nos. 1
and 3 are males, No. 1 being unusually
large. No. 2 is a female. This species is
not rare in lake Champlain, which is its
most eastern limit. It is common in the
western states.

Unio rectus — Lamarck.

Description.— Shell very long ovate,
thick ; epidermis olivaceous above or
throughout, usually yellowish brown be-
low, but nearly covered with dark, broad,
more or less confluent, green rays; beaks
rather prominent, smooth; discs moder-
ately inflated, scarcely convex; anterior
side about one third as long as the poste-
rior ; hinge margin slightly curved ; pos-
terior extremity sub-rostrate ; inferior
somewhat curved, straight, or in females
incurved ; anterior margin rounded ; na-
cre while, pink above ; cardinal teeth
pink, double, both divisions stout on the
left valve, also the inner one on the right.
Length 5.75 inches; height 2.3 inches;
width 1.55 inch.

Remarks. — This species is common in
the western states, and has its most east-
cm limit in lake Champlain, where it is
rare. The females are much higher in
the posterior half, in consequence oi'a de-
velopment of the inferior margin.

■

168

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part i.

FRESH YV.

AND SHELLS.

Gen
ellipti

each o

FAMILY CONCHACEA.

Genus Cyclas.
ric Ch«ntrttrs.-H\ic\\ small, thin, gl

flose-

:, hinge "Mil iwo minute cardinal teeth in
in one valve, which are sometimes obso-
lete, willi compressed lateral teeth on each side.
Animal with the mantle [.ulteriorly prolonged into
tuo siphons, which have no retractor muscle ; fuot
very lb in and long. .

Cyclas elega m . — A dams.

Descri i'tion.-SIii.-11 subglobular, rhom-
bic-orbicular, equilateral, finely and ele-
gantly striated ; epidermis rather light
olive green, with two straw-colored con-
centric zones, of which the exterior is
marginal ; beaks not prominent, slightly
undulate; umbones very thin; within
bluish; lateral teeth large and strong;
cardinal teeth rudimentary. Length 0.415
inch ; height 0.36 inch ; width 0.26 inch.

Remarks. — This species was discover-
ed in YVeybridge, in a swamp, near the
site of an old Indian encampment. It has
also been found at Burlington. It is re-
markable for ils shining and elegantly
striated surface, and lor its inflation,
which continues far over the disc, and
terminates abruptly near the margin. C.
rhomhoitlti, Say, resembles it, but has
coarse stria;, no yellow /.ones, and the
discs are less inflated. This is a rare spe-
cies, and the most beautiful of the genus
in our knowledge.

Cyclas similis. — Say.

Description. — Shell subclliptic, near-
ly equilateral ; epidermis dark brown or
yellowish and greenish brown; striffl of
growth coarse, deep ; umbones not much
inflated, broad ; disc rather tumid ; ante-
rior and posterior margins subrectilineal
and divergent; inferior and superior mar-
gins rounded ; within bluish ; cardinal
teeth small; lateral- teeth compressed,
strong. Length U.o'd inch, height 0.5 inch,
width 0.4 inch.

Remarks. — The form of the young dif-
fers much from that of the adult. It is
rectangular, longer than high, and much
compressed. This species differs from the
preceding in the coarseness of the stria) ;
the discs near the margin are less tumid,
and the form is much less quadrilateral,
and the young, although quadrilateral,
are longer and much more compressed.
Sometimes there are in this species also
yellow zones.

Cyclas rliuiiL lot da. — S a v .

Description. — Shell rhombic, nearly
equilateral, very coarsely striate; epider-
mis yellowish horn color; beaks not pro-
minent, nor undulate; umbones promi-
nent ; discs moderately tumid; anterior
and posterior margins nearly straight, di-
vergent; superior and inferior margins
moderately curved; within, white; car-
dinal teeth rudimentary, lateral teeth
strong. Length 0.46 inch, height 0.3d
inch, width 0.27 inch.

Remarks. — This species is very nearly
allied to the preceding, but the difference
is constant. That shell is longer, and the
umbones less elevated. The young of
this species, although rectangular, uro
more tumid, which is the cause of the dif-
ference in the umbones of mature shell*.
This species is very plentiful in lake
Chainphiin, and is the only one which oc-
curs in the open waters of the lake in itd
southern part.

Cyclas partumcia

Description. — Shell
higher behind, nearly c

-Say.

e-globose,
• behind, nearly equilateral, very
thin, translucent, rather finely striate;
epidermis shining, straw color, or bluish
horn color; beaks not prominent; um-
bones moderately tumid ; discs much in-
Hated and quite regularly convex; poste-
rior and hinge margins nearly straight;
oilier margins much rounded; cardinal
teeth small ; lateral teeth much develop-
ed, compressed. Length 0.3 inch, height
0.25 inch, width 0.17 inch.

Remarks. — This species inhabits stag-
nant water, and even swamps which are
dried during the autumn. The young tiro
less tumid, very regularly elliptical,' and
of a light honey yellow. In Massachu-
setts this species attains a greater size. It
resembles ('. cornea of Europe, which,
however, is wider, has the umbones more
prominent, and both sides-of equal height.
C. simJ.lis is longer, much larger, and more
coarsely striate.

Cyclas cohjculata. — Drap.

Description. — Shell rhombic orbicu-
lar, higher behind, nearly equilateral, ex-
tremely thin and fragile, translucent, with
very fine stria; ; epidermis shining, bluish
horn color, or lemon yellow ; beaks swol-
len,and very prominent, resembling knobs;
umbones moderately tumid ; discs with a
small degree of convexity : posterior and
hinge margins nearly straight, making an
obtuse angle ; anterior and inferior mar-
gins rounded ; anterior much shorter than
the posterior margin ; cardinal teeth ex-
tremely minute ; lateral teeth small, com-
pressed ; inner surface colored like the

Chap. 6.

INVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT.

169

rfiKSII WATER AND LAND SHELI

ANNUL VTA.

cxteiior. Length 0.35 inch, height 0.20
inch, width 0.17 inch.

Remarks. — This species lias been found
in a swamp in Middlebury, and in Putt's
Swamp, on the west side of lake Chani-
pltiin. It has also been found in Maine.
The very young- are tumid and elliptic,
and of.a lemon yellow. Some were found
in an embryo state in the early part of Ju-
ly. Its dimensions are, length 0.07 inch,
height 0.055 inch, width 0.04 inch. The
shell of the parent did not exceed 0.002
inch in thickness. The species is easily
distinguished by the prominence of the
beaks. There seems to be no ground lor
separating our shell from the European
species, whose name we have prefixed.

Cijclus minor. — Migiiels and Adams.

Description. — Shell ovate, tumid, ine-
quilateral, oblique, very finely striate ; ep-
idermis straw color, shining ; beaks pro-
minent, two fifths of the difference from
one extremity to the other; uinbones and
discs tumid ; posterior and lunge margins
slightly rounded ; the other margins much
rounded ; both cardinal and lateral teeth
well developed. Length 0. IS inch, height
0.15 inch, width 0.11 inch.

Remarks. --This species inhabits swamps
arid is the least of all the native species of
this genus. It differs from C. dubia, Say,
in having the beaks less removed from the
centre, and the posterior and dorsal mar-
gins more rounded.

APPENDIX.
Limner a cxpausa. — 11 a i.d e m a n .
This species is said by the describe! to
have been found in Vermont, on the au-
thority of Dr. Could, who received it from
a third person as a Vermont shell.
.'hiricula bidcntat.a.— Say.
This species, referred by its describer
to the genus Mclainpus, was given to Dr.
Gould by some one who professed to have
found it in Vermont. As this species has
not otherwise been found out of the reach
of salt water, we cannot, without better au-
thority, regard it as a native of this state.
Ainnicolu.
Dr. Gould and Mr. Ilaldeman have pro-
posed a sub-genus of Paludiitn under tins
name. It includes of the shells of tins
state, Paludina purutu and P. tustricu.
Am nicola pallida . — II a ld.
On the cover of No. 4 of the Monog.
Lirnniad. Mr. H. has described with this
name one of the species just named, but
the description is not sufficiently exact to
determine to which of them it must be re-
ferred. That the shell i question is one
Pr i 22

of them is inferred from the fact that Mr.
II. received them from the writer of this
article.

Section II. — Invertebrata.

Annvlata, Crustacea, Arachnidcs, and In-
sects.
The above are four of the classes into
which Cuvier's third great division of the
animal kingdom is subdivided. The ani-
mals belonging to the first 3 classes, which
are found in Vermont, are of very little
importance, and only a few of them arc
generally known. We shall pass over
them all with only a few remarks.

Anmdata.

These are small, insignificant animals,
with elongated bodies, consisting of seg-
ments, and having red blood. Home of
them are protected by a shelly tube, which
they never leave during life, and breathe
by means of branchial at one extremity of
the body. These constitute the order Tu-
bicola. Others have their organs and
branchiae disposed longitudinally along
the body. These last belong to the order
dorsibranchiata. Our brooks and ponds
furnish several animals belongingto the
above orders, but they have not been pro-
perly examined. The third order of An-
nelides are denominated Abranchiate, on
account of their having no apparent ex-
ternal organs of respiration. The horse
leech, liirudo sanguisiiga L., which is
so common in marshes and muddy places
in this state, belongs to this order. It
grows to a much larger size than the me-
dicinal leech, II. medicinalis L., and is
sometimes used for the same purposes ;
but its teeth are more blunt, and the
wound produced by them is said in some
cases to be dangerous. A specimen be-
fore me, which was taken in Burlington,
is a very dark olive green above, and tho
same color, but a little lighter beneath,
with a W'w small spots of black. When
not in motion he lies in an oval form, and
is about :: inches long, and l\ inch wide,
but when moving he stretches himself to
the length of 6 or 7 inches. The animal
is furnished with a flattened disc at each
extremity, fitted for adhering to bodiesby
wh.it is called suction, and its locomotion
is performed by reaching forward' its an-
terior extremity, fixing the disc, and then
bringing forward the posterior, which is
fixed in like manner, and the anterior
again thrust forward. In Ibis manner it
ascends the side of a perpendicular pane
of glass without difficulty, but when at
rest it usually adhi res by "the whole un-
der surface.

170

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I

VI i: It LUi:::li;

IE11S AND INSECTS.

The little animal commonly called the
Hair Snake also belongs to this order, and
t<> the genus Gordius. These are very
common in the still waters and mud in
all parts of the state. They are usually
about the size of a large horsehair, and are
from one to (i or fc> inches in length. In
color, they vary from pure white to nearly
black, and hence -we probably have sev-
eral species. The vulgar notion that they
originate from hairs which fall from hor-
ses and cattle, and become animated in
the water, would seem to be too absurd to
need contradiction ; and yet, absurd as it
is, people are to be found who believe it.

Another, and, indeed, the most com-
mon animal belonging to this class in Ver-
mont, is the earth worm, Lumbricits tcr-
restris, /,., called here the Jingle worm,
on account of the great use made of it for
bait in fishing. Its body is cylindrical,
ofa reddish color, and grows to the length
of 5 or G inches, with the size of a com-
mon goose quill, it is destitute of teeth,
eyes, and limbs. It traverses the ground
in all directions, and seems to subsist
chiefly upon the rich soil, which it swal-
lows. It comes to the surface of the
ground during- the night, and in wet wea-
ther, but descends during the day and in
dry weather, so as to be in contact with
the moist earth.

Crustacea.

This class embraces the crabs, lobsters,
and the like. They usually have a crus-
taceous covering, which is more or less
hard, with articulated limbs, and distinct
organs of circulation. They breathe by
means of branch'ue, which vary much in
form and situation, being- in some cases
on the abdomen, and in others on the bot-
tom of the feet. The animals of this class
ore very numerous, but they are confined
principally to the ocean, and to tropical
climates. The following is the only one
found in Vermont, which we shall de-
scribe.

^m<

THE FRESH WATER LOBSTER,
Astacus Bartonii. Bosc.
Description. — General color greenish
brown or dark olive ; legs 10, the three
anterior ones on each side each termina-
ted by two claws forming a kind of for-

ceps ; anterior forceps large, strong, tooth-
ed, orange colored at the point and edges
and besprinkled with spots formed by in-
dentations. Tail terminated by 5 fan-like
plates, forward of which, upon the under
side, are two rows, with three in each, of
small fringed fins, and still further for-
ward are 4 bony iinibs which fold inward
towards the abdomen ; horns, or feelers,
(J, two of which are 3 inches long, the oth-
ers much shorter. Limbs edged with
sparse, downy hairs ; body and limbs cov-
ered with shell, with numerous articula-
tions. Length of the specimen before me
4S inches.

This singular little animal is so exact a
miniature of the large salt water Lobster
that some have supposed it to be the young
of that species, or rather a dwarfed variety
of it. But it is evidently a distinct spe-
cies, and though it, lives and continues to
grow for many years, it very seldom ex-
ceeds 4 or 5 inches in length. It is very
common in many of the small streams in
the western parts of the state. It is some-
times eaten, and by some is esteemed a
luxury. It is often called the Craw Fish.

Araclinidcs.

The principal animals in Vermont which
belong- to this class are the Spiders, of
which we have, probably, about 100 spe-
cies. The Spiders belong to the genus
Aranea of Linneus. And though usually
called insects, they differ very materially
from the proper insects in their form and
habits, and constitute a vcr}' interesting
family, but we are neither prepared nor
have we room to go into particulars re-
specting them. Their classification is
based to a considerable extent upon tho
arrangement of their eyes, which are us-
ually eight in number.

Insects.

Insects constitute the most numerous
division of the animal kingdom. Euro-
pean naturalists have computed that there
are on an average G insects to one plant.
This computation is probably too high for
our country, but, estimating only two
thuds of that number to a plant, ns wo
have about 1000 plants, it will give Ufl
4000 species of insects. The number of
known species of New England insects is
now about 3000, of which the greater part
are Annul in Vermont. How many re-
main to be examined and described is, of
course, unknown, but the number is,
doubtless, very considerable. The word
Insect comes from the Latin word Insrcta,
and is applied to these small animals on

Chap. G.

1NVERTEBRAL ANIMALS OF VERMONT

171

P. VNSl'OUMA TION OK I."

account of the ir appearing to be intersec-
ted, or divided into sections. Most j„_
sects are subject to several changes of
form and habit called metamorphoses, and
in this consists their most remarkable pe-
culiarity. Their existence is made up oi
four principal stages, viz : the e^m, the
larva, the chrysalis, and the perfect ani-
mal. Directed by instinct, the parent in-
sect is sure to deposit, its eggs in the place
most favorable for the support of the
young, which are in due time to be hatch-
ed from them. From these the larva? are
at length produced in the form of mag-
gots, worms, or caterpillars. In this state,
which is entirely dissimilar to the parent
in form and mode of life, they il-vd vora-
ciously and grow rapidly, often attaining
a weight and bulk much greater than that
of the perfect insect. At length (hey
cense to i'fci\, become stationary and en-
cased in a shelly covering, which is often
surrounded by a cocoon formed of silky
fibres. This is what is called the chrysa-
lis or pupa. After remaining for a while
in this condition, the shell is burst and
thrown off, and the insect emerges in its
perfect state, usually provided with winos
and often exhibiting the most brilliant and
beautiful colors. In this state only is it
capable of propagating its species. But
It, in general, continues in this stale
only a short period, just long enouch to
lay its eggs and die. Most insects' feed
much more sparingly in their perfect
than in their larva state, and some do not
food at all in their perfect state.

The Cocoon, of which the above is a
Figure, was found on a pine plain in Bur-
lington, upon a small bush, as above rep-
resented, in March, L840. The Cocoon
was composed of strong brown silk, and
measured 3.5 inches in length and 1.5 in
thickness. After being kept about three
weeks, or till the '20th of April, in a warm
room, a large butterfly, of which the fol-
lowing is a figure, can ( out of it, by ma-
king an opening- in th upper end.

Q%&A

This But.lcrlly i
loiiffth, and the spr
just (J inches. The color of the body
on the abduim-n and portions of (he wings
was a dark buck-red. General color of
the wings diil'erciil shades of brown beau-
tifully variegated with whit**, blue, and
violet. A roundish black spot, contain-
ing a lunated light blue spot near the ex-
tremity of each outer wing,«Jtc. This indi-
vidual was a female, and in the course of
the seven days which it lived it laid
about k2()U eggs.

On the 17th of August, 1840, a cater-
pillar was picked up in the door-yard, of
which the above is a figure. It was 'A.h
inches long and 0 75 inch in diameter.
Its color was light pea-green. Upon its
body were six rows of spines, two on each
side, which were blue and pointed, and
two on the back, the four anterior ones
terminated by balls of the size of small
pin-heads, which were red, and covered
with small black thorns ; all the rest yel-
low with black points. Being placed un-
der a glass vessel, it immediately com-
menced spinning, and, before the next
day, had completely enveloped itself in a
cocoon, precisely similar to the one above
described. This remained in a chamber
during the winter, and in the spring of
1841, we had from it another butt illy,
answering exactly to that figured above.

These details are introduced merely to
illustrate the metamorphosis which in-
sects generally experience, and to show
the manner in which many of tbein arc
preserved through the winter. Others,
however, pass the winter in the larva

preserved in the egg, while some live

through the w inter in their perfect stale.

While much pains have been taken,

172

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Yaht 1.

I.OCUSTBORER.

CUCU!MliKK-BUG.

COCK-CHAFES.

tind legislative enactments have been re-
sorted to for the destruction of the larger
kinds of noxious animals, insects have
for the most part been regarded as too in-
significant to deserve notice, while the
damage sustained on account of the rava-
ges of insects is probably three times
as great, on an average, as that produced
by all the vertebral animals together. We
have been paying liberal bounties for the
destruction of catamounts, wolves, bears,
and foxes, while the wheat fly, from which
we were sustaining far greater damage
than from all those larger animals, has
hardly received any attention. We have
even paid a bounty for the destruction of
crows, while in consequence of that de-
struction our fields were suffering from
the ravages of grubs, which the crows are
designed to check. Crows may do sonic
mischief in the spring by pulling up corn,
but it is believed to be more than coun-
terbalanced by the good which I hey do,
principally by the destruction of vermin.
We are of opinion that all birds, without
a single exception, are to be regarded as
friends to the farmer and gardener, kind-
ly provided by Providence to prevent the
undue multiplication of noxious insects,
and we cannot too severely reprobate the
barbarous practice in which boys tire per-
mitted to indulge, of shooting birds for
amusement. It is a practice which should
be discountenanced by every friend of his
country — by every friend of humanity.

Some insects are most injurious in their
perfect stale. Of these are the varioi
kinds of bugs, which feed upon vine
&c. But far the greater part do most
mischief while in the larva state. Of these
are the various kinds of caterpillars, which
are the larvoe of butterflies and moths, —
the weevil, which is the larva of the wheat
fly, — the maggots which cause the fruit
to fall off prematurely, and which are the
larva; of curculio and other insects, — the
borers, which are the larva; of beetles,
bugs, &c.

The Borer, which at present appears to
be doing most injury in this state, is the
larva of the Clitus piclvs, which feeds
upon the Locust tree, Rublneu j/sci(<lu-
acucia. It commenced its ravages in the
southern pari of the stale, about ten or
twelve years ago. It made its appear-
ance at Mid die bury, where it destroyed
nearly all the locust trees, about 1835.
A year or two after this it had proceeded
northwardly as far as Vergennes, and in
1810 it had reached Burlington, but did
little injury that year. About the first of
June. 1841, its operations began to show
themselves, and were c< utinued till the
beginning of August, in which time ma-

ny of the fine locust trees in this town
were entirely spoiled, and others more or
less injured. During the month of Au-
gust they were in the chrysalis slate, and
consequently inactive. About the first of
September they emerged from that state,
and during the first half of that month
the perfect insects \\Lie seen in largo
numbers, often paired, depositing their
eggs upon the locust trees in the crevices
of the bark, which were in due time
hatched. The same operations have been
repeated during the past summer, and
now (Sept. fi, 1842.) the insects arc busi-
ly engaged in depositing their eggs for u
new generation. The following is a fig-
ure of this insect:

Clitus pietus.

The color of this insect is black, with
the wing eases crossed by 5 or (J irregu-
lar bright yellow bars, and there are about
(lie same number of yellow bars upon the
abdomen. The color of the legs is red-
dish umber. Length of the female .8
inch ;— the male smaller. The color of
the larva, or Borer, is yellowish white.

The Cucumber-Bug, Galeruca viUata,
is one of our most troublesome insects in
gardens. It usually makes its appearance
upon cucumber, squash and melon villi's
early in June, or about the time the leaves
begin to expand. Various means have
been resorted to for the purpose of pre-
venting its depredations, but from two
years' experience we are inclined to be-
lieve that sprinkling the plants occasion-
ally with ground plaster of Paris, is the
most simple and effectual remedy.

The Cock-chafer, or May Beetle, Mclo-
lonthu quercina, is often plentiful, and
does considerable mischief bj' the destruc-
tion of the first leaves and blossoms upon
our fruit trees. During the day they lie
concealed, but come forth from their re-
treats and commit their depredations in
the evening. The larva of Ibis beetle ij
the large white grub, which is so often
seen in rich grounds and in turfs, This
insect continues four years in the larva,
or grub form, and often does extensive
damage by eating the roots of grass, corn
and other vegetables- At the end of the
fourth year it descends deep into the
earth, constructs its cocoon from which
the beetle is hatched in its perfect form

Chap. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT.

173

IAHV OBSERVATIONS.

NATIVE I'OIIF.ST TUKKS.

the following spring. This is the large
beetle which so often enters houses in
the evening, attracted hy the light with-
in.

Although a large proportion of insects
»re more or less injurious, there are also
others from which man derives very con-

siderable benefit. Among the most val-
uable of these in this state, may be reck-
oned the Honey Bee and the Silk Worm,
which furnish us with most exquisite ar-
ticles of food and clothing. But of the
great majority of insects scarcely any
thing is known either of good or evil.

CHAPTER VII.

BOTANY OF VERMONT

Section I.

Catalogue of VcnnoiU Plants.

By Wh, Oakei, of Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Preliminary Observations.
The State of Vermont, in the richness
and beauty of its vegetation, is scarcely
equalled by any of the New England
Slates. It owes this, no doubt, to the fer-
tility of its soil, the moisture of its cli-
mate, and its situation on the ridges and
western borders of the mountains. Its
ranges of mountains, stretching the whole
length of the State from north to south,
intercept and often exhaust the summer
clouds and rains, which generally come
from the west, so that the destructive
droughts, which arc so often felt in New
Hampshire and the other New England
States, are almost unknown in Vermont.
The State excels in the number and vari-
ety of its Forest Trees, possessing, with
the exception of eight, all the known
species of New England. The following
is the list of

THE NATIVE FOREST TREES OF VERMONT.

Lime Tree, or Bass Wood. Tilia Ameri-
cana.
Wild Black Cherry. Ccrasus scrotina.
Sugar Maple. Acer saccharinum.
White Maple. Acer dasycarpum.
Red Maple. Acer rub, urn.
White Ash. Fra.ci.au$ acuminata.
Red Ash. Fraxinus pubcsceiis.
Black Ash, Fra.cinus sambucifolia.
Sassafras. Laurvs Sassafras.
Tupelo, or Sour Gum. Nyssa muUijlora.
Red Mulberry. Morns rubra.
Hornbeam. Carpiimts Americana.
Iron Wood. Ostrya Vir. inica.

sylvestm.

White Beech. Faeus

Red Beech. Fagus ferniginm.

Chestnut. Castanea vesca, var. Americana

White Oak. Qtiercus alba.

Swamp White Oak. Quercus Iricolor.

Overcup White Oak. Qtiercus macrocarpa.

Black Oak. (lucre us tinctoria.

Red Oak. Quercus rubra.

Rock Chestnut Oak. Quercvs montana.

Scarlet Oak. Querents coccinea.

Large White Birch. Betula prqwacca.

Small White Birch. Betula pojml ! folia.

Black Birch. Betula k-iita.

Yellow Birch. Betula excclsa.

Balsam Poplar. Papains balsam ifcra.

Heart-leaved Balsam Poplar. ' Populm

candicans.
Cotton Poplar. Populus Canadensis.
Vermont Poplar. Populus numilifcra.
Large Aspen. Popuius grandidentata.
American Aspen. Populus tranultrides.
Button Wood. Plaianus occidentulis.
Common Elm. Ulmvs Americana.
Slippery Elm. Ulmus fttlva.
Northern Cork Elm. Ulmus racemosa.
Hoop Ash,or Hackberry. Ccltis occidcntalis.
Butternut, or Oilnut. Juglans cinerca.
Shellbark Hickory. Carya squamosa.
Pignut Hickory. Carya porcina.
Bitter Pignut Hickory. Carya amara.
White Pine. Pinus Strobus. '
Red Pine, or Norway Pine. Pinus resinosa.
Pitch Pine. Pinus rigi<ia.
Double Spruce. Pirns nigra.
Single Spruce. Pinvs alba.
Balsam Fir. Pinus balsamea.
Hemlock Spruce. Pinus Canadensis.
American Larch, or Hackmatack. Pinvs

pendula.
Arbor Vitro, or '-White Cedar." Thuja

occidentalis.
Red Cedar. Jumpenis Virginiana

52 species.

174

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

SMALL TURKS.

KAUE IN OTIIIill STATKI

Besides the above, there are several
trees of small size.

Striped Maple. Acer Pcnnsylvanicwni.
Mountain Maple. Acer numlanmn.
Choke Cherry. Prunm Virginiuim.
June Berry. Anie/anckicr Caiuulensis.
Mountain Ash. Sorbin Americana.
Wild Yellow Plum, or " Canada Plum."

Primus Americana.

And also many large shrubs, which
sometimes become small trees.
The Stag's Horn Sumac. Rhus typhina.
The Poison Sumac, or Dogwood. Rhus

venenata.
The Hawthorns. Crataegus coccinea, tf*c.
The Witch Hazel. Hamaviclis Virgiwiana.
The High Laurel. Kalmia latifolia.
Several species of Willow and Alder.
Several species of Corn us, Viburnirm, dV.

The Forest Trees of New England not
found in Vermont are,
The Tulip Tree. Liriodendron Tulipift ra.
Sweet Guin. Liquid arubar S/yraciJlua.
Black Walnut. Julians nigra.
White Hickory, Can/a alia.
White Cedar of Middle States. Cuprcssus

Oiyoides.
Chestnut Oak. Qui revs Castanca.
Post Oak. Qurrcus obtiisiloba.
Cotton Tree. Populus heterophytta.

There are three species found in Ver-
anont, and not elsewhere in N. England.
The Overcup White Oak. Querous ma-

croearpa.
The Northern Cork Elm. Ulimis raceniosa.
The Heart-leaved Balsam Poplar. Popu-
lus candieans.

The Ocercup llltitc Oak belongs to the
states of the West, and has not been found
even in New York. It was found in 1829,
by Dr. Robbins, in many towns on the
western border of the state from St. Al-
bans to Bennington. It is distinguished
by the great size of the acorn, and the
fringed border of the cup.

The Northern Curl; Hurl: Elm was first
found in the state of New York, and was
described by Mr. Thomas, in Silliman's
Journal, in the same year (1829) that it
was found by Dr. Robbins in Bennington
and PownaP It is easily distinguished
from the other New England species by
the broad plates of cork on its branches.
Three line species of Poplur,lhe two Dal-
sam Poplars, and the magnificent Vermont
Poplar, Populus monilifera, are scarcely
found unless cultivated, in any other of
the New England states. Neither of
these three Poplars, nor the Cotton Pop-
lar, have been found native in New York
by the Botanists of that State, according
to the late Report and Catalogue of Dr.

Torrey. (According to the younger Mi*
ehaux, the Cotton Poplar is found natiw
in the west of New York.)

The Vermont Poplar, and the Heart'
learn/ Hols, tin. Poplar, which Dr. Robbing
found wild in many parts of Vermont,
were not seen native in North America
by either the elder or younger Miclioux,
and do not appear to have been previous-
ly seen in a wild state by any Botanist in
the United States.

List of Vermont Plants not found in

any other New England state.

Anemone Pennsylvania,

" Hudsoniana,

Corydalis aurea,
Nasturtium natans,
Sis\ murium teres,
Drnba arabisans,
Sinapis arvensis. Introduced
Cer.istium nutans,
Flcerkea proserpinacoides,
Ceanothus ovalis,
Lathy rus ochroleucus,
Phaca Robbinsii,
Zizia integerrima,
Symphoricarpus racemosus,
Viburnum pubescens,
Valeriana sylvatica,
Aster ptarmicoides,

Pterospora andromedea,

Juslicia Americana,
Shepherdia Canadensis,
Euphorbia platyphylla,
Quercus macrocarpa,
Populus candicans,
" monilifera,

Ulinus raceniosa,
Listera convallarioidcs,
Calypso bulbosa,
Trillium grandirlorum,
Zannichellia palustris,
Care.x eburnea,
Eijuiselum variegatum,
Aspidium aculeatum,
Pteris gracilis.

Besides the species in the above list,
many of which are among the rarest and
most interesting plants of the U. S. there,
are a great number of species common
in tire west of Vermont, ami ol Massachu-
setts and Connecticut, which are entirely
unknown in the eastern parts of .N, w
England. Amongthese we may mention
the Ginseng, the Golden Corydalis, the
curious and beautiful species of Diclijtra,
and the Spring Beauty, Claytonia Caroli-
niana, which in early spring spangles the
ground in the woods with its cheerful and
most delicate and brilliant blossoms.

Of the four beautiful species of Lndi/fi

Chap. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT

175

MMIIKIl or PLANTS.

WESTERN PART OF VERMONT.

Slipper, only two, Cypripediumacaule and

artitiiunn, are found in the eastern part
{>( New England.

Four species of Trillium are also found
in Vermont, of which one, the magnifi-
cent Great fioipcred Trillium, is found no-
where else in New England. In the eas-
tern part of Massachusetts, no species is
found except Trillium cemuum.

Vermont is peculiarly rich in Orchidero.
The rare and beautiful Calypso has been
found no where else in the United States,
and Listera convallarioides in no other
Ni w England state. All the species of
New England are found in Vermont, ex-
cept two, Tipularia discolor and Orchis
rotundifolia.

Of the beautiful order of Ferns, Ver-
mont contains two species not found else-
where in New England, Pteris grucilis
and Jhpidium uculcut um, and several fine
species which are wanting or rare in the
east of New England, are common in Ver-
mont. It has alT the species ol New Eng-
land except Lygodium pahnutum and
tVoodwardia onocleoidcs.

On the other hand Vermont is wanting
in a great number of plants common in the
south and eastof New England. Of course
it is destitute of all the species peculiar to
the seashore, and of all the numerous and
beautiful " Weeds" of the Sea. The ele-
gant Tulip Tree, common in the south-
west of New England, the splendid Rose-
bay, and the fragrant Magnolia, are not
found in Vermont. In the whole there are
more than 500 NewEugland species which
it does not possess, of which we will only
mention Herberts vulgaris, Silene Pennsyl-
tunica, Tephrosia Virginiana, Rkexia Vir-
ginicu, Liatris scariosa, Clet/rra alnifolia,
Euchroma coccinca, Jlnagullis arvensis,
llypoxis credit, Aletris farinosa, LiUum
tnperbum, Poa Eragrostis, and Baptisia
tinctoria.

The number of known pharcnogamous
plants of New England, with the addition
of the Ferns, is nearly or quite 1500, ex-
cluding a great number of nominal spe-
cies generally admitted. The number of
plants of Vermont of the same Orders, in
the present catalogue, is 92!). The whole
number of species of the same orders ex-
isting within the limits of the state, is
doubtless as many as 1100 or 1200, so that
there is still a very ample field for the
discovery of additional species. Many
species, indeed, exist on the very borders
of Vermont, in New Hampshire and Mas-
sachusetts, which we have no authority
for inserting as natives of the utile, and
have1 not admitted into the catalogue, al-
though we have no doubt that they arc
also Vermont plants.

We must not forget to mention that the
vegetation of the eastern part of Vermont
is greatly inferior in beauty and variety
to that of the western border. The pines
and firs prevail more at the east, and the
species of forest trees are not so numer-
ous. While the west, has nearly every
plant of the east, the east is destitute of
a vast number of those of the west.
Among the species of Vermont plants
wanting at the east, we may mention the
Vermont Poplar, both the Balsam Poplars,
the Cotton Poplar, the Korthem Cork
Elm, the Oocrcup White Oak, Viola Cana-
densis and rostrata, Dialytra Canadi nsis,
Uvularia grandiflora, Asplcnium angusti-
folium, rhizo/ihijllum, and lluta muraria.

imcdiately no-

ic Alleghany
head of lake
is broken and

&c, besides others to ue m
ticed.

The western ridge of t
mountains, which at the
Champlain ceases to exist,
interrupted in the state of New York op-
posite tin' southwestern border of Ver-
mont, and thus an indirect and difficult
entrain:,- is opened to some of the plants
of the west and northwest. The western
border of Vermont thus appears to be-
come the eastern limit of a considerable
number of plants, of which the following
is a pretty complete list.

Anemone Pennsylvania,

Corydalis aurea,

Symphoricarpus racemosus,

Justicia Americana,

Flcerkea proserpinacoides,

Coanothus ovalis,

Nasturtium natans,

Viburnum pubescens,

Zannichellia palustris,

Carex eburuea,

Lathy rus ochroleucus,

Ulinus racemosa,

Quereus inacrocarpa,

Aster ptarrnicoides,

Pterospora androinedea,

Pteris gracilis,

Zizia integerrima,

Lonicera hirsuta,

Polanisia graveolens,

Trillium grandilloruni,*
Many of the above species, though not
found more eastwardly in the United
States, may possibly t-xtend farther to the
east along the banks of the St. Lawrence.
The summits of ftfansfield and Carai !;•
Hump Mountains, the highest mountains
in the stale, have been pretty thoroughly
examined by Dr. Robbins, Mr. Tucker-
man, and Mr. Macrae. These mountains,
though destitute of trees at their very
summits, from the violence of the windw

din? to Iloni.fr.

17G

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I-

-OR Till'. CATALOG UK.

AUTHORITIES.

which sweep over them, do not probably
quite reach the true limits of trees, and
possess only a few of the alpine plants of
the White Mountains, which are about
80 miles distant to the eastward.* The
only truly alpine species found on these
mountains are, perhaps, Juncus trifulus,
and Hierochloa alpina. Other species,
almost alpine, are Poa alpina, Empetrum
nigrum., Salix Uca-ursi, Bartsia pallida,
Lycopodium Selago,&c .

The materials upon which the present
Catalogue is founded, are the following.

The Catalogue of the plants of Middle-
bury, published in 1821 in Professor Hall's
" Statistical Account of the town of Mid-
dlebury," and which was subsequently
republished in the first edition of the pres-
ent work, with the addition of the com-
mon cultivated plants, and about 30 indi-
genous and naturalized species, some of
which were probably collected in other
parts of the state, making in the whole
f>(i!> indigenous and naturalized species.
The author of this Catalogue was Dr. Ed-
win James, the well known botanist in
Long's Expedition to the Rocky Moun-
tains. It was probably made almost en-
tirely from his own collections, and
though literally a mere list of names, it
bears the marks every where of the great
accuracy and research of its author, then
a young botanist.- It is still the only au-
thority for several rare species.

The collections made by James W.
Roubins, M.D , of Uxbridge, Mass., who
in the year \&2'J examined with the great-
est care and success the whole western
border of Vermont, from Massachusetts
to Canada. Dr. Robbins entered the state
at Pownal, on the 20th of May, and pass-
ing slowly along the western border to
the Canada line, examined the large isl-
ands of lake Champlain, and afterwards
visited Camel's Hump Mountain, leaving
the state at Windsor on the 10th of June.
On the 20th of July he again entered the
state at Guildhall, and after examining
the southern border of lake Memphrema-
gog, and the towns in that vicinity, he
visited Mansfield Mountain. From thence
he proceeded to Burlington and Colches-
ter, where he first discovered the remark-
able botanical region at High Bridge and
Winooski falls, so rich in rare and inter-
esting plants, and after examining tin-
shores of the lake and the islands of South
and North Hero, -he visited the mouth of
Otter Creek, and, proceeding along the
western range of towns from Shorehamto
Pownal, left the state at Brattleboro' on
the 23d of August. Dr. Robbins found

* Height of Muntrie
Camel's Hump 4,lbJ i

4,279 feet, ami of
iilo water.

and collected a vast number of rare and
interesting species, a large part of wliicli
were additions to the Flora of New Eng-
land, and many of them were also new to
the United States.

The collections t)f John Carey, Esq.,
of the city of New York, well known to
Botanists by his contributions to the Flo.
ra of Torrey and Gray, who resided at
Bellows Falls during the five years pre-
ceding 1836, and who also made frequent
visits to the northeastern counties of the
state. Though Mr. Carey's examination*
were principally confined to the eastern
part of the state, which is very inferior as
a botanizing region to the western border,
yet he collected very many rare and inter-
esting plants, among which we may men-
tion Calypso bulbosa, Listera convallarioi-
des, and Equisctum variegatum. Mr. Ca-
rey has also added to the catalogue a
large number of common species, espe-
cially Grasses and Cvperaceoe.

The collections of W.F. Macrae, Esq.
of Montreal, Canada, who, while resident
at Burlington a few years ago, as a stu-
dent Jin the University of Vermont,
examined with great zeal the Botany of
that vicinity, and besides the more com-
mon plants of that region, collected ma-
ny rare and interesting species, among
which were Ptcris gracilis, and Draba
arabisans, the first new to New England,
the last collected there only by Micliaux.
Mr. Macrae also, in 1839, in company
with EuwuiD Tuckerman, Jr., Esq., the
author of several valuable papers on the
Lichens of New England, visited Camel's
Hump and Mansfield mountains, where,
besides oilier rare species, they collected,
on the sides of Mansfield, Aspidium acute-
alum, found in the United States only by
Pursii, and by him in the same region.
Mr. Tuckerman has also communicated
other species collected by him in various
parts of Vermont.

Several very interesting species wero
added to the Flora of Vermont by the lato
J. Chandler, M. D., of Bennington, Vt.,
who also accompanied Dr. Robbins du-
ring a part of his first tour, and several
are given on the authority of Isaac
Branch, M. D., of Abbeville District, S.
C, Jeremiah Uuiigk, M. D., of Drews-
ville, N. H., IM. M. Reed, M.D. of Jack-
sonville, 111., ami P. T. Washburn, Esq.
of Ludlow, Vt.

All the rarer species collected by Dr.
Robbins, and many of the common ones,
are ascertained from specimens received
from him — the remainder rest on the au-
thority of his journals in my possession,
which were made daily during his tour.
From his thorough acquaintance with the

Chap. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT.

177

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

plants of New England, and our mutual
knowledge of each other's species, deri-
ved from long intercourse and inter-
change of specimens, 1 believe that very
few if any mistakes have occurred as to
the species received from him.

I have received specimens from Dr.
Chandler of all the plants given on his
authority, and Dr. Robbins saw and ex-
amined the species derived from Drs
Branch, Burge, and Reed, in the herba-
ria of those gentlemen.

1 have also seen specimens from Mr.
Macrae, of nearly all the species given on
his authority.

I have seen only a few specimens from
Mr. Carey, but have not hesitated to de-
pend on his known accuracy, and intimate
intercourse with Drs. Torrey and Gray.

In preparing the Catalogue, I have gen-
erally followed, especially as to the nom*
enclature of the species, the truly excel-
lent North American Flora of Torrey and
Gray, now published as far as Vol. "2, No.
2. which corresponds with the hist part
of the Catalogue as far as the genus Wi-
dens, inclusive. As to the remaining part,
I have preferred such names and syno-
nyms as are most certain and familiar to
American Botanists, not always follow*
ing my own opinions, as such a catalogue
affords no room for their explanation and
support. Owing to the excellent mate-
rials at my disposal, the Catalogue is
doubtless as complete as that of any state
of the Union yet published, and 1 hope
that it will be found useful and accepta-
ble to Botanists.

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS

[The si^n $ is prefixed to such species as i

hec

nd naturalized.]

CLASS I. EXOGENS, OR MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS.

Order RANUNCULACEiE. The Crowfoot Tribe.

Clematis, Linn. Virgin's Bower.

Virginiana, L. Borders of thickets &c, in moist soil. Aug.
verticiUaris, DC. Shady ledges. Rather rare. May, June.
Anemone, HaMer. Wind Flower.

nemorosa, L. Woods, Ac. May.

Virginiana, L. On dry rocky hills, Ac. June, July.

var. alba. Castleton, Branch, Robbins. Colchester, Burlington, Ac. RnbbinS,

By an accidental transposition, placed under A. cylindrical

in llovey's Mag. Vol. 7, p. 18.
cylindrica, Gray. Dry hills, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey Burlington, Macrae.

July.
Hudsoniana, Richardson. Torrey & Gray, Vol. Suppl. p. 653. A. multifidd.

■an: Hwlsoniana, DC. T. & G. I. p. 13. On the limestone

ledges of the Winooski river, at Winooski falls, Colchester,

and below High Bridge, Burlington, Robbins. May, June.
Pcnnsylvanica, L. In stony places occasionally overflowed, on the bankJ of

lake Champlain. Westhaven, South Hero, Ac., Bobbins.

At Mallet's Bay, Sharpshin Point, and Winooski falls,

Burlington, Macrae. June, July.
Hepatica, Dillen. I\robk Liverwort.

triloba, Chaix. Anemone Hepatica, L. Woods. April.
Ranunculus, L. Crowfoot.

aquatilis, L. var. capillaccns, DC. Small streams. June — Sept.

rcptans, L. var. fdiformis, DC. Overflowed borders of rivers and lakets.

July, Aug.
abortivus, L. Shady banks, Ac. May, June.
scelcratus, L. Ditches, Ac. July, Aug.
acris, L. Butli.raqts. Meadows, Ac. June — Aug.
bulbosus, L. Buttercups. Pastures on hills, Ac. May, June.
repens, L. Low moist grounds. June — Aug.
Pennsylvanicus, L. Low moist grounds. July, Aug.
recxtrvatus, Poir. Shady moist banks. June.
Parsldi, Richardson. R. mull i ft,!, ^s, Pursli. Ponds and lakes. Castleton,

Chandler. South Hero, Alburgh, Colchester, Ac, Robbins.

Middlebury, Burge. May, June.
Pr. i. 2'J

|78 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I.

CATALOGUE OK PLANTS

Caltha, L. Meadow Cowslip. Marsh Marigold.

palustris, L. Wet meadows and swamps. May, June.
Coptis, Salisbury. Gold Thread.

trifolia, Salisb. Woods, in boggy soil. May.
Aquilegia, Tourn. Columbine.

Canadensis, L. Rocky places. May, June.
Actaea, L.

alba, Bigelow. While Cohosh. Rocky woods. May.

rubra, Bigelow. Red Cohosh. Rocky woods. May.
Cimicifuga, L. .

raccmosa, Elliott. Actaza raccmosa, L. Black Snakeroot. Woods. Middlebury,
James. Mansfield mountain, Shelburne and Sharpskin
Points near Burlington — rare. — Macrae.
Thalictrum, Tourn. Meadow Rue.

dioicum, L. Shady rocky banks. May.

Cornuti,h. Moist grounds. July.

Order MENlSPERMACEiE. The Moousced Tribe.
Menispermum, Tourn. Moonseed.

Canudcnsc, L. Woods, &.c. Middlebury, James. St. Albans and South Hero, ■
Robbins. Burlington, Carta. Vergennes, Macrae. June,
July.

Order BERBERIDACE.E. The Barberry Tribe.
Leontice, L.

thalictroidcs, L. Blue Cohosh. Woods. May.
Podophyllum, L. May Apple.

j) citatum, L. Woods in rich soil. Castleton, Branch. May.

Order CABOMBACE.E.
Brasenia, Schreber.

purpurea. HydropcWs purpurea, Michx. Brasenia peUata, Pursh. In water. In
Minaud's pond, Rockingham, Carey. In Colchester pond,
Macrae. July.

Order CERATOPIIYLLACEiE.
Ceratophyllum, L. Uomwort.

cchinutum .' Gray. In ponds and rivers. Near the mouth of Winooski river,
and in lake Memphremagog, RobLms.

Order NYMPHiEACEiE. The Wakr-Lilij Tribe.
Nympboca, Tournefort.

odorata, Alton. While Watcr-LUij. Ponds and rivers. July, Aug.
Nuphar, Smith.

adoena, Aiton. Yellow Water-lAhj. Ponds and rivers. June, July.
lutea. var. Kalmiana, Torr. & Gr. N. Kalmiana, Pursh. Ponds and rivers.
July.

Order SARRACENlACEiE.
Sarraccnia, Tourn.

purpurea, h. Side-saddle Flower. Forefather's Cup. Sphagnousbogs. June.
Order PAPAVERACE/E. The Poppy Tribe.
Sanguinaria, DiUenius. Blood-root.

Canadensis, L. Woods, &.c. May.
Chelidonium, Tourn.

*§ majus, L. Road-sides, and about houses. June — Sept.

Order FUMARIACEiE. The Fumitory Tribe.
Dielytra, Borckh.

cucullaria, DC. Woods, &c. May.

Canadensis, DC. Squirrel Corn. Woods. St. Albans, Rabbins. In the
southwest of Vermont, Oakcs. May.
Adlumia, Raf.

fungosa. Corijdalis fungosa, Ventenat. Adlumia cirrhosa, Raf. Rocky woods.
Middlebury, James, Barge. Castleton, Burlington, and
Westhaven, Bobbins. Ludlow, Washburn. July — Sept.

Chap. 7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. I79

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

Corydalis, DC.

uurca, Willd. Rocky woods. Castlcton, Chandler. Burlington, Macrae. May,

June.
glauca, Pursh. Rocks and ledges. May, June.

Order CRUCIFERiE. The Cruciferous Tribe.

Nasturtium, 7?. Br.

pa lustre,' DC. Wet places. July, Aug.

nutans, UC. var. Aiiieiicaninn, Gray, T. & G. I. p. 75. In shallow water on
the borders of Otter Creek below Vergennes, abundant for
several miles, Rabbins. July, Aug.
Barbarea, R. Br.

vulgaris, R. Br. Winter Cress. Road-sides, &c, generally in moist soil. June.
Arabis, D. Wall Cress.

hirsuta, Scop. A. sagittata, DC. Turritis hirsuta, L. Rocks. June.
laevigata, DC. Turritis lecvigala, Muhl. Rocks. June.
Cardamine, L.

■rhomboidea, DC. C. rotundifolia var., Tor. & Gray. Wet meadows. Castleton,

Robbins. May, June.
hirsuta, L. C. Pennsijlva?iica, Muhl. Brooks &o. June, July.
jtrateusis, L. Ladi/'s Smock. Cuckoo Flower. Wet meadows. Whiting and
Alburgh, Chandler. St. Albans, Robbins. May, June.°
Dentaria, L. Toothworl.

diphulla, Michx. Pepper Root. Woods. May.
laciniuta, Muhl. Woods. Castleton, Robbins. May.
Sisymbrium, Allioni.

§ officinale, Scop. Hedge Mustard. Road-sides and about houses. June — Aun-.
teres, Torr. &, Gray, I. p. 93. Cardamine teres, Michx. Vermont, on Lake
Champlain, Michaux. No botanist except Michaux has ever
collected this species.
Sinapis, L. Mustard.

§ nigra, L. Black Mustard. Old fields, Ac. June— Aug.
§ aroensis, L. Road sides, old fields, &.c, called " Charlock" which it resembles.
Charlotte and Alburgh, Robbins. About Burlington, Macrae.
May, June.
Draba, L.

arabizans, Michx. On rocks. On Lake Champlain, Michaux. At Sharpshiu
Point, Burlington, and on the north side of Juniper Island,
Macrae. May.
Cochlearia, L.

§ Arinoracia, L. Horse- radish. Banks of rivers, and about houses, in moist
soil. June. This well known species is also tboroughly
naturalized in Massachusetts, often in places distant from
habitations.
Camelina, Grants.

§ sativa, Crantz. Old fields, flax fields, &c. Fenisburgb, Robbins. Bellows
Falls, Cam/.
Lepidiuin, L. Peppcrwitrt, or " Pepper Grass."

Virginicum, L. Sandy fields and roadsides. June, July.
Capsella, Vent. Shepherd's Purse,

§ Bursa-pastoris, Moench. Gardens and fields. April — Sept.
Raphanus, L.

§ Ruphanistrum, L. Charlock. Wild Radish. Cultivated grounds. South
Hero, Rabbins. June, Sept.

Order CAPPAR1DACEJE. The Caper Tribe.

Polanisia, Raf,

graveolens, Raf. On the gravelly hanks of Lake Champlain, above high water.
July, Aug.

Order POLYGALACE7E. The Milkwort Tribe.-

Polygala, L. Milkwort.

verticillata, L. Dry Soils. At Bellows Falls, Tuckcrmoji, Carey. July — Sept.

IfiO NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I-

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

Senega, L. Seneca Snake-root. Dry rocky woods and banks. June.
polygama, Wait. P. rubella, Willd. Dry fields and borders of woods. July.

Aug.
paucifolia, Willd. Pine woods and sphagnous swamps. May, June.
amhigua, Nuttall. Dry fields, &c. Pownal, Rubbins. July, Aug.

Order VIOLACEiE. The Violet Tribe.
Viola, L. Violet.

■ patmata, L. Woods and shady banks. Pownal, Rabbins. May.
cucullata, Ait. Wet meadows and woods. May.
sagittate, Ait. var. ovata, T. &. G. I. p. 13S. V. ovala, Nutt. Dry hills, &c.

May.
rotund if of in, Michx. Woods. May.
blanda, Willd. Wet meadows and woods. May.
Muhlenbergii, Torrey. Moist woods. May, June.
rostratu, Pursh. Woods. May, June.
pubescens, Ait. Woods. May, June.
Canadensis, L. Woods. May, June.

Order DROSERACEjE. The Sundew Tribe.

Drosera, L. Sundete.

rotundifolia, L. Sphagnous bogs. June — Aug.

longifolia, L. Sphagnous bogs. June — Aug.
Parnassia, Toum. Grass of Parnassus,

Caroliniana, Michx. Wet meadows, &c. Aug., Sept.

Order CISTACE^E. The Rock-rose Tribe.
Helianthemum, Tourn.

Canadcnst, Michx. Dry sandy pastures, &c. Pownal, Rabbins. Bellows Falls,
Carey. Burlington, Macrae. June.
Lechea, L. Pin Weed.

major, Mich. Dry pastures, &c. Middlebury, Janus. July, Aug.
minor, Lam. Dry hills, itc. Middlebury, James. Burlington, Macrae.
Bellows Falls, Carey. July, Aug.

Order HYPERICACEiE. The SI. John's Wort Tribe.
Hypericum, L. St. John's Wort.

pyrumidatum, Ait. //. ascyroides, Willd. Banks of rivers. Burlington, Bigcha:

Near Rutland, Rabbins. On Black river, Springfield, Carey.

On White river, between Royalton and Hartford, (Jakes.

July, Aug.
§ perforatum, L. Common SI. John's War/. Grass fields, pastures, <fcc. July,

August.
corymbosum, Mulil. Shady banks, &c. July, Aug.
cllipticam, Hooker. Moist meadows, &c. Middlebury, Burge, Westfordand

Ferrisburgli, Robbins. Burlington, Tuelcryian. Bellows

Falls, &c, Caret/. July, Aug.
mutifum, L. II. parvijlarum, Willd. Wet soils. July, Aug.
Cunadense, L. Wet soils. July, Aug.
Elodea, Adam.

Virginieu, Nutt. Swamps, &c. Middlebury, James. Burlington, Macrae.

July Aug.

Order ILLECEBRACEjE. The Knot-grass Tribe.
Spergula, Bar/l.

§ arvensis, L. Old fields, &c. June, Oct.
Anycbia, Mickc.

dichotoinu, Michx. Dry hills, &c. Pownal, Robbins. July, Aug.
Order CARYOPHYLLACUjE. The Pink Tribe.
Mollugo, L.

vcrticillata, h. Sandy soils. Bellows Falls, Carey. July— Sept.
Arenaria, L. Sandicort.

stricta, Michx. Rocks. June.

Chap. 7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. ]£]

CATALOGUE OK PLANTS.

Granlandica, Spring. A. glabra, Bigel. non Michx. On the summits of
Mansfield mountain and Camel's Hump, Rabbins, Tuckerraan
and Macrae. July, Aug. (Identical with A. glabra of
Michaux, Macrae.)

§ ScrpylHfolia, L. Sandy fields. Burlington, Tucker man. May — July.

lateriflora, L. Moist woods. Middlebury, Burge. Fairhaven, Rabbins. June.
Stellaria, L.

§ media, Smith. CMckweed. Gardens, &c. April — Nov.

longifolia, Muhl. Bellows Falls, Carey. June.

borealis, Bigel. Swamps, and on mountains. June, July.
Ccrastium, L. Mouse-ear Chickireed.

§ vulgatum, L. Roadsides, &c. June.

nutans, Raf. Moist shady places. Middlebury, Burge. Danby and Rutland,
Rabbins. May.
Silene, L. Catehjly.

antirrhina, L. Dry fields, &c. On the rocks about Winooski falls, Colchester.
Rabbins. Bellows Falls, Carey. June.

5 noctiftora, L. Old fields, &.c. Bellows Falls, Carey. Burlinoton, Macrae.
July.
Agrostemma, L-

Githa«o, L. Corn Cackle. Cultivated fields, &c. June.

Order PORTULACEjE. The purslane Tribe.

Portulaca, L.

oleracca, L. Purslane. Gardens, &c. July, Aug.
Claytonia, L.

Caroliniana, Michx. Spring Beauty. Woods. April, May.

Order LINACEjE. The Flax Tribe.

Linum, L. Fleix.

§ usitatissimum, L. Common Flax. Old fields, &c. July.
Virginianum, L. Dry woods, itc. Pownal, Robbins. June — Aug.

Order GERANIACEiE. The Geranium Tribe.

Geranium, L.

maculatum, L. Woods. June.

Carolinianum, L. Dry soils. Bellows Falls, Carey. Burlington, Gales. June.

Robertianum, L. Shady ledges, iM:c. June — Sept.

§ disscctum, L. Hills. Castleton, Rabbins. June, July. Exactly the European

plant, and found also by Dr. Robbins at Augusta, Me., and

Uxbridge, Mass.

Order BALSAMINACE/E. The Balsam Tribe.
Iinpatiens, L. Balsam.

pallida, Nutt. Moist shady grounds. Pownal, Oakcs. At the base of Mansfield
mountain, Westhaven, Jericho, &c, Robbins. Guildhall
Carey.
fulva, Nutt. Moist grounds. Aug. Sept.

Order LIMNANTIIACEiE.
Flcerkea, Willd.

proserpinacoides, Willd. Wet banks, and margins of streams, &c. Castleton,
Robbins. May.

Order OXALIDACE.E. The Wood-sorrel Tribe.

Oxalis, L. Wood-sorrel.

acctosclla, L. Mountain woods. June, July.
stricta, L. Cultivated grounds. June — Sept.

Order XANTHOXYLACEiE.
Xanthoxylum, L.

Miner icanmn, Miller. A", traxinrym, Willd. Prickly Ash. On rocky hills and
banks. Middkbnry, James. Ferrisburgh, Shoreham, Grand
Isle, Shelburne, St. Albans, and Arlington, Rabbins. April,
May.

182

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I,

CATALOGUE OK PLANT

Order ANACARDIACE/E. The Cashew Tube.

Rhus, L. Sumac.

typhina, L. Stag's horn Sumac. Hills. Juno.

glabra, L. Smooth Sumac. Hills, &c. July.

copullina, L. Mountain Sumac. Hills and pastures. July.

venenata, DC. R. vernix, L. in part. Prison Sumac. Poison Dogwood.—

Swamps. June.
Toxicodendron, L. Poison Ivy. Woods and along fences. June.
aromatica, Ait. Dry hills and banks. Shoreharn, Dr. Hill, Westhaven and

Pownal, Rollins. May.

Order MALVACEAE. The Mallow Tribe.

Malva, L. Mallows.

§ rotundijolia, L. Road-sides and about houses. June — Sept.
Sida, /..

Abutilon, L. Waste places, cultivated grounds, &,c. Pownal, Dobbins. Aug..
Sept.

Order TILIACEiE. The Linden Tribe.

Tilia, L. Linden, or Lime Tree.

jlmcricana, L. Bass Wood. Woods. July.

Order VITACEiE. The Vine Tribe.
Vitis, L. Vine.

Labrusca, L. Fox Grape. Woods and thickets. June.

wdtivulis? Michx. Summer Grape. Ranks of rivers, &.c. On the alluvial

banks of the Winooski, near High Bridge, Colchester,

Dobbins. Rocks at Sharpshin Point, Burlington, Macrae.

Bellows Falls, Carey. June.

riparia, Michx. Tbickets on the banks of rivers. Bellows Falls, Carey. June.

cordifulia, Michx. Frost Grape. Winter Grape. Borders of thickets, &c. June.

Ampelopais, Michx.

ijuinqtufolia, Michx. Common Creeper. Woods, etc. July.

Order ACERACE^E. The Maple Tribe.
Acer, L. Maple.

Pennsijlcanicum,L. A. striatum, Michx. Striped Maple. Woods. May, June.
spicatuni, Lam. A. montanuin, Ait. Mountain Maple. Woods. June.
saccharinum, L. Sugar Maple. Woods. May. var. nigrum. A. nigrum.

Michx. Black Sugar Maple. Woods. May.
dasycurpum, FAuh. White Maple, Soft Maple. Banks of rivers. April.
rubrum, L. Red Maple. Swamps, &c. April, May.

Order CELASTRACEiE.

Staphylea, L. Bladdcr-nnt.

trifolia, L. Rocky banks, &c. Middlebury, James. Pownal, Dobbins. May.
Celastrus, L.

scandens, L. Wax-work. False Bitter -Sweet. Borders of woods, fences, &c.
June.

Order RIIAMNACE/E. The Buck-Thorn Tribe.
Rhamnus, L. Buck-thorn.

alnifolius, L'Her. Sphagnous swainps. Castleton, Whiting, Craftsbury, &c.,

Hubbardton, Chandler. Danville

Robbt
Ju
Ceannthus, L.

Amcvicanus, L. A rew Jersey Tea. Dry woods, pastures, &c. July
ovalis, Bigel. Dry open sandy woods, &c. Burlington, June.

Order LEGUMlNOSiE. The Pea and Bean Tribe.
Vicia, L. Vetch.

saliva, L. Common Vetch. Tare. Old fields, &C. July.
Cracca,L. Old fields, &c. Middlebury, Burge. June, July.

M:

Crup. 7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. ] 33

CATALOGUK OF PLANT!

Lathyrus, L-

maritimus, Bigel. Pisum maritimum, L. Shore Pea. On the sandy shore of

lake Champlain, Burlington, Macrae. June, July.
palustris, L. Wet meadows, &o. June.

var. myrtifolius, L. myrtifolius^ Mulil. " In Vermont. Torrey fy Gray."
ochroleucus, Hooker. L giaudfoliiis, Beck. On the banks of lake Cliamplain,
in dry soil, in North and South Hero, Robbins. June, July.
Apios, Bocrhaavc.

tuherosa, Mcench.' Glycine Apius, L. Ground Nut. Moist shady places. Aug.
Amphicarpasa, Elliott.

monoica, Elliott. Glycine monoica, L. Woods. July.
Trifolium, L. Clover. Trefoil.

§ arvense, L. Dry sandy soil. July, Aug.

§ pratense, L. Red Clovor. Meadows, fields, &c. June — Sept.
repens, L. White Clover. Meadows, fields, woods, &c. May — Oct.
Melilotus, Tourn. Melilot.

officinalis, Willd. Yellow Melilot. Middlebury, James. June — Aug.
Medicago, L.

§ l.upulina, L. Nonesuch. Fields, &,c. South Hero. Rabbins. June, Aug.
Phaca, L.

llubinsii, Oakes, in Ilovcy's Mag, May, 1841. On a limestone ledge in
Burlington, on the banks of Winooski river, a quarter of a
mile below High Bridge, Robbim. May, June.
Desinodium, DC. Iledysarutn, L.

nudijlorum, DC. Dry woods. Aug.
acuminatum, DC. Dry woods. Aug.
Cunudcnse, DC. Woods and by fences. July, Aug.
cancsccns, DC. Dry soil. Pownal, Robbins. Aug.
paniculatum, DC. Dry woods. Ferrisburgh, Robbins. Aug.
DUlenii, Darlington. Dry woods. Bellows Falls, Carey. Aug.
Lespedeza, Mich.c. Hedysarum, L.

violucea, Pers. Dry woods. Rockingham, Caret/. Aug.
hirta, Ell. Dry fields, banks, &c. Colchester, Robbins. Aug.
capitata, Michx. Dry pastures, »fcc. Bellows Falls, Carey. August.
Lupinus, L. Lupin,c.

perennis, L. Wild Lupine. Sandy woods and fields. June.
Cassia, /..

Marilandica L. Wild Senna. Orwell, Dr. Hill. Bellows Falls, Carey. Aug.

Okder ROSACE/E The Rose Tribe.

Prunus, Tourn. Plum.

Americana, Marshall. P. nigra, Ait. Canada Plum. Wild Yellow Plum. —
"Woods. Alay.
Cerasus, Juss. Prunus, L Cherry.

puinila, Michx. Suiul C/nrrij. Rocky or sandy shores. May.

l'ennsi/lvanica, Loisel. C. bmcalU, Michx. Wild Red Cherry. Woods. May.

scrutina, DC. C. Virginiana, Michx. Wild Blade Cherry. Fields, woods, tVc.
June.

Virginiana, DC. P. abovata, Bigel. Choke Cherry. Fields, woods, &c. June.
Spiraea, L.

salicifolia, L. Meadow Sweet. Low grounds. July, Aug.

tovientosa, L. Hardhack. Low grounds. July, Aug.
Geum, L. Avcns.

strictum, Ait. Low grounds. July.

Virginianum, L. Fields, &.c. June, July.

rivale, L. Water Avtus. Bogs. June.
Waldstenia, Willd.

fragarioides, Tratt. Dalibarda fragarioides, Michx Woods. June.
Agrimonia, Tourn. ■ Agrimony.

Eupatoria, L. VV oods and pastures. July.
Potentilla, L. Cinque/oil.

fruticosa, L. Bogs. July — Sept.

Canadensis, L. T. simplex, Michx. Five Finger. Woods. May, June.
var. pumila. p. I'uwila, Poir, Pastures, &c. May — Aug.

]84 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

Korvegica, L. Old fields, &<J. June— Aug.

tridcntaia, Ait. On the Alpine summits of Mansfield mountain and Camel's

Hump, Robbings. July, Aug.
aro-uta. Pursh. P. confcrtifora, Torrey. Rocky Hills. Povvnal, Castleton,

Robbins Bellows Falls, Carey. May, June.
anserina, L. Overflowed places. June, July.

arircntea, L. Dry hills, Ac. Bellows Falls, Carey. Burlington, Macrae.
Pownal, Rollins. June.
Comarum, L

palustre L. Bogs. Burlington, Rollins. Charleston, Carey. July.
Fragaria, Toum. Strawberry.

Virginiana, Ehrh. Wild Straivlcrry. Woods and meadows. May.
vescu, L. Common " English" Wood Strawberry. Woods, especially on
mountains. May.
Dalibarda, L.

repens, L. Woods, especially on mountains. June— Aug.
Rubus, L. Brumlle.

vdoratus, L. Floioering Raspberry. Shady rocky banks. June— Aug.
strigosus, Miclix. Red Raspberry. About woods. May, June.
occtdentalis, L. Thimble-berry. Black Rasplcrry. By fences, Ac. May, June.
villosus, Ait. High Blackberry. Borders of woods and fields. June.
Canadensis, L. R. trivialis, Pursh. Low Blackberry. Fields, Ac. June.
hispidus, L. R. sempervirens and setosus, Bigelow. Woods. June.
trijlorus, Richardson. R. sdzatilis, Michx. Swamps and woods. June.
Rosa, Toum. Rose.

Carolina, L. Borders of swamps, &C. July.
lucida, Ehrh. Pastures, Ac. June.

blunda, Ait. On rocks. Bellows Falls, Carey. Burlington, Macrae. On the
ledge near High Bridge, Burlington, with Phaca Rolbinsii^
Oakes. June.
§ ruliginosa,~L. Sweet Briar. Thickets, pastures, Ac. June, July.
Crataegus, L. Hawthorn.

coccinea,L. Borders of thickets, Ac. May, June.

tomentosa, L. car. B., Torrey A. Gray, 1—466. Thickets, Ac. Bellow*

Kails, Carey. May, June.
jjunctata, Jacq. Borders of woods, Ac. Ferrisburgh, Charlotte, Colchester,
Ac, Rollins, May, June.
Pyrus, L.

arbutifolia, L. f. var. erythrocarpa. Dry woods. June.

var. metanocarpa. Choheberry. Swamps. June.
Americana, DC. Sorbus Americana, Willd. Mountain Ash. Woods, especially
on mountains. June.
Amelanchier, Medic. DC. Mespilus, L. Aronia, Pers. Juncberry.

Canadensis, T. A G. 1—473. Mespilus Can. L. Pyrus Botryapium, L. fil.
var. Botryapium, T. A G. Woods, Ac. May, June
var. oblongifolia, T. A G. Woods, Ac. May, June.
var. rotundifolia, T. A G. Rocky banks of rivers, Ac. May, June.
var. otigocarpa, T. A G. Near the summits of Camel's Hump and Mansfield
mountain, Robbins, Tuckerman, and Macrae. In a swamp
at Guildhall, Carey. June.
Order LYTHRACEiE. The Loosestrife Tribe.

Decodon, Gmclin.

vcrticillatum, Elliott. Lythrum vert., L. "Borders of ponds, Ac. Colchester,
Robbins.
Ouuer ONAGRACE.E. The Evening Primrose Tribe.

Epilobium, L. Willow Herb.

anguslifoliuin, L. E. spicatum, Lam. Burnt woods, Ac. July, Aug.

coloratam, Muhl. Wet places. July, Aug.

palustrc, L. var. ullifiorum, Lehm. E. linearc, Muhl. E. squamatum, Nuttall.
Swamps. Aug.
Oenothera, L. Evening Primrose.

lieunis, L. Old fields, Ac. July, Aug.

Chap. 1. BOTANY OP VERMONT. 135

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

pumila, L. Old fields, &c. June — Sept.
Circaea, Tourn. Enchanter's Nightshade.
Lutctiana, L. Woods, «tc. July.
alpina, L. Old woods, on fallen mossy trunks, &c. July, Aug.

Sub-Ordkr HALORAGE/E.
Proserpinaca, L.

palustris, L, Ditches, borders of ponds, &c. July, Aug.
Myriophyllum, Vaill. Water Milfoil.
spicatum, L. 'In ponds, &c. July.

Okdek CUCURB1TACE/E. The Gourd Tribe.
Sicyos, L. Single-seeded Cucumber.

angulatus, L. Cultivated grounds and river banks. Aug.
Echinocystis, Torrey <$> Gray, 1, 542.

lobata, T, & G. Monuir'dicacchinala, VVilld. ITexamcria echinala, T. &. G. in New
York State Cat. p 137. Alluvial banks of rivers. On the
Hoosic, Pownal,Vt., (Jakes. On the Winooski, below High
Bridge, Colchester, Rabbins. Aug.
Order GROSSULARIACEiE. The Currant and Gooseberry Tribe.
Ribes, L. Currant and Gooseberry.

Cijnoshati, L. Rocky woods, &,c. May.
lacustrc, Poiret. Rocky mountain woods. May, June.

prostratum, L'Herit. R. rigens and trijulwni, Michx. Mountain woods. May.
floridum, L'Herit. Wild Black Currant. Woods. Bridgewater, Thompson. May.
rubrum, L. Red, garden Currant. Swamps. St. Juhnsbury, Cany. Also on
the rocky banks of the Winooski, Oakes. May, June.
Order CRASSULACEiE. The Uause-'eek Tribe.

Penthorum, L.

scdoides, L. Low moist places. July, Aug.

Order SAXIFRAGACE7E. The Saxifrage Tribe.
Saxifraga, L. Saxifrage.

Virgiaiensis, Michx. Rocks. May.

Pcnnsi/lvanica, L. Wet meadows and swamps. May, June.
Mitella, L.

diphijlla, L. Pulse saniele. Woods. May.

nuda, L. 71/. cordifolia, Lam. M. prostrata, Michx. Shady bogs. May, June.
Tiarella, L. Mitre Wort.

cordifolia, L. Woods. May, June.
Chrysospleniurn, Tourn. Golden Saxifrage.

jlmericanum, Schweinitz. C. opposiiifoliuin, Michx. &c. not L. Wet boggy
soil. May, June.
Order HAMAMELACE7E. The Witch Hazel Tribes
Hamamelis, L. Witch Hazel.

Virgiuiana, L. Woods, &c. Oct., Nov.

Order UMBELL1FER/E. The Umbelliferous Tribe.
Ilydrocotyle, Tourn. Marsh Penny Wort.

Americana, L. Swamps, &c. July, Aug.
Sanicula, Tourn. Saniele.

Marilandica, L. Woods. June.
Cicuta, L.

macalala, L. Water Hemlock. Moist meadows, &c. July, Aug.

bulbifcra, L. Borders of swamps, &c. August.
Sium, L. Water Parsnip.

lutifoliuin, L. Wet places. July, Aug.
Cryptotsenia, DC.

Canadensis, DC. Sison Canadensc, L. Shady banks, &c. July.
Zizia, Koch.

aurca, Koch. Smynium aurcum, L. Meadows, &c. July.

integerrima, DC. ' Smyrniuvi intcgerrirnwn, L. Shady banks, &c. June.
Thaspium, Null.

cordatum, Torrey & Gray, 1, G15. Middlebury, James. June.

Ft. i. 24

186

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

PaktI

CATALOGUK OF PLANTS.

Conioselinum, Fisch.

Canadcnse, T. & G. 1, G19. Selinnm Can., Michx. Cnidium Can., Spreng.
Cedar swamps and wet woods. Fairhaven, and at tlie baso
of Mansfield mountain, Rabbins. Burlington, Macrae. July.
Archangelica, Hoffm.

atropurpurea, Hoffm. Angelica triquinala, Michx. Angelica. Low grounds.
July.
Pastinaca, Tiairn.

§ saliva, L. Common Parsncp. By fences, &c. June, July.
Heracleum, L. Cow Parsiuy.

lanatam, Michx. By fences, &c. June, July.
Osmorhiza, Raf.

longisttjlis, DC. Stocet Cicely. Woods. May, June.

brcvistylis, DC. Woods. May, June.
Coniuin, L. He //dock.

§ maculatum, L. Poison Hemlock. Road sides, &c. July, Aug.

Order ARALIACEiE. The Aralia Tribe.
Aralia, L.

nudicaulis, L. Wild Sarsaparilla. Woods. May, June.

racemosa, L. Spikenard. Woods and shady banks. July.

hispida, L. Burnt woods, &c. July.
Panax, L. Ginseng.

tjuinqucfolium, L. Common Ginseng. Woods. July.

trijuliuvi, L. D tear/ Ginseng. Moist woods. May.

Order CORNACEiE. The Dogwood Tribe.
Cornus, L. Dogwood.

alternifolia, L. Woods. June.

circinata, L. Woods, &c. Middlebury, James. Castleton, Colchester, and

Burlington, Robbins. Bellows Falls, Carey. June.
stolonifcra, Michx. Cornus alba, Wang. Banks of streams, &.c. May, June.
paniculata, L'ller. Borders of woods, &.c. June.
sericea, L. Low grounds, &c. July.

Jlurida, L. Common Dogwood. Woods. Castleton, Robbins. May, June.
Canadensis, L. Woods. May.

OftDEU CAPRIFOLlACEiE. The Honeysuckle Tribe.
Linnrca, Gronov.

borcalis, Gronov. IAnncva. Old woods. June, July.
Symphoricarpus, Dilknius.

% ace mos us, Michx. Snowbcrry. Rocky banks. On Grand Isle and^outh Heror
ut the " Point of Rocks" in Shoreham, and at Fort Cassin,
Robbins. On the extremity of Sharpshin Point, Burlington,
Macrae. July, Aug.
Lonicera, L. Honeysuckle.

hirsuta, Eaton." Rocky woods. Middlebury, Jams. Castleton, Branch. Pownal,

Robbins. June.
parviflora, Lam. Rock)/ banks, &c. June.
ciliata, Muhl. Shady ledges, &c. May, June.
cwrulea, L. Xyhsleum ri/losum, Michx. Bogs, &c. May, June.
Diervilla, Tourn.

trijida, Mcench. D. Canadensis, Willd. Rocky woods. July.
Triosteum, L.

pcrJoliutum,L. Fcvcrieort. Rocky woods, Sec. Bennington, Robbins. May, June.
Sainbucus, Tourn. Elder.

Canadensis, L. Common Elder. Along fences, &c. July.
■pubens, Michx. Red-berried Elder. Woods and mountains. May.
Viburnum, L.

nudum, L. V. '/v/r /folium, Pursh. V. cassinoides. L. Moist woods, &c. June.
Lenlago, L. Moist thickets. June.
dentation, L. Arrow /rood. Moist thickets. June.

pubescens, Pursh. Dry rocky banks. Middlebury, James. Shoreham, Castleton,
and Westhaven, Robbins Sharpshin Pcint and a high rock
behind it, Burlington, Macrae. June.

Chap. 7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. ] 87

CATALOGUE OF PT.ANTS

accri folium, L. Rocky woods. June.

Opulus, L. var. Americanum, Ait. V. Oxycoccus, Pursh. Cranberry Bush.
Woods, &c. May, June.
var. eradiatum, Oakes in Hovey's Mag., May, 18-41. V. fcmcijlnrwn, La
Pylaic. T. &l. G. 2, 17. Near the summit of the
Mansfield mountain, Tuckerman and Macrae. July.
Lantanoidcs, Michx. Hubble Bush. Old woods. May, June.
Order RUBIACEiE. The Mulder Tribe.

Houstonia, L.

carulca, L. Wet pastures, &c. May, June.
longifolia, Michx. Dry woods. July.
Galium, L. Bedstraw.

Sparine, L. Goose grass. Cleavers. Shady banks. June.

(rifulum, L. G. tiwiorium, L. G. obtusum, Bigel. Low grounds. June, July.

asprcllum, Michx. Moist thickets. July.

triflorum, Michx. Woods. June, July.

pilosum, Ait. Dry pastures, &c. Pownal. Robbins. June.

circaezans, Michx. Woods. June, July.

var. lanceolatum, Torr. & Gray. G. lane. Torrey. Woods. Castleton,
Branch. Middlebury, Bur^e. Essex, Robbins. Bellows
Falls, Carey.
var. viontaiium, T. »fc G. 2, 24. G. Liltellii, Oakes in Hovey's Magazine,
May, 1841. On the sides of Camel's Hump mountain,
Robbins. Notch of Mansfield mountain, Tuehcnnan and
Macrae. July, August. A pubescent var. grows on
Sharpshin Point, Builington, Macrae.
Cephalanthus, L. Button, Busk.

occidentalism L. Small ponds and wet places. July, August.
Mitchella, /,. Checker- Berry.

repens, L. Woods. June, July.

Order VALERIANACE^. The Valerian Tribe.

Valeriana, Tourn. Valerian.

sylvatica, Herb. Banks. Cedar and other swamps. Fairhaven and Craftsbury.
Robbins. May — July.

Order DIPSACEjE. The Teasel Tribe.

Dipsacus, L. Teasch

§ sylvestris, L. Wild Teasel. Waste grounds. Castleton, Reed.

Order COMPOSITE.

Vernonia, Schrebcr.

Koveboraccnsis, Willd. Iron-weed. Low grounds. Middlebury, James. Aug.
Eupatorium, L.

perfoliatum, L. Thorough wort. Bogs and wet grounds. Aug.
ageratoides, L. f. Shady banks, <fcc. August, Sept.

jmrpureum, L. E. vcrlicitl. and 7>uiculatum, L. Moist grounds. Aug., Sept.
Nardosmia, Cass. L.

palmata, Hook. Tussilago palmata, Ait. Swamps. Fairhaven, Robbins.
April, May.
Tussilago, Town.

? § Farfara, L. Colts-foot. Banks of streams, and moist banks. Pownal, Oakes.
Danby, Castleton, Grand Isle, Arlington, &c, Robbins.
Burlington, Tuektnuan. Rockingham, Cany. April, May.
Aster, L. Slarwort.

conyzoides, Willd. Dry open woods, &c. Pownal and Arlington, Robbins.

July, August.
Iccvis, L. Borders of woods, &c. Bellows Falls, &c, Carey. Aug., Sept.
undulatus, L. Dry woods, &c. Burlington, Macrae. Bellows Falls, Carey.

August, Sept.
corymbosus, Ait. Woods and shady banks, Aug., Sept.
cordifolius, L. Woods, &c. Sept.
multijlorus, Ait Dry hills, pastures, &.c. Pownal, Robbins. Aug., Sept.

]3ft NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I.

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

dumosus, L. var. strictior, T. &. G., 2, 128. Borders of woods, &c.
Tradescanti, L. var.fragUis, T. & G., 2, 12D. Rocky banks of -the Winooski,

Colchester and Burlington, Robbins. Aug., Sept.
miser, L. mr. kirsuhcaulis. T. & G., 2, 131. Borders of thickets, &c.

Bellows Falls, t£arcij. Burlington, Macrae. Aug., Sept.
simplex, Willd. Wet grounds. Bellows Falls, Cam/. August, Sept.
praialtus, Foir. Moist woods, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. August, Sept.
puniccus, L. Low moist grounds. August, Sept.
• JS'ovte-JlngHcr., h. Moist grounds, &c. Mid dlcbury, James. Sept.
ucumiiiatus, Michx. Woods. August, Sept.
ptarmicoides, T. & G., 2, 160. Ckrysopsis alba, Nutt. Hdeastrvm album, DC.

Rocky hills, Pownal, Robbins. August.
Unariifolius, L. Dry sandy pastures, Ac. August, Sept.
umbellatus, Miller. Moist thickets. August, Sept.
macrophyllus, L. Dry woods. Sept.
Erigeron, L. Flea-bane.

Canadcnse, L. Old fields, &c. July— Oct.

bcllidifolium, Muhl. Poor Robert's Plantain. Borders of woods, &c. May,

June.
Philadelphicum, L. E. purpurcum, Ait. Banks of rivers. Putney, Reed.

Burlington, Robbins. Bellows Falls, Carey. June.
strigosum, Muhl. E. Philadelphicum , and E. integri folium, Bigel. Fields,

&.c. June — Aug.
annuum, Pers. E. hcterophyllum, Muhl. E. strigosum, Bigel. Old fields, &0.
July, August.
Solidago, L. Golden Rod.

Canadensis, L. About fences and woods. August, Sept.

giguntea, Ait. Borders of woods, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. August, Sept.

juncea, Ait. S. argnta, Torr. and Gray. Borders of woods, &c. Burlington,

Carey,
neglecta, Torrey & Gray. Moist woods, &c. Fairhaven, Robbins. Aug., Sept.
altissima, L. Low grounds, &c. August, Sept.
jicmoralis, Ait. Dry fields and hills. August, Sept.
odora, Ait. Woods. August, Sept.
bicolor, L. Dry woods. August, Sept.
cassia, L. Woods. Bellows Falls, Carey. Sept.
Jlexicaulis, L. S. latifolia, L. Shady banks and woods. Sept.
■virgaurca, L. Bigel. S. thyrsoidca, E. Meyer. T. & G., 2, 207. Woods
on the sides of Killington Peak and of Mansfield Mountain.
Robbins. August.
squarrosa, Muhl. Dry banks and woods. Castleton, Essex and Colcliester,

Robbins. August, Sept.
lanceolata, L. Low grounds, Arc. August, Sept.

humilis, Pursh, 2, 543. On limestone rocks at Winooski falls, Colchester,
and also on the ledge with Pkaea Robbinsiir Burlington,
Robbins. August.
Inula, L.

Hclcnium, L. Elecampane. Road sides. August.
Xanthium, L. Cocblebur.

Strurnarium, L. -car. Canadcnse, Torrey and Gray. Road sides, &c.
Middlebury, James. South Hero, Robbins. Burlington,
Carey. August.
Ambrosia, L.

Jirtcmisieefolia, L. Jl. clatior, L. RUtcr Weed. Old fields, &c. Aug., Sept.
trifida, L. Low grounds. Pownal, Robbins. August, Sept.
Rudbeekia, L.

laciniata, L. Low grounds, &c. August, Sept.
Helianthus, L. Sum flower.

divaricatus, L. Sandy woods, &c. August, Sept.

dccapctalus, L. Moist places and woods about Burlington and Colchester,
Macrae. August, Sept.
Bidens, L. Bur Marigold.

frondosa, L. Moist fields, &.c. August, Sept-

Chap. 7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. ]£>o.

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS

chrysanthemoides, Michx. Wet grounds. Bellows Fulls, Carey. Aug., Sept.

ccrnua, L. Wet grounds. August, Sept.

Beckii, Torrey. Lakes, ponds, &.c. In Lake Champlain, near Benson,

Chandler. August, Sept.
connala, Muhl. Moist grounds. Middlebury, James. August, Sept.
Anthemis, L.

eotula, L. Man weed. Road sides, &c. July— Sept.
Achillea, L. Yarrow, Milfoil.

§ Millefolium, L. Pastures, &c. July, August.
Chrysanthemum, L.

leucanthemum, L. Whiteweed. Pastures and grass fields. June— Aug.
Artemisia, L. Wormwood.

§ Absinthium, L. Common Wormwood. Road sides, A:c. Naturalized abundantly
in Danby, Barre, Williamstown, Mount Tabor, Dorset,
Povvnal, Sec, Robbins. Aug.
§ vulgaris, L. Mugicort. Road sides, Ac. In Castleton, Branch. Middlebury,
Burge. In North Hero, St. Albans, Georgia, Danby, Ac.
Rabbins. Hubbardton, Chandler. Swantori, Carey. Colchester,
Oakes. July, August.
Tanacetum, L. Tansy.

§ vulgarc, L. Common Tansy. Road sides, Arc. August.
Gnaphalium, L. Cudweed.

decurrrns, Ives. Fields and pastures. Near Mansfield Mountain, Rollins.
Ilighgate, Tuckcrman. Bellows Falls, Can//. Burlington
, and Colchester, Oakes. August, Sept.
polyccphalum, Michx. Life everlasting. Fields and pastures. August, Sept.
uliginosum, L. Low grounds. August, Sept.
Antennaria, R. Br.

margaritacea, R. Br. Gnaphalium marg. L. Pastures, Arc. August, Sept.
plantaginca, R. Br. Gnaph. plant. L. Pastures, &c. April, May.
Senecio, L. Groundsel.

Balsamita, Muhl. Rocky banks. June.

obovatus, Muhl. Dry rocky banks, &c. Bennington and Pownal, Rollins.

May, June.
aureus, L. Bogs, &c. June.

var. lanccolatus, Oakes, in Hovey's Mag. May, 1841. In a cedar swamp at
Brownington, Rollins. July.
hicracifolius, L. Fircwced. Low grounds, &c. Aug.
Cirsium, Tourn. Thistle.

§ lanccolatum, Scop. Car dus lanccolatus, L. Road-sides, &c. July — Sept.

discolor, Spreng. Cnicus discolor, Muhl. Fields and woods. Aug.

pumilum, Spreng. Cnicus odora'us, Muhl. Carduus pwnilus, Nutt. Pastures.

Essex, Robbins. Bellows Falls, Carey. Sept., Oct.
muticitm, Michx. Cnicus glulinosus, Big. Moist woods. August, Sept.
§ arvense, Scop. Cnicus arvensis, Hotf. Canada Thistle. Fields, meadows
roadsides, &c. July, Sept.
Onopordon, L. Cotton Thistle.

§ Acanlhium, L. Dry pastures, &c. Williston and Grand Isle, Robbins.
Arctium, L.

Lappa, L. Burdock. Waste places. July — Sept.
Lactuca, Tourn. Lettuce.

elongata, Muhl. Along fences, &c. July.

var. sanguinca. L. sanguinca, Big. Dry pine woods. July, Aug.
Leontodon, L.

Taraxacum, L. Dandelion. Fields, gardens, Ac.
Sonchus, L. Soto thistle.

oleraceus, L. Common Sow thistle. Gardens, &c. August, Sept.
.. var. spinulosus,. S. spinulosus, Bigel. ,s'. oleraceus E. Smith E. II., 3, 344.
Pluk. t. 61, f. 5. Waste grounds, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey.
Common in the east of Massachusetts, and apparently "a
starved variety of S. oleracevs, though the ochenia are also
smoother than in the common variety.
floridanus ? L. S. acuminatms, Bigelow. Moist woods. August, Sept.
Ilieracium, L. Hawk-weed.

]90 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part 1.

¥

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

vcnosum, L. Dry open woods, &,c. June.

Marianum, Willd. Dry woods, &c. Aug.

Canadensis, Michx. II. Kalmii, Bigelow, &c. Borders of woods. Aug.

paniculatum, L. Dry woods. Aug.
Krigia, Schrebcr.

Virginica, Willd. Dry sandy pastures, &c. Middlebury, James. May— July.
Prenantlies, VailL

altissima, L. Shady banks, Ac. August, Sept.

alba, L. Woods, &c. August, Sept.

Order LOBELIACEiE. T/ic Lobelia Tribe.
Lobelia, L.

Kutinii, L. Moist rocks and bogs. Brownington and Colchester, Rollins.

•Burlington, Carey, Macrae, (hikes. July, Aug.
Claytoniana, Michx. L. pallida, Muhl. Moist meadows. June.
Curdinalis, L. Cardinal Flower. Wet places. August, Sept.
ivjlata, L. Indian Tobacco. Fields, road-sides, &c. Aug.

Order CAMPANULACE/E. The Bell rioiccr Tribe.
Campanula, L. Bell Flower.

rotundifolia, L. Hare-bcU. Rocky banks, (fee. June, July.

amplcxicaulis, Michx. C.pnrfoliala,L. Dry ledges, &c. Middlebury, Juvia.

Fairhaven, Cliaatller. June, July.
aparinoides, Pursh. Wet meadows, &c. June, July.

Order ERICACEAE. The Heath Tribe.
Andromeda, L.

polifolia, L. Sphagnous bogs, especially on the edges of ponds. May, June.
2>anietdata,L. Pepper bush. Swamps, &c. Powna], Robbins. Bellows Palls,

Carey. Ludlow, Washburn. June, July.
calyculata, L. Bogs &c. May.
Arbutus, L.

Uoa-ursi,L. Bear berry. Rocky hills, &c. April, May.
Gaultheria, L. * ' J

proeuinbens, L. Partridge Berry. Dry woods. June, July.
Rhododendron, I,. Rosebay.

■nudijlorum, Torr. Azalea nudijlara, L. Wild Honeysuckle. Swamps and moist
woods. Middlebury, James. Pownal, Oa/;<s. Fairhaven and
Georgia, Robbins. Bellows Falls, Carey. Ludlow, Washburn.
June.
Tiscosum, Torrey. Azalea riscosa, L. Swamps. Middlebury, James. July.
Canadcnse, Torrey. Rhodora Can., L. Bogs, &c. Brattleboro', Robbins.
Guildhall, Carey. May, June.
Kalmia, L.

latifolia,L. Calico hisli. High Laurel. Rocky hills, &c. Rocjtingham, Carey.

June, July.
ungustifolia, L. Sliccp Laurel. Low Laurel. Moist places. June, July.
glauca, Ait. Sphagnous bogs. May, June.
Epig;ea, L.

rcpens, L. Ground Laurel. Sandy woods and on mountains. April, May.
Ledum, L.

latifolium, L. Labrador Tea. Bogs. On the summits of Camel's Hump and
Mansfield mountains, Robbins and Tuckerman. May, June.
Vaccinium, L.

Jrondosum, L. Danglebcrn/. Woods. Middlebury, James. June.
rcsinosum, Ait. " Ilucltlcbcny," or Black Whortleberry. Dry woods, &c. May

June.
corymbosum, L. J%A Blueberry. Swamps, &c. May, June.
Pcnnsyloanicum, Lam. F. virgatum, Ait. Big. L«« Blueberry. Dry woods.

Essex, Robbins. May, June.
ttnellum, Ait. Big. Law Blueberry. Dry woods, pastures, &c. On the summits
of Camels Hump and Mansfield mountains, Robbins, Macrae,
and Tuckerman. May, June.

Chip. 7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. 191

CATALOGUE OE TI.ANTS.

Canudcnsc, Richardson. Low Blueberry. Pastures, swamps, &c. Bellows Kails,

Carey. Fairhavcn, Oakcs. May, Juno.
ulivinosum, L. On the summits of Mansfield and Camel's Hump mountains.

Rabbins, Tuclccrmun, and Macrae. June.
Vitis Idcca, L. Cowberry. With the preceding, B., T. and M. June, July.
imicrocarpon, Ait. Common, Cranberry. Bogs, &c. June.
oxycoccus, L. Small Cranberry. Bogs. On the summit of Mansfield mountain,
Robbins. June, July.
Lasierpa, Terr.

hispidula, Torr. Gaultheria serpyllifolia, Pursh. Old pine woods and
swamps. May, June.
Pyrola, L. Winter green.

rotundifolia, L. Woods. July.

chlorantha, Swartz. P. asarifalia, Torrey. Not of Michx. Old pine woods,

&c. June, July.
clliptica, Nutt. Dry woods. July.
sccunda, L. Old Tine woods, &c. June, July.

unitlora, L. Rare. In a cedar swamp, Brownington, Rabbins. In Pine woods,
Burlington and High Bridge, Macrae. In Charleston, with
calypso borealis, Carey. July.
umlellata, L. Pipsissaca. Dry woods. July.
maculata, L. Dry woods. Middlebury, James. July.
Monotropa, I,.

unijlora, L. Indian Pipe. Woods. July.
Hypopithys, Dillcn. Pine sap.

lanuginosa, Nutt. Monotropa lanuginosa, Michx. Woods. July, Aug.
Pterospora, NuM.

undramedea, Nutt. Dry rocky pine woods, near High Bridge, Colchester,
Robbins, and Burlington, Oakcs. Shady rich soil on the
rocks of Sharpshin Point, Burlington, Macrae. July.

Order AQUIFOLIACE7E. The Holly Tribe.

Nemopanthes, Raf.

Canadensis, Raf. Ilex Canadensis, Michx. Swamps, tfce. May.
l'rinos, L-

terticillatus, L. Black Alder. Winter Bern/. Swamps. Middlebury, James.
July.
Order OLEACEiE. The Olive Tribe.

Fraxinus, L- Ash.

sambucijolia, Lam. Black Ash. Moist woods, Middlebury, James. Lyndon,

Carcn. In Vermont, Tuckerman. May.
acuminata, La.m. F. Americana, Michx. f. White Ash. Woods. May.
pukscens, Walter. F. tomentosa, Michx. f. Red Ash. Woods, &c. In
Castleton, Chandler. In "Burlington, and in Grand Isle,
Robbins. May.
Order APOCYNACEjE. The Dogs-banc Tribe.

Anocynum, L. Dog's-bane.

androsacmifolinm, L. Borders of woods, by fences, &c. June, July.
hypericifolium, Ait? Pursh. Gravelly banks of ponds and rivers. June, July.
Order ASCLEPIADACEiE. The Milkvxed Tribe.

Asclepias, L. Milkweed.

Syriaca, L. Common Milkweed. Along fences, &c. July.

ji'hytolaccoides, Pursh. Woods, &c. July.

incarnata, L. Low grounds. July, August.

obtusifolia, Michx. Dry sandy soil. July.

quadrifolia, Jacq. Rocky woods. June.

tuberosa, L. Pleurisy-Root. Sandy fields, &c. Pownal, Robbins. Bellows*

Falls, Carey. July, August.
debilis, Michx. Shady dell near Burlington, Macrae. July.

]92 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I.

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

Order GENTIANACEiE. The Gentian Tribe.

Gentiana, L. Gentian.

saponaria, L. Soap-wort Gentian. Moist thickets, &c. August, Sept.
quinqueflora, L. Woods. Castleton, Reed. Pownal, Rollins. Rockingham,

Carey. August.
crinita, Frccl. Wet meadows. Sept., Oct.
Centaurella, Michx.

Virginica. Sa^ina Virginiea,L. Centaurella paniculata, Michx. C.autumnahs,
Pursh. Swamps, &c. Rockingham,. Caret/. August, Sept.
Menyantlies, L.

trifoliata, L. Buckbean. Bogs, itc. Burlington and Georgia, Rollins. Derby,
Carey. Colchester, Macrae. May, June.

Order CONVOLVULACEjE. The Bmdiceed Tribe.

Convolvulus, L. Bind weed.

scpium, L. Moist borders of thickets, &c. July.

spilhamcus, L. Dry sandy plains. July.
Cuscuta, L. Dodder.

Americana, L. Low grounds. August.

Order BORAGINACEiE.

Lithospermuin, L. Gromwcll.

8 officinale, L. Dry pastures, &c. Sudbury and Benson, Chandler. Middlebury,
St. Albans, and South Hero, Rollins. Burlington, Mucrat;
Oalccs. June, July.
§ orvensc, L. Corn Gromwcll. Old wheat fields, i&c. May.
Lycopsis, L. , _ .

§ amends, L. Road sides, &c., in dry soil. Pownal, Reed.
Echinospermum, Lehm. .

5 Lapmda, Lehm. Mi/osotis Lapjmla, L. Road sides, Ate. July, Aug.
Vir-'inianum, Lehm. 'Borders of thickets, road sides, &c. Bellows Falls,
Dm//. July.
Cynoglossum, 7,. Hound's Tongue.

§ officinale, L. Road sides, &c. May, June.
Virginianum, L. Woods. Rare. June.

Order HYDROPHYLLACE7E.

Hydropliyllum, L.

Virc'uiiamun, L. Woods. June.

Canadcnse L. Woods. At the base of Mansfield mountain, and frequent in
the south west of Vermont, Rabbins. June.

Order LABIATE. The Mint Tribe.

Lycopus, L. Water Ilureho and.

sinuatas, Ell. L. Europceus, Pursh., not of Lmn. Low grounds. Aug.

Virginicus, L. Low grounds. Aug.
Mentha, £,. Mmi\

S Piperito, L. pepper mi at. Ludlow, WSmMw».

frraa&s, Michx. ? Tor. Manual, Bigel. Wet grounds Aug

CWctevs, L. ? Torrey, Manual. Banks of rivers, &c. On the Hoosic, at
Pownal, Oakcs.

§ viridis, L. Spearmint. Moist meadows, about springs, &c. July, Aug.
Monarda, L. Horsemint. _ , , . .

/M«lwa, L. 3/. aUophyUa, Michx. M oblongatn, Ait. Dry rocky woods. Al
Middlebury, James. July, Aug.

BleP£taf Raf. Monarda hirsuta, Pursh. In Castleton, Branch. In a wet meadow,
Craftsbury, Robbins. In moist woods, Chester, Oakcs. July,
August.
Pycnanthemum, Miclix. .

incanum Michx. Mountain Mint. Rocky woods. Cavendish, Mac?oe. Aug.
lanccolcdum, Pursh. Borders of thickets, &c Pownal, «oM<ms. Bellows Jails,
Corai. July, Aug.

Chap. 7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. ]93

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

muticum, Pursh. Pastures, &c. Pownal, Rollins. July, Aug.
Collihsonia, L.

Canadensis, L. Horse-weed. Shady banks, &c. Middlebury, James. Arlington,
Rollins. July, Aug.
Hedeoma, Pers.

pulcgioidcs, Pers. Penny-royal. Pastures, &c. Middlebury, James. Bellows
Falls, Carey.
Melissa, L. Balm.

§ Clinopodium, Benth. Clinopodium vulgare, L. Rocky banks. July.
Prunella, /,.

vulgaris, L. Self Heal. Pastures, &c. June — Sept.
Scutellaria, L. ScuUcap.

lateriflora, L. Common ScuUcap. Low grounds. Aug.
galericulata, L. Moist places. Aug.

parvula, Michx. S. amligua, Nutt. Sharpshin Point, Burlington, Macrae.
July.
Lophanthus, Bcnlh.

nepctoides, Benth. JJyssopus nepctoides, L. Thickets and along fences.
Middlebury, James. Rutland, Brunch. Pownal, Bennington,
and Arlington, Rollins. July, Aug.
Nepeta, L.

§ Cataria, L. Catnep. Roadsides, &C. July, Aug.

§ Glechoma, Benth, Glechoma hederacea, L. Ground Ivy. Gill. On cultivated
grounds, &c. May, June.
Leonurus, L.

§ Cardiaca, L. Motherwort. Roadsides, &c. July, Aug.
Stachys, L. Hedge Nellie.

aspera, Michx. Old fields, &c. Grand Isle and South Hero, Rollins.
Burlington, Macrae and Tuckerman. July Aug.
Galeopsis, L. Hemp Nellie

§ Tctrahit, L. Roadsides, &c. July, Aug.

§ Ladanum, L. Waste places, &.c. Bellows Falls, Carey. July.
Teucriuni, L. Germander.

Canadense, L. Low grounds. South Hero, Rollins. Bellows Falls, Carey.
Red Rocks, Burlington, Macrae. July, Aug.

Order SOLANACEiE. The Night Shade Tribe.

Solanum, L. Night Shade.

§ Dulcamara, L. Bitter-sweet. Roadsides, &c. July, Aug.

§ nigrum, L. Cultivated grounds. July, Aug.
Physalis, L. Ground Cherry.

viscosa, L. Dry fields, &c. Pownal, Rollins. June, July.
Datura, L.

§ Stramonium, L. Thorn Apple. Waste grounds. July — Sept.
Hyoscyamus, L. Henbane.

§ nigcr, L. Roadsides, &c. Panton, Barge. Mount Independence, Dr. Hill.
June, July.

Ohder SCROPHULARIACEiE- The Figioort Tribe.

Verbascum, L. Mullein.

§ Thapsus, L. Common Mullein. Old fields, &c. July, Aug.
Veronica, L. Speedwell.

§ scrpyllifolia, Ii. Meadows and Pastures. May, June.

scutcllata, L. Ditches, &c. June.

Beccalunga, L. Broohlime. In grounds wet by springs, &c. June.

Jinugallis, L. Water Spccdiocll. Ditches, &c. Middlebury, Bitrgc. June,

July.
pcregrina, L. Cultivated grounds. Middlebury, James. May, June.
§ arvensis, L. Old fields, &c. May, June.
Virginica, L. Moist bank, on Mr. U. H. Penniman's grounds, with Trillium

grandiflorum, Colchester, OnJ.es. Aug.
Linaria, Tourn. Toad Flax. Snap Dragon.

§ vulgaris, Mcencli. Antirrhinum Linaria, L. Roadsides, &c. Manchester,

Rollins. July — Sept.
Pt. I. 2o

194 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

Canadensis, Spreng. Moist bare soils. Bellows Falls, Carey. July, Aug.
Serophularia, L. Figwort.

Marilandica, L. Along fences, &c. Middlebury, James. Colchester, Robbins.
July, Aug.
Mimulus, L. Monkey Flower.

ringens, L. Wet grounds. Aug.
Gratiola, L Hedge Hyssop.

• aurea, Muhl. Borders of Ponds, &c. Middlebury, James. August, Sept.
Lindernia, L.

Pyzidaria, L.

var. ditatata. L. dilalata, Muhl. Moist open grounds. Middlebury, James.

Brattleboro' and West Haven, Robbins.
var. attcnuata. L. altenuata, Muhl. Craf'tsbury and Cambridge, Robbins.
July, Aug.
Chelone, L. Snake-head.

glabra, L. Borders of swamps, &c. August, Sept.
Pentstemon, L'Hcr.

pubescens, Ait. Rocky hills, &c. Middlebury, James. Castleton, Chandler,
Benson, Prof. Woodward. Pownal, Robbins.
Gerardia, L.

tenuifolia, Vahl. Dry soil. Pownal and Brattleboro', Robbins. Bellows Falls,

Carey. Aug.
jlava, L. Dry woods. Near Bellows Falls, Carey. Aug.
pcdicularia, L. Dry woods, &,c. Pownal, Robbins. Bellows Falls, Carey.

August.
quercifolia, Pursh. Woods. Castleton and Pownal, Robbins.
Pedicularis, L. Louseteorl.

Canadensis, L. Borders of woods, &c. May, June.
Castilleja, Midis. Bartsia, L.

pallida, Kunth. Bartsia pallida, 1.. On the north side of Mansfield mountain,
near the summit, Tuckerinan and Macrae. July.
Melampyrum, L. Cow Wheat.

Jlmcricanum, Michx. Woods. June — Aug.

Order OHOBANCHACEiE. The Bromn-Rape Tribe.

Orobanche, L. Broom-rape.

Americana, L. Woods. On White Creek, Chandler. Sharpshin Point,

Burlington, Macrae,
■uniflora, L. Woods. June.
Epiphegus, Niilt. Beech Drops.

Virginiana. Orobanche Virginiana, L. Epiphrgus Amcricanus, Nutt. Woods,
under beech trees. Sept.

Order VERBENACEiE. The Vervain Tribe.

Verbena, L. Vervain.

hastata, L. Low grounds, roadsides, &c. July, Aug.
urticifolia, L. Roadsides, &c. July.
Phryma, L.

Icptostachya, L. Woods and shady banks. Middlebury, James- South Hero
and Arlington, Robbins. Bellows Falls, Carey. Burlington,
Oakcs. July.

Order ACANTHACEiE.

Justicia, L.

Americana, Vahl. J. pedunculosa, Michx. In water. " At Ferrisburgh." Dr.
Paddock's herbarium in the Museum of the University at
Burlington, the specimen thus ticketed, seen by Dr. Robbins.

Order LENTlBULACEiE.

Utricularia, L. Bladder-wort.

vulgaris, L. In ditches, ponds, &c. Aug.
comutu, Michx Bogs, &c. Vermont, Carey. July, Aug.

Chap. 7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. ]95

CATALOGUE OF TLANTS.

Order PRIMULACEiE. The Primrose Tribe.
Trientalis, L.

Americana^ Pursh. Wet woods and swamps. May, June.
Lysimachia, L. Loasc-slrife.

thyrsifiora, L. Swamps. Castleton, Chandler. Burlington, Macrae.

stricta, Ait. Low grounds, Ac. July.

quadrifolia, L. Woods. June, July.

ciliata, L. Borders of woods, &c. July.

hybrida, Michx. Wet grounds. Ferrisburgh and South Plero, Bobbins. July.
Samolus, L. Water Pimpernel.

Valerandi, L. Borders of rivers. Middlebury, James. July — Sept.

Order PLANTAGlNEiE. The Plantain Tribe.
l'lantago, L. Plantain.

§ major, L. Common Plantain. About houses, fields, &c. June— Sept.

Order AMARANTHACEjE. The Amaranth Tribe.
Amaranthus, L.

§ hybridus, L. Gardens, &c. Aug.

Blitum? L. Cultivated and waste grounds. Pownal, Robbing. Aurr.

Order CHENOPODIACEjE. The Goosefoot Tribe.
Chenopodium, L. Goosefoot.

§ album, L. Gardens, fields, &c. July, August.

§ Botrys, L. Jerusalem Oak. Sandy banks of Lake Champlain, &c. Alburgh,
Bobbins. Middlebury, James. Burlington, Ou/us. Bello'ws
Falls, Carey. July, August.
§ hybridum, L. Waste grounds. August.

§ rubrum, L. Cultivated grounds. Bennington, Bobbins. August.
Blitum, L.

\ capilatum, L. Strawberry Blitc. Road sides, &c. Hubbardton, Branch.
Newport, Bobbins. North Troy, Carci/. June.

Order PHYTOLACEiE.
Phytolacca, L.

decandra, L. Poke. Waste places, &c. July— Oct.

Order POLYGONACEvE. The Buckwheat Tribe.
Polygonum, L. Kuolvccd

§ aviculare, L. Knot-grass. About houses, Ac. June— Oct.

Virginianum, L. Rocky woods. Arlington and Castleton, Bobbins. Waterbury,
Macrae. July, August.

Hydropipei; L. Wafer Pepper. Low grounds, ditches, &c. Auo-ust.

mite, Pers. Wet places. West Haven, Bobbins. Castleton, Chandler. July,
August.

§ Pcrsicariu, L. Gardens, &c. July — Sept.

amphibium, L. var. nutans, Michx. Floating in water.

var. emersion, Michx. Margin of ponds, &c. An**., Sept.

Pennsylvanicum, L. Low grounds, &c. July, August.

sagittatum, L. Scratch-grass. Low grounds. August, Sept.

arifoliuvi, L. Swamps,"&c. August, Sept.

scandens, L. Fields, &c. July,°August.

cilinode, Michx. Woods, &c. July" August.

§ convolvulus, L. Road sides. July, August.

§ Fagopyrum, L. Buckwheat. Old fields^ Ac. July, August.
Rumex, L. Dock.

§ crispus, L. Curled Dock. Cultivated grounds. July, August.

§ obtusifolitis, L. Cultivated grounds. June, July.

xerticillatus, L. In water. July.

§ Jlcetosclla, L. SJiecp Sorrel. Pastures and cultivated grounds. May— July.

196

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I

CATALOGUE OK PLANTS.

Order LAURACEiE. The Cinnamon Tribe.

Lauras, L.

sassafras, L. Common Sassafras. Woods, &c. Pownal, Robbins. May.
Benzoin, L. Fi ccr Bash. Swamps, i&C. Bellows Fulls, Carey. May.

Order ELEAGNACEjE. The Oleaster Tribe.

Shepherdia, Null.

Canadensis, Nutt. Rocky banks of Lake Cliamplaia, &c. May.

Order THYMELACE^E. The Mezereon Tribe.

Dirca, L. Lcather-irood.

palustris, L. Moist woods. April, May.

Order SANTALACEiE. The Sanders-wood Tribe.

Nyssa, L.

■nudtijlora, Walt. JV. sylvatica, Michx. f. A', vdlosa, Willd. Tupelo, or Sour
Gum. Woods and swamps. Craftsbury, Robbins. June.
Comandra, Nutt.

umbellata, Nutt. Thcsium umb., L. Borders of woods, &c. June.

Order ARISTOLOCHIACE7E. The Birthwort Tribe.

Asarum, Tourn.

Canadcnse, L. Wild Ginger. Rocky woods. May.

Order EMPETRACE^. The Orowbeny Tribe.

Empetrum, L.

nigrum, L. Crowbcrry. Summit of the Mansfield and Camel's Hump
Mountains, Robbins, Tuclcerman and Macrae. June, July.

Order EUPIIORBIACEiE. The Spurge Tribe.

Acalypha, L. Three-seeded Mercury.

i'irginica, L. Fields and road sides. Middlebury, James.
Euphorbia, L. Spurge.

§ Hdioscopia, L. Waste ground, &c. In Addison county, Burgc. July, Aug.
§ platypkylla, L. E. obtusata? Pursh. Road sides, &c. Benson, Chandler.

Vergennes, South Hero, and Grand Isle, Robbins, Auw.
maculuta, L. Sandy fields, &c. July — Sept.
hijpcricifoUa, L. Dry sandy fields, &c. Burlington, Tuc];crman. Aug., Sept

Order URTICACEiE. The Kettle Tribe.

Urtica, Tourn. Nettle.

pumila, L. Shady places. July, August.

§ dioica, L. Road sides, &c. July.

Canadensis, L. Shady, moist woods, &c. July, August.
Parietaria, Tourn. Pcttitory.

Pcnnsylvanica, Muhl. Shady rocks. Fair Haven, Robbins. Extremity of
Sharpshin Point, Burlington, Macrae. July.
Bcehmeria, Willd.

cijlindrica, Willd. Swamps, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. July, Aug.
Cannabis, Tourn. Hemp.

§ sativa, L. Waste places. June, July.
Humulus, L. Hop.

§ Lupulus, L. Borders of thickets, &c. Middlebury, Burgc. Castleton,
Robbins. August.
Morus, Tourn. Mulberry.

rubra, L. Red Mulberry. Banks of rivers, woods, &c. Pownal, Oakcs. May.

Order AMENTACEiE.

SUIJ-ORDER CuPULllERit.

Carpinus, L. Hornbeam.

Americana, Michx. Woods. May.
Ostrya, Scop. Hop Hornbeam.

Virginica, Willd. Carpinus ostrya, Michx. f. t. Iron-wood. Woods. May.

Cbap. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT.

197

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

Corylus, Tourn. Hazel Nut.

Americana, Walt. American Hazel Nut. Thickets, &c. April.
rostrata, Ait. Beaked Hazel Nut. Shady banks, Slc. April.
Fagus, Tourn. Beech.

sylvesiris, Michx. and Michx. f. t. Wliitc Beech. Woods. May.
ferrvginea, Ait? Michx. f. t. Red Beech. Woods. May.
Cutanea, Gairt. Chestnut.

tesca,, Grert. var. Americana, Michx. Ctestnut. Woods. July.
Quercus, L. Oak.

tinctoria, Bartrani- Black oak. Woods. May.

rubra, L. Red oak. Woods. May.

ilicifolia, Wang. Q. Banistcri, Michx. Scrub Oak. Barren plains, &c.

Bellows Falls, Carey. May.
macrocarpa, Michx. Over-cup While Oak. Woods, &c. Burlington, Colchester,
St. Albans, Grand Isle, South Hero, Shoreham, West Haven
and Bennington, Robbins, This is perhaps Q. olivwformis
of Dr. James' catalogue.
alba, L. While Oak. Woods. May, June.
bicolor, Willd. Q. Prinos discolor, Michx. fil. Swamp Wltile Oak. Wet

woods. May.
montatia, Willd. Q. Prinos monticula, Michx. f. t. Rock Chestnut Oak. Rocky

woods. Bennington, Robbins. May.
chinquapin, Pursh. Dwarf Chestnut Oak. Dry hills, &c. Pownal, Robbins.

May.
coccinta, Wangenheim. Scarlet Oak. Woods. May.

Sob-Order Betole^. The Birch Tribe.

Bctula, Tourn. Birch.

populifolia, Ait. Small White Birch. About barren fields, woods, &c. May.

papyracea, Ait. Large White Birch. Canoe Birch. Woods. May.

lenta, L. Black Birch. Sweet Birch. Cherry Birch. Woods. May.

excclsa, Ait. B. lulca, Michx. f. Yellow Birch. Woods. May.
Alnus, Willd. Alder.

scrrulata, Willd. Common Abler. Swamps, &c. April.

gtauca, Michx. f. sylv. t. Swamps, &c. April.

crispa, Hook. Bctula Alnus crispa, Ait. Near the summit of Camel's Hump
and Mansfield mountains, Robbins. June.

Sob-Order Salicine^:. The Willow Tribe.

Salix, Tourn. Willoic.

Candida, Willd. Pursh. In a sphagnous swamp on the borders of Lake

Bombazin, Hubbardton, Robbins. April.
Muhlenbergiana, Willd. Dry woods, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. April, May.
pcdicellaris, Pursh. Bogs and bwamps. Burlington, Robbins. Macrae. May.
conifcra, Wang. Wet thickets, &c. April.
rostrata, Richardson. Borders of thickets, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. April,

May.
nigra, Marshall. Banks of streams, Slc. May. ,-..

hicida, Muhl. Borders of swamps, &c. May.
cordata, Muhl. Low wet grounds. April, May.

rigida, Muhl. Low wet grounds, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. April, May.
grisea, Willd. Borders of swamps, &c. April, May.
§ vitcllinu, L. Road sides, &c. May.

Uva-ursi, Pursh. On the summit of Mansfield Mountain, Robbins. June.
Fopulus, Tourn. Poplar. (According to Michaux's Sylva.)

balsamifcra, Michx. Michx. f. Sylv. t. Balsam Poplar. Woods and banks of

rivers, &.c. Pownal, (hikes. Westbaven, Robbins. April.
candicans, Ait. Michx. f. Sylv. t. Heart-leaved Balsam Poplar. South Hero,

Grand Isle, Cambridge, Jericho, &c, Robbins. Burlington,

Macrae, Oakcs. April.
Canadensis, Michx. f. Sylv. t. Cotton Wood. Cotton Poplar. Banks of rivers,

&lc. On the Hoosic, Pownal, Oakcs.
monilifera, Ait. Michx. f. Sylv. t. Vermont Poplar. Banks of rivers, lakes,

&G. In Orwell, Branch, Chandler. In Pownal, Brattleboro',

]98 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Pajit I,

CATALOGUE OK l'LANTS.

North Hero, South Hero, Alburgh, Johnson, and Hyde-park,
Rabbins. Burlington, (Jakes. April.
tremuloidcs, Mich. Michx. f. Sylv. t. American Aspen. Woods. April.
grandidentuta, Michx. Michx. f. Sylv. t. Large Aspen. Woods. April, May.
Sub-Order Myricea:. The Gale Tribe.
Comptonia, Banks.

asplenifolia, Ait. Street rem. Dry hills and plains. April, May.
Sue-Ordeh Platane^e. The Plane Tribe.
Platanus, L. Plane Tree.

uccidcutatis, L. BiUUm Wood. Sycamore. Banks of rivers, &c. May.
Order UEMACEjE. The Elm Tribe.
Ulmus, L. Elm.

Americana, L. Common Elm. Woods, banks of rivers, &c. April.
fulva, Michx. Slippery Elm. Woods, banks of rivers, &c. April.
rucemosa, Thomas in Sill. Journal, 1829. Northern Cork Elm. Moist woods
&c. Bennington and Pownal, Rabbins.
Celtis, L. Hackbcrry.

occidentalism L. Hoop Ash. Woods, &c. Burlington, Robbins. May.
Order JUGLANDACEiE. The Walnut Tribe.
Juglans, L. Walnut.

cincrea, L. Butter Nut. Oil Nut. Woods, &c. May, June.
Carya, Nuttall. Hickory. Juglans, L.

alba, Nutt. Juglans alba., L. J. squamosa, Michx. f. not J. alba, Willd, Bi<rel

Shell-bark or Sha<i-bark Hickory. Woods. May, June
Parana, Nutt. J. porcina, Michx. f. Sylv. t. J. glabra, Muhl., Bigelow. Pi«

Nut. Woods. Middlebury, James. May, June.
amara, Nutt. J. amara, Michx. f. Sylv. t. Bitter Pig Nut. Woods. Colchester,
Rabbins. Burlington, Carey, Macrae. May, June.

CLASS II. GYMNO SPERMS.

Order CON1FERJE. The Fir Tribe.
Pinus, L. Pine.

rcsinosa, Ait. P. rubra, Michx. f. Sylv. t. Red Pine. « Norway Pine," a bad
. name, as it is not found in Norway. Dry barren woods. June,

rigida. Pdch Pine. Woods, in poor soil. June.
Strobus, L. White Pine. Woods and swamps. June.
nigra, Ait. Black or Double Spruce. Woods and swamps. May, June.
alba, Ait. White or Single Spruce. Woods and swamps. May, June.
balsamea, L. Balsam Fir. Silver Fir. Mountain woods, .tc. June.

var. Frascri. P. Fraseri, Pursh. Near the summits of Mansfield and
Camel's Hump Mountains, Robbins, Tuckerman, and Macrae
Essex, Macrae.
Canadensis, L. Hemlock Spruce. Rocky woods, &c May, June "*>
pejulula, Ait. LurU Americana, Michx. American Larch. Hackmatack. Turn-
„,, arack. Woods and swamps. May, June.

Thuya, Towrn. Arbor Vilac.

occidental, L. American Arbor Vitac. « White Cedar." In swamps and rocky
woods. May.
Juniperus, L. Juniper.

Virginiana, L. Red Cedar. J. prostrata, James ? Dry rocky woods, &c. May
communis,!.. Common Juniper. Dry rocky pastures, Ac May.
Taxus, Tourn. Yew. J

Canadensis, Willd. American Yew. Ground Hemlock. Swamps, &c. May.

Order CALLITRICHACEiE.
Calhtnche, L.

vcmalis, L. C. atitmnnalis, L. C. terrestris, Raf. In water, and on moist soil
on the margins of ponds, &c. May— Sept.

Chip. 7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. ]9g

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS

CLASS III. ENDOGENS OR MONOCOTYLEDONS.

Order IRlDACEiE. The Iris Taibc.

Sisyrinchium, L. Blue-eyed Grass.

anceps, Cavan. Meadows. Burlington, Macrae.

var. mucronatum. Dry soil. Burlington, Macrae. Bellows Falls, Carey.
June.
Iris, L.

versicolor, L. 'Blue Flag. Wet meadows, &c. July.

Order HYDROCIIARACEiE. The Frog-bit Tribe.
Udora, Nult.

Canadensis, Nutt. Elodea Canadensis, Michaux. Scrpiada occidentalis, Pursh.
In water. Middlebury, James. At the mouths ofWinooski
river and Otter Creek, and in lake Memphremagog, Rabbins.
August.
Valisneria, Michcli.

spiralis, L. V. Americana, Michx. In lakes and slow flowing water. Middle-
bury, James. At the mouth ofWinooski river, in Castleion
river, in lake Champlain near the mouth of the Lamoille, in
Shoreham, and in the Connecticut at Brattleboro', liobbins,
August, Sept.

Order ORCHIDACEJE. The Orchis Tribe.
Orchis, L.

Sect. 1. Orchis.
spectabilis, L. Woods. May, June.

Sect. a. Habenaria, Wiltd.
orbiculata, Pursh. Woods. Leaves flat on the ground. June, July.
Hookeriana, Habenaria Hookeriana, Torrey. Woods. June.
blcpharigloltis, Willd. "Sphagnous margin of a closely shaded pond in North

Troy, Carey. Aug.
hyperborca, L. //. Hurancnsis, Spreng. Swamps, &c. Base of Mansfiehl
mountain, and Burlington, Macrae. July.
var. dilatata. O. ddatata, Pursh. Swamps, &c. July.
psycodes, L. not of Bigelow, &.c. O.Jimbriala, Ait. Wet meadows, &c. July,

August.
grandifiora, Bigelow Wet meadows, &.c. July.
lacera, Michx. (). psycodes, Willd, Big. &c, not of L. Bogs, &c. Middlebury,

James. July.
ciliaris, L. Swamps, &c. Middlebury, James. Aug.

obtusata, Pursh. High mountains and sphagnous swamps at the North. In
Charleston, witli the Calypso, Cany. Brownington, Rabbins.
July.
viridis, Swartz. 0. bruetcata, Muhl. Woods. May, June.
tridentata, Muhl. On the east side of Mansfield mountain, Macrae. July.
flava, L. Habenaria hcrbiola, Brown. Burlington, Macrae.
Microstylis, Nutt. Malaxis, Swartz.

ophioglossoides, Nutt. Woods. July, August.

monophyllos, Lindl. M. brachypoda, Gray. Ophrys monophyllos, L. In Vermont,
probably near Castleton, Chandler. July.
Liparis, Richard. Malaxis, Swartz.

liliifolia, Richard. Hills near Bellows Falls, Carey. June, July.
Lwselii, Richard. Malaxis lorreuna, Barton. Boggy soil, &c. July.
Aplectrum, Nutlull.

hyemale, Nutt. Cymbidiuin hycmalc, Muhl. Woods. Middlebury, James.
Near Castleton, Chandler.
Corallorhiza, Haller.

innata, R. Brown. C. verna, Nutt. Sphagnous swamps. May, June.
multijlara, Nutt. Pine woods, &c. August, Sept.
odonturhiza, Nutt. Woods. Bellows Falls, Carey. Sept.
Arethusa, L.

bulbosa, L. Bogs. Ilubbardton, Rabbins. Near Burlington, Macrae.

200 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I. I

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS

Pogonia, Juss.

ophioglossoidcs, R. Brown. Bogs. Near Burlington, Bobbins, -Macrae. July.
verticillata, Nutt. Woods. Near High Bridge, Colchester, Robbins, Ouku.
May, June.
Triphora, Nuttall.

pendula, Nutt. In a dry wood of beech, birch, &c, on a hill south of Fair
Haven village, Chandler. August.
Calopogon, R. Brown.

pulcheilus, R. Brown. Bogs. July.
Spiranthes, Richard. Neottia, Swartz.

cernua, Richard. Moist grounds, &c. August, Sept.

gracilis, Hook. A', gracilis^ Big. Dry woods. Colchester, Robbins. Burlington,

Macrae. July.
aestivalis, Rich. JVeottia aestivalis, Lain. JV. cernua, var. latifolia, Torrey.
Moist woods, banks of rivers, &c. Burlington, Macrae.
Bellows Falls, Carey. June.
Goodyera, R. Broicn.

pubescens, R. Brown. Woods. July, August.
repens, R. Brown. Old woods. July.
Listera, R. Broicn.

cordata, R. Brown. On high mountains and in sphagnous swamps. Fairhavcn,
Chandler. Near the summit of Mansfield Mountain and
Camel's Hump, Robbins, Tuckcrman and Macrae. North
Troy, Carey. June, July.
convallarioidcs, Nutt. In Charleston, with Calypso borealis, Carey.
Calypso, Salisbury.

bullosa. Cypripedium bulbosum, L. Calypso borealis, Salisbury. In a dark
sphagnous wood or swamp on the line between Charleston
and Morgan, the entrance to which is opposite the house of
Mr. Charles Cummings. Carey.
Cypripedium, L. Lady's Slipper.

pubescens, Willd. C. parvifiorum, Ait. Yellow Ladi/s-Slippcr. Dry wooda

and in swamps. May, June.
acaule, Ait. Red Ladi/s- Slipper. Dry woods, and also in swamps. May, June.
spectabile, Swartz. White Lady s-Slippcr. Swamps. June, July.
arictinum, Ait. Dry woods and sphagnous swamps. In the cedar swamp at
Fair Haven, Chandler, Robbins. In Grand Isle, and in dry
woods near High Bridge, Colchester, Robbins. Burlington,
Carey, Macrae, and Oalces.

Order PONTEDERIACEJE.
Pontederia, L.

cordata, L. Pickerel- weed. In water. July, August.
Schollera, Schrebcr.

graminifolia, Muhl. Middlebury, James. In Otter Creek near its mouth,
Robbins. In Castleton River, Chandler. July, August.
Order MELANTHACEiE. The Colchicum Tribe.

Veratrum, Toum. White Hellebore.
viridc, Ait. Swamps, &c. June.

Order TRILLIACEjE.
Trillium, L.

erythrocarpum,M'u:hx. T. pictum, Pursh. Woods and swamps. May.

erectum, L. Woods. May.

grandijlorum, Salis. Woods, shady banks and swamps in the west of Vermont,

from Pownal to Alburgh, Robbins. May, June.
cernuum, L. Woods. Castleton, Branch, Robbins. May.
Medeola, L. Indian Cucumber.

Virginica, L. Woods, &c. June, July.

Order LILIACE/E. The Lily Tribe.
Lilium, L. Lily.

Pliiladelphicum, L. Wild Red Lily. Pastures, &c. July.
Canadcnse, L. Wild Yellow Lily. ' Moist meadows. July.

Cuap. 7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. 201

CATALOIiUl', 01

Erylhronium, L. Dog's-tooth Violet.

America mini, Smith. Moist grounds, A:c. May, June.
Allium, L. Onion and Garlic.

tricoccum, Ait. Wild Onion or Lech. Woods. July.
Convallaria, L. Lily of the Valley. Solomon's Seal.

pubescens, Willd.. Woods. May, June.

bifolia, L. Woods. May.

sk/lala, L. Moist meadows and banks. May, June.

trifolia, L. Sphagnous swamps and bogs. May, June.

raccmosa, L. Rocky woods, »tc. June.

borealis, Torr. Draadna bofedlis, Ait., not C. iimMhdala, Michx. Woods. June.
Btreptopus, Michx.

roscus, Michx. Woods, especially on mountains. May, June.

amplexifolius, var. America/mis, Gray. Uvularia amplczifolia, L. S. dist.ortus,
Michx. Mountain woods. On the sides of Mansfield and
Camel's Hump, Robbins, Macrae, and Tuckcrman. Newport
and Danville, Carey. June, July.
Uvularia, L. Bclhcort.

grandijlora, Smith. Woods. May.

scssilijolia, L. Woods. May.

Order ALISMACEiE. The Water Plantain Tribe.
Sagittaria, L. Arrow-haul.

sagitlifolia, L. Ditches, ponds, &c. July, August.
Alismu, L.

PLintago, L. Water Plantain. In water. July, August.

Order JUNCEjE. The Rush Tribe.
Luzula, DC. Juncus, L. Wood Hush.

campestris, DC. Woods, pastures, &c. May.
pilosa, Willd. Woods and swamps. May.

parvijlora. L- melanocarpa,, Desv. Juncus. parvijlora, Retz. At the base of
Mansfield Mountain, Robbins. On the Chin of Mansfield
and on Camel's Hump, Macrae and Tuckerman. June, July.
Juncus, L. Rush.

effusus, L. Wet meadows, &c. June, July.

Jitiformis, L. On the summits of Camel's Hump and Mansfield Mountains,
and on the shore of Lake Cham plain at Ferrisburgh,
Robbins. June, July.
nodosus, L. Wet meadows, &c. June.
tenuis. Willd. Low grounds, &c. June, July.

aevminatus, Michx. Margins of ponds, &c. Burlington, Macrae, Oakcs.
bufonius, L. Low grounds, &c. July.

trijidus, L. On the summit of Mansfield Mountain, Robbins, and of Camel's
Hump, Tuckerman and Macrae. June.
Order RESTlACEiE.
Eriocaulon, L. ripeicort.

scptangulare, With. E. pcllucidinn, Michx. Borders of ponds, generally in
the water. Seymour's pond, Morgan, and Minaud's pond,
Rockingham, Carey. August, Sept.

Order SMILACEJE. The Smihi.c Tribe.
Btnilax, L.

rotundifolia, L. Green Briar. Woods and thickets. June.
hcrbacea, L. 5. peduncularis, Muhl. Borders of woods, &c. June.
Order ARACE7E. Jlic Arum Tribe.
Arum, L.

Dracontium, L. Dragon-root. Moist grounds. Shoreham, Robbins. May, June.
triphyllum, L. Indian Turnip. Shady banks and swamps. May, June.
Peltandra, Rajincsque.

Virginica, Raf. Calla Virginica, Michx. In water on the borders of ponds and
rivers. Colchester pond, Robbins. June, July.
Calla, /..

pulustris, L. Swamps. Middlebury, James. Fair Haven and Whiting,
Robbins. Bellows Falls, and Guildhall, Carey. July.
Pt i. 25

202 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I.

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS

Symplocarpus, Salisbury. Skunk Cabbage.

j'utidas, Nutt. Polhos fxtida, L. Wet meadows and swamps. -April.
Acorus, L.

Calamus, L. Sieecl Flag. Wet meadows, &c. June.

Order TYPHACE/E. The Cat's-tail Tribe.
Typha, Tourti. Cat's tail, llccd Mace, -

latifolia, L. Ditches, pools, &c. July.
Sparganium, Town. Burr Herd.

ramosum, L: In ditches, Ac. June, July.

simplex, Hudson. S. Amcricunum, Nutt. Borders of streams, &c. July.
Order FLUVIALES.
Najas, L.

Canadensis, Michx.

var.fragilis. Cauliniafragilis, Willd. Middlebury, James.
var. Jlcxilis. Caulinia fiexilis, Willd. In water three feet deep at tho
mouth of Otter Creek. Ferrisburgh, Rabbins. July, Auc
Zannichellia, Micheli. b

palustris, L. In shallow water, in Lake Champlain, at South Hero. Robbins.
Potamogeton, L. Pondweed.

natans, L. Ponds, and slow flowing waters. July, August.

heterophyllum, Schreber. Ponds, and slow streams. August.

divcrsifolium, Barton. Ponds, &c. In Lake Champlain at South Hero,

Rabbins. July.
pcrfoliatum, L. Ponds, Ac. August.
lucens, L. Ponds, Ac. August.
compression, L. Rivers, ponds, &c. July, August.
paueijlurum, Pursh. P. gramineum, Michx. Ponds, Ace. July, August.
pectinutum, L. Ponds, &c. July.

The species of Potamogeton as above are all according to Torrey's Flora of tho
Northern States, vol. I, p. 196.

Order JUNCAGINACEiE. The Arrow- Grass Tribe.
Scheuchzeria, L.

palustris, L. Sphagnous swamps and bogs. In Georgia, Chandler. At the
southern end of Colchester Pond, Robbins. In North Troy
with Orchis blephariglottis, Carey. June.

Order PISTIACEiE. The Duckweed Tribe.
Lemna, L. Duclcwccd.

pulyrhiza, L. Ditches, Ac.

minor, L. Ditches, Ac. At North Hero, Robbins.

trisulca, L. Ditches, ponds, Ac. At North Hero, Robbins.

Order CYPERACEiE. The Sedge Tribe.
Dulicliium, Richard.

spathaccum, Rich. Borders of ponds, &c. July, August.
Cyperus, L.

diandrus, Torr. tar. castaneus, Torr. Margins of ponds, &c. August.
strigusus, L. Low moist grounds. August.

repens, Elliot. C. phymalodes, Muhl. Wet sandy soil. In South Hero, West
Haven, and on the banks of Otter Creek, Ferrisburgh,
Robbins. August.
filiculmis, Vahl. C. mariscoides, Ell. Dry sands August.
inflexus, Muhl. C. uncinates, Pursh. Sandy shores of rivers and lakes. Au<r.
Eleocharis, R. Brown. Scirpus, L.

palustris, R. Brown. Wet places, ditches, Ac. May, June.

vblusa, Schultes. Scirpus capilahis of American authors,[not of Linnajus. Ditch-

es and margins of ponds. June, July.
aricvlaris, R. Brown. Margins of ponds, Arc. June.
tenuis, Schultes. Margins of ponds, Arc. June.
Scirpus, L. Club Rush.

lacustris, L. £>. acutus, Muhl. Bulrush. In water on the borders of lakes,
ponds, Asc. July.

CnAr.7. BOTANY OF VERMONT. 203

CATALOGUE OF P

triqucter, L. Wet places, borders of rivers, &c. Jul)'.
atrocirens, Muhl. Moist meadows, etc. July.
brunneus, Muhl. Swam])y grounds. Pownal, Rollins. August.
. Eriophoruin, Miehx. Wet meadows, ditches, etc. August.
Eriophoruin, L. Cotton Grass.

alpinuin, L. Bogs. Brownington, Rabbins. Danville, Carey. May, Juno.
vuginatum, L. Bogs. June, July.
Virginicum, L. Bogs. July, August.
pohjstachyon, L. Bogs. May, June.

(tngustifolium, lleichard. E. gracile, Roth. Bogs. May, June.
Isolepis, A*. Brawn. Scirpus, L.

capillar is, Room, and Sch. Dry sands. Bellows Falls, Caixy. August.
Ilhyncospora, Vakl.

glomcrata. Moist pastures, &c. Bellows Falls, Cam/. July, August.
Carex, Micheli. Sedge.

dispcrma, Dewey. Sphagnous swamps.

rosea, Schk. Woods and shady hanks.

ccplialophora, Muhl. Woods, &c.

sparganioides. Mahl. Moist shady banks, cto.

stipata, Muhl. Wet meadows.

bromoides, Schk. Moist woods, &c.

vulpinoidea, Michx. C. muUiflora, Muhl. Moist pastures, &o

paniculata, vur. terctiuscula, Wahl. Bogs.

siccata, Dewey. Moist banks, &e. Burlington, Macrae.

trispenna, Dewey. Bogs and swamps.

Deioeyana, Schw. Woods, &c.

tcnuijlora, Wahl. Cedar and other swamps. In Salem, in a shady swamp

near a small pond at the head of Lake Memphremagog, also

in Burlington, Robbins. On the western side of the great

cedar swamp at Fair Haven, Gales.
stcllulata, Good. C. scirpoides, Schk. C. sterilis, Willd. Wet meadows and

swamps.
curta, Good. Swamps.
scoparia, Schk. Wet meadows.

var. lagopodioides. C. lagopodioides, Willd. Wet meadows.
festucacea, Schk. Moist woods and meadows.
aurca, Nutt. Moist rocky ledges, &c. Pownal, Burlington and

Colchester, Rabbins. Bellows Falls, Ctucy.
saxalilis, L. Summits of Mansfield and Camel's Hump mountains, Robbins-

TueLcrnuni and Macrae.
cespitosa, L. Wet meadows, tfce.
acuta, L. Wet meadows.
crinita, Lam. Wet shady banks, &c.
leucoglocliin, Ehr. C. pauci/lora, Willd. Bogs, especially at the north, and on

mountains. At Colchester pond, Rabbins. At North Troy

with Orchis blephariglottis, Carey.
polytrichoides, Muhl. Swamps, &c.
pcdunculata, Muhl. Woods, &c.
squarrosa, L. In a low wet wood on the margin of Otter Creek, Ferrisburoh

. Rabbins.
gracillima, Schw. Wet meadows and woods. Burlington, Carey. Colchester

Macrae.
vestita, Willd. Borders of woods, itc. Middlehury, James.
Pcmisylvanica, Lam. C. varia and morginnla, Muhl. Woods.
Emmonsii, Dewey. C. ulpestris, Torr. and Schw. C. JJavisii, Dewey.

Bellows Fulls, Cany.
oligocarpa, Schk. Woods.

lalijlora, Lam. Woods, Ac. Castleton, Rollins,
g'ranularis, Muhl. Moist shady rocks. Burlington, Oalces.
cburnea, Boott. C. alba, Dewey. Limestone rocks. On the rocks at High

Bridge, Colchester, and at Grand Isle, South Hero, West

Haven and Pownal, Rollins.
anceps, Muhl. Woods and shady banks.
plantaginca, Lam. Woods.
sylvalica, Huds. Woods, especially on mountains.

204

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part L

. . — , ,m

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

Jluta, L. Wet meadows. Sutton, Carey.

inttnnesccns, Rudge. C.folliculata ofSclik., not of Linn. Wet woods.

lupulina, Muhl. Wet meadows and woods.

tentaculata, Muhl. Wet meadows.

retrorsa, Schw. Swamps, Ac.

lullata, Schk. Wet meadows, Ac. South Hero, Rollins.

vesicaria, L. C. ampullacca, Dewey. C. utriculata, Boott. Wet meadows, &o.

lacustris, Willd. Borders of ponds, &c.
•scabrata, Scliw. Swamps, Ac.

hystericina, Muhl. Wet meadows.

Pseudo-cypcrus, L. Ditches and margins of ponds.

longirostris, Torrey. Shady ledges, Ac. On the sides of Camel's Hump, end
at Castleton, Robbhis. Rocky banks of Saxton's river, near
Bellows Falls, Cam/.

limosa, L. Bogs, especially at the the north.

viiliacea, Muhl. Moist banks, A-c.

pallcscens, L. Wet meadows, Ac.

umbellata, Schk. Rocky hills, Ac. Summit of Mansfield mountain, Rollins

Ouder GRAMINU.E. The Grass Tribe.

( Mostly according to Torrey's Flora of t/ie Northern Slates, Vol. I. )

Agrostis, L. Kent Grass.

§ vulgaris, Smith. Red-top. Meadows, pastures, &c. June — Aug.

§ alia, L. Meadows, pastures, A:c. June — Aug.

lateriflora, Michx. Moist meadows, sides of hills, &c. August, Sept.

sobolifera, Muhl. Rocky shady hills, &o. August, Sept.

tcnuijlora, Willd. Rocky shady hills, &c. July, Aug.

sylvatica, Torrey. Dry rocky hills, &c. August.

caninu, L.

var. alpina, Oakes. Agrostis rupestris, Gray in Sill. Jour., vol. 42. Oo
the summit of Camel's I lump mountain, Rollins, Tucherman
and Macrae. July. This variety is common on the White
Mountains, and is connected with the common variety, which
is abundant in Essex county, Massachusetts, by several
intermediate forms, found at the base and on the sides of the
White Mountains.
Cinna, L.

aruadinacca, Willd. Wet woods, &c. August, Sept.
Polypogun, Desfontaines.

racemosus, Nutt. P. glwneratus, Willd. Wet meadows, &c. Aug., Sept.
Brachyelytrum, P. de Beauv.

aristatum, P. de B. Muhlenlergia ereeta, Roth. Woods, &c. June, July.
Alopecurus, L. Fax-tail Grass.

§ pratensis, L. Moist meadows, A.c. Bellows Falls, Carey. May, June.
geniculatus, L. Wet meadows, &c. June.
Phleum, /,. Ca/'s-tail. Grass.

§ pratense, L. Herd's Grass, Timothy. Fields, Arc. July, August.
Phalaris, L. Canary Grass.

§ Cauariensis, L. Pastures, Ac. Cavendish, Macrae. July.
Milium, L. Millet Grass.

effusum, L. Woods, &c. Banks of Saxton's river, Bellows Kails, Carey. July.
pungens, Torr. Dry rocky woods, &.c. May.
Piptatherum, P. de Beauv.

nigrum, Torr. Shady ledges, &c. August.
Oryzopsis, Michx.

asperij'ulia, Michx. Woods, especially on mountains. May, June.
Panicum, L. Panic Grass.

§ Cms- Galli, L. Cultivated grounds, Ac. July — Sept.
clandestinum, L. F. pedunculatum, Torrey. Woods. July.
latifolium, L. Sandy woods, &c. July.
dichotomum, L. P. nitidunt, Lam. Low grounds. July.

depauperalum, Muhl. P. rectum, Roemer and Shrikes Sandy soils. Bellows
Falls, Carey. Burlington, Macrae, July.

xanthophysum, Gray. Sandy woods, &c. Burlington, Carey. June, July,
capilture, L. S;.ndy fields and cultivated grounds. August, Sept.

Chip. 7 BOTANY OF VERMONT. 205

CATALOGUE OF PLANTS.

BcUria, P. de Beauvois.

§ riridis, P. de B. Panicum viride, L. Cultivated grounds, &c July, August.
§ glutted, P de B. Panicum gluucum,h. Cultivated grounds, &c July, Aug.
Digilana, Mailer.

§ sunguinal.is, Scop. Cultivated grounds, &c. August, Sept.
glabra. Sandy fields, &c. Castleton, Colchester, West llaven, and Ferrisburg,
Robbins. August, Sept.
I'aspalum, L.

ciliatifolium, Michx. Dry fields, »tc. Bellows Falls, Carey. Aug.
Aristida, L.

dicliuloma, Michx. Barren fields, &c. Pownal, Robbins. Auc.
Calamagrostis, Roth. Arundo, L.

Canadensis, P. de Beauv. Arundo Canadensis, Michx. Calamagrostis Mexicans,
Nutt. Wet meadows, &.c. July.
Anthoxanthum, L. Sweet-scented Vernal Grass.

§ odoruLum, L. Meadows and pastures. Middlebury, James. May, June.
Aira, L. Hair Grass.

Jlexuosa, L. Dry rocky woods. June.

ccspitosa, L. Aira aristulata, Torrey. On the moist rocky banks of rivers. On
the Connecticut, at Guildhall, Robbins. July.
Trisetum, Pcrs.

striatum, Michx. T. ptirpuruscens, Torrey. Avoia striata, Michx. Rocky woods.

Castleton, Georgia, and Woodstock, Rolibins. May, June.
molle, Trinius. Avena mollis, Michx. On dry limestone rocks, at High Bridco
and Winooski falls, Colchester, Rubbins. June,
ilierochlon, Gmelin.

aipina, Roem. and Sch. On the summit of Mansfield mountain, Tackerman and
Macrae . July.
Arundo, L. Reed Grass. —

Phragmitcs, L. In water on the borders of ponds, &c. In lake Memphrema-
gog, Robbins. Aug.
Dunthonia, DC.

xpicuta, P. de B. Dry barren woods, pastures, &c. June, July.
Festuca, L. Fescue Grass.

§ duriuscula, L. Dry pastures, &c. June.

tcnella, Willd. Dry sandy fields, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. June, July.
§ elatior, L. Grass fields, Ac. Middlebury, James. June!
§ pratensis, Huds. Grass fields, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. June, July.
Glyceria, R. Brown.

Jluitans, R. Br. Stagnant water, Burlington, Carey. June.
Poa, L. Meadow Grass.

§ annua, L. Cultivated grounds, &c. May — Aug.
dentata, Torrey. Ditches and wet places. July, Aug.
aquatica, L. Wet meadows, &c. July, Aug.
§ pratensis, L. Grass fields, roadsides, iVc. June, July.
compressa, L. Sandy fields, and in woods, &c. June.
serotina, Ehrh. Wet meadows. July.
nemorulis, L. Woods. May, June.
ncrvata, Willd Wet meadows. June, July.
obtusa, Muhl. Wet meadows, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. Aug.
Torreyana, Sprengel. P. elongata, Torr. not of Willd. Woods. At the base
of Mansfield mountain, Robbins. Morgan, near the line of
Charleston, Carey. Burlington, Macrae. July.
Canadensis, Torr. Briza Can., Michx. Wet meadows and swamps. July.
hirsuta, Michx. Sandy and gravelly beach of Connecticut river, at Bellows

Falls, Carey.
aipina, L. Summit of Mansfield mountain, Robbins. July.

reptaus, Michx. Wet sandy shores of rivers and lakes. On the banks of the
Otter Creek, Ferrisburgh, and of the Winooski, Colchester
Robbins. July, Aug.
Tricuspis, P. de Beauv.

scslcrioidcx, Torr. Poa qirinejuefula, Pursh. Sandy soil Middlebury, James. Alio-
Dactylis, L. Orchard Grass.

§ glomerata, L. Grass fields, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. June.

906 NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. Part I.

CATALOG UK OF PLANTS.

Bromus, L. Brome Grass.

§ sccalinvs, L. Chess or Cheat. Cultivated grounds. July. -

ciliatus, L. Woods, &.c. July.

purgans, L. Woods, shady banks, &c. Castleton and Brattlcboro', Rubbins.
Secale, L. Rye.

§ ccrcale, L. Old fields and on rocks, &c. June.
Ely m us, It. Lyme Grass.

Canadensis, L. and var. glaucifolius. Rocky river banks, &c. July, Aug.

Striatus, Willd. E. tiUosus, Torrey, Flora. Dry rocky banks, &c. Middlebury,
Janus. July, Aug-.

Hystrix, L. Rocky woods. Middle-bury, James. West Haven, Robbins.
Triticum, L. Wheat.

§ repens, L. Couch Grass. "Witch Grass." Cultivated grounds, &c. June, July.
Spartina, //. Cord Grass.

cynosuroides, Willd. Banks of rivers, &c. Bellows Falls, Carey. Aug.
Andropogon, L. Beard Grass.

scoparius, Michx. Dry fields, &c. Pownal, Roblins. Bellows Falls, Carey.
Burlington, Macrae. August, Sept.

furcatus, Muhl. Dry rocks and fields. Colchester, Robbing. Bellows Falls,
Cany. Aug. Sept.

nutans, L. Dry fields, &c. Pownal and Brattleboro', Robbing. Bellows Falli,
Carey. Burlington, Macrae. Aug. Sept.
Leersia, Solander.

Virginica, Willd. Wet woods, «tc. Aug.

oryzoides, Swartz. Ditches, &c. Aug. Sept.
Zizania, L. Wild rice.

aquatiea, Lambert. In shallow water in rivers and lakes. Burlington and
S. Hero, Robbing. Aurr.

CLASS IV. ACROGENS.

Ordkr EQTJISETACEiE. The Horsetail Tribe.
Equisetum, Town. Horsetail.

limosum, L. Bogs, borders of ponds, &c. June.

sylvaticum, L. Moist woods and shady banks. May.

hyemale, L. Wet woods and banks. June.

varicgatum, Schleich. Interstices of rocks on the shores of the Connecticut

river, near low water mark, Bellows Falls, Carey,
scirpoides, Michx. Moist woods and banks. June.

Order FIL1CES. The Fern Tribe.
Polypodium, L.

vulgare, L. Shady rocks, &c.
Dryopteris, L. Woods and swamps.
Phegoptcris, I.,. Woods and shady banks.
var. conneclile. P. connedile, Michx.
var. hcxagonoplerum. P. hezagonopterum, Michx.
Aspidium, Swartz. Shield Fern..

acrostichoides, Swartz. Rocky woods, kc.
Goldianum, Hooker. Woods. In Orleans county, Caret/.
Thelypteris, Swartz. 'A. noveboracense, Willd. Moist woods.
cristutvm, Sw. A. Lancastricnsc, Sw. Moist woods near Burlington, Macrae.
marginatc, Sw. Rocky woods.
dilatatum, Sw. Woods.

aculcatum, Sw. Woods about the " Notch" at the north base of Mansfield moun-
tain. Macrae and Tuckerman.
Cistopteris, Bernhardt.

fragilis, Bernh. Aspidium tenvc, Sw. Moist rocks, &c.
balbifera, Bernh. Aspid. bulb. Willd. Shady rocks, generally on limestone.
Dickson ia, L'Herilier.

pilosiv.scula, Willd. Moist pastures, shady woods, &c.
Woodsia, R. Brown.

I/vcnsis, R. Br. On rocks. Fairhaven, &c, Bobbins. On the summit of Mans-
field mountain, Tuckervian and Macrat.

Crur.7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT.

207

CATALOGUE OF PLANT:

obtusa, Torr. Aspid. obtusum, Swartz. W. Pcmniaua, Hooker and Greville.
Rocks. Bellows Falls, Carey.
Asjilcnium, L. Spleemvort.

rhizophyllum, L. Shady limestone rocks.
angustifolium, Michx. Woods. Middlebury, James,
cbeneum, Ait. Rocky ledges.
Trichomancs, L. Steep rocky ledges.

Lhelyptcroides, Michx. Woods and shady banks. Bellows Falls, Carey. In
.Colchester, on the eastern side of High Bridge, Oakcs.
Ludlow, Washburn,
Ruta muraria, L. Wall rue Splecnwort. In the crevices of limestone rocks,
facing the woollen factory at Winooski falls, near Burlington,
Robbins and Macrae. At the place of the former bridge, near
High Bridge, Colchester, also at Fownal and West Haven.
Robbins.
Filix-fannina, Bernh. As-pidium Filix-fasmina, Sw. Aspidium aspknioides, Sw.
A. angustum, Willd. Woods.
Woodward! a, Smith.

Virginica, Sw. Bogs. At Colchester pond, Rabbins.
1'teris, L. Drake.

aquilina, L. Common Brake. Dry woods, &c.

at ro purpurea, L. Crevices of limestone rocks. Near High Bridge and at

Winooski falls, and at Pownal and West Haven, Robbins.
gracilis, Michx. On rocks overhanging the "Devil's Den," Burlington, Macrae.
Adiantum, Toiirn. Maidenhair.

pedatum, L. Woods.
Struthiopteris, Willd.

Germanica, Willd. S. Pennsylvania, Willd. Woods, and low grounds .
Onoclea, L. B

sensibilis, L. Moist woods and banks.
Ophioglossum, L. Adders' Tongue.

vulgatum, L. Bellows Falls, Carey. Burlington, Macrae.
Osmunda, L. Flowering Fern.

Claytoniana, L. O. iiUerrupta, Michx.
cinnumomca, L. Moist grounds, &c,
regatis, L. O. speclabilis, Willd. Moist grounds, >Scc.
Botrychium, Swartz. Mounwort.

fumarioides, Willd. Pastures, &c.

var. disscctum, Oakes. B. disscctum, Muhl. Rockingham, Care
Virginianvm, Sw. B. gracile, Michx. Woods.
simplex, Hitchcock. At Sutton, near the village, on the road
Burke, Careu.
Oiidek LYCOPODIACEiE- The Club-Moss Tribe.
Lycopodium, L. Club-Moss. Whiter- green,
clavutvm, L. Dry woods.
complanatum, L. Woods.

obscurum, L. L. deudroideum, Michx. Ground Pine. Woods.
annotinum, L. Woods, especially near the mountains.
rupestre, L. On dry rocks. Georgia, Robbins. Fair Haven, Chandler.
Selago, L. Summits of Mansfield and Camel's Hump mountains, Robbins,

Tuchcrman and Macrae.
lucidulum, Michx. Woods.

Moist grounds, &c.

leadi

INDEX TO THE GENERA IN THE PRECEDING CATALOGUE.

Acalypha,

Acer,

Achillea,

Acorus,

Acta;a,

Adiantum,

Adlumia,

Agrimonia,

Agrostemma, 1 Rl

Asrrostis, 204

Ann,

Alisma,

Allium,

Alnus,

Alopecurus

Amelanchi

ranthus, 19,f

A ma

imbrosia, " 188

2U5 Ampelopsis, 182

'301 Amphiearpaea, 133

201 Andromeda, 190

197 Andropogon, 20G

204 Anemone, 177

L84!Antennaria. IS!)

Anthemis, 189

Aralia,

lRfi

Anthoxanthum205

Arbutus,

190

Anychia, ISO

Arch angelica,

1SG

Apios, ]S'A

Arctium,

18!)

Aplectrum, 199

Arenaria,

180

Apocvmun, 191

Arethusa,

199

Aquilegia, 17S

Aiistida,

203

Aral-is, 179

Artemisia,

189

208

INDEX TO GENERA.— Continued. 0

Arum,

201

Cuscuta,

192 Kalmia,

190|Osinunda,

207

Secale, 20J

Arundo,

203

C'ynoglossum, 192

Krigia,

190C)strya,

196

Senecio, 14

Asarum,

196

Cyperus,

202

Juglans,

198 0xalis,

181

Setaria, 2uJ

Aselepias,

191

Cypripedium

20C

jJuncus,

201

Panax,

ISt

Shepherdia, 14

Aspidium,

206

Daccylis,

205

Juniperus,

198

Punicum,

201

■Sicyos, 14

Asplenium,

207

Dalibarda,

18-1

jJtisticia,

19-1

Pa lie t aria,

196

Sida, 1-T

Aster,

187

Danthonia,

205

Lactuca,

189

Pamassia,

186

Sdene, M

Barbarea,

179

Datura,

193

Lasierpa,

191

Paspalum,

205

•Sinapis, 111

Betula,

197

Deeodon,

184

Lathyrus,

183

Pastinaea,

186

Sisymbrium, 171

Bidens,

IBS

Dentaria,

I7i

Laurus,

196

Pedicularis,

194

Sisyrinchium, 139

Blephilia,

192

Desmodium,

18:,

Lechea,

l-i

Peltandra,

201

Sium, 1HS

Blitum,

195

Dicksonia,

20t

Ledum,

191)

Penthorum,

1-;

Smilax, 201

Boehmeria,

196

Dielytra,

178

Leersia,

206

Pentstemon,

194

Solanum, in

Botrychium,

207

Diervilla,

186

Leinna,

202

Phaca,

183

Solidago, 14

Brach'elytrum 204

Digitaria,

205

Leon lice,

178

Phalaria,

204

Sonchus, 1^9

Brasenia,

178

Dipsaeus,

187

Leoutodon,

189

Phleum,

204

Sparganium, 201

Bromus,

206

Dirca,

196

Leonurus,

193

Phrynia,

194

Spartina, 201

Calainagrostis,205

Draba,

179

Lepidium,

179

Pl.ysalis,

193

Spergula, 114

Calla,

201

Drosera,

ISO

Lespedeza,

183

Phytolacca,

195

Spiraa, i i

Callitriche,

198

Dulichium,

202

Lilium,

200

Pinus,

198

Spiranthes. 24

Calopogon,

200

Echinocystis

185

Linaria,

1!':

Piptatherum,

21)1

Stachys, in

Calllia,

17S

Echinosper'urnl92

Lindernia,

191

Plantago,

195

Staphylea, 14

Calypso,

200

Eleocharis,

202

Linnaea,

186

I'latanus,

198

Stellana, Jf>l

Camelina,

179

Elodea,

180

Linum,

181

Poa,

205

Streplopug, 20!

Campanula,

190

Elymus,

206

Liparis,

199

Podophyllum

178

.Striiihiojitoris, 20T

Cannabis,

196

Empetrum,

196

Listera,

200

Pogonia,
Polanisia,

200

Sympboricarp.lm

Capsella,

179

Epiphegus,

19-1

Lithospermuml92

179

^ymplocarput<,20l

Cardamine,

179

Epigoea,

190

Lobelia,

190

Polygala,

179

Tanacetum, 14

Carex,

203

Epilubium,

18-1

Lonicera,

M86

Polygonum,

195

Tax us, 14

Carpinus,

196

Equiseturn,

206

Lophanthus,

193

Polypodiuin,

206

Teucrium, 19]

Carya,

198

l-rigeron,

188

Lupiuus,

183

Polypogon,

201

Thalictrura, 173

Cassia,

183

Eriocaulon,

201

Luzula,

201

Pontederiu,

200

Thaspium, 14'

Castanea,

197

Eriophorum,

203

Lycopodium,

207

Populus,

197

Tiarella, 14

Castilleja,

191

Erythronium

201

Lycopsis,

192

Portulaca,

181

Tilia, 14

Ceanothus,

182

Eupatorium,

187

Lycopus,

192

Potamogeton

202

Tricuspis, 205'

CelastruSj

182

Euphorbia,

196

Lysimachia,

195

Potentilla,

1S3

Trientalis, 191

Cult is,

198

tragus,

197

Malva,

l.v;

Prenanthes,

190

Trifoltum, 14

Ceniaurella,

192

Fcstuca,

205

Medeola,

20(i

Prunella,

193

Trillium, 201]

Cephalanthus

, 187

Kloerl.ea,

181

Medicago,

183

Prinos,

191

Triosleum: 14.

Cerastitim,

181

Fragaria,

181

Melampyrum

19-1

Proserpinaoa,

185

Triphora, 20*,

Cerasus,

183

Praxinus,

191

Melilotus,

183

Primus,

183

rrisetum, 24

CeratopliyllumlT?

Galeopsis,

193

Melissa,

193

Pteris,

207

Triticum, 201

Chelidoniimi,

178

Galium,

187

Menisperm ui

il7F

Pterospora,

191

Tussilago, ISTi

Chulone,

191

Gaultheria,

190

Mentha,

192

Pycnanthe'um 19

Tvpha, 201

Clienopodiurn

193

Gen tin n a,

19J

Menyanthes,

192

i'yrola,

191

Udora, 19*

Chrysosplen.

185

Geranium,

181

Microstylis,

199

Pyrus,

184

Ulmus, 14

Chrysantliem

. 189

Gerard ia,

J 9-1

Milium,

204

riuereus.

197

Urtica, 14

Cieuta,

185

Geum,

183

Vlinmlus,

191

Hanunculus,

177

Utricularia, 141

Cimicifuga,

178

Glyecria,

205

Mitchclla,

187

Haphanus,

179

Uvularia, 201 j

Cinna,

201

Gnaphalium,

189

Miteila,

18"

Hhamnus,

182

Vaccinium, 190

Circaea,

185

Goodyera,

20U

Mollugo,

180

Rhododendron 190

Valeriana, lWj

Cirsium,

189

Gratiola,

19-1

MonaFda,

192

vims,

182

Valisncria, 191

Cistopteria,

206

Hamamelis,

185

Monotropa,

19J

Rhyncho>pora203

Veratrum, 209 ;

Claytonia,

181

lleduoma,

193

.MlllUS,

196

tibes,

185

Verbascum, M

Clematis,

177

HeliauthemumlSO

Mvriopliyllun

,185

Rosa,

181

Verbena, 191

Cochlearia,

179

Elelianthus,

188

IVnjas,

202

tubus,

184

Vernonia, 14

Collinsonia,

193

llepatica,

177

iVardosmia,

187

itudbeckia,

lfig

Veronica, 191

Comandra,

196

Ueracleiim,

186

Nasturtium,

179

lumex,

195

Vibarnuin, 14

Coinarum,

184

tlieracimn,

189

Nemopanthes

191

Sngittaria,

201

Vicia, 14

Comptonia,

198

Mieroehloa,

205

Nepeta,

193

Salix,

197

Viola, 14

Conioselinum

166

loustonia,

187

Nuphar,

178

Sambucus,

186

Vitis, 14

Conium,

186

Hamulus,

196

tVymphaea,

178

Samolus,

195

Waldsteinia, 181

Convallaria,

201

lydrocotyle,

185

Nvssa,

196

Sanguinaria,

178

Woodsia, 24 ■

Convolvulus,

192

[Iydropliylluml9'i

(Enothera,

184

Sanicula,

185

Wondwardia, 20)

Coptis,

178

Syoscyamus

193

mopordon,

189

Sarrncenia,

178

Xnntliinni, 14*

Corallorhiza,

199

Hypericum,

180

Onoclea,

207

Saxifraga,

185

Xanthoxylum.181

Corn us,

186

tlypopithys,

191

~>phioglossum

207

Scheuchzeria,

202

Zannichellio, x'01

Corydalis,

179

mpatiens,

181

Drchis,

199

Schollera,

200

/izania, 24 j

Corylus,

197

nula,

188

Orobnnehe,

194

Scirpus,

202

Zizia, 14

Crataegus,

181

Iris,

199

)ryzopsis,

204

Scrophulaiia,

194

Cryptotajnia,

185

Isolepis,

203

Osinorliiza,

186

Scutellaria,

193

Total, 391 1

**4 Having l)Oon obliged, contrary to expectation, to work oil" tho |
the tetun; of the p oof sheets from the author, some typographic;
correction of which ■ e the Enaia at the end of tho volume.

receding Cutaluguo without awilllM
I errors, &.c, have occur tod, for IM

Chap. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT.

209

■A8SWOOD.

BLACK CHEEKY.

HMIAK MAPI.E.

Skction II.
Trees and Fruits.
To the preceding full, and very perfect
catalogue of Vermont Plants, kindly fur-
nished for this work by Wm. Oakes, Esq.,
of Ipswich, Massachusetts, we here sub-
join a brief account of our most important
Forest Trees, a list pf which has already
been given, on page 173, and also a few
words respecting our Shade Trees, Fruits,
&c, which is all our limits will admit.

BAS3WOOD, OR LIME TREE.
Tilia Americana.

This tree is found in all parts of the
state, and under favorable circumstances
grows to the height of 70 or 80 feet with
a proportional diameter. In newly clear-
ed lands the stumps and large roots of the
basswood are apt to send forth shoots
which grow with great rapidity. To pre-
vent the growth of these the bark is some-
times stripped from the stumps, or they
are seared by building a fire around them.
The inner bark of this tree is sometimes
macerated in water and formed into ropes.
The wood is white and tender, but is val-
uable for very many purposes. It is
sawed into planks and boards, and is used
for chair seats, trunks, and in the manu-
facture of a variety of other articles.

BLACK CHERRY.
Cerasus scrotina.

This is our largest species of cherry
tree, and sometimes, though rarely, ex-
ceeds 50 feet in height and 15 inches in
diameter. It is scattered, but very spar-
ingly, over the greater part of the state.
It is sometimes called Wild Cherry ; and
also Cabinet Cherry, from the use made of
it by cabinet makers. But it is more gen-
erally called Black Cherry, and this name
may be derived either from the color of
the bark or the ripe fruit. The perfect
wood is of a dull light red color, which
deepens with age. It is compact, fine
grained, brilliant, and not liable to warp
when perfectly seasoned It is extensive-
ly used for almost all species of furniture,

Pt. i. 27

and sometimes rivals mahogany in beau-
ty, but it has been sought for with so
much eagerness, that there is very little
now remaining in our forests large enough
to be sawn into boards. The bark of this
tree is aromatic, has an agreeable bitter
taste, and is often used as a tonic.

THE SUGAR MAPLE.

Acer sac char inum.

The Sugar Maple is one of our most
common and valuable forest trees. It
grows to a larger size than any other spe-
cies of maple, and its wood, when season-
ed, is much heavier and harder. Hence
it is often called Hock Maple or Hard Ma-
ple. Its ordinary height is about GO feet,
with a diameter of from 2 to 3 feet. The
wood, when first cut, is white, but by ex-
posure assumes a rosy tinge Its grain is
fine and close, and when polished has a
silky lustre. It is strong and heavy, but
when exposed to moisture soon decays,
on which account it is little used either in
civil or naval architecture. When thor-
oughly seasoned it is used by wheel-
wrights for axletrees and by sleigh makers
for the runners of common sleds. It is also
used by chair makers and cabinet makers
in many kinds of their work. The wood
of this tree exhibits two accidental forms
of arrangement of the fibre, of which cab-
inet makers take advantage for manufac-
turing beautiful articles of furniture. The
first consists of undulations, forming what
is called Curled Maple. The second, which
occurs only in old trees, appears to arise
from an inflection of the fibre from the
circumference towards the centre, produ-
cing spots, which are sometimes con-
tiguous, and at others a little distance
apart. This is what is called Bird's-Eye
Mujile, and the more numerous the spots,
the more beautiful and more esteemed is
the wood. Like the curled and striped
maple, it is used for inlaying mahogany.
It is also made into bedsteads, portable
writing desks, and a variety of other arti-
cles, for which purposes it is highly val-

d. The sugru' maple is the most valu-
able wood for fuel found in the state. Its
ashes are very abundant and rich in alka-
i. Its charcoal is of the most valuable
tind. Its wood may easily be distinguish-

210

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THE MAPLKJ

ed from the other kinds of maple by its
weight and hardness. Valuable as this
tree is on account of its wood, and for be-
ing one of our most beautiful and flour-
ishing ornamental shade trees, its value-
is greatly increased on account of the su-
gar extracted from it. When the coun-
try wa.s new, nearly all the sweetening
consumed in the staje was obtained from
the sugar maple, and although the pro-
portional quantity has been diminished by
the destruction of the maple forests, our
people have become so sensible of its val-
ue, both for fuel and for its sugar, that
they are taking much pains to preserve
groves of the second growth. It is a tree
which grows rapidly, and considerable
quantities of sugar are now made from
trees which sprung from the seed since
the settlement of the state was commen-
ced. The quantity of sugar manufactured
in the state in 1340, was 4,647,934 lbs.

The quality of the sugar made in the
state is very unequal. While some of it
is black, dirty and disagreeable, there is
much made which is no wise inferior in
color or flavor to the very best West In-
dia sugar ; and this depends entirely upon
the manner and care with which it is'
manufactured. The dark'color, the clam-
miness and disagreeable taste of much of
our maple sugar, are owing chiefly to
three causes. 1. The neglect to scald the
buckets, &.C., used for catching the sap,
and to keep the sap clear from all impu-
rities. 2. Allowing the kettles to become
bo much heated at the top as to cause the
eyrrup to burn upon them, and afterwards
to be dissolved and mingled with the syr-
rup. 3. Allowing syrrnp to remain too
long in iron kettles. It should in no case
be allowed to stand in the kettle over
night. If these causes be guarded against
and the syrrup be well settled, well
eleensed, and done down without being
burnt, there can be no failure of having
good BUgar, To make white coarse grain-
od sugar, it should be done so that only
about three fourths of it will grain. It
should then be poured into a tub, and re-
main unstirred till the graining has eras-
ed. The molasses should then be drain-
ed or poured off, and the sugar will he
found to be very beautiful. It may be
still further whitened by spreading upon
the sugar a clean white cloth, and cover-
ing it for a few days with moist dough,
made of Indian meal. The sugar made
from this tree, in addition to its excellent
qualities, has two important recommen-
dation. It is the production of our own
state, and it is never tinctured with the
sweat, and the groans and the tears, and
the blood of the poor ilave.

THE WHITE MAPLE.
Acer dasijcarpum.

This tree so nearly resembles the Red
Maple, that il is very generally confoun-
ded with it in Vermont, both being called
Soft Maple, The name of White Maple
may be derived either from the leaf or
from the wood. The color of the under
side of the leaf is a beautiful silvery white,
and the wood is also very white, and of a
fine texture; but it is softer and lighter
than either of the other species of maple.
It is sometimes used in the manufacture
of furniture, for inlaying mahogony, cher-
ry and walnut, but it is liable to change
its color. Wooden howls are sometimes
made of it, but ash and poplar are prefer-
able when they can be had. Sugar n
sometimes made from the sap of tins and
the Red Maple, but the same quantity of
sap does not yield more than half as much
sugar as that of the sugar maple. Like
the Red Maple, the extract from the in-
ner bark of this tree produces a black pre-
ceplale will) copperas, and is sometimes
used for colorinjr.

r A

THE RED MAPLE.
Acer rubrum.

This tree is found in most parts of the
state, but in no part is so plentiful as the
Sugar Maple. Its flowers appear in
April, long before the leaves, and are the
first indications which the forests exhibit
of the returning spring. They are small,
of a deep red color, and hence the name,
Red Floiocring Maple. This tree is most
common in low moist lands, and on tlm
banks of streams and ponds, but is some-
limes met with at considerable elevations
on our hills and mountains. Its usual
height is about 50 feet, with a diameter
from '20 to 30 inches. The wood is light-
er and more porous than that of the su-
gar maple, but when seasoned under shel-
ter it makes excellent fuel, and is valua-
ble for various other purposes. It is easi-
ly wrought in the lathe, and is much U9-

Chap. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT

211

■II E ASHES.

SOUR OUM.

ricultural im-
other domes-

ed for yokes, the handles of
plements, wooden dishes a
lie wares. In old trees, the gram is some-
times undulated constituting as in pre-
ceding species, what is called Curled Ma-
ple. This is wrought into various articles
of furniture, which for richness and lus-
tre, often equals the finest mahogany. It
is also used for the stocks of guns. From
the inner bark of this tree an extract of
a purple color is obtained, which is dar-
kened by the addition of a little copperas
or alum and sometimes used for writing
ink, and also for dying black.

WHITE ASH.
Fraxinus acum in atu .
This tree is thinly scattered over nearly
the whole state, and seems to delight in
cool situations. It is most frequently met
with near the banks of streams, and on
the acclivities surrounding ponds and
swamps. In these situations it frequent-
ly attains the height of 70 or 80 feet, with
u diameter of from two to three feet. It
is universally known by the name of
White Jlsk, and this name may be derived
either from the color of the bark, the sap-
wood, or the under surface of the leaves,
nil of which are white. By the light
color of the bark it is readily distinguish-
ed from the other species. The wood
of this tree is highly esteemed for its
strength, suppleness, and elasticity, and
is applied with advantage to a great va-
riety of uses. It is always selected by
carriage makers for fills or shafts, the fel-
loes of wheels, and the frames of carriage
bodies. It is also used for chairs, scythe
snaths and rake handles ; for hoops, sieves,
boxes, wooden bowls, and a variety of
other domestic wares ; also for the slaves
of casks, blocks for pullies, and on ac-
count of its strength and elasticity, it is
considered superior to any other kind of
wood for oars.

RED ASH.
Fraxinus puhescens.
The Red Ash is a handsome tree which
grows to the height of about Gil feet.
The bark on the trunk is of a deep brown
color, and the wood liffers from that of
the White Ash in I ;ing redder, but it

lost of the other properties of
Ash, and is, in general, ap-
plied to the same purposes.

possess
the VV

BLACK ASH.
Fraxin us sa m bucifolia .
The Black Ash requires a moister soil
than the White Ash, and is commonly
found iiiowiug on low lands, and in and
about swamps; and hence it is sometimes
called Swamp .7.-7/. The perfect wood is
ot'a brownish complexion, and by mailing
may be separated into thin narrow strips,
which are employed for bottoming chairs,
making baskets, riddles, ecc. The sap-
lings of this tree are much used for hoop-
poles.

SASSAFRAS.
Laurus sassafras.
This interesting and valuable tree is
found, but sparingly, in the southwestern
parts of tiie state, and this seems to be its
most northern limit. On account of its
small si/." and scarcity, little account is
made of the wood, but it is highly valued
for its medicinal propel ties. For more
than 200 years it has maintained its repu-
tation as an excellent sudorific, and it
is employed to advantage in cutaneous
affections and chronic rheumatism. The
bark of the roots contains the greatest
quantity of the peculiar extract of this
tree. The dried leaves and young branch-
es contain a large amount of mucilage.

TIIE TUPELO, OR SOUR V.VM.
Nyssa mulliflora.

This tree, which is here usually called
Pcppcridge, is found sparsely scattered
through the southern and western parts
of the state, but no where in large quan-
tities. It grows to the height of near 50
feet, with a diameter of 15 or 'JO inches.
The limbs usually descend low upon the
trunk- which enntinu.es of nearly uniform

212

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part 1.

RED MULBERRY.

IRON WOOD.

WHITE BEECH.

size for some distance. The wood of this
tree holds a middle place between the
hard and soft wood trees. The most re-
markable peculiarity of this tree consists
in the arrangement of its woody fibres,
which are so united into bundles and
twisted and braided together, that it is
nearly impossible to split it. Hence it is
often employed for the naves of wheels,
and other articles, which are liable to
gplit when made of common materials.

THE RED MULBERRY.

Moras rubra.

Vermont is near the northern limit of
the growth of this tree, and here it grows
very sparingly. At the south it is said to
attain the height of 60 or 7U feet, and the
wood is employed for many useful pur-
poses, but here neither its size nor its
numbers render it of much consequence.

HORNBEAM, OR BLUE BEECH.
Carpinus Americana.
This tree is not common excepting in
the western part of the state, where it is
generally known by the name of Blue
Beech. It seldom exceeds twenty feet in
height or 4 or 5 inches in diameter. The
bark is smooth and undivided, and sets
very close to the wood, the surface of
which is usually irregularly furrowed.
The wood is white, compact and fine
grained, but the tree is so small and rare
that little account is made of it.

or constitutes the principal part of the
forest, but is thinly scattered among the
other trees in almost all parts of the state.
[t seldom exceeds 40 feet in height or 10
inches in diameter. The wood is white,
compact, fine grained, and very heavy.
It is used for making the cogs of wheels,
for mallets, and for various other purpo-
ses. When seasoned it makes the very
best of fuel, but its slow growth and lim-
ited quantity prevents its being an object
of much regard.

IRON WOOD.

Ostrya Virginica.
The body of this tree, while small, is much
used for levers in rolling logs, and hence
it is frequently called Lever Wood. It is
also called Hop-Horubcinn, from the re-
eemblance of the fruit to that of the hop.
The growth of this tree is very slow, as
may be seen by the great number of con-
centric annual layers contained in a tree
of only a few inches in diameter. It nev-

RED BEECH.

Fag us fciruginca.
The Red Beech is found in all parts of
the state, and in some places is so much
multiplied as to form almost entire forests
of considerable extent. Its usual height
when full grown is from GO to 70 feet,
with a diameter of 2 or 2S feet. The
wood is valuable for fuel and in the arts.
That of the second growth in open lands
is strong, compact, fine grained and heavy.
As it is not liable to warp when well sea-
soned, it is very suitable for the backs of
cards, and is generally chosen for that
purpose. It is also used for shoe lasts, for
the wood of joiners' planes and other
tools, ajad for the handles of various kinds
of instruments. For fuel it is but little
inferior to the sugar maple, if it be sea-
soned and kept under shelter from rains
and moisture, but if exposed it is soon in-
jured, and the sap wood soon rots. The
fruit of this tree is usually abundant, and
as swine eat it with avidity the early set-
tlers of the state relied much upon beech-
nuts for fattening their hogs. As beech-
nuts ate injured by the fall rains, those
which are designed for preservation
should be gathered as soon as ripe, and
should be thinly spread in a dry place till
they are thoroughly seasoned. They aro
often eaten, but are not very highly es-
teemed. A rich oil may be extracted
from the nut.

THE WHITE BEECH.

Fagus sijlvestris.
The two kinds of Beech are distin-
guished chiefly by their wood and dura-
bility. In the White Beech the greater
part of the tree is sap-wood and very per-

Cijap. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT.

213

rat CHESTNU'l

THE LARGE WHITE B1IIUH.

itthable, while in the Red Beech the 9ap
wood is thin, and the heart, or perfect
wood exceedingly compact and durable.
The White Beech also grows to a greater
height, and its trunk is freer from limbs
than that of the Red Beech.

CHESTNUT.
Castanea vcscu, var. Americana.
The Chestnut in Vermont is confined
mostly to the soutli western parts, and
to the towns lying along the bank of Con-
necticut river in the counties of Wind-
ham and Windsor. The basis of the soil
in which it there flourishes is an argilla-
ceous slate. According to the journal of
Samuel Champlain, lie found this tree
growing on the shore of the lake which
bears his name, in 1G0D. The wood is
durable, and where it exists in sufficient
quantities, it is used for posts and rails for
fences, for shingles, and for staves of dry
casks. For posts, trees from six to ten
inches in diameter are employed, and
they are generally charred on their sur-
face before they are set in the ground.
Chestnut rails are said to last more than
50 years. The wood being filled with air
snaps as it burns, and on that account is
not much esteemed for fuel ; but coal
made of it is excellent.

THE WHITE OAK-

Qucrcus alba.
The growth of the White Oak is con-
fined principally to the southern and
western parts of the state, and even there
was never very much multiplied. The
original growth sometimes attained the
height of 70 feet, with a diameter of three
or four feet, but the old trees have been
nearly all cut down, and only a second
growth, which has sprung up since the
country was settled, now remains. The
wood of this tree is more valuable than
that of any other of the American oaks.
It is of a reddish white color, and is very
strong and durable. When perfectly sea-
coned it is much used by carriage makers,

and is preferred to any other wood for
the frames of coaches, waggons, and
sleighs, and also for the felloes, spokes
and naves of wheels. The wood of the
stocks of young trees is very tough and
elastic, and is susceptible of minute divis-
ion ; and hence it is much used for has-
kets, the hoops of sieves, and for whip,
pail and axe handles. It also makes the
best of staves for casks, and is the most
valuable wood for ship-building. The
bark of the White Oak is much used in
medicine on account of its astringent prop-
erties. It is taken internally in the form
of a decoction, or powder, for intermittent
fevers, and is applied externally to wounds
and ulcers as a styptic and antiseptic.
Inhaled in the form of an impalpable
powder, it is said to cure the phthisic in
its advanced stages. For medical pur-
poses the inner bark on small branches is
to be chosen.

RED OAK.

Quercits rubra.

This oak, though not very abundant
in Vermont, is more plentiful and widely
diffused in the state than the preceding
species. The wood is reddish and very
coarse grained, and is of little value com-
pared with that of the White Oak. It is
used principally for staves and heads of
casks. The bark is used in tanning leath-
er.

The other species of oak, mentioned
on pages 173 and 174, are found in Ver-
mont only in small quantities.

LARGE WHITE BIRCH.

Bdula papyracea.

This tree is quite common, and often
attains the height of GO or 70 feet. It is
often called Canm Binh, from the circum-
stance of its bark often being employed
by the Indians in the construction of ca-
noes. They also manufacture the bark
into baskets and boxes. Divided into thin
sheets it has been used as a substitute for
paper. In new settlements large plates
of the bark of this tree were sometimes
used for covering the roofs of houses.
The wood of this tree is lighter, when
seasoned, and less valuable than that of
the Yellow Birch and Black Biich.

214

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

the uiiicn i:.-

1SCTTON \\ (111 I) .

WHITE El M.

THE BLACK, ok CHERRY BIRCH.
Betula lenta.

This tree is called Cherry Birch, from
its resemblance to the wild cherry. It is
also sometimes called Sweet Birch, or
Spice Dink, on account of its agreeable
aromatic smell and taste. It grows best
in a deep loose soil, and sometimes reach-
es the height of 80 feet, with a diameter,
nt the bottom, of more than three feet. It
is not so abundant as the following spe-
cies, but the wood is more highly valued
by the cabinet makers, being liner grained
and susceptible of a higher polish. When
freshly cut the wood has a light rosy hue,
which deepens by exposure to the light.
It is much used in the manufacture of
bedsteads, tables, sofas, armed chairs, and
a variety of other articles, and with age
assumes very much the appearance of
mahogany.

\ V^
THE YELLOW BIRCH.
Betula ezcclsa.
The Yellow Birch is common in all
parts of the state, generally preferring a
rich moist soil. It ranks as one of our
largest trees, often attaining the height of
70 or 60 feet, with a diameter of three or
four feet. It is remarkable for the color
and arrangement of its epidermis or outer
bark, which is of a golden yellow color,
and which frequently divides itself into
narrow strips, rolled backwards at the
ends and attached in the middle, giving
to the tree a ragged appearance. The
bark and young shoots have an agreeable
aromatic odor and spicy taste. The wood
of this tree is very valuable. It ranks
next to the sugar maple in excellence as
an article of fuel, and is used for various
other purposes. It is sawed into joists,
planks and boards, and is used by the
cabinet maker for bedsteads, tables, and
numerous other articles of household fur-
niture. It is also made into yokes for
oxen, and ox-sleds. The saplings are
used for hoop-poles, and from these most
of the brooms were made which were used
by the early settlers. The bark is used
in tanning leather. Russia leather is said
to owe its peculiar odor, and its power of
resisting moisture and the attack of worms
and insects, to an oil used in currying,
which is extracted from the paper-like
bark of the birch. Hence its value for
book-binding. The oil is obtained by
heating the bark in closed earthern or
iron vessels.

BUTTONWOOD, on SYCAMORE.

Tlatanus occidental is.

The Bnttonwood is usually found grow-
ing along the banks of streams and mar-
gins of lakes and ponds, and, although, in
Vermontjit does not, in magnitude, exceed
some other trees, it is said in some parts of
our country to grow to a greater size than
any other tree in the United States. We
have accounts of button wood trees in the
western part of the state of New York
and on the Ohio river, measuring more
than -10 feet in cireumferance at the
height of live feet from the ground. This
tree, though generally known by the
name- of Buttonwood in New England, is
called in other places by various other
names. In Virginia it is sometimes called
Water Beech. At the west it is frequent-
ly called Sycamore, or Plane Tree, and in
Louisiana and Canada it bears the name
of Cotton Tree. The wood of this tree in
seasoning, becomes of a dull red color,
and is susceptible of a bright polish. It
is but. little used by cabinet makers, in
the form of boards, on account of its lia-
bility to warp, but it answers well for
bedsteads, and requires only to be polished
and varnished, without paint, to make a
very neat article.

WHITE ELM.
Uhnits Americana.

With the exception of the white pine,
we' have no tree which grows to a greater
size, or which appears more graceful and
majestic than the White Elm. This free
is found, though not very plentifully, in
all parts of the state, and is sometimes
seen towering to the height of 100 feet,
with a diameter at the base of more than
4 feet. The wood is of a dark brown col-
or, and is wrought for several valuable
purposes. It is often sawed into planks,
and has been considerably used for the
naves of wheels. During a part of the
year the bark of this tree is very easily
detached, and this, aflcr being soaked in

CuAr. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT.

215

Tilt SUITERY EI.M.

Till: I! UTTER. NUT. THE HICKOKY.

water and rendered supple by pounding-,
wan formerly much used for bottoming
common chairs. For fuel, the elm is in-
ferior to several other kinds of wood, but
it., a sires are strongly impregnated with
alkali, and no wood yields a greater quan-
tity- The young of the elm is much ad-
inired^ and much employed as a shade
tree around our yards and dwellings, anil
geems to be preferable to the locust, inas-
much as it thrives in all parts of the
state, and is not, like the locust, liable to
be destroyed by the Borer.

RED, OR SLIPPERY ELM.
Ulmus fulva.
This tree, though found in most parts
of the state, is less abundant than the pre-
ceding species, and of less magnitude, sel-
dom exceeding GO feet in height, with a
diameter of 2 feet. The wood is of a red-
dish color, and is less compact than that
of the white' elm. It makes excellent and
durable rails, into which it is easily split,
but this last property renders it unsuita-
ble for the naves of wheels. It is, how-
ever, said to answer a good purpose for
the blocks of pullies. The inner bark of
this tree is an important article of materia
mctlica. Macerated in water it yields
a thick and abundant mucilage, which
makes a refreshing drink much used in
colds, coughs and fevers. The bark,
when dried and reduced to flour, is said
to make excellent puddings.

BUTTERNUT.
Juglans ciuercu.
The Butternut is common in most parts
of the state, and is known in some places
by the name of Oil-nut, which it derives
from the oily nature of its fruit. It
thrives best on a dark cold soil, and often
measures three or four feet in diameter,
although it seldom exceeds 60 feet in
height The roots of the Butternut us-
ually extend horizontally, with little vari-
ation in size, and but a few inches below
the surface of the ground, often to the
distance of lit) feet or more, which makes
it a troublesome tree, when growing upon
or adjacent to lands designed for tillage.
The wood of this tree is light, and of a
reddish color, and, though it has little
strength, it possesses, in a good degree,
the property of durability The timber is
little used for frames ol buildings, but is

sometimes sawed into hoards and clap-
boards. It is also used for posts in
fences, for corn shovels, wooden dishes,
troughs for catching the sap of the sugar
maple, and for panels for coaches and
chaises. For all these purposes it an-
swers well, as it is not liable to split, and
receives paint in a superior manner. The
extract of the bark of this tree is used for
a cathartic. Jts operation is said to be
sure, and unattended, in the most delicate
constitutions, with pain or irritation.

greatly

SIIELLBARK HICKORY,

Carija squamosa .
This tree, though no where <
multiplied, is by no means uncomm
particularly in the neighborhood of lake
Champlain. It. is usually found on moist
lands, and often about swamps and in pla-
ces which are liable to be inundated in
high water. The wood possesses the
characteristic properties of the hickories
generally, being very elastic and tena-
cious. It also possesses their common
defect of soon decaying and being very
liable to be eaten by worms The3 wood
is straight grained and easily split, and
being also easily wrought when green, is
made into ax handles and whip handles,
which are much esteemed on account of
their smoothness, suppleness and strenoth.

THE NORWAY PINE.
Pin us rcsinosa.
The Norway Pine, though originally
plentiful in some places in Vermont, was
never so abundant as the following spe-
cies,and, though a large and lofty tree, does
not equal the v. lute pine in size and height,
seldom exceeding I! feet m diameter or
bU feel in height. This tree is often call-
ed lied Pine and sometimes Yellow Pine
from the color of its bark. The wood is
fine-grained, compact, and on account of
the resin it contains much heavier than
that of the white pine, and for many pur-

216

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part 1.

HE I' INKS.

THE SPRUCES.

poses is more valuable. It is employed in
architecture in various ways and is much
esteemed for floors in dwelling houses.
It is becoming: scarce. Leaves in twos.

THE WHITE PINE.

Finns strobus.

The white pine is much the most lofty
tree which grows in our forests and the
most valuable for its timber. Dr. Williams
states the height of this tree to be ^47
feet,* but it is probable that a very few
only have obtained that height in Ver-
mont. The tallest trees which have fal-
len under our own observation have not
exceeded 170 feet. While the pine for-
ests were standing, trees measuring from
140 to 180 feet were not uncommon, and
they have often measured more than (J
feet in diameter at the base.

This species of pine was originally
very abundant in all the western parts of
the state, particularly in the neighbor-
hood of Lake Champlain, and was found
in considerable quantities along the bank
of the Connecticut and most of our smal-
ler rivers. But in consequence of the in-
discriminate havoc of our forest trees by
the early settlers, and of the common use
of this tree for timber, boards and shingles
for buildings and other domestic uses, to-
gether with the great demand for it, for
exportation, our forests of white pine
have mostly disappeared, and boards and
shingles of good quality are becoming
scarce and dilncult to be obtained. The
leaves are in fives.

THE PITCH PINE.
Pinus rigida.

This pine is always found upon liffht
sandy

inds and seldom exceeds 50 or 60
feet in height. It is remarkable for the
great number of its limbs, which usually
occupy two thirds of the trunk and render
the wood extremely knotty. A large pro-
portion of the trunk consists of sap wood,
and for architectural purposes it is much
less valuable than either of the preced-

♦tlist. Vt. Vol. 1. p. 87. The author of Memoirs
of I'r. VVIicolnck, lute president of Dartmouth t'ol
lego, suites tliiit he measured a white pine which
grew on the pbiin where that College now atumls,
anil found it 270 feet Irom ihe bultto the top. Me-
moir* |i f>(3.

ing species. When sufficiently free from
knots it makes firm and durable floors,
and for fuel it is much esteemed by. baker*
and by glass and brick-makers. From
the knots and resinous stocks of this tree
lamp black is manufactured. The leaves
are in threes.

DOUBLE SPRUCE.
Pinus nigra.
This tree is found in all parts of Ver-
mont, and is so greatly multiplied on ma-
ny of our hills and mountains, as to con-
stitute almost entire forests of considera-
ble extent. The usual height of this tree
is from (JO to 80 feet, with a diameter of
from U to 2 feet. It seems to prefer a
cool gravelly or sandy soil, and is most'
common upon northern or northwestern
declivities. It is found, though of dimin-
utive size, on the very summits of our
mountains, and to this tree, more than
any other, are we indebted for the name
of our state, Vcrd-Mont, it being the moat
plentiful evergreen upon our mountains.
The wood of the Double Spruce is distin-
guished for strength, lightness and elasti-
city, and is extenively used for frames of
houses and other buildings. It is also
sawed into boards and clapboards, which,
though harder to plane and more liable to
split in nailing, are, for many purposes,
little inferior to pine, and for some purpos-
es are preferred. It likewise makes good
shingles. In the interior parts ofthe state
houses, barns and other buildings are very
often made entirely of spruce. The young*
branches of this tree, boiled in water, and
the decoction sweetened with molasses or
maple sugar, makes what is called spruce
beer, which is said, in long sea voyages,
to be a sure preventive of the scurvy.
The wood is not of much value for fuel.
It contains little resin, except what
exude3 and forms concretions in the
seams of the bark, and is called spruce
gum.

SINGLE SPRUCE.

Pinus alba.
This Spruce is much less plentiful in
Vermont than the preceding species, to
which, in most respects, it bears a strong
resemblance, and is applied to the same
uses.

Chap. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT.

217

THE BALSAM FJK.

UK lll.Ml.OCK. THE LAKC1I.

Till: MOUNTAIN ASH.

THE SILVER, OR BALSAM FIR.

Pinus halsamea.
The fir tree flourishes best in a cold,
luuist, sandy loam, and hence it is most
commonly found growing on the north
side of our mountains and about the mar-
gin of cold springy swamps. It some-
times^though rarely, reaches 50 feet in
height, and its diameter seldom exceeds
12 or 15 inches. Where this tree stands
alone, and developes itself naturally, its
branches, which are numerous and thick-
ly garnished with leaves, diminish in
length in proportion to their height, and
thus form a round pyramid or cone of re-
markable regularity and beauty. The
wood is very white, but its texture is
coarse and open. It is sometimes used
for staves in making casks,, and answers
well for dry casks, but is not so good for
holding liquids. It is also sawn into
boards for making boxes, and is used for
rafters, joists, &c, in frames. The bal-
sam, for which this tree is somewhat cel-
ebrated, is obtained from the blisters or
tumors on the bark. It may be collected
with considerable facility with a teaspoon.
For this purpose an incision is made in
the lower part of the blister with the
point of the spoon, and the pressure re-
quired in the operation causes the balsam
to flow into the spoon, from which it is
transferred to phials. The balsam is near-
ly colorless, has the consistency of honey,
and is of an acrid penetrating taste. It is
commonly known in this state by the
name oi' fir balsam, but is said to be sold
in many places abroad under the improp-
er name of Balm of Gilead. It is of some
celebrity as a medicine, particularly in
pulmonary complaints and sprains of the
chest and stomach, for which it is taken, a
few drops at a time, internally. It is also
in repute for its healing properties when
applied to external wounds and sores.

THE HEMLOCK.

Pinus Canadensis.
The Hemlock is found in all parts of
the stale, and in most parts in abundance.
It flourishes best in a sandy loam at the
foot of hills and on lands slightly inclin-
ing. In such situations the trees are of-
ten from three to four feet in diameter.
Pt. i. 2d

The size of the body of this tree is nearly
uniform for about two thirds oj'its length.
In very old trees the large limbs are'of-
ten broken off four or five feet from the
trunk by the weight of the snows lodged
upon them, giving to the trees a decrepid
and unsightly aspect. The wood of this
tree, though abundant, is unfortunately
coarse grained, and inferior to most of the
other evergreens for architectural purpo-
ses. It is, however, extensively used for
frames and joists of buildings, for the tim-
bers and planks of bridges, for the floors
of barns, for lining boards, lath boards,
Slc. The logs are used for building dams,
wharves and breakwaters, and they are
bored and much used for aqueducts. The
bark of the hemlock is extensively used
in Vermont in tanning leather.

Tli

AMERICAN LARCH.
Pinus pendula.
tree is generally known in Ver-

mont by the name of Tamarack, but is
sometimes called Larch, and sometimes
Hackmatack. It seems to delight in a
cold wet soil, and in this state it is most
commonly met with in cold swamps. In
the southern and eastern part of the state
this tree is extremely rare, but in the wes-
tern and northern parts it is much more
common, and in some swamps is found in
considerable quantities. A short distance
further north, in Canada, it becomes still
more abundant. With us this tree sel-
dom exceeds 80 or 100 feet in height,with
a diameter of about 2 feet; but to the
north it attains a greater magnitude, and
in the neighborhood of Hudson's Bay it
is said to emulate our white pine, rising
to the height of nearly 200 feet. This tree
sheds its leaves in autumn, though its ap-
pearance in summer might lend one to
suppose it to be an evergreen. The wood
is strong and durable, and makes valu.t-'
ble timber for frames of buildings. It is
also used for posts in fences, and for
staves of dry casks. Although it snaps
considerably, it is much superior to the
evergreens for fuel.

MOUNTAIN ASH, ob MOOSEMISSA.
Sorbus Americana.

This beautiful little tree is very com-

218

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

THE CF.DA.R3.

HOOP ASH.

SHADE TREES.

mon upon our hills and mountains, and
by transplanting is found to thrive well
in all parts of the state. It seldom ex-
ceeds 25 feet in height, or 4 or 5 inches
in diameter. It is generally known by
the name of Mountain Jlsh, but is not un-
frequently called Moosemissa. No use is
made of the wood, but the bark affords an
agreeable bitter, and is considerably used
as a tonic. But this tree is chiefly valued
as an ornamental shade tree, and its beau-
tiful white blossoms, its pinnated globrous
leaves, and bunches of red berries, which
remain upon the tree during the winter,
make it much admired for that purpose.

WHITE CEDAR, or ARBOR VITAE.

Thuya occidentalis.
This tree is found growing only in
swamps, and along the rncky banks of
streams and ponds, and is universally
known in Vermont by the name of ll'liilc
Cedttr. It was originally very abundant
in the northern and western parts of the
stale, and is still found in many places in
considerable quantities. The wood of this
tree is nearly white, with a slight tinge
of red. It is very light, soft, fine-grained
and somewhat odorous. For durability
it ranks next, among our forest trees, to
the red cedar, and is extensively used for
posts and rails for fences.

'>.\N

RED CEDAR*

Juniper us Virginia na.

Red Cedar formerly existed in Borne
quantities along the banks and islands of
lake Champlain, but on account of the ea-
gerness with which it has been sought
for p:>sts and other purposes, it has now
become exceedingly scarce. Trees were
formerly found 3D or 40 feet in height and
10 or 12 inches in diameter, but few now
remain which are more than 10 or 12 feet

* Our cut was made from a young villous brancb,
v/liidi did'oris materially froi i that of the old t:co>

high, and their growth is so very slow
that there seems to be little -prospect of a
supply by reproduction.

The perfect wood of this tree is of a
bright reddish tint and hence it is called
Red cedar. The wood is compact, fine
grained and very light, though heavier
and stronger than the White cedar. It
contains an essential oil, which exhales
considerable odor, and which serves as
a protection both against insects and mois-
ture. The recent chips and splinters of
this wood are often placed in drawers
with woollen cloths and beneath carpets,
and they are found to be a very sure pro-
tection against moths. The wood is also
much used in making black lead pencils.
But the quality which renders the Red ce-
dar most valuable is its durability; and
for this it excels every other wood found
in the state. There are red cedar posts
which have been standing in the common
fences in Burlington and other places for
50 years, and which are now, excepting
the mere surface, as sound as when set.
These are eagerly sought out and prefer-
red to new posts of any other kind, for
fences, where great durability is desired.

HOOP ASH, OR HACKBERRY.
Cdlis occidentalis.

This tree is found very sparingly in
Vermont. In favorable situations, at
the south and southwest, it grows to
the height of 70 or 80 feet, and with
the disproportional diameter of not more
than la or 20 inches. The wood is neith-
er strong nor durable, but,where plenti-
ful, as it is easily split, it is much em-
ployed for the rails of rural fences.

For some notice of the Northern Cork
Elm, Ulmiis raccmovi, and the Poplars,
see page 174.

Shade Trees. There are few if any of
the forest trees which we have described,
which are not more or lens employed for
shade, or ornament, about our yards and
dwellings ; but there nre some which
seem to be much more suit, ble than oth-
ers foi this purpose. Among these are
the sugar maple, the elm, and the moose-
misaa, or mountain ash. To the growth
of these, the soil and climate of most parts
of the state are well suited, and they are
all transplanted without difficulty. The
larch too makes a beautiful shade tree,
and so do several of our evergreens ; but
their transplanting is attended with much
more difficulty. The best time for trans-
planting trees generally is believed to bo

Chip. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT.

219

muiT tubes. -/

in the spring, just before the appearance
of the leaves.

Besides the native forest trees which
have been used for shade and ornament,
several exotics have been introduced for
the same purposes. A little more than 3U
years ago the Lombardy poplar, populus
dilatuta, was brought into tlie state, and
was, for a time, extensively propagated,
and much admired. Its growth was ex-
tremely rapid, and the appearance of the
young tree was very pretty, but it was
soon found that these were its only recom-
mendations, which were more than coun-
terbalanced by several positive objections.
The wood was found to be soft and brit-
tle, and nearly useless for fuel or any
other purposes. As the barren and fertile
flowers of this poplar grow on separate
trees, and as none but trees bearing bar-
ren flowers have been introduced into
this country, no seed is brought to perfec-
tion, and being propagated wholly by
shoots, its growth, though rapid, was soon
found to be feeble and sickly. Before the
trees attained any considerable magni-
tude, the top branches would begin to die
and fall off, rendering them unsightly,
and giving them, while young, the ap-
pearance of decrepitude and decay, and
littering the grounds and walks with limbs
and rubbish. These circumstances, and
the disgusting worms bred among their
foliage, gradually lessened them in the
public estimation, and for many years
past no pains have been taken to propa-
gate them. Many of the old trees have been
cut down, and those which remain are
generally in a decaying, dilapidated con-
dition, and the prospect now is that they
will, in a few years, become extinct.

The locust tree, Robinia pseuilo-acticia,
is one of our most beautiful and agreeable
shade trees, and is very much prized, par-
ticularly in the western part of the state.
It thrives best on the light, warm soil,
which was originally covered with forests
of white pine, but either the soil or the
climate of our mountain towns is unfa-
vorable to its growth; and hence it is not
often met with in the central parts of the
state. Fears are now entertained that all
our locust trees will be destroyed by the
Borer.

Fiuit Trees. For many years after the
settlement of this state was commenced,
very little attention was paid to the culti-
vation of fruit trees. Apple orchards, it
is true, were early planted in many places,
and in some cases a few plumbs, cherries
and perhaps pears, but they were gener-
ally suffered to produce their natural fruit,
and very little effort was made to improve
it by pruning and cultivation. But for a

few years past much more attention has
been given to this subject, and many
choice varieties of these fruits have been
introduced and extensively propagated by
grafting and budding.

Aptle. Pyrus inalus. — This is our
most important and abundant fruit, and is
found to flourish in all parts of the state.
In the older parts the orchards became
very extensive, the tree's large, and im-
mense quantities of apples were produced.
These were mostly manufactured into ci-
der, in consequence of which much more
cider was made than could well be con-
sumed, in its crude state, < veil when it
was customary for all to drink it as free-
ly, or more so, thai, water, and the price
abroad did not warrant the expense of
transportation. Distillation was therefore
resorted to, and large quantities of cider
brandy were manufactured. Tlie farmers
generally having large orchards could
each make, without inconvenience, from
half a barrel to two or three barrels of this
liquor, and when they had it in their hou-
ses, as it did not seem to have cost them
much, they felt themselves at liberty to
use it very freely ; and to this single cir-
cumstance may be traced the temporal
and perhaps everlasting ruin of many of
our previously thrifty farmers. This cause
of ruin and misery was in the full tide of
operation when the first general move-
ment was made in New England on the
subject of temperance.

But after tin; spell was broken, which
had so long bound down all our people to
the use, or acquiescence in the use, of
distilled spirits, and it was perceived that
these liquors were not only unnecessary,
but hurtful as a common drink, our far-
mers began to perceive that those large
portions of their lands which were cover-
ed with apple orchards were not only
yielding them no profit, but that which,
under their present management, was do-
ing them a real injury. From this time
many endeavored to turn their apples to
a better account, by feeding them to their
cattle, and hogs, and horses, and for these
purposes they were found to be valuable,
but caution was necessary, that they
should not be fed in too large quantities
at a time, especially when the fruit was
hard and sour. Many, whose orchards
were extensive, cut down large portions
of them, that the lands might be more
profitably employed in the production of
something else. At present our people
appear more anxious to improve their fruit
by grafting or inoculating choice varie-
ties upon the trees they already have,
than to enlarge their orchards ; and their
are few countries which are capable of

220

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Part I.

T1IK TEAR AND CRAB Al'Pl K

BF.RR1ES.

producing a greater variety of fine apples
than Vermont.

The Pear Tree does not grow so well
in the northern and central mountainous
parts of the state, but it flourishes in the
southeastern and western parts, where
many choice varieties are cultivated and
bear well. A few Qui Mrs and Peaches
are raised, but very little attention has
been paid to their cultivation. That as
good peaches may be raised in Vermont
as in any other place, we think will hardly
be disputed by any who ate of those which
grew in our own garden in Burlington
during the past and present year. Our
remarks respecting the pear tree will ap-
ply also to the Plum. In the northern
parts of the state, the native, or Canada
Plum is much cultivated. It bears plen-
tifully, and the fruit is tolerable. Our
plum trees generally are very uncertain
bearers. After bearing profusely one year
they often pass several years without pro-
ducing any fruit. Cherries flourish well,
and several varieties are cultivated.

The Siberian Crab Apple is cultivated in
the northern parts of the state, where it
flourishes well, and benrs abundantly.
"With sugar this fruit makes an excellent
marmalade.

A'uts. These are the walnut, chestnut,
butternut, beech-nut, oak-nut or acorn,
and hazle-nut. Of walnuts we have three
kinds, but the pignuts are much the most
common. The shell bark hickory is
found in some parts, but is not very
abundant. The chestnut thrives only in
the southern part of the state. Butter-
nuts are common in most parts, and some
years they are produced in very great
abundance. It is esteemed a luxury by
many, and in plentiful years large quan-
tities are gathered and dried. See page2i5.
The beechnut is the most plentiful nut
found in the state, and it abounds in all
parts. When the country was new the
early settlers depended principally upon
this nut for fattening their hogs. But
it was in many places as necessary that
they should be attended by a guard to
protect them against the original proprie-
tors, the bears, as it was that the first
settiers should be guarded against the
attacks of the Indians. See page 212. The
hazlenut grows on a shrub four or five
feet high ; and, though quite common,
but little account, is made of it. The
above arc all indigenous, and grow in a
wild state without cultivation. Acorns
too were formerly plentiful in many parts
of the state, and these, like the beechnut,
were for swine and bears a favorite arti-
cle of food.

Berries. Vermont produces a very con-

siderable variety of berries, both wild and
cultivated, and many of them are highly
serviceable, not only for desserts, but as
articles of food. One of the most impor-
tant of these is the currant, of which we
have four species. Of these the red,
white, and black currant are largely cul-
tivated in gardens, but the two former
are most esteemed, and are much eaten,
stewed or made into pies when green (
and when ripe they are eaten raw, or in
pies, or are preserved in sugar, and their
juice mixed with clean sugar at the rate
of one pound of the latter to a pint of the
former, and boiled from 15 to 20 minutes
in a tin or brass kettle, makes an exquis-
ite jell, which may be kept in glass ves«
sels for years without difficulty. The
black currant has a peculiar musky taste
and odor, and, though liked by some, is
not so generally esteemed. Black cur-
rants are found in a wild state in our for-
ests, and red currants are also found
growing wild upon our mountains, the
taste of which is much less agreeable than
that cultivated in gardens.

ll'/torllebcrrirs. of the various kinds, are
produced in great plenty in different parts
of the state, particularly on the pine
plains in the neighborhood of lake Cham-
plain. In plentiful years, the quantities
of these berries offered for sale in our vil-
lages along the western part of the state
are very considerable. In 1841, which
was remarkably productive in these ber.
ries, the quantity brought into the village
of Burlington between the 25th of June
and the 1st of September, could not have
fallen much, if any, short of 200 bushels.
We have three kinds of raspberries,
the red, black and white, all of which
grow wild. The two latter are much im-
proved by cultivation, and are consider-
ably cultivated in gardens. The red
raspberry is very abundant on most of
our hills and mountains. Gooseberries
are found growing wild in all parts, but
the fruit is generally small. Several
choice foreign varieties have been intro-
duced into our gardens, where they are
easily cultivated and brought to a high
degree of perfection. They are a luxury,
which, with very little trouble, every
family might enjoy.

Blackberries, of two or three kinds, are
common, and they are universally regard-
ed as the most wholesome and delicious
wild berry found in the state. A variety
of this berry is occasionally found the
color of which is a delicate yellowish
white. It is sometimes cultivated in gar-
dens, and, contradictory as the terms may
seem, several have been able to assert,
without contradiction, that they could enr

Chap. 7.

BOTANY OF VERMONT

221

BERRIES. — MEDICINAL PLANT!

Urlain their visitants with a dessert of
white blacli-bcrrics.

The barberry bush grows well in most
ports of the sUte,butso little use is made
of the berry that no effort is made to mul-
tiply it. Two kinds of cranberries, the
high and the low, are common in many of
the swamps, and preserved in sugar they
make an agreeable and wholesome sauce.
Of strawberries there are several kinds.
The wild, or woods strawberry, though a
pleasant fruit, is not found in sufficient
quantities to be an object of much regard.
The common field strawberry is diffused
over the whole state, and in its season af-
fords considerable quantities of delicious
fruit, though it seldom grows to a large
size. Several varieties of foreign straw-
berries are cultivated in gardens. Some
of these grow to a great size, and with
proper attention a small plot of ground
may be made to yield a very large quan-
tity of choice fruit. The fox and frost
grapes grow wild in most parts of the
.state, and several exotic grapes are suc-
cessfully cultivated in gardens, and bear
well. The large purple grape endures
our climate and ripens its fruit without
protection, and this is undoubtedly the
most profitable for general cultivation.
The more choice varieties must cither be
housed or buried to preserve them through
the winter, and many of them require pro-
tection and artificial heat, in order to
bring their fruit to maturity. In addition
to the above, we have the hobbleberry,
the mulberry, the checkerberry, the par-
tridge berry, and some others which are
eaten, and several kinds, as the sumac,
elder, juniper, &c, which arc used in
medicine or the arts.

Medicinal Plants. — The native vegeta-
bles of Vermont already contribute some-
what to the MateriaMedica of the country,
and when the medicinal properties of our
plants become better known, it is proba-
ble that the list of those which deserve to
be employed in the healing art will be
greatly increased. We are of the num-
ber of those who look with much more
confidence to the vegetable than to the
mineral kingdom, for antidotes to the va-
rious diseases and ills which flesh is heir
to. Not that we would go to the lengths
of some of our name, and banish all miner-
al substances from our pharmacopoeia, but,
being fully persuaded that for removing a
great majority of diseases, the remedies
derived from the vegetable kingdom are
not only more effectual, but far more safe
than those derived from the mineral king-
dom, we would gladly see the medicinal
properties of our plants more thoroughly
iavestigated, their repuied virtues can-

vassed, and their proper places assigned
them among kthc articles of our materia
medico.

In the preceding account of our forest
trees, we have briefly mentioned the me-
dicinal purposes to which the parts of sev-
eral of them are applied. We had inten-
ded in this place to notice a few of the
many herbs and roots which are, or have
been, of repute for their medicinal vir-
tues, but we have not room. We would,
however, remark that the Ginseng, Panax.
quinque folia, was the first medicinal root
which attracted much attention in this
state, and is the only one which has been
to any considerable extent an article of
exportation. This root had long been re-
garded in China as a panacea, and was
supposed to be indigenous only in that
country and Tartary, till 1720, when it
was discovered by the Jesuit Laftfan, in
the forests of Canada. Such was the de-
mand for the root in China, at that peri-
od, that it soon became a considerable ar-
ticle of commerce. Upon the settlement
of this state the ginseng was found to
grow here in great plenty and perfection,
and it soon began to be sought with ea-
gerness for exportation. For many years
it was purchased at nearly all the retail
stores in the state, and was sent to the
seaports to be shipped to China. Those
who dug the root sold it in its crude state
for about 2 shillings or 34 cents per lb.,
and it was so plentiful in some places that
digging it was a profitable business. The
root is a mild, pleasant, and wholsome
bitter, but it has never ranked very high
as a medicine in this country, and its ex-
portation and the clearing of the country
has rendered it scarce.

Flowering Plants. This state is partic-
ularly rich, considering its northern sit-
uation and mountainous surface, in beau-
tiful flowering plants. Several of these
have already been noticed in the observa-
tions preliminary to the preceding cata-
logue. Among our most singular flower-
ing shrubs may be mentioned the Witch
Hazel, Homomelis Virginica. This shrub
puts forth its modest yellow blossoms us-
ually in October, after the leaves have
been killed by the frost, but the seed is
not matured till the following year.

Poisonous Plants, which are natives of
Vermont, are not numerous. Enough,
however, exist to render caution necessa-
ry in gathering herbs, either for food or
medicine. A few poisonous plants have
also been introduced, and to some extent
naturalized. Of these maybe mentioned
the poison hemlock, which may be seen
growing in many places by the road-

222

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

Tart I.

GRANITE. GNEISS.

MICA SLATE.

CHAPTER VIII.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF VERMONT.

When we commenced our undertaking
four years ago, we had little doubt that
there would be a Geological Survey of
the state, under the patronage of the gov-
ernment, in season to enable us to em-
brace the results of it in the present work.
In consequence of this expectation, we
have devoted less attention to the geology
of the state than to the other departments
of our natural history ; and, a survey not
having been undertaken, as we anticipa-
ted, we must content ourselves for the
present with only a few general remarks
on these interesting subjects. Enough is
already known to make it certain that our
state ranks among the first in the Union
in mineral resources, and by private and
individual enterprise something has al-
ready been done towards turning these
resources to account, as may be seen by
reference to our account of Strafford,
Bennington, Plymouth, and some other
towns in part third. The few remarks
which we shall offer will be presented
under the heads of Rocks, Metals, and
Minerals.

Hocks.
The ranges of rocks in this state,
for the most part, extend through the
state in lines parallel to the principal
range of the Green Mountains. The
greater part of the rocks are of primitive
formation. The ranges, commencing on
the west Bide of the state, according to
Prof. Eaton, are nearly in the following
order: — 1. Old Red Sandstone in an in-
terrupted range ; — 2. Graywacke ; — 3.
Transition, or Metaliferous Limestone, al-
ternating with Transition Argillite ; — 4.
Transition, or Calciferous Sandstone; —
.5. Transition Argillite; — (j. Primitive
Argillite ; — 7. Sparry Limestone ; — 8.
Granular Limestone;-!). Granular Quartz,
containing hematitic iron ore and manga-
nese, and lying at the foot of the
Green Mountains on the west side; — 10.
Hornblende Rock ; — 11. Gneiss, with al-
ternating layers of Granite; — 12. Mica
Slate, constituting the middle ridge of the
Green Mountains, and extending, in nin-
ny places, a considerable distance down
the eastern side. Most of these ranges

of rocks extend through the whole length
of the state; On the east side of the
Mountains the geological features are not
so well defined, nor so well known. Al-/
though there are here indications of
ranges nearly parallel with those on the
west side, they are frequently interrupted
and jumbled together; the different rock*
often being arranged in alternating lay-
ers. The principal ranges of rocks in
the central part of the state are nearly an
exhibited in the following diagram of a
vertical section passing from east to west,
through Camel's Hump :

t 2 3 4

f£

j

1. LakeChamplci

2. Camel's Hump.

3. Montpelier.

4. Connecticut Uivcr.

a. Sandstone.

b. Argillaceous slato.

c. Gray wacke Sandstone.

d. Limestone.

J IS *

References.

Iraywacke,
(•eons. &.C.

c, Talcose Stalo
ceoua Slato.

I. Lime.

v/i. Argillaceous Slate.

Granite. This rock shows itself very
sparingly in the Green Mountain range,
and on the west side of the mountain*
hardly exists at all, except in small rolled
masses. On the east side of the moun-
tains it occurs in many places in Wind-
ham and Windsor counties. In the north-
ern part of Orange county, the southeast-
ern part of Washington and southwestern
part of Caledonia county, it constitutes
the principal rock in situ, ffrom Una
great granite region was obtained the ma-
terial for building the State House. (Sec
Part III, p. 9.). Orleans county abounds
in huge granite boulders, which make
excellent building stone.

Gneiss. This occurs in many planes
along the summits of the Green Mountain
range and in the counties of Windham
and Windsor, where it serves a good pur-
pose for walls, under-pinnings, *.tc.

Mica Slate. This constitutes almost
the entire middle range of the Green
Mountains from Massachusetts to Cana-

CiiAf. 8.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF VERMONT.

223

KOCRS, METALS AND MINERALS.

6k, and is met with more or less abun-
d»nlly in all the counties on the east side
of the mountains. It is of little value as
a building stone, excepting for wall fen-
ce*, but is found in many places suitable
for covering stone bridges, for flagging
atone, Sea. In Halifax and some other
places it is found of a quality suitable for
common grave stones.

Argillaceous Slate. Several considerable
ranges of this slate are found in Vermont
extending from south to north. It is
abundant along Connecticut river, and in
Windham county it is extensively quar-
ried at Dummerston and other places for
roof and writing slate. A range of this
■late extends north from White river
through Montpelier, which, at Berlin and
aoine other places, affords slate of a very
good quality. A dark colored glazed va-
riety of this slate extends along the east-
ern margin of lake Champlain, the seams
of which are filled with calcareous spar.

Lime. The range of granular lime-
atone, which enters the state at Povvnal,
and extends almost directly north to Can-
ada, is the most important in the state.
This range affords excellent marble, which
is extensively wrought in many towns in
the counties of Bennington, Rutland and
Addison. Very beautiful marble is also
f«»und at Swanton. Throughout all the
western parts of the state limestone, for
the manufacture of lime of the best qual-
ity, is abundant. On the east side of the
mountains, the best for the manufac-
ture of lime is pmbably at Plymouth,
near the head of black river. (Sr Part
III, ]>. 140.) Some of this limestone is
found to receive a very good polish as it
has been wrought to some extent for mar-
ble. The other most important localities
are at Whitingham and in the southeast-
ern part of Caledonia county. The lime
on the east side of the mountains is not
only more limited in quantity, but is
darker colored, and otherwise inferior to
that on the west.

Talcose Slate. This rock forms an in-
terrupted range from Whitingham, on
Massachusetts line, to Troy on Canada
line. In this range are extensive beds of
excellent steatite, or soap stone, which is,
in many places, wrought into fire places,
stoves, aqueducts, &c. The most impor-
tant localities are at Grafton, Plymouth,
Bridgewater, Bethel, More town and Troy.
Talcose slate also abounds on the west
side of the mountains in the county of
Lamoille, and the eastern part of Frank-
lin county.

Serpentine. Nearly in connection with
the Talcose range, on the east side of the
mountains, this rock shows itself in many

places; — most extensively at Cavendish
near Black river, and at Lowell near the
source of Missisco river. At the former
place, its connection with the limestone
and steatite forms that most beautiful va-
riety of marble called Verd Antique. (See
Part III, y. 48.) At the latter place is
found beautiful precious serpentine, and
several varieties of amianthus and asbes-
tos.

Metals.

Iron ore, in the form of oxydes, is found
in greater or less quantities in almost all
parts of the state. The most important
beds of this ore which have been opened
on the west side of the mountains are at
Bennington, Tinmouth, Pittsford, Chit-
tenden, Brandon, Monkton and Highgate,
and on the east side of the mountains at
Troy and Plymouth, for an account of
which, see part third, under the respective
names, particularly the latter. Sulphuret
of iron is also abundant in many places.
See Strafford, in part third.

Manganese is abundant in connection
with the iron ore at Plymouth, Benning-
ton, Chittenden, Arc, and has already be-
come a considerable article of exportation.

Lead ore has been found in small quan-
tities at Thetford, Sunderland, Morris-
town, and some few other places. There
is some prospect that the vein at Morris-
town may prove valuable. It is situated
upon the top of a large hill, in the seam
in talcose slate, the strata of which are
nearly vertical, and extend from north to
south. The seam at the surface of the
rock, which is bare for some distance, \a
perhaps 16 inches wide, and can be traced
north and south several rods. This seam
is filled with a substance which seems to
be mostly quartz, in which the sulphuret of
lead, or galena, is scattered, beinjr jn.
masses from the size of a pin-head to "that
of a man's fist. The seam, which has
been opened to the depth of several feci,
is found to increase in width downward,
and to become richer in ore, but whether
it will repay the expense of working is at
present problematical.

Copper ore is found sparingly at several
places. At Strafford, where it has been
found most plentifully, it has been smelt-
ed for the copper. (See Part III, p. 1G(>.)

Silver is said to exist in a small propor-
tion in the lead ore, but has been found
here in no other connection.

Gulil has been found in the lower part
of Windham county, but in no other part
of the state. In 1826 a lump of native
gold was found in Nevvfane weighing 8
ounces, and in Somerset it has been found
in small particles in connection with tal-
cose slate.

224

NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.

PartI'

LOCATION OF MINERALS

Minerals.

We shall close this short chapter by
indicating some of the principal localities
of interesting minerals, many of which
will be still further noticed in part third,
under the names of the towns in which
they are situated.

Actynolite. — Windham, Grafton, New-
fane, Brattleboro', .Norwich — the latter
very beautiful.

Agaric Mineral-Lyndon, Groton, Man-
chester,

Aluminous SJafe.-Pownal, Rockingham.

Amethyst. — Westminster, Ludlow.

Amianthus. — Wey bridge, Mount Holly,
Lowell, Barton.

Argillaceous Slate. — Common.

Asbestos. — Mount Molly, Lowell, Troy.

Augite. — Charlotte, Chester.

Bitter Spar. Grafton, Bridgewater,

Lowell.

Blende.— Orwell.

Calcareous Spar. — Vergennes, Shore-
ham, &c.

Calcareous Tufa. — Clarendon, Middle-
bury, Hubbardton, Manchester, Orwell.

Carbonate of Lime. — Common.

Chalcedony. — New fane.

Chlorite. — Grafton, Windham, Bethel,
Sec.

Chrysophrase. — Newfane.

Copper, (Carbonate Green). — Bellows
Falls, (Sutphuret,) Strafford, Waterbury.

Copperas. — Strafford, Shrewsbury.

Cyunile. — Grafton, Bellows Falls, Nor-
wich.

Diallage. — New Haven.

Dolomite. — Jamaica.

Epidutc. — Middlebury, Chester, Berk-
shire, &c.

Fddspar.-Townshend, Thetford, Monk-
ton, &.C.

Fetid Limestone. — Shoreham, Bridport,
&c.

Flint.— Orwell.

Fluatc of Lime. — Putney, Rockingham.

Garnet Bethel, Bridgewater, Nor-
wich, <Scc.

Graphite, Plumbago, or Black Lead. —
Hancock, Charlotte.

Hornblende. — Jericho, Ludlow, &c.

Hornslone. -Middlebury, Shoreham, Sal-
isbury, Bennington, Orwell.

Jasper. — Middlebury, in rolled masses.

Kaolin. — Monkton, Brookline.

Lead, (Sutphuret) or Galena. — Sunder-
land, Thetford, Danby, Morristown.

Lime, Filiate. — Putney, Rockingham,
Thetford.

Lime, Fetid Carbonate. — Bennington.

Lithomarge. — Bennington.

Made. — Near Bellows Falls.

Manganese, Oryde.— Bennington, Bran-
don, Monkton, Pittsford, Chittenden, Ply-
mouth.

Marble. — Shaftsbury, Manchester, Dor-
set, Rutland, Middlebury, S wanton, Ply-
mouth.

Marl. — Peacham, Barnard, Benson, Al-
burgh".

Mica. — Chester, Craftsbury, Orange,
Grafton, &c.

NuvaculUe, or Oil Stone. Tlretford,

Memphremagog Lake.

Polstanc— Grafton, Newfane.

'Potter's Clan.— Middlebury.

Prehnite.— Bellows Falls.

Quartz. — Common. Fetid Q., Shrews-
bury. Greasy Q., Grafton, Hancock,
New Haven, etc. Quartz C/tri/stal,
Castleton, Vergennes, Waitsfield, St.
Johnsbury, &c. Milky Q., Stock-
bridge, Grafton, Middlebury. Jiadia'
ted Q-, Hartford. Smoky Q., Shrews-
bury, Wardsborough. Tabular Q.,
Windham.

Rubollite.— Bellows Falls.

Scapolite- — Brattleborough.

Schorl. — Grafton, Bridgewater, Brattle-
borough, Newfane, Uunnnerston, &c.

Serpen! in:', Precious. — Lowell, Ludlow,
Troy, Cavendish, Windham.

Slaurotidc. — Rockingham, Vernon.

Steatite. — Grafton, Bethel, Moretown,
Bridgewater, Troy, &c.

Stelaclite. Bennington, Dorset, Ply-
mouth, Montpelier.

Sulphur. — Wilmington, Bridgewater.

Talc. — Grafton, Windham, Newfane,
Ludlow, Bridgewater, Hancock, Montpe-
lier, Fletcher, Arc.

Titanium. — Whitingham.

Tourmaline. — Peacham.

Trcmoli/e. — Bellows Falls, Wardsboro'.

Tufa Calcareous. — Orwell, Clarendon,
Middlebury, &c.

Zinc.— Orwell.

Zoisitc.— Rockingham, Wardsborough.

6505 1